Dr. N. Karuppiah & Dr. S.
Ravivarman
Address bus and Data bus
We know that 8085 is an 8-bit microprocessor. So, the data bus present in
the microprocessor is also 8-bits wide. So, 8-bits of data can be transmitted
from or to the microprocessor. But 8085 processor requires 16-bit address bus
as the memory addresses are 16-bit wide. The 8 most significant bits of the
address are transmitted with the help of address bus and the 8 least significant
bits are transmitted with the help of multiplexed address/data bus. The eight-
bit data bus is multiplexed with the eight least significant bits of address bus.
The address/data bus is time multiplexed. This means for few microseconds,
the 8 least significant bits of address are generated, while for next few seconds
the same pin generates the data. This is called Time multiplexing. But there are
situations where there is a need to transmit both data and address
simultaneously. For this purpose, a signal called ALE (address latch enables) is
used. ALE signal holds the obtained address in its latch for a long time until the
data is obtained and so when the microprocessor sends the data next time the
address is also available at the output latch. This technique is called
Address/Data demultiplexing.
1.4 Pin Diagram of 8085
The signals can be grouped as follows
1. Power supply and clock signals
2. Address bus
3. Data bus
4. Control and status signals
5. Interrupts and externally initiated signals
6. Serial I/O ports
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