Intel® 186 Processors

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Intel 186 Standard Processor Family




Intel 186 XL standard family is available in CHMOS, 8-bit external (188) and 16-bit external (186) versions, offering a wide variety of cost/performance alternatives for embedded designs. The 80C186/188XL is pin-for-pin compatible with the previous NMOS 80186/188 while adding an enhanced feature set and static operation. The high performance CHMOS process allows the 80C186/188XL to run at twice the clock rate of the previous NMOS 80186/188 while consuming less than one quarter the power. Significant functionality is included in this highly integrated product. The flexible peripheral set includes DMA, Timers, Interrupt Controller, Memory Refresh, Chip Selects, Power Save and a Direct Numerics Interface.

Features and benefits


16-bit static CPU (XL operating at 25 MHz) High Performance > 1 MIP
8086 instruction set Use PC for easy software development and debugging
1 Mbyte Addressing Large address space (for programs and data) Can also use bank switching for > 1 Mbytes
On-Chip Peripherals High integration enables low-cost and low chip count designs
8-bit external bus available Lower memory and system cost
Multiple Packaging options 68L (LCC, PLCC, PGA) and 80L (QFP, SQFP) Supports varied system requirements
CMOS inputs and outputs Improved noise margins
Direct numeric’s interface (80C187) Increased computing power



Intel 186 Enhanced Processor Family




Intel modularized the core architecture of the Intel® 186 in order to better provide expandable peripheral functionality. The 186 Ex family is based on an improved, static, 1 micron design. All of the enhanced products run at 25 MHz. In addition, the 80C186Ex/C188Ex processors have a common set of base peripherals beneficial to many embedded applications. The Ex processors all support a standard numeric interface, an interrupt control unit, a chip-select unit, a DRAM refresh control unit, a power management unit, and three 16-bit timer/counters.

The 186 Ex family was designed with a number of objectives, the most important being high integration, low power consumption and a small form factor. The first objective is met by offering different Ex family members with varied peripheral sets. The variety of peripheral combinations available allows a designer to choose a "best fit" for their application. The second objective, low power, is met by offering a fully static device that operates down to 2.9-3.0 volts. The final objective, small form factor, is addressed by the Shrink Quad Flat Pack (SQFP) package.

The idle mode allows the device to shut off the CPU clock, leaving all integrated peripherals active. Idle mode lowers processor current consumption by approximately 40 percent. Power down mode goes a step further, the clock input to the entire processor is disabled reducing device current consumption to transistor leakage (micro amps).

Low voltage operation offers numerous benefits to the system designer such as decreased power consumption, less heat generation and less noise. The 13 MHz versions of the 186 Ex processors are available in 3.3V versions which operate down to 2.9 volts. The 16 MHz versions as well operate at 3.3V down to 2.9 volts. The combination of power management functionality and optional low voltage operation make the 186 Ex family processors ideal for power sensitive applications.

The small form factor is a major benefit of the SQFP package. The small package allows high integration while using minimal area. Another benefit inherent in smaller packages is reduced noise. The device lead frame that carries signals from the die to the package pins is smaller in the SQFP than it is in packages like QFP or PLCC. The decreased lead frame size decreases noise amplitude on outputs. The decreased inductance resulting from the small package and the elimination of a device socket reduce output noise. Lastly, combining the SQFP package and integration of the 186 Ex processors with low voltage operation offers an ideal solution for portable, low power, battery operated applications.

Features and benefits


3 Stage Power Management Unit Efficient power consumption
3.0 Volt Versions Enables portable, battery powered designs
Watch Dog Timer (EC only) Ensures system integrity in hostile environments
Serial Channels (EB/EC only) Facilitates interprocessor communication and modem interface
I/O Ports (EB/EC only) Ability to communicate externally via standard protocols



80C186EA/80C188EA




• Power Management
• Optional 3 Volt operation with the 80L186EA/80L188EA
• Standard peripheral set
• Packaging Options: 68L (PLCC) and 80L (QFP, SQFP)
• PB free package

The 80C186EA offers a simple upgrade from the standard Intel 80C186XL processor for power sensitive applications. The processor offers all of the functionality of the standard 80C186XL plus an integrated power management unit.

The low power consumption and power management capabilities of the 80C186EA allow designs previously requiring a bulky power supply to become battery operated. Battery operation opens new possibilities for portable/mobile designs. To achieve extremely low power consumption, the 80L186EA also operates down to 2.7 Volts at frequencies up to 13 MHz.

80C186EB/80C188EB




• 2 Serial Channels
• 2 Multiplexed I/O ports
• Enhanced C186/C188 chip selects
• Power Management
• Optional 2.9 and 3.3 Volt operation with the 80L186EB/80L188EB
• Packaging Options: 84L (PLCC) and 80L (QFP, SQFP)
• PB free package

The 80C186EB takes the base set of peripherals of the Ex family and adds two integrated serial ports. The ports support both synchronous and asynchronous communications. The serial channels make inter-processor and display communications simple.

The EB also implements an enhanced chip-select unit and 2 multiplexed I/O ports. The enhanced chip-select unit offers 10 general chips selects, each with the ability to address up to 1 megabyte. This enhanced unit enables application to implement memory bank switching to expand the 80C186 one megabyte address space. The I/O ports allow the application to do basic functions such as scanning keypads for input. The ports can also be implemented to control system power consumption, disabling unneeded components.

The serial ports, I/O capabilities and enhanced chip-selects make the EB an excellent processor for portable data acquisition or communication applications. The power management modes and optional low voltage operation make the 80L186EB ideal for battery operated systems.

80C186EC/80C188EC




• 4 DMA and 2 Serial Channels
• Watch Dog timer
• 22 I/O pins
• Enhanced C186/C188 chip selects
• Power Management
• Optional 3.3 volt operation with the 80L186EC/80L188EC
• Standard peripheral set
• Packaging Options: 100L (PQFP), 100L (QFP) and 100L (SQFP)
• PB free package

The 80C186EC is the highest integration member of the 80C186Ex processor family. All of the functionality of the 80C186EB is included with the addition of a 32-bit watch dog timer, 4 DMA channels, two enhanced 82C59 compatible interrupt controllers, and an additional I/O port. Even with the increased integration, the 80C186EC processor consumes no more power than the 80C186EB.

The 80C186EC allows the serial ports to make DMA requests, avoiding the interrupt latency required to service serial interrupt. The increased data throughput allows rapid data acquisition and processing. The enhanced chip-select unit also offers the possibility of increased data storage capacity. The very high integration and low power consumption of the 80C186EC offer a simple solution for portable, low power applications focused on data acquisition and processing. Low voltage operation is also a significant benefit to extremely power-sensitive designs.

Development tool support




Broad portfolios of tools are available through Intel and multiple Intel tool vendors. A number of debug products; real-time kernels, compilers and in-circuit emulators are available for the 186 product family.