[Q/RFC] mpc52xx gpt api

Hi all,

I tried to use a '5200B internal timer for a very simple task - as pwm to m=
ake a led blink, but apparently the current gpt implementation from Grant's=
 tree does only support internal (cpu timer) modes which do not use the tim=
er io pin.

The first hurdle was to actually get the timer itself - mpc52xx_gpt_from_ir=
q() never returned something when I passed the timers (v)irq to it.  What i=
s the intended use of this function?  BTW, I do not need timer irq's, so I =
believe there should be an other way to grab a timer!

I made several changes to finally get the pwm timer running for me with the=
 current implementation, but IMO it might be interesting to have a more gen=
eric api.  Before digging into it, I would be interested in any comment abo=
ut the following approach, which could cover all possible gpt operating mod=
es:

* struct mpc52xx_gpt_priv *mpc52xx_gpt_grab(const char * name, mode)
  name: timer name, e.g. "f0000630.timer", or NULL for the next free cpu ti=
mer
  mode: CPU, PWM, IC or OC.  The latter three are only possible if the requ=
ested timer shall not be used as gpio (i.e. the device tree does not regist=
er it as such)
  The function shall mark the timer as being in use, to avoid access confli=
cts.
  It might also make sense to pass an irq callback function here.  The gpt =
module would catch the hw irq, clear the status flags, and then call this f=
unction.

* int mpc52xx_gpt_setup
  Configure period, continuous (cpu only), pwm width and polarity (pwm only=
).  Didn't look into the special IC/OC requirements yet.  Probably it makes=
 sense to provide different functions for the four different modes (mpc52xx=
_gpt_setup_internal, mpc52xx_gpt_setup_pwm, etc.).  We might then omit the =
mode parameter of the "grab" function, and shift the gpio vs. timer pin con=
flict check here.
  The function shall always change the timer registers, even if the timer i=
s already running, which is convenient if e.g. the pwm output waveform shal=
l be changed on the fly.

* int mpc52xx_gpt_runstate(struct mpc52xx_gpt_priv *, int running)
  Start/stop the timer

* int mpc52xx_gpt_release(struct mpc52xx_gpt_priv *)
  Release timer, so an other mpc52xx_gpt_grab() will succeed.

Opinions?

Cheers, Albrecht.

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On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 10:17 AM, Albrecht Dre=DF [off-list ref]=
 wrote:

Hi all,

I tried to use a '5200B internal timer for a very simple task - as pwm to=

 make a led blink, but apparently the current gpt implementation from Grant=
's tree does only support internal (cpu timer) modes which do not use the t=
imer io pin.

The first hurdle was to actually get the timer itself - mpc52xx_gpt_from_=

irq() never returned something when I passed the timers (v)irq to it. =A0Wh=
at is the intended use of this function? =A0BTW, I do not need timer irq's,=
 so I believe there should be an other way to grab a timer!

There is a discussion running right now on the linux-embedded list
about implementing an PWM api.  It's worth hopping over and taking a
look.

g.

--=20
Grant Likely, B.Sc., P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.