High Speed Timer on the AVR

[aep9690]

I need a microcontroller with high speed timers (>200MHz).  At work we try to standardize on a family to make things easier on the software team so it would be great if it was an Atmel.  From what I can tell the Atmel microcontrollers can't run their timers any faster than its CPU speed.

Page 1259: http://www.atmel.com/Images/Atmel-11297-32-bit-Cortex-M7-Microcontroller-SAM-V70Q-SAM-V70N-SAM-V70J_Datasheet.pdf
I really hate long datasheets

There are inputs for external clocks to be used with the timers but I can't find a spec on the maximum speed.  On other devices with high speed timers that I have found it is usually pretty clear.  Ex: 4.7ns for MSP430F51x2, 217ps for STM32F334 etc.  Can someone clear this up for me?

[dannyf]

I need a microcontroller with high speed timers (>200MHz)....

I really hate long datasheets

Try to avoid microcontroller then - they all have long datasheets.

[Psi]

i seem to remember that there is a few AVR with a 64mhz timer clock, well above the cpu clock.

ATTiny45 is one

[dannyf]

I can't find a spec on the maximum speed.

The datasheets do specify that those counters are synchronous, and provide a factor that link the counter's max speed with that of the main clock.

[aep9690]

Okay, that's what I was afraid of. Thanks for clearing that up.

[T3sl4co1l]

I've been reading on the XMEGA series, unfortunately they aren't terribly concise in their information (in their defense, the XMEGAs have much more hardware than the old MEGAs).  The internal PLL claims 128MHz maximum output, but it isn't clear where this can be used (the AVR core itself seems to only be rated for 32MHz, when sufficient VDD is available).  The timers also claim "extended resolution", but it isn't clear to me yet if this is automatically generated, or just more bits (and therefore only useful when the PLL is clocking them extra), or what.

There are devices out there which have internal delay or phase shift circuitry, which allows continuously variable (so to speak; i.e., limited by the internal DAC driving it) "fine" control, or at least additional (sub-clock) steps, for PWM or frequency or both.  Those would be excellent for self contained control applications (motor control, or yes, even straight up switching supplies -- given suitably clean code, of course!).

Tim

[aep9690]

I need a microcontroller with high speed timers (>200MHz)....

I really hate long datasheets

Try to avoid microcontroller then - they all have long datasheets.

Correction.  I hate datasheets that are 1700 pages long and contain very little of the electrical specifications I care about.

[Psi]

There are some MCU's with small onboard FPGA/CPLD

You might be able to use the FPGA part for your highspeed stuff.
But expect to pay a premium for it.

External timing hardware maybe the best option.

[dannyf]

I hate datasheets that are 1700 pages long and contain very little of the electrical specifications I care about.

Easy: write your own datasheet so the electrical specificatin can be as long or short as you want. Problem solved.

[aep9690]

I hate datasheets that are 1700 pages long and contain very little of the electrical specifications I care about.

Easy: write your own datasheet so the electrical specificatin can be as long or short as you want. Problem solved.

No