Home | | Embedded Systems Design | Parallel ports

Chapter: Embedded Systems Design : Basic peripherals

Parallel ports

Parallel ports provide the ability to input or output binary data with a single bit allocated to each pin within the port.

Parallel ports

 

Parallel ports provide the ability to input or output binary data with a single bit allocated to each pin within the port. They are called parallel ports because the initial chips that provided this support grouped several pins together to create a controllable data port similar to that used for data and address buses. It transfers multiple bits of information simultaneously, hence the name parallel port. Although the name implies that the pins are grouped together, the individual bits and pins within the port can usually be used independently of each other.

 

These ports are used to provide parallel interfaces such as the Centronics printer interface, output signals to LEDs and alpha-numeric displays and so on. As inputs, they can be used with switches and keyboards to support control panels.


The basic operation is shown in the diagram which depicts an 8 pin port. The port is controlled by two registers: a data direction register which defines whether each pin is an output or an input and a data register which is used to set an output value by writing to it and to obtain an input value by reading from it. The actual implementation typically uses a couple of buffers which are enabled depending on the setting of the corresponding bit in the data direction register.

 

This simple model is the basis of many early parallel inter-face chips such as the Intel 8255 and the Motorola 6821 devices. The model has progressed with the incorporation of a third register or an individual control bit that provides a third option of making the pin become high impedance and thus neither an input or output. This can be implemented by switching off both buffers and putting their connections to the pin in a high impedance state. Output ports that can do this are often referred to as tri-state because they can either be logic high, logic low or high impedance. In practice, this is implemented on-chip as a single buffer with several control signals from the appropriate bits within the control registers. This ability has led to the development of general-purpose ports which can have additional functionality to that of a simple binary input/output pin.

 

Multi-function I/O ports

 

With many parallel I/O devices that are available today, either as part of the on-chip peripheral set or as an external device, the pins are described as general-purpose and can be shared with other peripherals. For example, a pin may be used as part of a serial port as a control signal.


 

It may be used as a chip select for the memory design or simply as an I/O pin. The function that the pin performs is set up internally through the use of a function register which internally configures how the external pin is connected internally. If this is not set up correctly, then despite the correct programming of the other registers, the pin will not function as expected.

 

Note: This shared use does pose a problem for designers in that many manufacturer data sheets will specify the total number of I/O pins that are available. In practice, this is often reduced because pins need to be assigned as chip selects and to other essential functions. As a result, the number that is available for use as I/O pins is greatly reduced.

 

Pull-up resistors

 

It is important to check if a parallel I/O port or pin expects an external pull-up resistor. Some devices incorporate it internally and therefore do not need it. If it is needed and not supplied, it can cause incorrect data on reading the port and prevent the port from turning off an external device.


Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail
Embedded Systems Design : Basic peripherals : Parallel ports |


Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant

Copyright © 2018-2024 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.