The Real-Time Counter (RTC) is a 32-bit counter with a 10-bit programmable prescaler that typically runs continuously to keep track of time. The RTC can wake up the device from sleep modes using the alarm/compare wake up, periodic wake up, or overflow wake up mechanisms
The RTC is typically clocked by the 1.024kHz output from the 32.768kHz High-Accuracy Internal Crystal Oscillator(OSC32K) and this is the configuration optimized for the lowest power consumption. The faster 32.768kHz output can be selected if the RTC needs a resolution higher than 1ms. The RTC can also be clocked from other sources, selectable through the Generic Clock module (GCLK).
The RTC can generate periodic peripheral events from outputs of the prescaler, as well as alarm/compare interrupts and peripheral events, which can trigger at any counter value. Additionally, the timer can trigger an overflow interrupt and peripheral event, and can be reset on the occurrence of an alarm/compare match. This allows periodic interrupts and peripheral events at very long and accurate intervals.
The 10-bit programmable prescaler can scale down the clock source. By this, a wide range of resolutions and time-out periods can be configured. With a 32.768kHz clock source, the minimum counter tick interval is 30.5µs, and time-out periods can range up to 36 hours. For a counter tick interval of 1s, the maximum time-out period is more than 136 years.