Intel SA-1100 manual 11-122

Peripheral Control Module

11.10.10.4Transmit FIFO Service Request Flag (TFS) (read-only, maskable interrupt)

The transmit FIFO service request flag (TFS) is a read-only bit that is set when the transmit FIFO is nearly empty and requires service to prevent an underrun. TFS is set any time the transmit FIFO has eight or fewer entries of valid data (half-full or less), and is cleared when it has nine or more entries of valid data. When the TFS bit is set, an interrupt request is made unless the transmit FIFO interrupt request mask (TIE) bit is cleared. The state of TFS is also sent to the DMA controller, and can be used to signal a DMA service request. Note that TIE has no effect on the generation of the DMA service request. After the DMA or CPU fills the FIFO, such that eight or more locations are filled within the transmit FIFO, the TFS flag (and the service request and/or interrupt) is automatically cleared.

11.10.10.5Receive FIFO Service Request Flag (RFS) (read-only, maskable interrupt)

The receive FIFO service request flag (RFS) is a read-only bit that is set when the receive FIFO is nearly filled and requires service to prevent an overrun. The amount of data that causes RFS to be set is nondeterministic. However, the range in which RFS will be set is guaranteed. RFS is set at some point when the receive FIFO is two- to three-fifths full (or more). The HSSP’s FIFOs are self-timed to reduce cost and save power. As a result, the depth at which the receive FIFO service request is generated is variable. This is the reason the receive FIFO is 20 entries deep instead of 16 like the transmit FIFO. At which entry in the FIFO the request is actually triggered is dependent on IC process, operating temperature, and so on. The receive FIFO is designed to signal the RFS bit to be set when it contains 12 entries of valid data. However, because of the variability of the self-timed logic, RFS may also be set when 11, 10, or 9 entries of valid data are present within the FIFO. Likewise, under normal circumstances, RFS is cleared when the receive FIFO has 11 remaining entries of valid data. However, again due to variations, RFS may be cleared when 10 or 9 entries of data remain.

When the RFS bit is set, a DMA service request is made. An interrupt request is also made unless the receive FIFO interrupt request mask (RIE) bit is cleared. Even though more than eight entries of data may exist within the receive FIFO, the user must configure the DMA burst size to eight words. If programmed I/O is used to service the receive FIFO, a maximum of eight words may be removed without checking if data is valid. After this point, the receive FIFO not empty (RNE) flag must be polled before each read to see if more data remains. After the DMA or CPU empties the FIFO such that nine or more empty locations are available within the receive FIFO, the RFS flag (as well as the DMA and interrupt request) is automatically cleared.

11-122 SA-1100 Developer’s Manual