ECE3073

Address Decoding
A simple introduction

Some important basic information

1)

Each component on the bus has to have a unique address.

2)

The number of address lines determines our availible address space and hence
the size of the memory we may use etc.

3)

You have to use some of the address lines as decoders (Signals to turn on or off
the components on the bus)

4)

Most components use a pin called the chip select and it is active low by
convention. 0V or logic (0) turns the chip on

Example 1
Using an 8 bit microprocessor which has 16 address lines we wish to implement a 16k
RAM chip.

CS active low

RAM

CPU

16K
16 address lines A0 A16

Determine number of address lines to RAM:

16k locations needs 14 address lines = A0 A13

CS active low

CPU

16 address lines A0 A16

RAM

For 16k we need 14 address line A0 A13

16K

A0 A13

Determine number of free address lines to use as decoders:

A0 A13 are used so we only have A14 and A15 free. We must use one of these.
In this case we will use A14

A14
CS active low

CPU

16 address lines A0 A16

RAM

For 16k we need 14 address line A0 A13

16K

A0 A13

Determine address range:

We are using A0 A14 and RAM is 16 long
A15 is not used so we dont care what state it is X

A14
CS active low

CPU

RAM

A15 not used

16K

fffff
A0 A13

16 address lines A0 A16

For 16k we need 14 address line A0 A13

End address

A15 A12
X111

A11 A8
1111

A7 A4
1111

A3 A0
1111

7FFF

Base address

X100

0000

0000

0000

4000

So End address is $7FFF and start address is 4000 =

Here is our hex

version of the
binary

If we wish to save some data in RAM we have to talk to it at between address range
4000 to 7FFF

Example 2
Using an 8 bit microprocessor which has 16 address lines we wish to implement a 16k
RAM chip and 16K program memory chip

16 address lines A0 A16

CPU

CS active low

RAM
16K

CS active low

PM
16K

Determine number of address lines to RAM and PM:

16k locations needs 14 address lines = A0 A13

CS active low

16 address lines A0 A16

RAM

CPU

16K
A0 A13

A0 A13

CS active low

PM
16K
A0 A13

Determine number of free address lines to use as decoders:

A0 A13 are used so we only have A14 and A15 free. In this case we will use A14 for
RAM and A15 for PM

A14
CS active low
A15
RAM

CPU

16K

A0 A13

CS active low

PM
16K
A0 A13

Determine address range:

A14
CS active low
A15

RAM

CPU

16K

A0 A13

CS active low

PM
16K
A0 A13

A15 A12

End address

1011

Base address

1000

A11 A8

A7 A4

Program memory (PM)

1111
1111
0000

A3 A0

1111

8FFF

0000

0000

8000

RAM
End address

0111

1111

1111

1111

7FFF

Base address

0100

0000

0000

0000

4000

Notice A15 cant be dont care

Potential problem
We still have free space $C000 FFFF. What if we put any of these addresses on the bus?
A14
CS active low
A15
RAM

CPU

16K

A0 A13

CS active low

PM
16K
A0 A13

A15 A12

A11 A8

A7 A4

A3 A0

HEX

End address

1111

1111

1111

1111

FFFF

Base address

1100

0000

0000

0000

C000

Potential solution

A14
CS active low
A15
RAM

CPU

16K

A0 A13

CS active low

PM
16K
A0 A13

A15 A12

A11 A8

A7 A4

A3 A0

HEX

1111

1111

1111

1111

FFFF

0000

C000

1100

0000
0000
Nothing will be selected