XA User Guide 1-1 3/24/97
1 The XA Family - High Performance, Enhanced
Architecture 80C51-Compatible 16-Bit CMOS
Microcontrollers
1.1 Introduction
The role of the microcontroller is becoming increasingly important in the world of electronics as
systems which in the past relied on mechanical or simple analog electrical control systems have
microcontrollers embedded in them that dramatically improve functionality and reliability, while
reducing size and cost. Microcontrollers also provide the general purpose solutions needed so
that common software and hardware can be shared among multiple designs to reduce overall
design-in time and costs.
The requirements of systems using microcontrollers are also much more demanding now than a
few years ago. Whether called by the name “microcontrollers”, “embedded controllers” or
“single-chip microcomputers”, the systems that use these devices require a much higher level of
performance and on-chip integration.
As microcontrollers begin to enter into more complex control environments, the demand for
increased throughput, increased addressing capability, and higher level of on-chip integration has
led to the development of 16-bit microcontrollers that are capable of processing much more
information than 8-bit microcontrollers. However, simply integrating more bits or more
peripheral functions does not solve the demand of the control systems being developed today.
New microcontrollers must provide high-level-language support, powerful debugging
environments, and advanced methods of real time control in order to meet the more stringent
functionality and cost requirements of these systems.
To meet the above goals The XA or “eXtended Architecture” family of general-purpose
microcontrollers from Philips is being introduced to provide the highest performance/cost ratio
for a variety of high performance embedded-systems-control applications including real-time,
multi-tasking environments. The XA family members add to the CPU core a specific
complement of on-chip memory, I/Os, and peripherals aimed at meeting the requirements of
different application areas. The core-based architecture allows easy expansion of the family
according to a wide variety of customer requirements. The powerful instruction set supports
faster computing power, faster data transfer, multi-tasking, improved response to external events
and efficient high-level language programming.
Upward (assembly-level) code compatibility with the Philips 80C51 family of controllers
provides a smooth design transition for system upgrades by providing tremendously enhanced
performance.
To Next Page
Loading...