Summary

In this chapter, we explored the RTC peripheral, a component for timekeeping in embedded systems. This peripheral is essential for applications requiring precise time and date maintenance, making it fundamental for a wide range of embedded applications.

We began by introducing RTCs and understanding their functionality. This included a deep dive into how RTCs operate, which involved focusing on the crystal oscillator, counters, time and date registers, and the importance of battery backup. We illustrated these concepts with case studies, showcasing the practical use of RTCs in data logging, alarm clocks, time-stamping transactions, and calendar functions.

Following this, we examined the STM32 RTC module, highlighting its key features and capabilities. We discussed the calendar in terms of sub-seconds accuracy, dual programmable alarms, low power consumption, backup domain, daylight saving time adjustments, automatic wakeup, tamper detection, digital calibration, and synchronization...