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Intel MCS-80/85 manual A1·43

Models: MCS-80/85

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sion rates, as computed for the selected crystal freq uency. Initialization would req uire the oper- ator to hit a specific key several times (usually the "U" key, which generates a pattern of alternating ones and zeros). The identification routine would attempt to "read" this pattern at each baud rate, in turn, until finding the rate at which the read was successful.

The cassette recorder used to develop the tape interface was a Lloyd's push-button model which cost $17 in 1972. Empirical testing has indicated that for this application, the quality of the cassette recorder is less critical than the quality of the tape itself. In other words, some 33~ cassettes were not very reliable, even when used with more expensive recorders.

When using a cassette at the beginning of a side, allow the tape to run for about 10 seconds until the leader has passed before starting to write data. Otherwise, data will be lost to the leader.

Depending on the recorder quality, the tone burst freq uency and duration can be optimized for higher data rates by modifying HALFCYC and CYCNO. If so, CKRATE should also be reduced, so that between about 10 and 80 data samplings are made during a single (one-third width) tone burst. At greatly increased frequencies, some of the

components in the analog interface might also be modified.

The two simple routines for recording and playing back blocks of data were intended to illustrate one way of using TAPEIN and TAPEO, and therefore do not contain any provisions for error detection or correction. Depending on the nature of a partic- ular application, these routines could be aug- mented with parity bit or checksum comparison, or an error correcting code technique.

Funny things happen when recording and playing back a page of RAM which includes the subroutine stack. Eventually, PLAYBK will start writing over the data at the top of the stack, destroying the subroutine traceback sequence. The next RET instruction will then cause a jump to a place where you'd rather not be.

The printout reproduced in the CRT Code inchides the assembled listings for the CRT and magnetic tape interfaces discussed in this application note. The object code produced was programmed into an 8755 EPROM, which was installed in the expan- sion PROM socket of the SDK-85 board. Some very minor differences exist between this listing and the code segments presented earlier, which were written for maximum clarity.

A1·43

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Intel MCS-80/85 manual A1·43
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MCS-80/85 specifications

The Intel MCS-80/85 family, introduced in the late 1970s, is a seminal collection of microprocessors that played a pivotal role in the early days of computing. The MCS-80 series, initially targeting embedded systems and control applications, gained remarkable attention due to its innovative architecture and flexible programming capabilities.

The MCS-80 family is anchored by the 8080 microprocessor, which was one of the first fully integrated 8-bit microprocessors. Released in 1974, the 8080 operated at clock speeds ranging from 2 MHz to 3 MHz and featured a 16-bit address bus capable of addressing up to 64KB of memory. The processor’s instruction set included around 78 instructions, providing extensive capabilities for data manipulation, logic operations, and branching.

Complementing the 8080 was a suite of support chips, forming the MCS-80 platform. The most notable among them was the 8155, which integrated a static RAM, I/O ports, and a timer, tailored for ease of designing systems around the 8080. Other support chips included the 8085, which provided improvements with an integrated clock generator, making it compatible with more modern designs and applications.

The MCS-85 series, on the other hand, revolves around the 8085 microprocessor, which provided a more advanced architecture. The 8085 operated at clock speeds of up to 6 MHz and came with a 16-bit address bus, similar to its predecessor. However, it introduced more sophisticated features, including an enhanced instruction set and support for interrupt-driven programming. These enhancements made the 8085 especially appealing to developers working in real-time processing environments.

The MCS-80/85 family utilized NMOS technology, known for its lower power consumption and higher performance compared to previous technologies like TTL. The family’s architecture allowed for easy interfacing with a variety of peripherals, making it a favorite for educational institutions and hobbyists embarking on computer engineering projects.

With its robustness, versatility, and affordability, the Intel MCS-80/85 microprocessors laid the groundwork for many subsequent microcomputer systems and applications. The legacy of this powerful family continues to influence modern microprocessor design, emphasizing the importance of reliable architecture in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.