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1.4
ARCHITECTURAL OVERVIEW
The architectural goal of the Am186CC/CH/CU microcontrollers is to provide
comprehensive communications features on a processor running the widely-known x86
instruction set. These microcontrollers combine communications peripherals with the
Am186 embedded CPU, resulting in highly integrated microcontrollers that provide system-
cost and performance advantages for a wide range of communications applications.
The following sections provide an overview of the features of the microcontrollers. The
chapter number in parenthesis indicates where that feature is discussed in detail.
1.4.1
Am186 Embedded CPU (Chapter 2)
All members of the Am186 family, including the Am186CC/CH/CU microcontrollers, are
compatible with the original industry-standard 186 parts, and build on the same core set
of internal processor registers, instructions, and addressing modes. This chapter also
describes the memory organization, address generation, I/O space, peripheral control
block, segments, and data types.
1.4.2
Serial Communications Support (Chapter 12)
The Am186CC microcontroller supports eight serial interfaces: a USB peripheral controller,
CC
four HDLC channels, two UARTs, and an SSI. In addition, it supports the use of GCI and
SmartDMA with the serial interfaces.
The Am186CH HDLC microcontroller supports five serial interfaces: two HDLC channels,
CH
two UARTs, and an SSI. In addition, it supports the use of SmartDMA with the serial
interfaces.
The Am186CU USB microcontroller supports four serial interfaces: a USB peripheral
CU
controller, two UARTs, and an SSI. In addition, it supports the use of SmartDMA with the
serial interfaces.
For an overview of the serial communications features, see Chapter 12, "Serial
Communications Overview."
1.4.2.1
Universal Serial Bus (Chapter 18)
The Am186CC and Am186CU microcontrollers each include a highly flexible integrated
CC
CU
USB peripheral controller that lets designers implement a variety of microcontroller-based
USB peripheral devices for telephony, audio, and other high-end applications. This
integrated USB peripheral controller can provide a significant system-cost reduction
compared to platforms that require a separate USB peripheral controller.
The Am186CC and Am186CU microcontrollers act as USB peripheral devices. The USB
is a half-duplex, master/slave, polled bus. In other words, the microcontroller speaks on the
USB only in response to a request from the USB host, usually a personal computer. There
can be only one speaker on the USB at a time.
The USB controller does not support USB host or hub functions. However, the Am186CC
and Am186CU microcontrollers can be used to implement USB peripheral functions in a
device that also contains separate USB hub circuitry.
Use these microcontrollers in self-powered USB peripherals that use the full-speed
signalling rate of 12 Mbit/s; they do not support the USB low-speed rate of 1.5 Mbit/s. Each
microcontroller includes an integrated USB transceiver to minimize system device count
and cost, but an external transceiver can be used instead, if necessary.
1-6
Architectural Overview
Am186™CC/CH/CU Microcontrollers User's Manual
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