The Z80A-CTC, manufactured by Sharp Microelectronics, is a programmable counter/timer circuit designed for use with Z80 microprocessor systems. It provides versatile timing and counting functions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications requiring precise timing control.

Applications

• Serial Communication: Used for generating baud rates for UARTs and other serial communication interfaces.
• Real-Time Clocks: Implemented as a clock to keep time accurately.
• Frequency Measurement: Used for measuring the frequency of external signals.
• Event Counting: Counting external events or pulses.
• Interrupt Generation: Generating interrupts at precise intervals or after a specific number of events.

Features

• Four Independent Channels: Provides four independent counter/timer channels, each with its own programmable mode.
• Programmable Modes: Each channel can be programmed to operate in various modes, including timer, counter, and event counter modes.
• Prescaler: Each channel has a prescaler that can be used to divide the input clock frequency, allowing for a wider range of timing intervals.
• Interrupt Capability: Each channel can generate an interrupt upon reaching a terminal count, allowing the CPU to respond to specific timing events.
• Daisy-Chain Compatibility: Supports daisy-chaining multiple CTC devices to expand the number of available channels.
• TTL Compatible Inputs and Outputs: Compatible with standard TTL logic levels.

Benefits

• Precise Timing Control: Enables precise timing and counting functions in Z80 microprocessor systems.
• Versatile Functionality: Supports a wide range of timing and counting applications with its programmable modes and prescaler.
• Reduced CPU Overhead: Offloads timing and counting tasks from the CPU, freeing it up for other tasks.
• Simplified System Design: Simplifies system design by providing a dedicated timing and counting solution.
• Enhanced System Performance: Improves system performance by providing precise and reliable timing control.

Additional Details

The Z80A-CTC operates with a clock frequency of up to 4 MHz. Each channel has a 16-bit counter. The device is typically packaged in a 28-pin DIP (Dual In-line Package). It requires a single 5V power supply for operation.