TL16C550B, TL16C550BI
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS ELEMENT
SLLS136B – JANUARY 1994 – REVISED AUGUST 1996
Capable of Running With All Existing
TL16C450 Software
Fully Programmable Serial Interface
Characteristics:
– 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-Bit Characters
– Even-, Odd-, or No-Parity Bit Generation
and Detection
– 1-, 1 1/2-, or 2-Stop Bit Generation
– Baud Generation (DC to 562 Kbit/s)
After Reset, All Registers Are Identical to
the TL16C450 Register Set
In the FIFO Mode, Transmitter and Receiver
Are Each Buffered With 16-Byte FIFOs to
Reduce the Number of Interrupts to the
CPU
False-Start Bit Detection
Complete Status Reporting Capabilities
In the TL16C450 Mode, Hold and Shift
Registers Eliminate the Need for Precise
Synchronization Between the CPU and
Serial Data
3-State Outputs Provide TTL Drive
Capabilities for Bidirectional Data Bus and
Control Bus
Programmable Baud Rate Generator Allows
Division of Any Input Reference Clock by 1
to (2 –1) and Generates an Internal 16×
Line Break Generation and Detection
Internal Diagnostic Capabilities:
– Loopback Controls for Communications
Link Fault Isolation
16
Clock
Standard Asynchronous Communication
Bits (Start, Stop, and Parity) Added to or
Deleted From the Serial Data Stream
– Break, Parity, Overrun, Framing Error
Simulation
Fully Prioritized Interrupt System Controls
Independent Receiver Clock Input
Modem Control Functions (CTS, RTS, DSR,
DTR, RI, and DCD)
Transmit, Receive, Line Status, and Data
Set Interrupts Independently Controlled
Faster Plug-In Replacement for National
Semiconductor NS16550A
description
The TL16C550B and the TL16C550BI are functional upgrades of the TL16C450 asynchronous
†
communications element (ACE). Functionally identical to the TL16C450 on power up (character mode ), the
TL16C550B and TL16C550BI can be placed in an alternate mode (FIFO) to relieve the CPU of excessive
software overhead.
In this alternate FIFO mode, internal FIFOs are activated allowing 16 bytes (plus 3 bits of error data per byte
in the receiver FIFO) to be stored in both receive and transmit modes. To minimize system overhead and
maximize system efficiency, all logic is on the chip. Two of the TL16C450 terminal functions (RXRDY and
TXRDY) have been changed to allow signalling of DMA transfers.
The TL16C550B and the TL16C550BI perform serial-to-parallel conversions on data received from a peripheral
device or modem and parallel-to-serial conversion on data received from its CPU. The CPU can read and report
on the status of the ACE at any point in the ACE operation. Reported status information includes: the type of
transfer operation in progress, the status of the operation, and any error conditions encountered.
Please be aware that an important notice concerning availability, standard warranty, and use in critical applications of
Texas Instruments semiconductor products and disclaimers thereto appears at the end of this data sheet.
†The TL16C550B and the TL16C550BI can also be reset to the TL16C450 mode under software control.
Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments Incorporated
PRODUCTION DATA information is current as of publication date.
Products conform to specifications per the terms of Texas Instruments
standard warranty. Production processing does not necessarily include
testing of all parameters.
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