Z80 microprocessor: Rabbit 8-bit Microprocessor Series
Rabbit microprocessors share their instruction set with the popular
Z80 / Z180 microprocessors. Rabbit processors are high-performance, 8-bit
microprocessors distinguished by a C-friendly instruction set and fast
number-crunching ability. Numerous on-chip peripherals and glueless interfacing
to both memory and I/O reduces system component requirements and saves
OEMs significant design time and production costs.
The Rabbit 2000 microprocessor ranked high in CMP Media's annual Embedded
Market survey for the third year in a row. According to the "2002
Embedded Market Survey", 10.3% of respondents used Rabbit 2000 8-bit
processors in the last 12 months. An even greater number of respondents
(18.2%) said they would consider using the Rabbit for embedded designs
in the next 12 months, marking an increase in Rabbit market popularity
during the last year. This figure places the Rabbit 2000 over such chips
as Zilog Z80/Z180, Intel 80C251, Phillips 80XX/80CXX, , Dallas/Maxim 80XX/80CXX,
and Texas Instruments TMS370/7000.
Low-cost Development Kits are
available from only $139 US and include Rabbit processor with core module
and/or development board, Dynamic C® software and documentation on
CD-ROM, serial cable for programming and debugging, AC adapter (U.S./Canada
only), and Getting Started manual.
Rabbit's designers have years of experience using Z80 and Z180 microprocessors
in embedded control products. While it runs three times faster, the Rabbit
shares a similar architecture and a high degree of compatibility with
the Z80 and Z180, but with key improvements for superior performance and
ease of use. Programmers familiar with the Z80 will be completely at ease
with the Rabbit 2000.
The Rabbit is ideal for systems requiring a low-cost microprocessor with
extensive software capability. The Rabbit's fast, efficient, and C friendly
instruction set includes numerous one-byte op codes for 16-bit logical
and arithmetic operations and compact instructions for 16-bit indexed
loads and stores. Software development is accomplished by connecting a
simple interface cable from a PC serial port to the Rabbit-based target
system.
