The NSC858N-4I is a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) device manufactured by National Semiconductor, now part of Texas Instruments (TI). This UART is designed to provide a serial communication interface between a microcontroller or microprocessor and peripheral devices. It supports asynchronous data transmission and reception, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including serial communication ports, modems, and embedded systems.

Applications

• Serial communication ports for computers and embedded systems.
• Modems for data transmission over telephone lines.
• Embedded systems requiring serial communication with peripherals.
• Industrial control systems for data logging and monitoring.
• Point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Features

• Full-duplex asynchronous communication.
• Programmable baud rate generator.
• Transmit and receive buffers.
• Parity generation and checking.
• Automatic error detection.
• Interrupt generation for transmit and receive events.
• Low power consumption.

Benefits

• Simplified serial communication interface.
• Flexible baud rate selection for compatibility with various devices.
• Reduced CPU overhead with interrupt-driven operation.
• Improved data integrity with parity checking and error detection.
• Lower power consumption, suitable for battery-powered applications.

Additional Details

The NSC858N-4I supports a variety of baud rates and data formats, allowing for flexible communication with different types of serial devices. It includes built-in transmit and receive buffers to minimize CPU intervention during data transfer. The device also features parity generation and checking to ensure data integrity. It is typically packaged in a DIP (Dual In-line Package) for easy integration into existing systems. The UART's interrupt capabilities allow the host microcontroller to perform other tasks while waiting for data to be transmitted or received, improving overall system efficiency. Its robust error detection features contribute to reliable data communication in noisy environments.