Interfacing Data Transfer Models

Table of Contents
Peripherals I/O and Interfacing .............................................................................................. 2

Models of Data Transfer ......................................................................................................... 2

Parallel Mode ..................................................................................................................... 2

Serial Mode ........................................................................................................................ 3

Synchronous and Asynchronous Transmission .................................................................. 3

Conditions of Data Transfer ............................................................................................... 4

The primary functions of the microprocessor are to receive data from input devices, process
the data using instructions from memory and send the results to output devices. The input
and output devices are called peripherals. Designing logic circuits (hardware) and writing
instructions (software) to enable the microprocessor to communicate with peripherals is
called interfacing. The logic circuits themselves are called I/O ports or interfacing devices.

Models of Data Transfer

Transmission of data occurs in one of two modes, parallel mode and serial mode.

Parallel Mode

In Parallel Mode, the entire data (i.e. all the bits) are transferred at one time. This requires
multiple data lines. In the 8085 for example, it was possible to send 8 bits of data
simultaneously, since the data bus had 8 lines.

✓ Faster
 Expensive
 Limited to small distances
 Needs separate data lines
 Bits must stay synchronized
Serial Mode

In Serial Mode, there is a single data line and the bits of data are sent down the line one at
a time. This complicates things since the machine needs to know how to decompose the bits
at the sender’s end and how to reconstruct the bits at the receiver’s end.

✓ Cheaper
 Slower

Synchronous and Asynchronous Transmission

If we are using serial mode, the transmission can be broken down into two categories,
synchronous and asynchronous.

In synchronous transmission, the sender and receiver maintain the same clock. This allows
us to send data in blocks with very little overhead and at a high speed.

Essentially, if each block of data has 1 byte and it takes 1 second to send it, the receiver
knows that whatever data it receives in 1 second is going to consist of that 1 byte. We do not
need to add any extra information to denote when a byte starts and ends or leave any
transmission gaps.

To remain in sync, data is continuously transmitted with no stopping. The data rate depends
on the clock rate.
By contrast, in asynchronous transmission, the sender and receiver clocks are not
synchronized. This forces us to add at least 1 bit to the start and end to denote the block of
data, which adds overhead, and also leave transmission gaps. The transmission gaps are
also irregular, so time absolutely cannot be used to determine when a block starts and ends.
All of this combines to give asynchronous transmission low speed. We may also add parity
bits for error detection.

Consider that we have 250 characters, each of 8 bits, that we want to transfer. If we are
using asynchronous transmission, each character must have a start and a stop bit, so there
are 10 bits per character, times 250 characters, which means we must transfer a total of
2500 characters.

Instead, if we use synchronous transmission, we will only have to send 250 ∗ 8 = 2000
characters. We will also need to send some synchronization bits from time to time. Suppose
we send 1 synchronization character after every 50 characters. This brings our total up to
(250 + 5) × 8 = 2040 characters. This is still 20% more efficient than the asynchronous
counterpart.

Although it may seem like synchronous transmission is clearly better, we do need

Conditions of Data Transfer

The data transfer process can be controlled by either the microprocessor or the peripheral
device.

If the microprocessor is controlling the data transfer, it can take place in one of several ways:

• Unconditional Data Transfer – The microprocessor thinks that the peripheral device
is always available.
 • Data Transfer with Polling – Peripheral devices are polled regularly.

• Data Transfer with Interrupt – When a peripheral device is ready to transfer data, it
sends an interrupt signal. The microprocessor pauses execution and sends the
peripheral device an interrupt acknowledgement signal.

• Data Transfer with READY Signal – If the peripheral device has a slower response
time than the microprocessor’s execution time, then T states are extended to
complete the data transfer.

• Data Transfer with Handshake Signals – Signals are exchanged between the
microprocess and the peripheral devices before data transfer.

If the peripheral device is controlling the data transfer, then it can take place in only one
way, Direct Memory Access (DMA). This is much faster. The DMA controller sends a HOLD
signal to the microprocessor, which releases its data bus and address bus to the controller.
Data can then be transferred at high speeds without further intervention from the
microprocessor.