
CL-PD6710/ PD6722
PCMCIA Host Adapters
MIXED VOLTAGE SUPPORT
The CL-PD6710/PD6722 host controllers support
fully mixed voltage operation, a key feature for low-
power system design and low-power card operation.
The core, ISA interface, and each PCMCIA socket
interface can all operate independent of each other at
either 3.3V or 5V.
Also, each socket interface on the CL-PD6722 can
dynamically support either 3.3V or 5V operation,
independent of the setting of the other. For example,
one socket could be operating a 3.3V SRAM card
while the other socket is operating a 5V modem card.
Not only can each socket operate independently, but
the operating voltage of each socket interface can be
switched back and forth between 3.3V and 5V opera-
tion without requiring that the socket be powered
down, thus providing dynamic operating voltage sup-
port of multi-voltage-capable cards. A special Cirrus
Logic tracking feature matches each interface’s
address, data, and control signal voltages to each
socket interface’s operating voltage. This eliminates
the possibility of excessive current consumption at
socket interfaces that is commonly caused by mis-
matched socket interface levels and card voltages.
DMA-CAPABLE CARD SUPPORT
The CL-PD6722 host controller supports PCMCIA
cards that are capable of DMA (direct memory
access). Using DMA features on a DMA-capable card
improves system performance in three ways:
G
DMA relieves CPU intervention when large data
transfers are required from a PCMCIA I/O card
device.
G
Since the CPU is not required for the DMA data
transfer, it is free to fetch and process other
instructions.
G
Because the system DMA controller is specifi-
cally designed for moving data from an I/O
device to memory, it can complete this task
faster, using less bandwidth than the CPU would
by doing the equivalent I/O cycles to the card.
DMA is used in applications where rapid data trans-
fers are necessary. The most common applications
are PCMCIA floppy disk drives, where data must be
quickly transferred from the drive to memory. Other
likely applications are LAN (local area network) cards,
sound cards, SCSI adapter cards running hard disks
or CD-ROM drives, and other removable drives.
Why Add DMA to PCMCIA
Notebook and subnotebook designs can be made
smaller, lighter weight, and more portable if bulky hard
disks and floppy drives become external accessories.
Devices that at one time were required to be continu-
ously carried as part of the main unit can now be
PCMCIA peripherals, carried only when needed, and
easily interchanged.
Implementing DMA Using a CL-PD6722
With supplemental logic, the CL-PD6722 can con-
nect to any specific DMA channel. The CL-PD6722
can allow software to select any of the three 8- or 16-
bit DMA channels, thus providing optimal flexibility for
DMA implementation. For more information, please
contact your Cirrus Logic representative.
Core
VDD
3.3/5V
A_SLOT_VCC
CCore
ISA_VCC
Signal Protection
Circuitry
+5V
ISA Bus Interface
(0/3.3/5V)
PCMCIA Socket B
Interface (0/3.3/5V)
Fully Independent Voltage Operation
of CL-PD6710/PD6722 Interfaces
B_SLOT_VCC
PCMCIA Socket A
Interface (0/3.3/5V)
0V
3.3V
5V
0V
3.3V
5V
Voltage to V
CC
Pins of the Socket
Signal Level Driven by the
CL-PD6710/PD6722 to the Socket