SX Users Manual Rev. 3.1
130
© 2000 Scenix Semiconductor, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.scenix.com
Chapter 4 Clocking, Power Down, and Reset
In the compatible mode, the instruction rate is one-fourth of the clock rate. In this configuration, you
need to select a clock rate four times higher than the intended instruction rate. For example, if you want
to execute instructions at a rate of 1 MHz (one instruction per microsecond), you need to select a clock
rate of 4 MHz.
In the turbo mode, the instruction rate is equal to the clock rate. For example, if you want to execute
instructions at a rate of 50 MHz (one instruction per 20 nanoseconds), you use a 50 MHz clock. This
is the preferred operating mode for new designs because you can use a slower clock to achieve a given
instruction rate, thus reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the system and the cost of the
oscillator.
4.2.2
Internal RC Oscillator
Using the on-chip, built-in RC (resistor-capacitor) oscillator for the device clock is the lowest-cost
option because no external components are required. This mode is suitable for lower-speed
applications (4 MHz or less) where high accuracy is not needed. For this mode, you leave the OSC1
and OSC2 pins unconnected.
The internal RC oscillator operates at a nominal rate of 4 MHz and has an accuracy of plus or minus
8% over the allowed temperature range. The device can be configured to divide this clock down to
produce a lower-rate clock for device operation, with the divide-by factor selected by programming
the DIV1:DIV0 bits (SX18/20/28AC and SX18/20/28AC75) and the DIV1:DIV0 (SX48/52BD) in the
FUSE word as follows:
4.2.3
External RC Oscillator
Using an external RC oscillator network is a low-cost option suitable for applications that do not
require high precision. The only external components required are a resistor and a capacitor. Unlike
the internal RC oscillator, you can choose any operating frequency for which the device is rated, not
just certain frequencies between 31.25 kHz and 4 MHz.
The RC oscillator operating rate is a function of the resistor and capacitor values, the supply voltage,
and the operating temperature. The operating rate will vary from unit to unit due to normal variations
in component values, and from time to time due to fluctuations in temperature and voltage. Therefore,
an application that requires high precision (for example, a system with a real-time clock) should use
an external resonator or crystal rather than an RC oscillator.
Figure 4-1 shows how the resistor and capacitor are connected to the device. The operating frequency
can be adjusted by choosing the values for R and C.
In this operating mode, OSC1 is the clock input. A resistor value between 3 kW and 100 kW is
recommended. For resistor values below this range, the oscillator might become unstable or stop
completely. For resistor values higher than this range, the oscillator becomes sensitive to noise,
humidity, and capacitor leakage.
Although the device will operate without a capacitor (C = 0 pF), a capacitor of at least 20 pF is
recommended for noise immunity and stability. For capacitance values lower than this, the oscillator