CX51: WORKAROUND FOR P89C669 CORE.2 ERRATA

Information in this article applies to:

• CX51 Version 7.10

QUESTION

The Philips errata for the P89C669 describes a CORE.2 problem:

CORE2: Access to off-chip XDATA with MOVX @DPTR instruction

Introduction: MOVX @DPTR instruction is going to access off-chip located data byte if content of DPTR is greater than the address of the last available byte of on-chip XDATA memory space (AUXR.1=0).

Problem: If instruction MOVX @DPTR type is located at 1:upper7bits:lower16bits and an address of location pointed at via DPTR is off-chip, microcontroller will access byte at 0:upper7bits:(DPTR) instead of byte at 0:00:(DPTR).

Workaround: Instead of using MOVX @DPTR, EMOV @PR0(1) instruction with R3(R7)=0 can be used in systems designed with 23 bits wide external address interface. Code written in C language should use pointers to far data in this case rather than pointers to XDATA."

Does this errata imply that I cannot use the LARGE memory model with the P89C669? Is there a memory model that always uses EPTR/PRx accesses instead of MOVX?

ANSWER

There is no memory model that uses EPTR/PRx instructions instead of MOVX. However, the LARGE memory model can still be used when you limit access to the on-chip XRAM of the device. This can be done as follows:

1. Make sure that the on-chip XRAM space is enabled in the START_MX.A51 file with the setting EXTRAM EQU 0.
2. Open the dialog page Project - Options for Target - LX51 Locate.
3. Disable Use Memory Layout from Target Dialog.
4. Enter the available memory areas under User Classes. For example when your system provides 256KB ROM and 256KB RAM total the entry should look like this:

   XDATA (0 - 0x2FF), HDATA (0x700 - 0x3FFFF),
   EDATA (0x7F0000-0x7F04FF),
   ECODE (0x800000-0x83FFFF), HCONST (0x800000-0x83FFFF)
   

   Note that the range for XDATA is just the available on-chip XRAM space.

Note: The on-chip XRAM size off the Philips P89C669 is just 300H Bytes and not 700H as it is configured in older releases of the Keil Device Database.

MORE INFORMATION

• Refer to the LX51 User's Guide.
• Refer to Language Extensions in the Cx51 User's Guide.
• Refer to 8051 Derivatives in the Cx51 User's Guide.

SEE ALSO

• Application Note 160: Programming the Philips 51MX Architecture with the Keil PK51
• C51: EXAMPLE PROGRAMS FOR THE PHILIPS MX DEVICES
• CX51: LOCATING CODE IN PHILIPS MX INTERNAL CODE MEMORY

Last Reviewed: Sunday, October 29, 2006