SC/MP

SC/MP

(processor)(Nicknamed "Scamp") A typical 8-bitmicroprocessor from National Semiconductor released inApril 1976. It was intended for control applications (asimple BASIC in a 2.5K ROM was added to one version). Itfeatured 16 bit addressing, with 12 address lines and 4 linesborrowed from the data bus (it was common to borrow lines fromthe data bus for addressing). Internally, it included threeindex registers (P1 to P3) and two 8-bit general-purposeregisters. It had a PC, but no stack pointer orsubroutine instructions (though they could be emulated withindex registers). During interrupts, the PC was saved inP3. It was meant for embedded control, and these featureswere omitted for cost reasons. It was also bit serialinternally to keep it cheap.

The unique feature was the ability to completely share asystem bus with other processors. Most processors of the timeassumed they were the only ones accessing memory or I/Odevices. Multiple SC/MPs could be hooked up to the bus, aswell as other intelligent devices, such as DMA controllers.A control line (ENOUT (Enable Out) to ENIN) could be chainedalong the processors to allow cooperative processing. Thiswas very advanced for the time, compared to other CPUs.

In addition to I/O ports like the Intel 8080, the SC/MP alsohad instructions and one pin for serial input and one foroutput.