The Intel386™ DX, EX, and SX embedded processors are based on the Intel386 architecture. All have 32-bit cores, and enhanced functionality for the embedded processor market.
The static Intel386 EX microprocessor is designed for embedded applications that require high integration and low power. Key features include: PC compatibility, power management, low-voltage operation, and on-chip integration of numerous common peripherals such as interrupt controllers, chip selects, counters and timers.
The static Intel386 SX, also referred to as the 80386SSX or 80386SXTA microprocessor, microprocessor is a pin-for-pin replacement for the dynamic Intel386 SX processor. The static design features clock freeze mode, and higher speed operation.
The dynamic Intel386 SX microprocessor is an entry-level processor with a 16-bit external data bus and a 24-bit external address bus. It provides the performance benefits of a 32-bit architecture with the cost savings of a 16-bit hardware system.
The dynamic Intel386 DX microprocessor is designed for single-user, multi-tasking applications. The 32-bit registers and data paths support 32-bit addresses and data types. It addresses 4 gigabytes of physical memory, and 64 terabytes of virtual memory. It offers a 50% performance increase over the Intel386 EX and SX processors.
Embedded system designers have long understood the benefits of PC compatibility in their designs. The embedded Intel386 processors are compatible with DOS and standard graphical windowing operating environments, as well as many popular embedded real-time operating systems.
Applications based on an Intel386 microprocessor allow designers to embed popular versions of DOS and graphical windowing environments to implement an array of existing software applications within their systems.
The PC compatibility, enhanced functionality, and real-time software support make the Intel386 microprocessors a sound embedded solution. Reduced design complexity and decreased software development time are major advantages in today's embedded market segment.
Time-to-Market
The embedded Intel386 processors reduce time-to-market by shortening both software and hardware design cycles. The embedded Intel386 processors preserve investments with existing Intel architecture software. Because the embedded Intel386 CPUs are 100% binary compatible with the 186/188 CPU, upgrading to an Intel386 CPU preserves software investment, and speeds time-to-market.
The PC makes an excellent tool for debugging code before application hardware is available. Code can be written and debugged in parallel with hardware development. The ability to use a PC for software debugging, in addition to a wide selection of development tools, allows for quick and inexpensive software development.
Intel386 EX architecture designs provide ease of use. The high integration of the Intel386 EX chip provides many of the peripheral devices previously found with personal computers. To add further value to the system, the Intel386 EX processor implements embedded peripheral functions such as interrupt controllers, chip-select generation, 16-bit timers and counters, DRAM refresh, watchdog timer, serial ports, etc. The high integration of the Intel386 EX microprocessor significantly reduces system complexity and hardware design time.
Integration of the Intel386 EX processor can also provide a simplified, compact design to lessen your burden on support chips that may become hard to find.
Upgrade Choice for 186 Processor
Intel's 186 processor family has been designed in many embedded applications over the years. If a 186 embedded design requires either more addressibility or higher performance, the Intel386 EX processor is the upgrade choice. The EX provides 26 address bits for a total of 4 Gbytes. Also, given the same clock rate, the Intel386 EX processor performs up to three times the performance of a 186-base processor. Since the EX has an 80386 core, it is code compatible with 186 processors, making it a logical upgrade processor to run your existing software.
Additionally, software can be modified to take advantage of the 80386 features, including memory protection and multitasking. Memory protection can provide a safety net to software problems. This can become very important if your customer ever modifies the software run on your application.
Low-Voltage Operation
The Intel386 EX processor is designed to be ideal for portable applications. Low power consumption is critical for these designs. Low-voltage operation offers numerous benefits to the system designer including decreased power consumption, lower heat dissipation and reduced noise generation. See Table 1 below for Intel386 microprocessor voltage tolerances and operating frequencies.
Table 1: Voltage Operation At Different Operating Frequencies
FREQUENCY
EXTB
EXTC
DX
SX
Static SX (SSX)
16 MHz
-
-
5.0V
5.0V
-
20 MHz
3.3V
-
5.0V
5.0V
-
25 MHz
3.3V
5.0V
5.0V
5.0V
5.0V
33 MHz
-
5.0V
5.0V
5.0V
5.0V
40 MHz
-
-
-
-
5.0V
Lowering the operating voltage from 5 volts to 3 volts decreases device power consumption by over 60 percent. For battery-operated systems, this can result in up to a 40 percent decrease in current consumption and at least a 40 percent increase in battery life. Low-voltage operation of the Intel386 EX processor allows designs previously requiring bulky power supplies to become portable, operating on batteries.
Reducing operating voltage reduces the heat generated by a device. Device power consumption varies as the square of operating voltage. Heat generated by a device is a direct result of the power it consumes. Many failure mechanisms in semiconductors are heat related, therefore low-voltage designs are usually more reliable. Devices that produce less heat can operate in higher ambient temperature environments, and can be placed closer together on a printed circuit board, decreasing the form factor and costs.
Low-voltage designs are less noisy. Noise is related to both the voltage swing and the transition time of transistors switching in a device. Because low-voltage devices have decreased voltage swings, they generate less noise. Decreased noise generation is a substantial benefit to applications that are required to comply with noise emission regulations. Low-voltage designs can avoid potentially expensive noise reduction techniques.
Power and System Management
Low-voltage operation is only part of a complete low power solution. To make a true low power device, power management must be implemented. The Intel® System Management Mode is built into the Intel386 EX chip.
The Intel System Management Mode (SMM) is typically used to execute specific routines for power management. After entering SMM, various parts of a system can be shut down or disabled to minimize power consumption. SMM operates independently of other system software, and can be used for other purposes too.
The Intel386 EX processor has a Power Management Unit that offers Idle mode and Powerdown mode. When the Intel386 EX CPU is waiting for an external event to occur, the Idle mode stops the CPU clock, however, all the peripheral clocks are still active. Depending on peripheral utilization, current consumption can be reduced considerably. Powerdown disables the clock to both the CPU core and peripherals. In this mode, current consumption is reduced to a few microamps. The power management modes available on the embedded Intel386 EX microprocessors make it ideal for battery-powered, portable applications.
The Intel386 static SX, also referred to as 80386SSX or 80386SXTA microprocessor, processor offers clock freeze mode. In this mode, clock input can be stopped and started without losing CPU context. This power saving feature, coupled with a static design, make this chip ideal for low power environments.
System Form Factor
Portable applications have two major requirements: low power consumption and a small form factor. The Intel386 EX chip meets these requirements. Low power consumption is addressed by low-voltage operation, integrated SMM circuitry, and for the Intel386 EX CPU, power management modes.
The Intel386 EX chip helps reduce system form factor with high integration. Many peripherals required in a PC compatible system are already integrated onto the Intel386 EX chip, making it ideal for portable, small form factor designs.
System form factor can be reduced with small packaging. The embedded Intel386 chip is available in a Plastic Quad Flat Pack (PQFP) and a Thin Quad Flat Pack (TQFP). See Table 2 below for packaging details.
Note: All speeds are not available in all package types. For an active product listing click here.
Table 2: Intel386™ Microprocessor Features Comparison
Embedded systems developers can now take advantage of the tremendous number of tools developed for the PC industry. The embedded Intel386 processors' compatibility with the PC architecture provides access to familiar, low-cost development tools.
Many development tools have been adopted for the embedded environment. These include tools that have been specifically designed for the embedded Intel386 processor family. These include: popular 16 and 32-bit compilers, linker/locators, debuggers, in-circuit emulators and logic analyzers.
The embedded Intel386 processor family provides a low-cost development environment. The size and competitive nature of the PC industry has produced tools that are time-proven and low-cost. Furthermore, these tools run on a PC, eliminating the need for expensive workstation-based development tools.
For developing DOS embedded applications, there are ROMable versions of DOS and BIOS. For non-DOS applications, there exists numerous development tools and operating systems for multi-tasking, real-time, and 32-bit applications.
The familiar, cost effective development environment of the embedded Intel386 processors allow embedded system developers to bring products to market more quickly, at a lower cost.
The Intel386™ DX, EX, and SX embedded processors are based on the Intel386 architecture. All have 32-bit cores, and enhanced functionality for the embedded processor market.