Leonardo (32u4): Timer0 problems with CTC mode

Question

I want to use timer 0 to generate a rectangular signal on OC0A (D11) without the use of Arduino specific functions (that use timers for themselves). When I toggle D11 manually using a loop, I hear a sound in the connected piezo, but with my sample code, I don't hear something:

#define ALARM_PIN 11

void setup() {
  digitalWrite(ALARM_PIN, LOW);
  pinMode(ALARM_PIN, OUTPUT);
  noInterrupts();

  OCR0A = 60;
  // Toggle OC0A on compare match
  TCCR0A = (0 << COM0A1)
         | (1 << COM0A0)
  // CTC mode
         | (1 << WGM01)
         | (0 << WGM00);
  // prescaler = 256
  TCCR0B = (0 << WGM02)
         | (1 << CS02);
}

void loop() {
}

Any idea, what could be wrong?

Update

I've played with it a little bit more:

#define LED_PIN 9

void setup() {
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  TCCR0B = (1 << CS02);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, TCNT0 > 250);
}

This causes my LED to light very dim, so the timer is running up to 255. But as soon as I set TCCR0A, nothing is lighting up:

#define LED_PIN 9

void setup() {
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  OCR0A = 60;
  TCCR0A = (1 << WGM01);
  TCCR0B = (1 << CS02);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, TCNT0 > 0);
}

Answer 1

You should re-enable interrupts after you finish setting up. Use either

interrupts(); 

or

sei();

If you want to don't want to use the arduino specific commands. Even if the code does not need interrupts, background code does use them.

Timer 0 is used in arduino for some basic "house keeping" function like keeping time. I'm not sure if that could be part of your problem. you could try using a different timer.

Answer 2

Your value of 60 for OCRA will give you tone of around 16666hz which isn't audible to us humans. Try setting it to 255. That should give you a 4000hz tone, which is audible. (Or get your neighbors dog, and see if he dislikes hearing it)

You can use this online calculator to help you get the correct value for OCRA.

Note that you need 2 cycles to get a full wavelength (1 low and one high), so two toggles.