Intel-8251

8251 universal synchronous asynchronous receiver transmitter (USART) acts as a

mediator between microprocessor and peripheral to transmit serial data into parallel
form and vice versa.
1. It takes data serially from peripheral (outside devices) and converts into parallel
data.
2. After converting the data into parallel form, it transmits it to the CPU.
3. Similarly, it receives parallel data from microprocessor and converts it into serial
form.
4. After converting data into serial form, it transmits it to outside device (peripheral).
TRANSMITTER SECTION The transmitter accepts parallel data from the MPU and converts them into
serial data . It has two registers: a buffer register to hold eight bits and an output register to convert
eight bits into steam of serial bits (figure 3) .the MPU writes a byte in the buffer register . whenever the
output register is empty, the contents of the buffer register are transferred to the output register. This
section transmits data on TxD pin with the appropriate framing bits (START and STOP) . Three output
signals and one input signal are associated with the transmitter section. TxD-Transmit Data: Serial bits
are transmitted on this line. TxC*-Transmitter Clock: This input signal controls the rate at which the bits
are transmitted by the USART.The clock frequency can be 1,16 or 64 times the baud. TxRDY-transmitter
Ready: This is the output signal. When it is high, it indicates the buffer register is empty and USART is
ready to accept a byte .It can be used either to interrupt the MPU or to indicate the status. This signal is
reset when a data byte is loaded into the buffer. TxE-Transmitter Empty: This is an output signal. Logic 1
on this indicates the output register is empty. This signal is reset when a byte is transferred from the
buffer to the output register.

RECEIVER SECTION The receiver accept serial data on the RxD line from a peripheral and converts them
into parallel data . The section has two registers: the receiver input register and the buffer register
(figure 3). When the RxD line goes low, the control logic assumes it is a START bit , waits for half a bit
time , and sample the line again. If the line is still low , the input register accepts the following bits, form
a character ,and load it into the buffer register. Subsequently, the parallel byte is transferred to the MPU
when requested. In the asynchronous mode , two input signal and one output signal are necessary ,as
described below. RxD-Receive Data: Bits are received serially on this line and converted into a parallel
byte in the receiver input register. RxC-Receiver clock: This is a clock signal that controls the rate at
which bits are received by the USART. In the asynchronous mode, the clock can be set to 1,16 or 64
times the baud. RxRDY-Receiver Ready: This is an output signal. It goes high when the USART has a
character in the buffer register and is ready to transfer into the MPU. This line can be used either to
indicate the status or to interrupt the MPU

Block Diagram of 8251 USART –

It contains the following blocks:
1. Data bus buffer –
This block helps in interfacing the internal data bus of 8251 to the system data bus.
The data transmission is possible between 8251 and CPU by the data bus buffer
block.

2. Read/Write control logic –

It is a control block for overall device. It controls the overall working by selecting
the operation to be done. The operation selection depends upon input signals as:
 In this way, this unit selects one of the three registers- data buffer register, control
register, status register.
3. Modem control (modulator/demodulator) –
A device converts analog signals to digital signals and vice-versa and helps the
computers to communicate over telephone lines or cable wires. The following are
active-low pins of Modem.
1. DSR: Data Set Ready signal is an input signal.
2. DTR: Data terminal Ready is an output signal.
3. CTS: It is an input signal which controls the data transmit circuit.
RTS: It is an output signal which is used to set the status RTS.
4. Transmit buffer –
This block is used for parallel to serial converter that receives a parallel byte for
conversion into serial signal and further transmission onto the common channel.

TXD: It is an output signal, if its value is one, means transmitter will

transmit the data.
5. Transmit control –
This block is used to control the data transmission with the help of following pins:
1. TXRDY: It means transmitter is ready to transmit data character.
2. TXEMPTY: An output signal which indicates that TXEMPTY pin has
transmitted all the data characters and transmitter is empty now.
3. TXC: An active-low input pin which controls the data transmission rate of
transmitted data.
6. Receive buffer –
This block acts as a buffer for the received data.
RXD: An input signal which receives the data.
7. Receive control –
This block controls the receiving data.
1. RXRDY: An input signal indicates that it is ready to receive the data.
2. RXC: An active-low output signal which controls the data transmission
rate of received data.
3. SYNDET/BD: An input or output terminal. External synchronous mode-
input terminal and asynchronous mode-output terminal.