Datasheet
MC68HC908GZ60 • MC68HC908GZ48 • MC68HC908GZ32 Data Sheet, Rev. 6
Freescale Semiconductor 259
Chapter 17 
Timebase Module (TBM)
17.1 Introduction
This section describes the timebase module (TBM). The TBM will generate periodic interrupts at user 
selectable rates using a counter clocked by the external clock source. This TBM version uses 15 divider 
stages, eight of which are user selectable. A configuration option bit to select an additional 128 divide of 
the external clock source can be selected. See Chapter 5 Configuration Register (CONFIG)
17.2 Features
Features of the TBM module include:
• External clock or an additional divide-by-128 selected by configuration option bit as clock source
• Software configurable periodic interrupts with divide-by: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 2048, 8192, and 32768 
taps of the selected clock source
• Configurable for operation during stop mode to allow periodic wakeup from stop
17.3 Functional Description
This module can generate a periodic interrupt by dividing the clock source supplied from the clock 
generator module, CGMXCLK.
The counter is initialized to all 0s when TBON bit is cleared. The counter, shown in Figure 17-1, starts 
counting when the TBON bit is set. When the counter overflows at the tap selected by TBR2–TBR0, the 
TBIF bit gets set. If the TBIE bit is set, an interrupt request is sent to the CPU. The TBIF flag is cleared 
by writing a 1 to the TACK bit. The first time the TBIF flag is set after enabling the timebase module, the 
interrupt is generated at approximately half of the overflow period. Subsequent events occur at the exact 
period.
The timebase module may remain active after execution of the STOP instruction if the crystal oscillator 
has been enabled to operate during stop mode through the OSCENINSTOP bit in the configuration 
register. The timebase module can be used in this mode to generate a periodic wakeup from stop mode.
17.4 Interrupts
The timebase module can periodically interrupt the CPU with a rate defined by the selected TBMCLK and 
the select bits TBR2–TBR0. When the timebase counter chain rolls over, the TBIF flag is set. If the TBIE 
bit is set, enabling the timebase interrupt, the counter chain overflow will generate a CPU interrupt 
request. 
NOTE
Interrupts must be acknowledged by writing a 1 to the TACK bit.










