PART B – 14.

A
I) FEATURES OF 8251 MICROCONTROLLER:

The features of Features of 8251 Microcontroller are namely,

1. The Intel 8251A is an universal synchronous and asynchronous

communication controller.

2. It supports standard asynchronous protocol with :

• 5 to 8 Bit character format

• odd, even or no parity generation and detection

• False start bit detection

• Automatic break detect and handling

• Break character generation.

3. It has built in baud rate generator.

4. It supports standard synchronous protocol with :

• 5 to 8 Bit character format

• Internal or external character synchronization

• Automatic sync insertion

• Baud rate from DC to 64 Kbaud

5. It allows full duplex transmission and reception.

6. It provides double buffering of data both in the transmission section and in

the receiver section:

7. It provides error detection logic, which detects parity, overrun and framing
errors.

8. It has Modern Control Logic, which supports basic data set control signals.
9. It provides separate clock inputs for receiver and transmitter sections, thus
providing an option of fixing different baud rates for the transmitter and
receiver section.

10. It is compatible with an extended range of Intel microprocessors.

11. It is fabricated in 28 pin DIP package and its all inputs and outputs are TTL
compatible.

12. It is available in standard as well as extended temperature range

ii) Serial Communication: Using 8251

8251 is a Universal Synchronous and Asynchronous Receiver and
Transmitter compatible with Intel’s processors. This chip converts the parallel data
into a serial stream of bits suitable for serial transmission. It is also able to receive
a serial stream of bits and convert it into parallel data bytes to be read by a
microprocessor.
Basic Modes of data transmission
a) Simplex
b) Duplex
c) Half Duplex

a) Simplex mode
Data is transmitted only in one direction over a single communication channel. For
example, the processor may transmit data for a CRT display unit in this mode.

b) Duplex Mode
In duplex mode, data may be transferred between two transreceivers in both
directions simultaneously.

c) Half Duplex mode

In this mode, data transmission may take place in either direction, but at a time
data may be transmitted only in one direction. A computer may communicate with
a terminal in this mode. It is not possible to transmit data from the computer to the
terminal and terminal to computer simultaneously.

iii) Advantages of using the USART chips in

microprocessor based systems.
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).