Patent Publication Number: US-5159684-A

Title: Data communication interface integrated circuit with data-echoing and non-echoing communication modes

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to the provision of an integrated circuit controller chip especially adapted for use in Echoplex communication, and that can be also employed in some RS232 communication. 
     Echoplex communication is discussed below, and also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,421, Duwel et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,961, Dlugos et al. This communication protocol has been found to be of particular use in postage meter systems, although it is also useful for other communication. 
     Various techniques has been employed in the part for interfacing employing the Echoplex protocol. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,421, Duwel et al, enables communication between a host computer and a postage meter employing a microprocessor with a control program, and a peripheral interface processor also having a control program. U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,756, Daniels; U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,961, Dlugos et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,962, Daniels et al disclose an interface system employing a microcomputer as well as hard wired logic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,791,  Mallozzi et al discloses an interface to a weighing system, also employing a microcomputer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed specifically to the provision of an integrated circuit chip that will enable the simple and rapid interfacing of devices employing the Echoplex protocol, as well as providing limited communication by other techniques, such as RS232. The controller chip of the invention replaces the much more expensive circuits that are conventionally employed for this purpose. The chip is provided with internal registers that permit adapting the chip to the I/O devices employed by the user, in a simple manner. 
     The Controller Chip of the invention is a single channel serial receiver/transmitter designed for data communications using either the Echoplex Protocol or the Asynchronous Full Duplex RS-232. The chip is used as a peripheral device and is programmed by an 8 bit CPU to handle the two different data communication types. 
     The chip accepts data characters from the CPU in parallel format (8 bits) and then converts them into a continuous serial data stream for transmission. The chip also receives serial data streams and converts them into parallel data characters for the CPU. When using the Echoplex communication mode, the chip will handle all the necessary hand-shaking independent of the CPU. The CPU can read the complete status of the chip at any time. These include data transmission errors and control signals such as Transmit Buffer Empty or Receive Buffer Full. 
     The chip communicates with the CPU on a byte level through an 8 bit bidirectional data bus and separate read and write lines. There are two methods to handle data register transfers between the chip and the CPU and are software selectable by the CPU. They are, the DMA control mode where the data registers are handled by an external DMA controller and the Interrupt control mode where the data registers are handled by chip select and address and read or write strobes from the CPU. Status interrupts are available and are maskable. 
     Both the receiver and transmitter are double buffered, that is, one holding register and one working register. 
     The chip is preferably fabricated using 2 Micron Cmos Technology. 
     The chip can be used for Echoplex communication, as well as for certain RS-232 communication applications. It is restricted due to the fact that the word format and baud rate are fixed and cannot be reprogrammed. This chip can be used to communicate with some devices using the RS-232 interfaces. 
    
    
     BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION 
     In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a timing diagram for explaining Echoplex communication; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of the controller of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the logic circuits of the controller of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detailed schematic diagrams of selected portions of the circuit of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the system of FIG. 3 in the Echoplex mode; 
     FIG. 11A of a functional block diagram of the system of FIG. 3 in the RS-232 mode; 
     FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 are further detailed schematic diagrams of selected portions of the circuit of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 23 is a flow diagram illustrating the RS-232 transmit mode. 
     FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating the RS-232 receive mode. 
     FIG. 25 is a flow digram illustrating the Echoplex Transmit mode; 
     FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating the Echoplex Receive mode; 
     FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an RS232 interface for the controller of the invention; 
     FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connections of the controller of the invention in the interrupt mode; 
     FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connections of the controller of the invention in the DMA mode; and 
     FIG. 30 is a circuit diagram illustrating the connections of the controller of the invention in the Echoplex mode. 
    
    
     DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Echoplex communication is particularly suitable for communication to devices in which security must be maintained. An example of such a device is a postage meter. In providing secure communication, it is imperative that electromagnetic radiation and susceptibility be kept to a minimum. This requirement, in turn, is best satisfied by minimizing the number of electrical conductors which the communication link depends on to effect data communication. Thus, serial communication is an attractive approach. 
     Echoplex transmission is a special serial communication scheme which provides error free transmission. In providing secure communication, the data transmission must be error free, and it is also desirable to control the communication as much as possible through software rather than hardware. Further, it is desirable that such communication be fast, so that the individual computer processors which are communicating do not become input/output bound. Echoplex communication satisfies each of these requirements. 
     In implementing Echoplex communication, two one-way (&#34;simplex&#34;) circuits are used with the ability to present either a low logic level (0 volts) or a high logic level (5 volts) on each circuit. One simplex circuit is used for the transmission of data from a device, and the other is used for reception of information by the device. 
     In Echoplex transmission, as illustrated in FIG. 1, data is communicated between units on a message basis, serially over the first simplex circuit, and by echoing back (hence Echoplex) the transmitted signal over the second simplex circuit on a bit-by-bit basis. A comparison is made at the transmitter to determine, in real time, if the signal sent by the transmitter is the same as the signal received by transmitter. If the signals are the same, the transmitter sends a no-error pulse to the receiver. Data transfer rate is slowed only by the time required for the no-error pulse. 
     Echoplex communication is serial, bit synchronous, word asynchronous, start/stop communication, for example at 9600 baud. The communication is solely on the basis of messages, i.e., separate control lines are not provided between the communicating units for control of the communications. Each byte is 10 bits, beginning with a start bit followed by an 8 bit word, or byte, and concluding with a stop bit. The last stop bit of a message has a sense opposite to that of all other stop bits of the message, in order to indicate the end of the message. A logical zero is indicative of a start bit, an end of message stop bit, and typically is a zero data bit. A logical one can represent a request to send, a clear to send, an end of byte stop bit, a one data bit, and also the presence of a no-error pulse, which typically is a high. 
     If the messages have more than one word, the second word of the message may contain a format byte, consisting of two nibbles, i.e., four-bit groups. The first nibble tells the number of nibbles of data in the message, and the second nibble gives the number of digits to the right of the decimal point of the data, or corresponds to a hexadecimal F is there is no explicit decimal point. 
     When a message is ready to be sent by a unit, the receive line of the unit is first tested. If it is low then the transmitting device raises its send line to a high, and again tests the receive line. If it is still low, the unit is free to transmit, otherwise, it must become a receiver. This avoids contention between two units. 
     The timing of the messages constitutes the crux of the communication system whereby the messages may be asynchronous. Typical timing is illustrated in FIG. 1, which illustrates the relative timing of the lines of the transmitter for sending a given message, and the lines of a receiver for receiving the same message. Since the transmitter output line is the same as the receiver input line, it will be evident that these two signal lines are identical. The same is true, of course, with respect to the transmitter input line and the receiver output line. 
     In a successful transmission system of this type, the transmitter tests its input line at time t 1  and, if a low is detected, raises its output line to a high within 50 microseconds, as shown at t 2 . The transmitter then again tests its input line at time t 3  within 50-100 microseconds. If the input line is still at a low then the transmitter can start to send its message at time t 5  following a minimum wait of 170 microseconds, by the lowering of this output line to form the start bit of the message. In the meantime, at time t 4 , the receiver has raised its output line to a high level in a minimum of 100 microseconds indicating it is ready to receive data. This indicates a &#34;clear to send&#34; condition. The timing between the succeeding bytes of a multibyte message, as indicated by the time interval between t 5  and t 5&#39; , is 1134.375 microseconds minimum, in order to insure that the receiver has been enabled to effect proper reception and storage of the signals. 
     The time from the beginning t 5 , of the last message byte and the transmission of a no-error pulse at time t 7  is set at 1031.26 to 1157.291 microseconds, and the no-error pulse has a width from 309.375 microseconds to 368.228 microseconds. The receiver must test for the occurrence of a no-error pulse at time t 8  from 1187.291 to 1340.625 microseconds following the initiation of the start pulse of the last byte of the message. The transmitter bit transitions must be in accordance with Table 1, below, and the receiver sampling of the data and stop bits must be in accordance with the timing illustrated in Table II. 
     
                       TABLE 1                                                     
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n      BIT         MINIMUM    MAXIMUM                                     
______________________________________                                    
1      START       0          0                                           
2      DATA 1      103.125    105.208                                     
3      DATA 2      206.25     210.417                                     
4      DATA 3      309.375    315.625                                     
5      DATA 4      412.500    420.833                                     
6      DATA 5      515.625    526.042                                     
7      DATA 6      618.750    631.250                                     
8      DATA 7      721.875    736.458                                     
9      DATA 8      825.000    841.667                                     
10     STOP        928.125    946.875                                     
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                       TABLE II                                                    
______________________________________                                    
n            BIT      MINIMUM                                             
______________________________________                                    
1            START    --                                                  
2            D1       115.208                                             
3            D2       220.416                                             
4            D3       325.624                                             
5            D4       430.832                                             
6            D5       536.040                                             
7            D6       641.248                                             
8            D7       746.456                                             
9            D8       851.664                                             
10           STOP     956.872                                             
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     With the above timing, asynchronous transmission is thereby feasible so that control leads for this purpose between the units are unnecessary. 
     Further, in order to insure that the information is correctly received by the receiver without error, the data is sequentially returned to the transmitter on the receiver output line. The times for the retransmission of the data, from the beginning of the instruction loop detecting a start bit, are given in table III, and the times for sampling this data on the input line to the transmitter are given in table IV. 
     If, and only if the received data at the transmitter is the same as the sent data, will the no-error pulse be transmitted at the end of the message. 
     As a further control over the message communication, the transmitter will wait for a minimum 3.5 millisecond for a clear to send signal from the receiver after presenting a request to send transmission, and similarly, the receiver will wait for about 3.5 milliseconds maximum for the start of a message after presenting the clear to send message. Contention between units is further minimized by setting determined periods that must be existent between adjacent transmitter activity of a unit, as well as between adjacent receivers. 
     
                       TABLE III                                                   
______________________________________                                    
n      BIT         MINIMUM    MAXIMUM                                     
______________________________________                                    
1      START        32.083     73.125                                     
2      D1          137.292    176.250                                     
3      D2          242.500    279.375                                     
4      D3          347.708    382.500                                     
5      D4          452.917    485.625                                     
6      D5          558.125    588.75                                      
7      D6          663.333    691.875                                     
8      D7          768.542    795.000                                     
9      D8          873.750    898.125                                     
10     STOP        978.958    1001.250                                    
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                       TABLE V                                                     
______________________________________                                    
n      BIT         MINIMUM    MAXIMUM                                     
______________________________________                                    
1      START       103.125    135.208                                     
2      D1          206.250    240.416                                     
3      D2          309.375    345.625                                     
4      D3          412.500    450.833                                     
5      D4          515.625    556.041                                     
6      D5          618.750    661.250                                     
7      D6          721.875    766.458                                     
8      D7          825.000    871.667                                     
9      D8          928.125    976.875                                     
10     STOP        1031.250   1082.083                                    
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The controller of the invention is a single channel serial receiver/transmitter, fabricated on a single integrated circuit chip, and designed for data communications using either the Echoplex protocol, as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,507, or Asynchronous Full Duplex RS-232. The chip is used as a peripheral device and can be programmed by a host CPU to handle either of the two different data communication protocols. 
     The controller accepts data characters from the host CPU in parallel format (8 bits) and then converts then into a continuous serial data stream for transmission. The chip can also receive serial data streams and convert them into parallel data characters for the CPU. When using the Echoplex communication mode, the chip will handle all the necessary handshaking independently of the CPU. The CPU can read the complete status of the chip at any time. These include the transmission errors and control signals such as Transmit Buffer Empty or Receive Buffer Full. 
     The controller communicates with the CPU on a byte level through an 8 bit bidirectional data bus and separate read and write lines. There are two methods to handle data register transfers between the chip and the CPU and these methods are software selectable by the CPU. They are, the DMA control mode in which the data registers of the controller are handled by an external DMA controller and the Interrupt control mode in which the data registers of the controller are handled by chip select, address and read or write strobes from the CPU. Status interrupts are available and are maskable. 
     Both the receiver and transmitter are double buffered, that is, each are provided with a holding register and a working register. 
     When the controller is used for certain RS-232 communication applications, it is restricted due to the fact that the word format and baud rate are fixed and cannot be reprogrammed. This controller can thus be used to communicate with some dedicated equipment using the RS-232 interface. However, when communicating with other RS-232 devices the traditional UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) should be used such as Intel&#39;s 8251A Programmable Communications Interface. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller in accordance with the invention, showing the logic block 500 of the controller, and the input and output drivers coupled thereto. All inputs are Schmitt Trigger devices. The data inputs and outputs are bi-directional devices. The interrupt (INTR) and transmit data (TXD) outputs are open drain devices. The remaining outputs are normal TTL compatible devices. All the 2-input NAND gates connected in a serial stream to develop the NAND TREE OUT signal are used to test the integrity of the input devices during manufacturing test. The functional block 500 contains the remaining logic of the controller. 
     The pins of the illustration in FIG. 2 are described as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
MNEMONIC  TYPE    NAME AND FUNCTION                                       
______________________________________                                    
D0-D7     I/O     DATA BUS: Active high 8 bit                             
                  bidirectional tri-state data bus.                       
                  Bit 0 is the lsb and bit 7 is the                       
                  msb. All data, command and                              
                  status transfers between the host                       
                  CPU and the Echoplex controller                         
                  chip take place over this bus.                          
                  The direction of the transfer is                        
                  controlled by the RD˜ and WR˜ in-           
                  puts when the CEN˜ input is low.                  
                  When the CEN˜ input is high, the                  
                  data bus is in the tri-state                            
                  mode.                                                   
CEN˜                                                                
          I       CHIP ENABLE: Active low input.                          
                  When low, data transfers between                        
                  the host CPU and the Echoplex                           
                  Controller chip are enabled on                          
                  D0-D7 and controlled by the RD˜,                  
                  WR˜, and A0-A1 inputs. When                       
                  CEN˜ is high, the Echoplex Con-                   
                  troller chip is effectively isolated from               
                  the data bus and D0-D7 are placed                       
                  in the tri-state mode.                                  
RD˜ I       READ STROBE: Active low input.                          
                  A low on this pin while CEN is                          
                  low causes the contents of the                          
                  register selected by A0-A1 to be                        
                  placed on the data bus. Data                            
                  will be stable at the trail edge                        
                  (low to high transition) of the                         
                  pulse.                                                  
WR˜ I       WRITE STROBE: Active low input.                         
                  A low on this pin while CEN˜ is                   
                  low causes the contents of the                          
                  data bus to be transferred to the                       
                  register selected by A0-A1. The                         
                  transfer occurs on the trailing                         
                  edge (low to high transition) of                        
                  the pulse.                                              
A0-A1     I       ADDRESS LINES: Active high ad-                          
                  dress inputs to select the                              
                  Echoplex Controller chip regis-                         
                  ters for read/write operations.                         
RST˜                                                                
          I       RESET: Master Reset. A low on                           
                  this pin clears the register con-                       
                  trolled Reset mode, places the                          
                  chip in Echoplex Non-Priority                           
                  mode, clears the Self Test mode                         
                  to normal operation, places the                         
                  chip in DMA data handling mode,                         
                  clears the TBE and RBF flags,                           
                  clears all Interrupt flags,                             
                  clears the Interrupt Enable reg-                        
                  ister, places the receiver and                          
                  transmitter in the idle state                           
                  causing the TXD output to go low,                       
                  and sets the chip to accept the                         
                  5.76 MHZ input clock frequency.                         
INTR˜                                                               
          O       INTERRUPT REQUEST: This output                          
                  goes low upon occurrence of one                         
                  or more of the interrupting con-                        
                  ditions. The host CPU can read                          
                  the interrupt status register                           
                  (and the general status register                        
                  if in data interrupt mode) to                           
                  determine the interrupting condi-                       
                  tions(s). Open Drain output.                            
CLK       I       CLOCK INPUT: Input for the ex-                          
                  ternal clock which will establish                       
                  the time base for all internal                          
                  timing and counting operations.                         
RXD       I       RECEIVER SERIAL DATA INPUT:                             
                  The least significant bit is received                   
                  first.                                                  
TXD       O       TRANSMITTER SERIAL DATA                                 
                  OUTPUT: The least significant bit is                    
                  transmitted first. This output                          
                  is held low in Echoplex mode or                         
                  high in RS-232 (UART) mode when                         
                  the transmitter is idle or opera-                       
                  ting in self test mode. Open                            
                  Drain output.                                           
RTS˜                                                                
          O       REQUEST TO SEND: This output                            
                  goes low as soon as the transmit                        
                  buffer is loaded and goes high as                       
                  soon as the last bit of a byte is                       
                  transmitted. It is active as                            
                  long as the transmitter is busy.                        
CTS˜                                                                
          I       CLEAR TO SEND: Active low input.                        
                  When the transmitter lowers its                         
                  RTS˜ line, it will suspend trans-                 
                  mit operation indefinitely (no                          
                  time out) until it receives an                          
                  active low on the CTS line.                             
                  This function is only available                         
                  in the RS-232 (UART) mode. Tie                          
                  up to Vdd if not used.                                  
DSR˜                                                                
          I       DATA SET READY: Active low.                             
                  This input can be polled in order                       
                  to detect if a receive only ex-                         
                  ternal device is active. Tie to                         
                  Vdd if not used.                                        
DRQR      O       DMA REQUEST RECEIVER: This                              
                  output goes high when the receive                       
                  buffer is full and goes low on                          
                  the lead edge (high to low                              
                  transition) of the DACKR˜ input                   
                  signal from a DMA controller.                           
                  Can also be used as an interrupt                        
                  line to signal the CPU that the                         
                  receive buffer is full.                                 
DACKR˜                                                              
          I       DMA ACKNOWLEDGE                                         
                  RECEIVER: Active low input that                         
                  causes the contents of the receive buffer               
                  to be placed on the data bus. The                       
                  DRQR output will be cleared on the                      
                  lead edge (high to low transi-                          
                  tion) and data on the data bus                          
                  will be stable at the trail edge.                       
                  CEN does not have to be active                          
                  for this operation. Tie to Vdd                          
                  if not used.                                            
DRQT      O       DMA REQUEST TRANSMITTER:                                
                  This output goes high when the trans-                   
                  mit buffer is empty and goes low                        
                  on the lead edge (high to low                           
                  transition) of the DACKT˜ input                   
                  signal from a DMA controller.                           
                  Can also be used as an interrupt                        
                  line to signal the CPU that the                         
                  transmit buffer is empty.                               
DACKT˜                                                              
          I       DMA ACKNOWLEDGE TRANS-                                  
                  MITTER: Active low input that causes                    
                  the contents of the data bus to be                      
                  transferred to the transmit buff-                       
                  er. The DRQT output will be                             
                  cleared on the lead edge (high to                       
                  low transition) and data on the                         
                  data bus must be stable at the                          
                  trail edge. CEN˜ does not have                    
                  to be active for this operation.                        
                  Tie to Vdd if not used.                                 
Vdd       I       POWER SUPPLY: +5V Supply                                
Vss       I       GROUND                                                  
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     As illustrated in FIG. 2A, functionally the circuit includes an internal data bus, to which the data lines D0-D7 are coupled via a data bus buffer 401. The data bus buffer 401 is controlled by a read/write control logic circuit 402, to which the Reset, Clock, A0, A1, Read, Write and CEN signals are directed. A line control circuit 403 is to receive the CTS and DSR signals, and to output the RTS signal. 
     The transmit buffer 404 is coupled to the data bus to provide serial output signals, under the control of the transmit control circuit 405. Serial input signals are buffered via the Receive Buffer 406 under the control of the receive control circuit 407. 
     A DMA control circuit 409 is to output the DRQT and DRQR signals, and to receive the DACKT and DACKR signals. In addition, an interrupt control circuit 410 is to notify the CPU of a pending interrupt. 
     The logic circuit 500 contains the major functional blocks of the controller and the data Bus turnaround logic. This circuit is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3, wherein: 
     Block 510 is a decoder for the address bus (A0,A1) and chip enable (CEN) in order to access command, status and data registers. The circuit is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. 
     Block 511 is a scaler for scaling the input clock frequency down to the 4 microsecond clock period used by the remaining functional blocks. This circuit is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. This circuit contains a counter that can be programmed to accept either 5.76 MHZ or 8.00 MHZ clock input frequencies. 
     Block 512 receives parallel data off the data bus and develops serial data streams for the Echoplex mode and the RS-232 mode. The logic for this circuit is illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. A functional block diagram of this circuit for the Echoplex mode is shown in FIG. 11, and for the RS232 mode is shown in FIG. 11A. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the logic for generating Request to Send and Clear to Send signals (RTS --  CTS --  GEN) in the Echoplex mode, the data transmitter (TRANSMIT --  LOGIC), the Echo Error logic (ECHO --  ERROR --  DETECT), the stop bit generator (STOP --  BIT --  GEN), and the data out multiplexer (DATA --  OUT --  MUX) that builds the serial message. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the TRANSMIT/RECEIVE mode control logic (XR --  MODE --  CONTRL) for Echoplex which puts the controller in the transmit or receive mode, the logic to handle the RTS/CTS handshaking (HANDSHAKE --  CONTROL), and the Echoplex data receiver timing and control (RECEIVE --  DATA --  ENABLE) &amp; (MOD --  26 --  BIT --  CNTR). 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the main counter and decoders which establish when events will occur. The decoders are temporally labeled, that is, CNT --  32 occurs 32 microseconds after the start of the transmit or receive cycle. This figure also illustrates the logic to start the transmit or receive cycle in sync with the controller&#39;s clock when the CPU system clock is asynchronous to the clock on the controller (SYNC --  START --  UP), and includes the status registers (STATUS --  REGISTERS). 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the data receiver (RECEIVER --  LOGIC), (RECEIVER --  DATA --  DETECT) &amp; (ONE --  SHOT --  FOR --  RESTART). It also illustrates the RS-232 receiver timing and control (UART --  RECEIVE --  TIMING --  LOGIC), and the multiplexer for the two status registers onto the data bus. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the interrupt logic. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates functionally, operation of the controller of the invention in the Echoplex mode. The mode control circuit 600, determines whether the circuit is in the transmit mode or the receive mode. This mode is determined by the status of the registers in the circuit, as discussed above. In the transmit mode, signals are received from the internal data bus via the transmit buffer latch 601, the status of the buffer being stored in a register as a transmit buffer empty or full flag (TBE) 602. This data is directed in parallel to the transmit shift buffer 603 and shifted out in series, under the control of the mode control circuit 600, to the data out multiplexer 605. The multiplexer also outputs the RTS and CTS signals from generator 606, and the output of the EOB/EOM stop bit generator 607. The serial signals are also applied to a data bit latch 608 for comparison with echo signals in the comparator 609, to output an echo error flag from the circuit 610 to the multiplexer 605 in the event of an error. 
     In the Echoplex receive mode signals received on the RXD input are shifted into the receiver shift register 620 under the control of the mode control circuit 600, for application in parallel to the receive buffer latch 621, and thence to the parallel internal bus. The flag 622 is controlled by the contents of the buffer latch 621. In Echoplex reception, the received signals are applied to the data latch 623 for echo transmission to an originating transmitter. 
     FIG. 11A illustrates the functional operation of the system of FIG. 3 in the transmit and receive modes, when RS-232 communication is employed. In the transmission mode, the bytes to be sent are first loaded, and then tests are made for clear-to-send and transmit-buffer-empty signals. If the message is not complete, a new byte is loaded for transmission. In the receive mode, if the read buffer is full, and there is no receiver over-run error, the read buffer is read. This process is repeated as long as the incoming message directs signals to the read buffer. 
     Block 513 of FIG. 3 connects the transmit line to the receive line in a self test feature. A more detailed illustration of this circuit is shown in FIG. 12. In the Echoplex mode, the transmit signal is delayed on the receive line to simulate an echoed signal. In the RS-232 mode, there is no delay. 
     Block 514 of FIG. 3 contains the logic for facilitating manufacturing tests, this circuit being illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 13. 
     Further details of various circuits are illustrated as follows: 
     FIG. 14 illustrates the BIT --  CNTR circuit of FIGS. 7 and 9. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates the MAIN --  CNTR circuit of FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 16 illustrates the TIM --  OUT --  CNTR circuit of FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 17 illustrates the UART --  CNTR circuit of FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 18 illustrates the XMIT --  LATCH circuit of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 19 illustrates the XMIT --  SHIFT --  REG circuit of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates the REC --  LATCH circuit of FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 21 illustrates the REC --  SHFT --  REG circuit of FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 22 illustrates the DECODE circuit of FIG. 8. 
     These circuits are self explanatory, and hence will not be discussed in detail. 
     FIG. 23 illustrates the operation of the controller in RS232 transmit mode. RS232 transmit mode operation begins with loading of a byte into the transmit latch (step 702), which can occur only if the TBE flag has been set. Also, the loading of a byte into the transmit latch causes the TBE flag to be reset. If the transmit shift register is empty (step 704), the byte is loaded into the transmit shift register from the transmit latch, the TBE flag is set and an interrupt request is made (step 706). The controller then activates RTS (step 708) and then waits for the CTS line to become active. When (CTS.sup.˜  becomes active (step 710), the byte is transmitted from the transmit shift register (step 712) on line TXD. If there is another byte to be loaded (step 714), the operation begins again at step 702. Otherwise, the operation ends. 
     FIG. 24 illustrates the operation of the controller in the RS232 receive mode. The process begins when a byte is received in the receive shift register (step 722). The byte is then transferred to the receive latch, the RBF flag is set, and an interrupt request is made (step 724). If a receiver overrun error occurs (step 726) the receiver overrun flag is set (step 728). The microprocessor then determines whether to continue (step 730) or to abort the message (step 732). If there has been no receiver overrun error (step 726), or if the microprocessor determines to continue receiving (step 730), the controller waits for the receiver latch to be read (step 734). Once the receive latch has been read, the controller resets the RBF flag (step 736), and the operation ends. 
     FIG. 25 illustrates operation in the Echoplex transmit mode. Operation begins with loading of a byte into the transmit latch (step 742), which can occur only if the TBE flag has been set. Also, the loading of a byte into the transmit latch causes the TBE flag to be reset. If the transmit shift register is empty (step 744), the byte is loaded from the transmit latch into the transmit shift register and the TBE flag is set (step 746). 
     RTS.sup.˜  is then activated (step 748). The controller then waits until line CTS.sup.˜  is activated (step 750). If CTS.sup.˜ is not activated within 3.5 msec the communication time out interrupt is activated (step 751), the microprocessor aborts sending the message (step 753) and the process ends. If CTS.sup.˜  is activated within 3.5 msec, the controller transmits the byte from the transmit shift register via line TXD and the transmit shift register is cleared (step 752). Step 754 illustrates that is another byte has not been loaded (step 742) within 1 msec after the TBE flag was set (step 746), the controller determines that the message is ending, and generates an end of message bit to the transmission (step 755). The controller then checks to see if there was an echo error (step 758). If so, the microprocessor determined whether to retry transmission (step 756). If transmission is to be retried, the operation begins again with step 742. Otherwise, the operation ends. 
     Returning to step 758, if no echo error was found, the controller sends a no error pulse (step 760), and then activates an end of message interrupt (step 762). The operation then ends. 
     FIG. 26 illustrates operation of the controller in Echoplex receive mode. The operation begins with receipt of a byte, serially, bit-by-bit, via line RXD, into the receive shift register (step 772). The byte is then transferred from the receive shift register to the receive latch, the RBF flag is set, and an interrupt is initiated (step 774). If the controller detects a receiver overrun error (step 776), it sets the receiver overrun flag (step 778). The microprocessor then determines whether or not to continue (step 780). If the microprocessor determines not to continue, the message is aborted (782). If it is determined to continue, or if there was not receiver overrun error, the controller then waits until the receive latch is read (step 784). Once the receive latch has been read, the controller resets RBF. If the most recent byte did not contain an end of message bit (step 788), the process begins again with step 772. If the most recent byte did contain and end of message bit, the controller checks for the no error pulse (step 790). If the no error pulse is received, the operation ends. If the no error pulse is not received, the controller sets an error flag (step 792) and the message is aborted (step 782). 
     Except for 2 resistors, the Echoplex driver and receiver circuits are resident on the chip, as seen in FIG. 30. 
     The driver and receiver circuits for interfacing directly to an RS-232 external device are not resident on the chip and must be added externally, as seen in FIG. 27. The same driver and receiver circuits on the chip are used in the RS-232 mode as were used in the Echoplex mode. 
     To perform data transfers between the CPU and the Controller chip in a DMA (direct memory access) mode, an external DMA controller such as an Intel 8237 must be used in conjunction with the chip, as seen in FIG. 29. 
     The external DMA controller must perform in the following manner. 
     In transmit mode, the DRQT port will go high when the transmit buffer is empty and ready to accept data. The DMA controller must send an active low pulse to the DACKT.sup.˜  port in order to strobe new data into the Echoplex Controller chip. Data must be stable at the trail edge of the DACKT.sup.˜  pulse. The lead edge of the DACKT.sup.˜  pulse will clear the DRQT port. CEN.sup.˜  does not have to be active for this operation. 
     In receive mode, the DRQR port will go high when the receive buffer is full and ready to transfer data. The DMA controller must send and active low pulse to the DACKR.sup.˜  port in order to strobe new data out of the Echoplex Controller chip. Data will be stable at the trail edge of the DACKR.sup.˜  pulse. The lead edge of the DACKR.sup.˜  pulse will clear the DRQR port. CEN.sup.˜  does not have to be active for this operation. 
     Prior to starting data transmission or reception, the Controller chip must be loaded with a set of control words generated by the CPU. These control signals define the complete functional definition of the chip and must immediately follow a reset operation (software reset or hardware reset). 
     The control words are split into two formats: 
     1. MODE CONTROL (COMMAND REGISTER #1) 
     2. INTERRUPT MASK CONTROL (COMMAND REGISTER #2) 
     COMMAND REGISTER #1 will establish the various modes the chip can assume. 
     The chip can be selected for ECHOPLEX mode or RS-232 (UART) mode. 
     In the Echoplex mode, the chip can be selected to be a Priority or Non-Priority device. In priority mode, the sender does not have to test for line contention, because it has priority. In non-priority mode the sender must test the line for contention and if contention exists, it must relinquish the line to allow the contending device to be the sender. If line contention does occur, the transmit message is not flushed and will be sent after the contending message is received. 
     The chip can be placed in a Self Test mode where the transmit line is internally tied to the receive line. In Echoplex mode, only the transmit operation is tested. In RS-232 UART mode, both the transmit and receive operations are tested. 
     The chip can be selected to handle data transfers by DMA or by Interrupts. 
     The main timing for the chip is controlled by an external clock connected to the `CLK` input pin. The clock input frequency can be either 5.76 MHZ or 8.0 MHZ. When the chip is initialized, command register #1 must be reprogrammed to identify the clock input frequency selected. Upon hardware reset, the default clock is set at 5.76 MHZ. 
     The chip has a software controlled Reset mode. 
     All modes including the Reset mode are static. 
     The Mode Status is stored in STATUS REGISTER #1 and displays the following: 
     Normal or Self Test Mode 
     UART or Echoplex Mode 
     Echoplex Priority 
     The State of the DSR Port (Data Set Ready) 
     The State of the CTS Port (Clear to Send) 
     DMA or Interrupt Mode (for data handling) 
     Transmit Buffer Empty (TBE) flag 
     Receive Buffer Full (RBF) flag 
     Data transfers can be handled under interrupt control. 
     The DRQT port is the `Transmit Buffer Empty` control line and the DRQT port is the `Receive Buffer Full` control line. 
     The Status Register #1 contains the status of the transmit and receive buffers. Interrupts will be generated when either the transmit buffer becomes empty or when the receive buffer becomes full. Switching to the DMA control mode will disable these 2 interrupts and can be used as TBE/RBF interrupt disable. 
     STATUS REGISTER #2 contains the following interrupt status when in the Echoplex mode. 
     1) End of Transmit Message 
     2) End of Receive Message 
     3) Communications Time Out--Transmit Mode 
     4) Communications Time Out--Receive Mode 
     5) Echo Error--Transmit Mode 
     6) Missing `No Error Pulse` (NEP) 
     7) Receiver Overrun Error 
     8) Status of the Interrupt Port 
     Upon detection of an Echo Error in the Transmit mode, the Transmit line is clamped LOW as soon as the error bit of a byte is detected. The CPU is flagged of this condition by an Echo Error Interrupt. The Transmit line will remain low until the CPU services this interrupt. 
     COMMAND REGISTER #2 is the interrupt masking register and contains the following interrupt enables. 
     1) End of Transmit Message 
     2) End of Receive Message 
     3) All Receive Errors 
     4) All Transmit Errors 
     Data transfer can be handled by DMA with an external DMA controller. 
     The following interrupts can be enabled by Command Register #2 when in the DMA mode. 
     1) End of Transmit Message 
     2) End of Receive Message 
     3) Communications Time Out--Transmit Mode 
     4) Communications Time Out--Receive Mode 
     5) Echo Error--Transmit Mode 
     6) Missing `No Error Pulse` (NEP) 
     7) Receiver Overrun Error 
     The following interrupts are disabled while in the DNA mode. 
     1) Transmit Buffer Empty 
     2) Receiver Buffer Full 
     The DMA controller must have at least 2 channels, one programmed for transmit to service the DRQT and DACKT ports and one programmed for receive to service the DRQR and DACKR ports. 
     Full Duplex Asynchronous 
     Receiver/Transmitter to be used for RS-232 applications. Word format and Baud rate are fixed. 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
Fixed Word Format -                                                       
                1 Start Bit                                               
(10 bits total) 8 Data Bits (lab sent first)                              
                1 Stop Bit                                                
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     There is no parity bit available. 
     Fixed Baud Rate is 9600 bps. 
     RTS (Request to Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) are available in the transmit mode only. When the RTS line is raised, the transmit operation is suspended indefinitely (no time out) until a CTS is detected. 
     Interrupts occur under the following conditions. 
     In Interrupt control mode: 
     1) Receiver Overrun Error 
     2) Transmit Buffer Empty (TBE) 
     3) Receive Buffer Full (RBF) 
     In DMA control mode: 
     1) Receiver Overrun Error 
     The Receiver Overrun Error interrupt in either mode can be masked through Command Register #2. 
     The controller has the following registers: 
     DATA REGISTERS: (CHIP SELECT+ADDRESS 0) 
     This data transfer mode is available in both DMA and Interrupt control modes. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________
COMMAND REGISTER #1:                                                      
               MODE SELECTION                                             
               (CHIP SELECT + ADDRESS 1)                                  
D7    D6     D5      D4    D3    D2   D1  D0                              
__________________________________________________________________________
RESET UART/  ECHOPLEX                                                     
                     UNUSED                                               
                           SELF  DMA/ CLK UNUSED                          
      ECHOPLEX                                                            
             PRIORITY                                                     
                     (0)   TEST  INTR IN  (0)                             
      MODE                 MODE  MODE                                     
__________________________________________________________________________
RESET                                                                     
     0 Clear Reset     When clearing a Reset, a 00H Byte                  
                       must be issued by Command Register                 
                       #1. (default)                                      
     1 Resets Chip     To Reset, a 80H Byte must be issued.               
                       Remains Reset until a 00H is issued.               
UART/ECHOPLEX MODE                                                        
               0 Echoplex Mode (default)                                  
               1 RS-232 UART Mode                                         
ECHOPLEX PRIORITY                                                         
             0 Low Priority (default)                                     
             1 High Priority                                              
SELF TEST MODE SELECTION                                                  
                  0 Normal (default)                                      
                  1 Self Test - loop back                                 
DMA/INTR MODE (DATA TRANSFER)                                             
                      0 DMA Mode (default)                                
                      1 Interrupt Mode                                    
NOTE: In DMA Mode the TBE and RBF interrupts are disabled.                
CLK IN (Clock input select)                                               
              0 5.76 MHZ (default)                                        
              1 8.00 MHZ                                                  
NOTES:                                                                    
     The `default` state is after a Hardware Reset.                       
     The Software Reset performs the same function as the                 
     Hardware Reset except the CLK IN selection is not                    
     altered.                                                             
     All Command Registers&#39; UNUSED bits should be set to 0 for            
     future compatibility.                                                
STATUS REGISTER #1:                                                       
             GENERAL STATUS                                               
             (CHIP SELECT + ADDRESS 1)                                    
D7     D6       D5      D4   D3  D2     D1  D0                            
__________________________________________________________________________
NORMAL UART/    ECHOPLEX                                                  
                        DSR  CTS DMA/   TBE RBF                           
       ECHOPLEX PRIORITY         INTR                                     
       MODE                      MODE                                     
__________________________________________________________________________
NORMAL                                                                    
      0 Normal Operation                                                  
      1 Self Test Mode selected                                           
DSR   Current state of DSR port (active high)                             
CTS   Current state of CTS port (active high)                             
TBE   Transmit Buffer Empty flag (active high)                            
RBF   Receive Buffer Full flag (active high)                              
All other bits are echoes of Command Register #1.                         
COMMAND REGISTER #2:                                                      
               INTERRUPT ENABLE                                           
               (CHIP SELECT + ADDRESS 2)                                  
D7    D6     D5     D4    D3    D2    D1    D0                            
__________________________________________________________________________
UNUSED                                                                    
      RX     TX     RX    UNUSED                                          
                                UNUSED                                    
                                      TX    UNUSED                        
(0)   END OF END OF ERRORS                                                
                          (0)   (0)   ERRORS                              
                                            (0)                           
      MESSAGE                                                             
             MESSAGE                                                      
__________________________________________________________________________
RX END OF MESSAGE -                                                       
              End of received Echoplex message                            
              (active high)                                               
TX END OF MESSAGE -                                                       
              End of transmitted Echoplex message                         
              (active high)                                               
RX ERRORS -                                                               
        Enables all receive error interrupts (active high)                
TX ERRORS -                                                               
        Enables all transmit error interrupts (active high)               
All interrupts are disabled after reset.                                  
STATUS REGISTER #2:                                                       
             INTERRUPT STATUS                                             
             (CHIP SELECT + ADDRESS 2)                                    
D7   D6     D5      D4   D3     D2     D1   D0                            
__________________________________________________________________________
INTR RX     TX      RX   RX     RX     TX   TX                            
     END OF END OF  OVER NO START                                         
                                NEP    CTS  ECHO                          
     MESSAGE                                                              
            MESSAGE RUN  BIT    MISSING                                   
                                       TIME ERROR                         
                                       OUT                                
__________________________________________________________________________
INTR -                                                                    
     Interrupt flag (active high)                                         
RX END OF MESSAGE -                                                       
              End of received message in Echoplex mode                    
              (active high)                                               
TX END OF MESSAGE -                                                       
              End of Transmit message in Echoplex mode                    
              (active high)                                               
RX OVERRUN -                                                              
         Receiver overrun available in both Echoplex and                  
         RS-232 UART modes (active high)                                  
RX NO START BIT -                                                         
            Receiver did not receive a valid start bit                    
            after sending a CTS in Echoplex mode and                      
            has timed out (active high). Time out time                    
            is 3.5 milliseconds maximum.                                  
RX NEP MISSING -                                                          
           Receiver did not receive a valid                               
           `No Error Pulse` in Echoplex mode (active high)                
TX CTS TIMEOUT -                                                          
           Transmitter has not received a valid CTS after                 
           sending a RTS in Echoplex mode and has timed                   
           out (active high). Time out time is 3.5                        
           milliseconds maximum.                                          
TX ECHO ERROR -                                                           
           Transmitter has not received a valid echo bit in               
           Echoplex mode and has clamped the transmit line                
           low as soon as the error bit was detected (active              
           high).                                                         
__________________________________________________________________________
 
    
     The Reset bit in Command Register #1 performs the same function as the hardware Reset performed through the RST pin except the clock selection (CLK IN) is not altered. Once the Reset bit is set by sending a `1` to the Echoplex Controller chip through Command Register #1, it remains set until it is cleared by sending a `0` to the chip through Command Register #1. The chip must remain in the Reset state for a minimum of 12 microseconds before a Clear Reset can be issued. 
     The Reset state places the chip in Echoplex Non-Priority mode, clears the Self Test mode to normal operation, places the chip in DMA data handling mode, clears the TBE and RBF flags, clears all Interrupt flags, clears the Interrupt Enable register, places the Receiver and Transmitter in the idle state causing the TXD output to go low, and (after hardware reset only) sets the chip to accept the 5.76 MHZ input Clock frequency. 
     While the invention has been disclosed and described with reference to a single embodiment, it will be apparent that many variations and modifications may be made therein, and it is therefore intended in the following claims to cover each such variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the invention.