Introduction to IO Interface - Computer Science Engineering (CSE) PDF Download

Introduction:

Any application of a microprocessor based system requires the transfer of data between external circuitry to the microprocessor and microprocessor to the external circuitry.
User can give information to the microprocessor based system using keyboard and user can see the result or output information from the microprocessor based system with the help of display device. The transfer of data between keyboard and microprocessor, and microprocessor and display device is called input/output data transfer or I/O data transfer.
This data transfer is done with the help of I/O ports.

Input port:

It is used to read data from the input device such as keyboard. The simplest form of input port is a buffer. The input device is connected to the microprocessor through buffer, as shown in the fig.1. This buffer is a tri-state buffer and its output is available only when enable signal is active. When microprocessor wants to read data from the input device (keyboard), the control signals from the microprocessor activates the buffer by asserting enable input of the buffer. Once the buffer is enabled, data from the input device is available on the data bus. Microprocessor reads this data by initiating read command.

Output port:

It is used to send data to the output device such as display from the microprocessor. The simplest form of output port is a latch. The output device is connected to the microprocessor through latch, as shown in the fig.2. When microprocessor wants to send data to the output device is puts the data on the data bus and activates the clock signal of the latch, latching the data from the data bus at the output of latch. It is then available at the output of latch for the output device.

Serial and Parallel Transmission:

In telecommunications, serial transmission is the sequential transmission of signal elements of a group representing a character or other entity of data. Digital serial transmissions are bits sent over a single wire, frequency or optical path sequentially.
Because it requires less signal processing and less chance for error than parallel transmission, the transfer rate of each individual path may be faster. This can be used over longer distances as a check digit or parity bit can be sent along it easily.

In telecommunications, parallel transmission is the simultaneous transmission of the signal elements of a character or other entity of data. In digital communications, parallel transmission is the simultaneous transmission of related signal elements over two or more separate paths. Multiple electrical wires are used which can transmit multiple bits simultaneously, which allows for higher data transfer rates than can be achieved with serial transmission. This method is used internally within the computer, for example the internal buses, and sometimes externally for such things as printers, The major issue with this is "skewing" because the wires in parallel data transmission have slightly different properties (not intentionally) so some bits may arrive before others, which may corrupt the message. A parity bit can help to reduce this. However, electrical wire parallel data transmission is therefore less reliable for long distances because corrupt transmissions are far more likely.

Interrupt driven I/O:

In this technique, a CPU automatically executes one of a collection of special routines whenever certain condition exists within a program or a processor system. Example CPU gives response to devices such as keyboard, sensor and other components when they request for service. When the CPU is asked to communicate with devices, it services the devices. Example each time you type a character on a keyboard, a keyboard service routine is called. It transfers the character you typed from the keyboard I/O port into the processor and then to a data buffer in memory.

The interrupt driven I/O technique allows the CPU to execute its main program and only stop to service I/O device when it is told to do so by the I/O system as shown in fig.3.
This method provides an external asynchronous input that would inform the processor that it should complete whatever instruction that is currently being executed and fetch a new routine that will service the requesting device. Once this servicing is completed, the processor would resume exactly where it left off.

An analogy to the interrupt concept is in the classroom, where the professor serves as CPU and the students as I/O ports. The classroom scenario for this interrupt analogy will be such that the professor is busy in writing on the blackboard and delivering his lecture.

The student raises his finger when he wants to ask a question (student requesting for service). The professor then completes his sentence and acknowledges student‟s request by saying “YES” (professor acknowledges the interrupt request). After acknowledgement from the professor, student asks the question and professor gives answer to the question (professor services the interrupt). After that professor continues its remaining lecture form where it was left.