Microprocessor Systems and

Interfacing
EEE 342

Dr. Naeem Shehzad

8254 timer/counter interfacing with
8088 CPU
 Outline
 8254 Programmable Interval Timer/Counter

 Pin configuration

 Architecture

 Interfacing with 8088

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Why need a timer/counter in computer
 We need precise timing in many real time
applications like

 Generate a basic timer interrupt that occurs at 18.2 Hz

 Refreshing the DRAM memory system
 Counting events
 Producing low frequency clock
 Etc.

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Why need a timer/counter in computer
 CPU works at crystal oscillator pulse, But it is
too fast for peripheral devices like ADC etc..
 Then use the software delay routines
 Using delay routines is not a good option because it
will keep the CPU busy. They are flexible
(programmable) but not very accurate

 Then use hardware timer like 555

 It is accurate but cannot be changed (not Reprogrammed)
 Using a software control hardware timer is good option

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8254 timer/counter
 The Intel 8254 is a peripheral counter/timer device
designed to solve the common timing control problems in
microcomputer system design.
 Features
 It provides three independent 16-bit counters, each

capable of handling clock inputs up to 10 MHz

 Compatible with All Intel and Most other

Microprocessors
 The 8254 is a programmable interval timer/counter

designed for use with Intel microcomputer systems.

 It is a general purpose, multi-timing element

 All modes are software programmable. 

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8254 timer/counter
 The Intel 8254 is a counter/timer device designed to
solve the common timing control problems in
microcomputer system design.
 Features
 Counters are 16 bit counters

 All the counters are down counter

 Can be programmed using BCD or Binary number

 Can operate in 6 different modes

 Hence fully programmable device

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Internal Architecture of 8254

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 Pinout of 8254 Timer/Counter
D0 CLK0 D7-D0 (pins 1 – 8) I/O DATA: Bi-directional three
. .
. . GATE0
state data bus lines, connected to system data bus.
. .
D7 OUT0 WR-Bar (pin 23) Input. WRITE CONTROL: This
CLK1 input is low during. CPU write operations.
WR RD-Bar (pin 22). READ CONTROL: This input is
RD GATE1 low during CPU read operations.
CS OUT1
CS-Bar (pin 21) Input. CHIP SELECT-Bar: A low on
CLK2 this input enables the 8254 to respond to RD and
GATE2 WR signals. RD and WR are ignored otherwise.
A1
A0 A1, A0 (pin 20 – 19) Input ADDRESS: Used to select
OUT2 one of the three Counters or the Control Word
Register for read or write operations. Normally
8254 Timer/Counter connected to the system address bus.

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 Pinout of 8254 Timer/Counter
D0 CLK0 CLK 0 (pin 9) Input CLOCK 0: Clock input of Counter 0.
. .
. . GATE0 OUT 0 (pin 10) OUTPUT 0: Output of Counter 0.
. . GATE 0 (pin11) I GATE 0: Gate input of Counter 0.
D7 OUT0

CLK1
WR CLK 1 (pin15) Input CLOCK 1: Clock input of Counter 1.
RD GATE1 GATE 1 (pin 14) Input GATE 1: Gate input of Counter 1.
OUT 1 (pin 13) OUT 1 O OUT 1: Output of Counter 1.
CS OUT1

CLK2 CLK 2 (pin 18) Input CLOCK 2: Clock input of Counter 2.

OUT 2 (pin17) OUT 2: Output of Counter 2.
A1 GATE2
GATE 2 (pin 16) Input Gate input of Counter 2.
A0
OUT2

8254 Timer/Counter

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 Pinout of 8254 Timer/Counter
D0 CLK0
. .
. . GATE0
. . GND (pin12) GROUND: Power supply connection.
D7 OUT0 VCC (pin 24) POWER: A 5V power supply connection.
CLK1
WR
RD GATE1

CS OUT1

CLK2

A1 GATE2
A0
OUT2

8254 Timer/Counter

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 Pinout of 8254 Timer/Counter
D0 CLK0 Depending upon the value of CS, A1 and A0 we can
. . determine addresses of selected counter.
. . GATE0
. .
D7 OUT0

CLK1
WR
RD GATE1

CS OUT1

CLK2

A1 GATE2
A0
OUT2

8254 Timer/Counter

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8254 Interfacing with 8088
CPU D0 D0 CLK0
.
CPU . .
.
Data . . GATE0
bus . . .
D7 D7 OUT0

CLK1
A2 CPU WR WR
CPU A3 lines RD RD GATE1
Address A4
bus CS OUT1
A5
A6 CPU A1 A1 CLK2
A7 Address
IO/M’ lines A0 A0 GATE2

OUT2
Control word Register
Each counter is individually programmed by writing
control word followed by initial count

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

SC1 SC0 RW1 RW0 M2 M1 M0 BCD

Counter Logic 1->BCD

Selection
Logic 0->Binary
Read/Write
Format

Modes

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Control word Register

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Modes of Operation
 The 8254 timer can operate in different modes according
to the requirement
 There are six operating modes

 Each mode works with CLK input, the GATE (G) control
signal and OUT signal

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Mode 0
 Mode 0: *(Interrupt on terminal count) Used to generate
Interrupt on terminal count.
 The output OUT becomes a logic 0 when the control
word is written - and remains there until N +1 number of
programmed counts
 Gate G must be logic 1 to allow counter to count, If G
become zero in middle, counter will stop working and will
restart once the Gate is high

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Mode 1 (HW triggered/Programmable one shot)
 OUT will be initially high. OUT will go low on the CLK pulse
following a trigger to begin the one-shot pulse at gate, and will
remain low until the counter reaches zero.
 1) Load the count register
2) A pulse , 0-to-1, must be sent to the GATE input to trigger the count.
3) In Mode 1, after sending the 0-to-1 pulse to GATE, OUT becomes low
and stays low for a duration of N*T, then becomes high and stays high
until the GATE is triggered again.
4) If during the activation, a retriggered happened, then restart the down
counting .

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Mode 2
 Mode2 allows generation of continuous Pulse
 Mode 2: Rate Generator (Divide-by-N counter)
 In Mode2, if GATE=1, OUT will be high for (N-1)*T, goes low only for
one clock pulse, then counter is reloaded automatically,
 The cycle is repeated until reprogrammed or G pin set to 0.

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Mode 3
 Mode 3: Square wave rate generator
 Mode3 allows generation of continuous square wave
 Mode 3: Generates a continuous square-wave with G set to 1.
 if count is even, 50% duty cycle otherwise OUT is high 1 cycle
longer

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Mode 4
 Mode 4: Software triggered strobe
 In Mode4, if GATE=1, the output will go high when loading the
count, it will stay high for duration N*T.
 After the count reaches zero, it becomes low for one clock pulse,
then goes high again and stays high until a new command word or
new count is loaded
 It produces a single pulse at output. To repeat the strobe, the count
must be reloaded

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Mode 5
 Mode 5: Hardware triggered strobe
 Similar to Mode4, except that the triggering must be done with the
GATE input
 The count starts only when a pulse is sent to the GATE input
 If GATE retriggered during the counting, it will restart the down
counting

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Example

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Example
(a). Suppose a 8254 time works at 10 MHz, and counter is loaded
with 100. Draw the output if the gate is triggered at 0 time.
(b) What will the output if the gate is triggered at time at after every 50
micro seconds

Solution
(a). Since the gate is triggered at time 0, output will zero
for (100* (1/10MHZ)) time

(b). Since the gate is triggered after every 50 Micro

seconds out put will become high for 10 Micro and then
will remain zero for next 40 micro and so on

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Example

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Example

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Example

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Example

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Example

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Control word Register

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Example
Example Write instruction for 1KhZ square wave at Ctr
1. Input Frequency = 2MHz, Control Register address = 83H, C1 = 81H
 Control word = 76H
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
SC1 SC2 RW1 RW0 M2 M1 M0 BCD
01 Load 16 bit (11) 011 (mode 3) 0

 Count= 2MHz/ 1KHz =2000= 07D0H

 Instructions
MOV Al,76H ; load Control word for Ctr 1 mode 3
OUT 83H,Al ; write to Ctrl reg
MOV Al, D0H; lower order byte cnt
OUT 81H, Al
MOV Al,07H ; higher order byte
OUT 81H, Al
HLT
Example Write instruction to generate pulse every
50microS from Ctr0 such that Input Frequency = 10 MHz,
Address of CR = 83H and Cnt 0 = 80H
 Control word = 34H
 D7D6=00 Select ctr 0

 D5D4=11 load 16 bit count

 D3D2D1=010 mode 2

 D0=0 Binary

 Count = 10 MHz/(1/50x10-6)= 10 MHz /20,000=500= 111110100

 01F4 H

MOV Al,14H ; Control word

OUT 83H,AL
MOV Al,F4H ;Count value
OUT 80H ; load counter 0 with low
order byte3
MOV Al,1H ;Count value
OUT 80H, AL ; load counter 0 with low
order byte3
HLT
Example What will the output of the following code.
Such that input Frequency is 10 MHZ

 Control word = 99H

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
SC1 SC2 RW1 RW0 M2 M1 M0 BCD
10 Load 16 bit (01) 100 (mode x) 1

 Instructions
MOV Al,99H ; load Control word for Ctr 1 mode 3
OUT 83H,Al ; write to Ctrl reg
MOV Al, 09H; lower order byte cnt
OUT 81H, Al
HLT
RESULT= It will produce a pulse with length 10 U sec. 9 us
high and 1 us low