CA1203917A

CA1203917A - Micro computer system

Info

Publication number: CA1203917A
Application number: CA000426517A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Joji Fukuda; Yutaka Ohkubo; Akira Takezawa; Kenichi Kobayashi; Toshinori Nakamura
Original assignee: Sony Corp
Current assignee: Sony Corp
Priority date: 1982-05-10
Filing date: 1983-04-22
Publication date: 1986-04-29
Also published as: AU564772B2; AU1260783A; JPS58195265A; US4723205A; DE3316115A1; GB8311402D0; FR2526561A1; GB2119977B; NL8301669A; GB2119977A; FR2526561B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A microcomputer system has two central processing units, an original and one added to expand the system, each having an associated memory and being interconnected through an appropriate signal bus arrangment, however, only the first or original central processing unit employs an input/output device for inputting/outputting data; a bus controller and bus arbiter including a status signal generator are connected to the signal bus to provide addresses to permit the second or added central processing unit to be mapped onto the input/output address of the first central processing unit. The first central processing unit and its associated memory circuits and buses and the like then appear as peripherals with direct memory access from the viewpoint of the second or added central processing unit. A priority decoder is provided to insure that the first central processing unit has bus priority over the second central processing unit.

Description

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ACKGROUND OF THE_ INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to microcomputer systems and, particularly, to microcomputer systems employing a plurality of processing units connected to provide expanded direct memory addresses and improved data processing speed.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Computers have become a part of everyday life at all levels, including the so-called personal computers utilized by individuals in the home, as well as in the office. The majority of the personal computers now available utilize microprocessors built around an 8-bit central processing unit (CPU).
This kind of 8-bit central processing unit handles 16-bit addresses and 8-bit data at one time in order to process the data stream. In an attempt to increase the processing speed and also to increase the directly accessible addresses, it has been suggested to add an additional central processing unit to the 8-bit central processing unit typically found in such personal computers.
The central processing unit to be added is preferably a 16 bit central processing unit. The resultant system formed by the addition of the 16-bit central processing unit is a personal CGmputer or microcomputer that is managed by two central processing units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIOM OF THE DRAWINGS

.. . ..
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art microcomputer system employing an additional central processing unit and additional memory;

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Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art microcomputer system employing an additional central processing unit, utilizing a single memory and a multiplexer;
I; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the electrical connection pin arrangement of a Z80A central processing unit upon execution of input/output instructions;
:~ and Fig. is a schematic diagram showing a :~ : microcomputer system according to the present invention.

:: Two such systems that have been previously suggested are shown in Figs. l and 2. In Fig. 1, originally provided 8-bit central processing unit l has associated with it an appropriate memory 3 and added to this central processing unit 1 is 16-bit central processing nit 2, which has associated with it memory 4. The 8-bit central process1nq unit 1 and 16-bit central processing unit

2 are connected to each other through appropriate signal ;~ buses by means of input/output (I/O) port 5.
:~ In the system of Fix. 1 central processing units 1 and 2 can use or access memories 3 and 4~separately and are capable of simultaneous data processing. Moreover, by use of :~ : input/output port 5, the transfer of data between central processing units 1 and 2 lS made possible.
:~ Nevertheless, even though the system of Fig. 1 results in additional processing capability provided by the 16-bit central processing unit 2 and its associated memory 4, in this computer system when data is Jo be transferred .
between central processing unit 1 and central processing unit 2, the so-called "handshake" operation i5 necessary for l ~2039~

each data byte. This repeated required handshake operation severely slows down the transfer or handling of data. Thus, while the overall computing capability is increased, the speed of operation is decreased.
Another proposed approach to expanding the capabilities of a personal computer or microcomputPr is shown in Fig. 2. In this system, additional 16-bit central processing unit 2 is added to orig.inal 8-bit central processing unit 1. In this system memory 6 is selectively connected to either of central processing units 1 or 2 by multiplexer 7, which is represented as a switch in Fig. 2.
While multiplexer 7 functions at a relatively high speed, the central processing units 1 and 2 are not capable of simultaneous data processing, since memory 6 can be connected to only one of the two central processing units at ;~ a time. Therefore, while high-speed data transfer between the two central processing units (the original and the newly :~ ` added one) is made possible, the dual central processing system cannot be advantageously utilized because it is not capable of simultaneous data processing.
I: OBJE:CTS AND SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microcomputer system that includes an additional central processing unit and thaw expands the capabilities of the processing unit.
I: Another object of the present invention is to provide a microcomputer system of the dual central processing kind that is capable of high-speed data transfer processing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a microcomputer system of the dual central processing unit kind in which two central processing units t)3~1~7 can perform, respectively, data processing simultaneously.
In one aspect of the present invention a microcomputer system having two central processing units is provided, wherein an input/output means is connected to a first central p.rocessing unit for inputting and outputting data and a first memory is connected to the first central processing unit. A second memory is then connected to a second central processing unit wherein the second memory is allocated to an input/output address of the first central processing unit. The second central processing unit and its associated memory axe allocated to an input/output address of the original central procPssing unit, and the original central processlng unit and its associated memory are accessed by the second additional central processing unit in a direct memory~access mode (DMA).
The abovej and other objects, features and advantages:of the present invention will b apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embcdiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the~same reference numerals identify the corresponding elements and parts in the several views.

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3~ ~17 DESCRI_'ION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Fiy. 4, which shows a microcomputer system that has been moclified according to the present invention, 8-bit parallel central processing unit 11 is employed, and this type of microprocessor might be exemplified by the Z80~-CPU micro processor chip manufactered by Zilog, Inc. Nevertheless, micropxocessor chips from other manufacturers can be advantageously used in the present invention. In order to simplify the following explanation the various instructions and the like will be set forth as those which are employed in the Z80A-CPU. In addition to the basic load instructions, calculation instruction and the like, the Z80A central processing unit 11 has the following input/output (I/O) instruction:
IN A, n This instruction orders data from a peripheral device of the input/output address n (n= 0 to 255) to be input to an A register.
I 2: OUT n, A
Thls instruction orders the microprocessor to send data stored in the A register to the peripheral device having the input/output address n.
Referring back now to Fig. 3, which shows the pin layout of central processing unit 11 as embodied by a Z80A
upon execution of the above input/output instructions, data terminals Do to D7 and the uppermost 8-bit address terminals A8 to A15 of central processing unit 11 are assigned or allocated to data for accessing the A register.
Similarly, the lowermost 8-bit address terminals Ao to ... .

93's~9~7 A7 of central processing Ullit 1 1, as represented in Fiy.
3, are allocated to input/ouput address n.
II 1: IN r, O
This instruction orders data to be sent Erom the peripheral device connected to the input/output address specified by BC registers to some register r, where the r register is one of the A, B, C, I, E, H, and L registers.
II - 2: OUT O r Similarly, this instruction orders data to be sent from the r register to the peripheral device connected to the input output address specified by the BC registers.
When executing the above input/output instructions and with reference again to Fig. 3, the data terminals Do to D7 of central processing unit 11 are assigned to data for the r register, with the lower 8-bit address terminals Ao to A7 thereof being allocated to data for the C
register, and the uppermost 8 bit address terminals A8 to A15 being allocated to data for the B register.
Referring now to the system shown in Fig. 4, read only memory (ROM) 12 contains a monitor progxam and a BASIC
interpreter program, for example, and random access memory (RAM) 13 is provided for a work area and/or a user area.
The read only memory 12 and random access memory 13 are connected to each other by data bus 21, address bus 22, and control bus 23.
Clock signal generator 14 provides a constant clock signal to central processing unit 11 in order to assure system timing. Data bus 21, address bus 22, and control bus 23 are all connected to a generalized , . ... . . . . . .
l y,v~ ~,Z,~ 7 I; f f 5;. i f ~LS Ji of P,~ Z ~IJ off f lo *I ii fl~J~f :3 ~S~ 7 input/output device 15 of the kind typically required in a general computer system, such as to operate a keyboard, a cathode ray tube controller, a cathode ray tube monitor, or the like. The elements described so jar represent a sys-tem typically used for microcomputer or personal computer applications. The present invention teaches the addition of a second processing unit, shown in Fig. 4 as a 16-bit parallel central processing unit 31 to the system described above. Typical of this type of 16-bit central processing unit is the I8086-central processing unit manufactured by Intel Corp., which is operated in its maximum mode. It is understood t Of course, that this specifie brand is merely given by way of example only and several equivalent central processing units are commercially available for use.
Assoeiated with 16-bit central processing unit 31 is read only memory (ROM) 32 for storing a program and randorn access memory (RAM) 33 for providing work area and user area, transceiver 34, lateh circuit 35, bus eontroller 36, and bus arbiter 37. Local bus 38 interconneets 16-bit central proeessing unit 31 with transceiver 34, lateh 35, bus eontroller 36~ and bus arbiter 37. Read only memory 32 and random aeeess memory 33 are similarly interconneeted via data bus 41 that funetions as the system bus and has assoeiated with it address bus 42 and eontrol bus 43. Bus control line 44 is provided for the system bus The 8-bit eentral processing unit 11 and 16-bit central processing unit 31 must be specifically eontrolled to aceess the memories through the multi-bus by bus controller 36 and by bus eontroller 63. Sueh eontrol is ,, ,, ,,, ,, , ., . , .. ,, . ., ... , , .. ,, ,, ,,, ,, . ,, _, .. ............. . . .... . . . . . . . .. . . .

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provided by the bus arbiter units 37,62 arranged as shown in Fig. 4. For example, when central processing unit 31 reads and/or writes data from and/or to random access memory 33, (Z80A) central processing unit ll cannot access random access memory 33 until the bus cycle of (I8086? central processing unit 31 ceases. This control is performed my bus arbiter 37. The transceiver 34, latch 35~ bus controller 36, and bus arbiter 37 are formed of commercially available integrated circuits, specifically I8286, I$282, I8238, and I8289, respectively. These integrated circuits are utilized solely in a general way in response to the maximum mode of the (I8086) central processing unit 31 and, since such operation is well known in the art, further details thereof are not set forth.
In order to establish the dual central processing system employing central processing unit 11 and central processing unit 31 according to the present invention, a particular arrangement is provided whereby central processing unit 31 and its associated circuits, that is, read only memory 32, random access memory 33, transceiver 34, latch 35, bus controller 36, bus arbiter 37, local bus 38, and data bus 41 are mapped onto the input/output address of the 8-bit central processing unit 11, while the 8-bit central processing unit 11 and its associated circuits including read only memory 12, random access memory 13, clock generator 14, input/output device 15, data bus 21, address bus 22, and control bus 23 are arranged as the peripheral circuit having direct memory access (DMA) as viewed from central processing unit 31. In the embodiment " .. .. .. . ... . . . . .. .... . . . . ... . . . .

lZ4~?3917 shown in Fig. 4, bit central processiny unit 11, as represented by integrated circuit Z80A, has a bus priority over the 16-bi-t centraL processing unit 31, as represented by integrated circuit I8086. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, it can be considered that the computer employing the Z80A-central processing unit 11 as its processor and the computer employing the I8086-central processing unit 31 as its processor are combined, however, the computer system employing the I8086-central processing unit 31 has no input/output device. Therefore, it is necessary for the latter computer to utilize the input/output device 15 to communicate with the Z80A-central processing unit 11.
Accordingly, in this case, data input, data processing, and data output are performed by both of the two central processing units 11 and 13 in the embodiment of Fig.

4. As is well known, because the ~8086 central processing unit 31 is a 16-bit processor, it is very well adapted to perform data processing, whereas because the Z80A central processing unit 11 is an 8-bit processor it is well adapted to perform data input and output. The present invention provides a system wherein the two central processing units 11 and 13 can operate together in parallel r thereby providiny total data processing in a relatively high-speed fashion. To accomplish such high-speed data processing utiliziny these two processors the present invention provides an 8-bit transceiver 51 connected between the two data buses 21 and 41. A decoder 55 is providedt which is supplied with the lower 8 bits of the address A7 to Ao~
from address bus 22 and read and write signals from control .. . . . . .
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bus 23, thereby to generate an input/output address signal and a direction signal. The input/output address signal produced by decoder 55 is supplied to transcelver 51 as its gate signal G and the direction signal produced by decoder 55 is fed to transceiver 51 to control the direction of data flow therethrough.
A 4-bit latch 52 is supplied at its data input terminals with the lower 4-bits D3 to Do from data bus 21 and the output of 4-bit latch 5Z is connected to the upper 4-bits A19 to A16 of address bus 42. An 8-bit latch 53 is connected with data bus 21 at its input terminal and has its OUtpllt terminals connected to the middle 8-bits A15 to A8 of address bus 42. These middle 8-bits A15 to A8 of address bus 22 are coupled through hus driver 54 to the lower 8-bits A7 to Ao of address bus 42.
Decoder 56 is connected to receive the lower 8-bits A7 to Ao from address bus 22 and also to receive the input/output request signal, the read signal, and the write signal iron control bus 23 thereby to decode the input/output addresses. Decoder 56 produces Y0 and Y1 supplied to latch unit 52 and latch unit 53 respectively, to act as the clock inputs to these latch elements.
Accordingly, as viewed from central processing unit 11, central processing unit 31, and associated circuits 32 through 44 are mapped onto the input/output addresses by means of circuits 51 through 54.
As shown in Fig. 4, status signal generator 61 is connected to control bus 23 and also to bus arbiter 62 and bus controller 63. Status signal generator 61 generates , ", .. . . , .,, ,, , . ., " ., .,, ., .. , . , , , , .. . . - -- - - -- -- --9 ~7 status s:ignals S0 to S2 which are the equivalent of status signals S0 to S2 of central processing unit 31 in the maximum mode. To accomplish this, status signal generator circuit 61 consists of three D-type flip flop circuits and well-known associated logic circuits coupled to control bus 23 and supplied with clock signals from clock generator 14 and an address enable signal AEN
from bus arbiter 62, thereby to generate status signals S0 to S2.
Status signals S0 to Sl and the clock signal from clock generator 14 are both supplied to bus arbiter 52 and bus controller 63. Bus controller 63 also being connected to control bus 43 and bus arbiter being connected to control bus 23, as well as to control bus 44.
Accordingly, by means of status signal generator circuit 61, bus arbiter 62, and bus controller 63 the Z80A-central processing unit 11, as viewed from central processing unit 31, can be regarded as an equivalent central processing unit, that is, equivalent to the I8086 central processing unit 31 in the maximum mode.
A priority encoder 64 is connected between bus arbiter 62 and bus arbiter 37, thereby giving Z80A central processing unit 11 a bus priority over I8086 central processing unit 31. Bus arbiter 62, bus controller 63, and priority encoder 64 are of the conventional kind known to those with ordinary skill in the microprocessor art, as were transceiver 34, latch 35, bus controller 36, and bus arbiter 37. The address enable signal AEN from bus arbiter 62 is fed to latch 52, latch 53, and driver 54 as their output enable signal, that is, their gate signal, respectively.

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~L2~ii3~ 7 In an example of the operation of the above-described sys-tem central processing unit 11, clock generator 14 data bus 21, address bus 22, and control bus 23 comprise a so-called llhostl' computer, with the remaining circuit elements as described above preferably being packaged in such a fashion as to be simply plugged into the host computer. According to such an arrangement, when accessing of data is not being performed between central processing unit 11 and central processing unit 31, central processing unit 11 performs data processing in accordance with the program that has been loaded into read only memory 12, while central processing unit 31 performs data processing in accordance with the program contained within its associated read only memory 32. Thus, the two central processing units 11 and 31 can simultaneously perfoxm data processing completely independently.
In the system of Fig. 4 taught by the presen-t invention, when accessing of data is desired the following operations would be performed where data is transfexred from central processing unit 11 to central processing unit 31.
That situation can be arbitrarily referred to as Case A. The following then are the various operations which could occur and the manner in which such operations cculd be instructed.
A-i: By means of the I/O output instruction from central processing unit 11 latch 52 is addressed to latch therein the uppermost 4-bits A19 to A16 of random access memory 33. This xepresents the header addresses to which the data is transferred.

3 i A ii: By means of the I/O output instruction from central processing unit 11 latch 53 .is addressed to latch thereinto the middle 8-~its A15 to A8 of random access memory 33.
A-iii: One byte of data at a certain address of random access memory 33 will be loaded into a register of the central processiny unit 11, for example register A.
A-iv: Among the I/O output instructions from central processing unit 11 the output instruction OUT (C), A is executed This is in accordance with instruction II-2 described above. Upon the occurrence of this output instruction, the data stored in the B register of central processing unit 11 are fed through driver 54 to random access memory 33 as the eight lower address bits A7 to Ao~
Simultaneously, the data in the C register of central processing unit 11 is decoded by decoder 55 to address transceiver 51 to put it in-to its feed forward mode so that the data stored in the A register of central processing unit 11 can be supplied to random access memory 33. In this case, since the address enable instruction AEN = I'LI' has been established, random access memory 33 is put into the write mode by bus controller 36 and the addresses of random access memory 33 are designated by the outputs from latch 52, 3~

latch 53, and driver 54 so that the data in the A register of central processing unit 11 are written into random access memory 33 at addresses specified by latch 5~, latch 53, and driver 54.
Specifically, one-byte data at a certain address of random access memory 13 is transferred to a certain address of random access memory 33, and upon this data transfer, the bus arbiter 37 controls central processing unit 31 to place it into its waiting state and data bus 41, address bus 42, and control bus 43 are all isolated from the side of the system represented by central processing unit 31.
A-v: The steps A-iii and A-iv will be repeated to transfer the data from random access memory 13 to random access memory 33 one byte at a time. If necessary, the instructions relative to A-i and A-ii as described above will also be repeated.
A-vi: After the transfer of all data, a flag is sent to a particular address in random access memory 33, for example, in the same fashion as the data transfer described above. The setting of this flag indicates that the data transfer is finished.
The other mode of operation will be referred to as Case B and relates to the situation when data is transferred from central processing unit 31 to S~''S Or 5"i'J~r-~2"1'~ f ."~ go 'r~,'~5~t~'~5 fL'f a f~,r~t~ k 5 l if I 5 l ..

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central processing unit 11, that is the reverse direction from Case A.
B-i: Latch 52 is addressed by the I/O output lnstruction from central processing unit 11 to cause it to latch thereinto the upper four bits Alg to A16 of random access memory 33~ these four bits comprise the header address bits of central processing unit 11.
B-ii: Latch 53 is addressed by I/O output instructions from central processing unit 11 to cause it to latch thereinto the middle 8 bits A15 to A8 of random access memory 33.
B-iii: Among the I/O input instructions from central processing unit 11, as described hereinabove, the input instruction IN O A
is executed. This is in accordance with instruction II-l described above. On the occurrence of this input instruction, the data stored in the B register of central processing unit 11 is supplied through driver 54 to random access memory 33, as its lower 8-bits of address A7 to Ao~ Simultaneously, the data in the C
register of central processing unit 11 is decoded by decoder 55 and in this fashion transceiver 51 is addressed so as to be put in its read direction mode. Thus, one byte of data of random access memory 33 is then latched into the A register. The addresseis of random access memory 33 at this time are designated by the outputs from latch 52, latch 53, and 3LZO~

driver 54, just as was accomplished in regard to the Case A instructions above.
B-iv: The data latched in the A register of central processing unit 11 is transferred to random access memory 13. As descrihed above, one byte of data of random access memory 33 is transferred to random access memory 13.
B-v: The above-described instructions B iii and B-iv are repeated as necessary to transfer the data stored in random access memory 33, one byte at a time, to random access memory 13 to complete the data transfer. Instructions B-i and B-ii can also be repeated in this sequence if required If necessary, prior to the B-i instruction, for example, central processing unit 11 checks the flag raised at the particular address in random access memory 33, as described above, thereby to check whether it is ready to transfer the data.
Thus, according to the present invention, the two central processing units, 11 and 31, can perform the respective data processing completely independently, as well as simultaneously.
Moreover, because it is only necessary to perform a single handshake for all data to be transferred, the data transfer between central processing units ll and 13 can be performed at relatively high speed. In the above described system, the memory can be coupled to the local bus 38 The above description relates to a single preferred embodiment of the present invention t however, it 16~

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~,2~:~3~3~'`7 will be apparent that many modificati.ons and variations can ye effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, wherein the scope of the invention may be determined only by the appended claims.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A microcomputer system, comprising:
first central processing unit means having input/output addresses;
first memory means connected to said first central processing unit means;
input/output means connected to said first central processing unit means for inputting data thereto and outputting data therefrom at respective addresses;
second central processing unit means having input/output addresses;
second memory means connected to said second central processing unit means;
first signal bus means operably connecting said first central processing unit means, said first memory means, and said input/output means and second signal bus means operably connecting said second central processing unit means and said second memory means; and generating means connected to said first and second signal bus means for providing data communication therebetween and generating input/output addresses for mapping said input/output addresses of said second central processing unit means onto input/output addresses of said first central processing unit means, respectively.

2. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, in which said generating means generating input/output addresses for mapping said second central processing unit means onto input/output addresses of said first central processing unit means comprises transceiver means receiving address information from said first central processing unit means for selectively connecting said first and second signal bus means and determining the direction of data flow therebetween, data latch means for receiving data output from said first and second central processing units, and bus driver means connected to said first and second signal bus means for passing data thereonto.

3. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, in which said generating means generating input/output addresses for mapping said second central processing unit means onto input/output addresses of said first central processing unit means includes a decoder means for decoding address information from said first central processing means and a transceiver means arranged to connect said first signal bus with said second signal bus and connected to be gated by said decoded address information, whereby data flows between said first and second signal bus means.

4. A microcomputer system according to claim 3, in which said generating means generating input/output addresses for mapping said second central processing unit means onto input/output addresses of said first central processing unit means further includes data latch means connected between said first signal bus and said second signal bus for receiving data output from said first and second central processing unit means, and bus driver means connected between said first signal bus and said second signal bus for passing data thereonto.

5. A microcomputer system according to claim 3, further comprising first and second bus arbiter means con-nected to said first signal bus and said second signal bus, respectively, for controlling access to said first and said second memory means, respectively, and bus priority means connected to said first and second bus arbiter means for providing said first central processing unit means with bus priority over said second central processing unit means.

6. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, further comprising control means connected to said first and second signal bus means for controlling data flow therein, and including a status signal generator means for generating status signals fed to enable bus arbiter means connected to said first and second signal bus means and to enable bus control means connected to said second signal bus means.

7. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, in which said first signal bus means includes a separate data bus, a separate address bus parallel to said data bus, and a separate control bus parallel to said address bus.

8. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, in which said first memory means includes a random access memory connected to said first central processing unit means and a read only memory connected to said first central processing unit means.

9. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, in which said second memory means includes a random access memory connected to said second central processing unit means and a read only memory connected to said second central processing means.

10. A microcomputer system according to claim 1, further comprising decoder means connected to said first signal bus means for decoding preselected addresses of said first central processing unit means and producing a gating signal and a direction signal fed to a transceiver means included in said generating means for gating said transceiver and determining the direction of data flow, whereby data can be transferred between said first and second central processing unit means.

11. A microcomputer system, comprising:

first central processing having data terminals and address terminals including input/output means connected thereto for inputting data thereto and outputting data therefrom;
first memory means connected to said first central processing unit means;
second central processing unit means having data terminals and address terminals and not including input/output means for inputting/outputting data;
second memory means connected to said second central processing unit means;
first bus means for operably connecting said first central processing unit means, said input/output means, and said first memory means and second bus means for operably connecting said second processing unit means and said second memory means; and means connected to said bus means and generating input/output addresses for mapping said data terminals and address terminals of said second central processing unit means onto input/output addresses of said first central processing unit means.

12. A microcomputer system according to claim 11, in which said means generating input/output addresses comprises transceiver means receiving address information from said first central processing means for selectively connecting said first and second bus means for data flow therebetween and determining the direction of said data flow, data latch means and bus driver means for coupling selected data between said first and second bus means.

13. A microcomputer system according to claim 12, further comprising first and second bus arbiter means connected to said first signal bus and said second signal bus, respectively, for determining data access to said first and second bus means, and bus priority means connected to said first and second bus arbiter means for providing said first central processing unit means including said input/output means with bus priority over said second processing unit means not including input/output means.

14. A microcomputer system according to claim 11, further comprising first and second bus arbiter means connected to said first and said second bus means, respect-ively, for controlling access to said first and second memory means, and bus priority means connected to said first and second bus arbiter means for providing said first central processing unit means with bus priority over said second processing unit means.

15. A microcomputer system according to claim 14, further comprising means for controlling data flow including a status signal generator means connected to said first and second bus arbiter means for generating bus status signals fed thereto and fed to a bus control means for controlling the flow of data on said second bus means.

16. A microcomputer system according to claim 11, in which said first bus means includes a separate data bus, a separate address bus parallel to said data bus, and a separate control bus parallel to said address bus.

17. A microcomputer system according to claim 11, in which said second memory means includes a random access memory and a read only memory each connected to said second central processing unit means not including an input/output means.

18. A microcomputer system according to claim 11, further comprising decoder means connected to said bus means for decoding addresses from said first central processing unit means having an input/output and feeding decoded addresses to said means generating input/output addresses, whereby data is transferred between said first and second memory means.

19. A microcomputer system according to claim 12, further comprising decoder means connected to said first bus means for decoding address information from said first central processing unit means and producing a gating signal and a direction signal fed to said transceiver means whereby data is controllably transferred between said first and second memory means.
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