Introduction

1.7Notational-Conventions

The following notation conventions are consistent with other i960 RM/RN I/O processor documentation and general industry standards.

# or overbar

In code examples the pound symbol (#) is appended to a signal name to

 

indicate that the signal is active. Normally inverted clock signals are

 

indicated with an overbar above the signal name (e.g., RAS).

Bold

Indicates user entry and/or commands.

 

PLD signal names are in bold lowercase letters (e.g., h_off, h_on).

Italics

Indicates a reference to related documents; also used to show emphasis.

Courier font

Indicates code examples and file directories and names.

Asterisks (*)

On non-Intel company and product names, a trailing asterisk indicates

 

the item is a trademark or registered trademark. Such brands and names

 

are the property of their respective owners.

UPPERCASE

In text, signal names are shown in uppercase. When several signals share

 

a common name, each signal is represented by the signal name followed

 

by a number; the group is represented by the signal name followed by a

 

variable (n). In code examples, signal names are shown in the case

 

required by the software development tool in use.

Designations for

In text, instead of using subscripted “base” designators (e.g., FF 16) or

hexadecimal and

leading “0x” (e.g., 0xFF) hexadecimal numbers are represented by a

binary numbers

string of hex digits followed by the letter H. A zero prefix is added to

 

numbers that begin with A through F. (e.g., FF is shown as 0FFH.) In

 

examples of actual code, “0x” is used. Decimal and binary numbers are

 

represented by their customary notations. (e.g., 255 is a decimal number

 

and 1111 1111 is a binary number. In some cases, the letter B is added to

 

binary numbers for clarity.)

1.8Technical Support

Up-to-date product and technical information is available electronically from:

•Intel’s World-Wide Web (WWW) Location: http://www.intel.com

•IQ80960RM and IQ80960RN Product Information: http://developer.intel.com/design/i960

For technical assistance, electronic mail (e-mail) provides the fastest route to reach engineers specializing in IQ80960RM and IQ80960RN issues. Posting messages on the Embedded Microprocessor Forum at http://support.intle.com/newsgroups/ is also a direct route for IQ80960RM and IQ80960RN technical assistance. See Section 1.8.2.

Within the United States and Canada you may contact the Intel Technical Support Hotline. See Section 1.8.1 for a list of customer support sources for the US and other geographical areas.

IQ80960RM/RN Evaluation Board Manual

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Intel IQ80960RM, RN manual Notational-Conventions, Technical Support
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RN, IQ80960RM specifications

The Intel IQ80960RM and RN are part of the Intel i960 family of microprocessors, which were specifically designed for embedded applications in real-time computing environments. Introduced in the early 1990s, these processors were aimed at providing high-performance processing capabilities in industrial, telecommunications, and military systems.

One of the key features of the IQ80960RM and RN is their ability to support a 32-bit architecture, delivering a significant performance advantage over 16-bit and earlier processors. This architecture enables the execution of complex algorithms and the management of large amounts of data, making these microprocessors suitable for demanding applications.

The i960 family is built around a superscalar architecture, allowing multiple instructions to be completed in a single clock cycle. This is achieved through advanced instruction pipelining, which significantly boosts throughput and overall computational speed. The IQ80960RM and RN also included features like branch prediction and out-of-order execution, enhancing efficiency and reducing latency in real-time applications.

Memory management capabilities are another strong point of the IQ80960RM and RN. They support both virtual and physical memory addressing, enabling sophisticated memory management strategies. Their integrated memory management unit (MMU) allows for easier and more effective memory allocation, critical for real-time operating systems that require precise timing and resource management.

Furthermore, these processors are designed with an extensive instruction set architecture (ISA), which supports a wide range of operations, including digital signal processing (DSP) tasks. This versatility allows them to be utilized in various applications, from automotive systems to robotics, where reliable performance is paramount.

The thermal performance and power efficiency of the IQ80960RM and RN has also been a notable characteristic. With operational capabilities across various temperature ranges, these chips are well-suited for harsh environments often found in industrial settings.

In terms of connectivity, the IQ80960 series supports multiple I/O interfaces and communication protocols, ensuring that they can integrate seamlessly with other components and systems. This flexibility enhances their usability in networked applications, particularly in embedded systems.

Overall, the Intel IQ80960RM and RN processors represent a significant step forward in embedded processor technology, characterized by their robust performance, advanced features, and ability to meet the stringent demands of real-time applications across various industries.
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