Patent ID: 8117482

Claim:
A timer unit circuit, comprising: a first selection circuit that receives a plurality of signals; and a first channel, the first channel including a first counter circuit, a second counter circuit, and a first output circuit, wherein the first counter circuit includes a first counter that executes a counting operation synchronized with a first clock signal, based on a first trigger signal, and a first data register that retains a count start value when the first counter executes the counting operation, wherein the second counter circuit includes a second counter that executes a counting operation synchronized with a second clock signal, based on a second trigger signal, and a second data register that retains a count start value when the second counter executes the counting operation, wherein the first selection circuit selects from the plurality of signals a first signal as the first trigger signal, selects from the plurality of signals a second signal as the first clock signal, selects from the plurality of signals a third signal as the second trigger signal, and selects from the plurality of signals a fourth signal as the second clock signal, wherein the first output circuit takes a first output mode and a second output mode, wherein in the first output mode, the first output circuit outputs a first-output-mode first output signal exhibiting a normal-phase phase width modulation (PWM) waveform and a first-output-mode second output signal exhibiting a reversed-phase PWM waveform, based on both of a first counter circuit output signal that the first counter circuit outputs based on a counter value of the first counter and a second counter circuit output signal that the second counter circuit outputs based on a counter value of the second counter, and wherein in the second output mode, the first output circuit outputs a second-output-mode first output signal that is based on either one of the first counter circuit output signal and the second counter circuit output signal and is not based on the other.