Microchip Technology DM164130-7 Data Sheet
PIC16(L)F1946/1947
DS41414D-page 48
2010-2012 Microchip Technology Inc.
3.4
PCL and PCLATH
The Program Counter (PC) is 15 bits wide. The low byte
comes from the PCL register, which is a readable and
writable register. The high byte (PC<14:8>) is not directly
readable or writable and comes from PCLATH. On any
Reset, the PC is cleared.
comes from the PCL register, which is a readable and
writable register. The high byte (PC<14:8>) is not directly
readable or writable and comes from PCLATH. On any
Reset, the PC is cleared.
shows the five
situations for the loading of the PC.
FIGURE 3-4:
LOADING OF PC IN
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
3.4.1
MODIFYING PCL
Executing any instruction with the PCL register as the
destination simultaneously causes the Program Coun-
ter PC<14:8> bits (PCH) to be replaced by the contents
of the PCLATH register. This allows the entire contents
of the program counter to be changed by writing the
desired upper 7 bits to the PCLATH register. When the
lower 8 bits are written to the PCL register, all 15 bits of
the program counter will change to the values con-
tained in the PCLATH register and those being written
to the PCL register.
destination simultaneously causes the Program Coun-
ter PC<14:8> bits (PCH) to be replaced by the contents
of the PCLATH register. This allows the entire contents
of the program counter to be changed by writing the
desired upper 7 bits to the PCLATH register. When the
lower 8 bits are written to the PCL register, all 15 bits of
the program counter will change to the values con-
tained in the PCLATH register and those being written
to the PCL register.
3.4.2
COMPUTED GOTO
A computed GOTO is accomplished by adding an offset to
the program counter (ADDWF PCL). When performing a
table read using a computed GOTO method, care should
be exercised if the table location crosses a PCL memory
boundary (each 256-byte block). Refer to the Application
Note AN556, “Implementing a Table Read” (DS00556).
the program counter (ADDWF PCL). When performing a
table read using a computed GOTO method, care should
be exercised if the table location crosses a PCL memory
boundary (each 256-byte block). Refer to the Application
Note AN556, “Implementing a Table Read” (DS00556).
3.4.3
COMPUTED FUNCTION CALLS
A computed function CALL allows programs to maintain
tables of functions and provide another way to execute
state machines or look-up tables. When performing a
table read using a computed function CALL, care
should be exercised if the table location crosses a PCL
memory boundary (each 256-byte block).
If using the CALL instruction, the PCH<2:0> and PCL
registers are loaded with the operand of the CALL
instruction. PCH<6:3> is loaded with PCLATH<6:3>.
The CALLW instruction enables computed calls by com-
bining PCLATH and W to form the destination address.
A computed CALLW is accomplished by loading the W
register with the desired address and executing CALLW.
The PCL register is loaded with the value of W and
PCH is loaded with PCLATH.
tables of functions and provide another way to execute
state machines or look-up tables. When performing a
table read using a computed function CALL, care
should be exercised if the table location crosses a PCL
memory boundary (each 256-byte block).
If using the CALL instruction, the PCH<2:0> and PCL
registers are loaded with the operand of the CALL
instruction. PCH<6:3> is loaded with PCLATH<6:3>.
The CALLW instruction enables computed calls by com-
bining PCLATH and W to form the destination address.
A computed CALLW is accomplished by loading the W
register with the desired address and executing CALLW.
The PCL register is loaded with the value of W and
PCH is loaded with PCLATH.
3.4.4
BRANCHING
The branching instructions add an offset to the PC.
This allows relocatable code and code that crosses
page boundaries. There are two forms of branching,
BRW and BRA. The PC will have incremented to fetch
the next instruction in both cases. When using either
branching instruction, a PCL memory boundary may be
crossed.
If using BRW, load the W register with the desired
unsigned address and execute BRW. The entire PC will
be loaded with the address PC + 1 + W.
If using BRA, the entire PC will be loaded with PC + 1 +,
the signed value of the operand of the BRA instruction.
This allows relocatable code and code that crosses
page boundaries. There are two forms of branching,
BRW and BRA. The PC will have incremented to fetch
the next instruction in both cases. When using either
branching instruction, a PCL memory boundary may be
crossed.
If using BRW, load the W register with the desired
unsigned address and execute BRW. The entire PC will
be loaded with the address PC + 1 + W.
If using BRA, the entire PC will be loaded with PC + 1 +,
the signed value of the operand of the BRA instruction.
PCL
PCH
0
14
PC
0
6
7
ALU Result
8
PCLATH
PCL
PCH
0
14
PC
0
6
4
OPCODE <10:0>
11
PCLATH
PCL
PCH
0
14
PC
0
6
7
W
8
PCLATH
Instruction with
PCL as
Destination
GOTO, CALL
CALLW
PCL
PCH
0
14
PC
PC + W
15
BRW
PCL
PCH
0
14
PC
PC + OPCODE <8:0>
15
BRA