8279- Keyboard and Display Controller
K. R. Sarath Chandran
Assistant Professor, Dept. of CSE
This presentation covers
• Details of 8279 chip
Learning outcome of this module
• To understand the keyboard and display controller IC 8279.
Features of 8279
• Scans and encodes up to a 64-key matrix keyboard.
• Controls up to a 16 seven segment LEDs .
• Keyboard has a built-in FIFO 8 character buffer to store the keyboard entries
• The display is controlled from an internal 16x8 RAM that stores the coded
display information.
• Display can be setup in left entry or right entry mode.
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Features of 8279
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Pin Details
• A0 : Selects data (0) or control/status (1) for reads and
writes between microprocessor and 8279.
• BD : Output that blanks the displays.
• CLK : Used internally for timing. Maximum is 3 MHz
• CNTL/STB : Control/strobe, connected to the control key on the
keyboard.
• CS : Chip select that enables programming, reading the
keyboard, etc.
• DB7-DB0 : Consists of bidirectional pins that connect to data bus
on microprocessor.
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Pin Details
• IRQ : Interrupt request to mp, to indicate the
availability of data (if the FIFO RAM is not empty).
• OUT A3-A0/B3-B0 : Outputs that sends data to the most
significant/least significant nibble of display.
• RD(WR) : Connects to micro's RD/WR signal
• RESET : Connects to system RESET.
• RL7-RL0 : Return lines are inputs used to sense key
press in the keyboard matrix.
• Shift : Shift connects to Shift key on keyboard.
• SL3-SL0 : Scan line outputs scan both the keyboard and
displays.
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Interfacing with 8086
msb
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Encoded mode: SL0-SL3 gives binary count.
External decoder (7445) need to be used.
Decoded mode: 8279 outputs stepping 0s
on 4 scan lines. No need of external decoder.
In sensor mode, if any switch changes,
it sends IRQ.
In strobed input mode, RL0-RL7 can be acted as
strobed input port as in 8255. Data is entered by
the rising edge of CNTL/STB line
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Block Diagram
Mainly 4 Sections: Keyboard section
[Link] Section • RL0 – RL7 connected to 8 columns of keyboard
[Link] Section • 2 modes: 2-key lockout-
if 2 keys are pressed simultaneously, only first key is
[Link] Section
recognized. One key must be released before next keypress.
4. µp Interface Section N key Rollover-
• FIFO RAM with 8 registers to store 8 keyboard entries and each read
in the order of their entries.
Scan section • Sent IRQ signal when FIFO is not empty
• It has a Scan Counter and 4 Scan Lines
• Connected to 4 – to – 16 Decoder to generate 16 scan lines
• Scan lines can be connected to rows of Matrix Keyboard and Digit drivers of Display
Display section µp Interface Section
• 8 Output lines are divided into 2 groups:
• Data bus : DB0 – DB7
A3 – A0 and B3 – B0
• One IRQ Line
• Can be used as 8 or 4/4
• Six interface lines and A0
• BD line for display Blanking
• A0 = 1 ; signals are control/status word
• 16 X 8 Display RAM
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8279 COMMAND WORDS - (A0 = 1)
1. Keyboard/Display Mode
2. Program Clock D7 D6 D5 Function Purpose
3. Read FIFO/Sensor RAM
Selects the number of display positions, type of
4. Read Display RAM 0 0 0 Mode set
key scan...
5. Write Display RAM
Programs internal clk, sets scan and debounce
6. Display write inhibit /Blanking 0 0 1 Clock
times.
7. Clear
Selects type of FIFO read and address of the
8. End Interrupt/Error mode set 0 1 0 Read FIFO
read.
Selects type of display read and address of the
0 1 1 Read Display
read.
Selects type of write and the address of the
1 0 0 Write Display
write.
Display write
1 0 1 Allows half-bytes to be blanked.
inhibit
1 1 0 Clear Clears the display or FIFO
1 1 1 End interrupt Clears the IRQ signal to the microprocessor.
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Operating frequency of 8279 =
I/P clk frequency/Integer represented by PPPPP
I/P f= 2 MHz
To operate on 100KHz,
PPPPP??
2M/100K = 20 = 10100
PPPPP = 10100
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Write instructions to initialize 8279 in 2-key lock out , encoded mode, 8 bit, 8
character display, left entry mode. Write a subroutine which reads character data
from keyboard (port 1900H) and stores it in the system memory. Assume the
control register address is 1901H.
Main program Sub-routine
PUSH SI
MOV AL,00
PUSH AX
MOV [1901], AL PUSHF
MOV SI, 1901
MOV [1901], 40 ; read FIFO RAM control word
DEC SI
MOV AL, [SI]
AND AL, 3F
MOV [2500], AL
POPF
POP AX
POP SI
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Write instructions to read character data from keyboard and stores it in the system
memory. Use polling method to communicate with 8279. Assume control register
address = C2, Data register address = C0.
MOV BX,1100
Loop1: IN AL,C2 ; Reading status register
TEST AL, 07
JZ LOOP1
MOV AL, 40 ; read FIFO RAM control word
OUT C2, AL
IN AL, C0
MOV [BX], AL
HLT
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References
• Doughlas V. Hall, “Microprocessors and Interfacing, Programming and
Hardware”, Second Edition, TMH.
• 8279 Intel data sheet
• Microprocessor Architecture, Programming, and Applications with the 8085,
5th edition, Ramesh Gaonkar.
Thank you