Intel® PXA26x Processor Family Developer’s Manual 8-1
Synchronous Serial Port Controller 8
This chapter describes the Synchronous Serial Port Controller’s (SSPC) signal definitions and
operation for the Intel® PXA26x Processor Family.

8.1 Overview

The SSPC is a full-duplex synchronous serial interface and can connect to a variety of external
analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, audio and telecom codecs, an d other devices that use serial
protocols for transferring data. The SSPC suppor ts National’s Microwire*, Texas Instruments’
Synchronous Serial Protocol* (SSP), and Motorola’s Serial Peripheral Interface* (SPI) protocol.
The SSPC operates in master mode (the attached peripheral functions as a slave) and supports
serial bit rates from 7.2KHz to 1.84MHz when in master of clock mode, and serial bit rates up to
13MHz in slave of clock mode (set external clock select in SSP Control Register 0, maximum
SSPEXTCLK frequency of 26MHz).
The FIFOs may be loaded or emptied by the central processor unit (CPU) using programmed I/O,
or DMA burst transfers of 4 or 8 half-words per transfer while receiving or transmitting.

8.2 Signal Description

This section describes the SSPC signals.

8.2.1 External Interface to Synchronous Serial Peripherals

Tabl e 8-1 lists the external signals that connect the SSP to an external peripheral.
SSPSCLK is the bit-rate clock driv en from the SSPC to the periphera l. SSPSCLK is toggled only
when data is actively being transmitted and received.
SSPSFRM is the framing signal, indicating the beginning and the end of a serialized data word.
SSPTXD and SSPRXD are the transmit and receive serial data lines.
Table 8-1. External Interface to Codec
Name Direction Description
SSPSCLK Output Serial bit-rate clock
SSPSFRM Output Frame indicator
SSPTXD Output Transmit data (serial data out)
SSPRXD Input Receive data (serial data in)
SSPEXTCLK Input External clock which can be selected to drive the serial clock
(SSPSCLK)