Engineering:ST6 and ST7

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ST62E40 microcontroller, based on the ST6 architecture

The ST6 and ST7 are 8-bit microcontroller product lines from STMicroelectronics. They are commonly used in small embedded applications like washing machines.

Although they use similar peripherals and are marketed as part of the same product line,[1][2] the two architectures are actually quite different.

Both have an 8-bit accumulator used for most operations, plus two 8-bit index registers (X and Y) used for memory addressing. Also both have 8-bit instructions followed by up to 2 bytes of operands, and both have support for manipulating and branching on individual bits of memory.

There, the similarities end.

The ST6 is a Harvard architecture with an 8-bit (256 byte) data address space and a separate 12-bit (4096 byte) program space. Operands are always 1 byte long, and some instructions support two operands, such as "move 8-bit immediate to 8-bit memory address". Subroutine calls are done using a separate hardware stack. Data registers (but not the program counter or flags) are memory-mapped.

The ST6's addressing modes are limited to immediate, 8-bit absolute memory address, and register indirect modes (X) and (Y).

The ST7 is a von Neumann architecture with a single 16-bit (64 kiB) address space. The first 256 bytes of RAM (the zero page) have extra flexibility. There are no two-operand instructions except for "test bit and branch". Its registers are not memory-mapped, and it uses general-purpose RAM (plus a stack pointer register) for subroutine calls.

The ST7 supports a wide variety of addressing modes, including base+index and double-indirect.

Three members of the ST6 microcontroller family: ST62E01, ST62E20, ST62E25

ST6 architecture

The ST6 has 64 bytes of RAM and 4096 bytes of program ROM. Larger amounts are accessed by bank-switching the low 2K section of the ROM.

The RAM address space is actually 256 bytes, divided as follows:

  • 0–63: Not implemented
  • 64–127: Bank-switchable window into program ROM and data EPROM.
  • 128–191: General-purpose RAM
  • 192–255: Peripheral control registers (GPIO ports, timers, etc.) The accumulator is mapped at address 255, but is more commonly addressed implicitly.

Not mapped into the address space is a 12-bit program counter and an associated hardware stack (four or six levels deep, depending on model). There are only two status bits (carry and zero), and they are banked based on processor mode, with separate status bits for normal, interrupt and non-maskable interrupt operation.

The first four general-purpose RAM locations are also known as the X, Y, V and W registers, and some instructions can access them using special short addressing modes. The X and Y registers serve as index registers, and can use indirect addressing modes (X) and (Y).

The instruction set consists of one byte of opcode, followed by up to two one-byte operands. The instruction set can be summarized as follows:

ST6 family instruction set[3]
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 b2 b3 Mnemonic C Z Description
offset opc 0 Conditional branches (5-bit PC-relative)
offset 0 0 0 JRNZ address Jump to PC + simm5 if Z == 0
offset 1 0 0 JRZ address Jump to PC + simm5 if Z == 1
offset 0 1 0 JRNC address Jump to PC + simm5 if C == 0
offset 1 1 0 JRC address Jump to PC + simm5 if C == 1
imm4 c 0 0 1 imm8 Unconditional branches (12-bit absolute)
imm4 0 0 0 1 imm8 CALL imm12 Push PC, jump to 12-bit address
imm4 1 0 0 1 imm8 JP imm12 Jump to 12-bit address
0 0 1 0 1 (reserved)
reg c 1 c 1 0 1 Register operations (on X, Y, V or W)
reg 0 1 0 1 0 1 INC reg Z Increment register. Z is set, C is not.
reg 1 1 0 1 0 1 LD A,reg Z A := {X, Y, V or W}
reg 0 1 1 1 0 1 DEC reg Z Decrement register. Z is set, C is not.
reg 1 1 1 1 0 1 LD reg,A Z {X, Y, V or W} := A
opcode 0 1 1 0 1 Miscellaneous operations
0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 addr imm8 LDI addr,imm8 Set RAM to 8-bit immediate value
1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 (reserved)
0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 RETI Return from interrupt. Pop PC, restore flags.
1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 RET Return from subroutine. Pop PC from hardware stack.
0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 COM A Z C Complement: C := msbit(A); A := ~A
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 RLC A C A := A + A + C
0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 STOP Halt processor, clock, most peripherals until next interrupt
1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 WAIT Halt processor until next interrupt; clock continues
bit opc 0 1 1 address ? Bit operations (absolute address only)
bit 0 0 0 1 1 src simm8 JRR bit,src,address C C := src.bit; jump to PC+simm8 if reset (clear)
bit 1 0 0 1 1 src simm8 JRS bit,src,address C C := src.bit; jump to PC+simm8 if set
bit 0 1 0 1 1 dst RES bit,dst Reset (set to 0) dst.bit
bit 1 1 0 1 1 dst SET bit,dst Set (to 1) dst.bit
opcode data 1 1 1 ? ALU operations with RAM or immediate
opcode 0 0 1 1 1 (X) Operand is (X)
opcode 0 1 1 1 1 (Y) Operand is (Y)
opcode 1 0 1 1 1 imm8 imm8 Operand is 8-bit immediate (source only)
opcode 1 1 1 1 1 addr addr Operand is 8-bit RAM address
0 0 0 src 1 1 1 ? LD A,src Z A := src
1 0 0 dst 1 1 1 ? LD dst,A Z dst := A (immediate forbidden)
0 1 0 src 1 1 1 ? ADD A,src Z C A := A + src
1 1 0 src 1 1 1 ? SUB A,src Z C A := A − src
0 0 1 src 1 1 1 ? CP A,src Z C A − src
1 0 1 src 1 1 1 ? AND A,src Z A := A & src
0 1 1 dst 1 1 1 ? INC dst Z dst := dst + 1 (immediate forbidden)
1 1 1 dst 1 1 1 ? DEC dst Z dst := dst − 1 (immediate forbidden)

†: ^ a b Confusingly, different models of the ST6 family use different conventions for the value of the carry bit after a subtraction. ST60 processors use the "carry" convention, which clears the bit if the subtract underflows, while the ST62 and ST63 processors use the "borrow" convention, which sets the bit in that case.[3]:21–22,42

ST7 architecture

The ST7 has six registers: the accumulator, X and Y index registers, stack pointer, program counter, and condition code register. Also, double-indirect addressing allows the zero page of RAM to serve as additional registers. An unusual but useful feature is that an interrupt pushes four of these registers on the stack (A and X as well as the usual PC and CC), and interrupt return restores them.

ALU instructions fall into two categories, two-operand and one-operand.

Two-operand instructions use the accumulator as the first source. The addressing mode specifies the second source, which may be:

  • 8-bit immediate
  • 8-bit absolute address
  • 16-bit absolute address
  • Indexed (X)
  • Indexed plus 8-bit offset (address8,X)
  • Indexed plus 16-bit offset (address16,X)

The destination is usually the accumulator, but a few instructions modify the second source. (Immediate operands are forbidden in such cases.)

One-operand instructions use the specified operand for both source and destination. The operand may be:

  • The accumulator A
  • The X register
  • 8-bit absolute address
  • Indexed (X)
  • Indexed plus 8-bit offset (address8,X)

Register plus offset computes a full-width sum, so the 8-bit form may address memory up to 255+255 = 510.

In addition to the above, there are three prefix bytes which may be prepended to any instruction for which they make sense:

  • PDY (0x90) changes all references to the X register to Y. This allows (Y), (address8,Y) and (address16,Y) addressing modes. This affects implicit operands as well, so the "load X" instruction becomes "load Y". A consequence of this is that load X can only use the X-relative addressing modes, and load Y can only use the Y-relative ones.
  • PIX (0x92) adds an indirection step to the instruction. The 8- or 16-bit address following the opcode byte is replaced by an 8-bit address of a memory location which holds an 8- or 16-bit address (the latter in big-endian order). This may then be indexed by the X register as usual. This allows (address8), (address16), ([address8],X) and ([address8.w],X) addressing modes.
  • PIY (0x91) combines the above effects. This allows the ([address8],Y) and ([address8.w],Y) addressing modes. (It may also be used with other modes as part of the "load Y" and "store Y" instructions.)
ST7 family instruction set[4]
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 b2 b3 Mnemonic Description
0 0 0 c bit v address ? Bit operations
0 0 0 0 bit 0 addr8 soff8 BTJT addr8,#bit,label Jump to PC + soff8 if source bit is true (set)
0 0 0 0 bit 1 addr8 soff8 BTJF addr8,#bit,label Jump to PC + soff8 if source bit is false (clear)
0 0 0 1 bit 0 addr8 BSET addr8,#bit Set specified bit to 1
0 0 0 1 bit 1 addr8 BRES addr8,#bit Reset (clear) specified bit to 0
0 0 1 0 condition soff8 Conditional branches (8-bit relative offset)
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 soff8 JRA label Branch always (true)
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 soff8 JRF label Branch never (false)
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 soff8 JRUGT label Branch if unsigned greater than (C=0 and Z=0)
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 soff8 JRULE label Branch if unsigned less than or equal (C=1 or Z=1)
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 soff8 JRNC label Branch if no carry (C=0)
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 soff8 JRC label Branch if carry (C=1)
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 soff8 JRNE label Branch if not equal (Z=0)
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 soff8 JREQ label Branch if equal (Z=1)
0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 soff8 JRNH label Branch if not half-carry (H=0)
0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 soff8 JRH label Branch if half-carry (H=1)
0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 soff8 JRPL label Branch if plus (N=0)
0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 soff8 JRMI label Branch if minus (N=1)
0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 soff8 JRNM label Branch if not interrupt mask (M=0)
0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 soff8 JRM label Branch if interrupts masked (M=1)
0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 soff8 JRIL label Branch if interrupt line is low
0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 soff8 JRIH label Branch if interrupt line is high
0 mode opcode ? One-operand instructions
0 0 1 1 opcode addr8 OP addr8 8-bit absolute address
0 1 0 0 opcode OP A Accumulator
0 1 0 1 opcode OP X X register (Y register with prefix)
0 1 1 0 opcode addr8 OP (addr8,X) 8-bit address plus X
0 1 1 1 opcode OP (X) Indexed with no offset
0 mode 0 0 0 0 ? NEG operand Two's-complement negate
0 mode 0 0 0 1 ? (reserved)
0 mode 0 0 1 0 ? (reserved)
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 MUL X,A X:A := X × A. (MUL Y,A with prefix)
0 mode 0 0 1 1 ? CPL operand Ones' complement, logical not
0 mode 0 1 0 0 ? SRL operand Shift right logical. Msbit cleared, lsbit to carry.
0 mode 0 1 0 1 ? (reserved)
0 mode 0 1 1 0 ? RRC operand Rotate right through carry, (operand:C) := (C:operand)
0 mode 0 1 1 1 ? SRA operand Shift right arithmetic. Msbit preserved, lebit to carry.
0 mode 1 0 0 0 ? SLL operand Shift left. Msbit to carry.
0 mode 1 0 0 1 ? RLC operand Rotate left through carry.
0 mode 1 0 1 0 ? DEC operand Decrement. (N and Z set, carry unaffected)
0 mode 1 0 1 1 ? (reserved)
0 mode 1 1 0 0 ? INC operand Increment. (N and Z set, carry unaffected)
0 mode 1 1 0 1 ? TNZ operand Test non-zero. Set N and Z based on operand.
0 mode 1 1 1 0 ? SWAP operand Swap halves of operand (4-bit rotate).
0 mode 1 1 1 1 ? CLR operand Set operand to 0. N and Z set to fixed values.operand.
1 0 0 opcode Miscellaneous instructions. None implicitly set the condition codes.
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IRET Return from interrupt (pop CC, A, X, PC)
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 RET Return from subroutine (pop PC)
1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 TRAP Force trap interrupt
1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 (reserved)
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 POP A Pop A from stack
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 POP X Pop X from stack
1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 POP CC Pop condition codes from stack
1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 (reserved)
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 PUSH A Push A onto stack
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 PUSH X Push X onto stack
1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 PUSH CC Push condition codes onto stack
1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 (reserved)
1 0 0 0 1 1 0 (reserved)
1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 HALT Halt processor and clocks
1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 WFI Wait for interrupt, halting processor but not clocks
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 PDY Instruction prefix; swap X and Y in next instruction
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 PIY Instruction prefix; PDY plus PIX
1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 PIX Instruction prefix; use 8-bit memory indirect for operand
1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 LD X,Y X := Y. With PDY, does "LD Y,X".
1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 LD S,X S := X. Load stack pointer.
1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 LD S,A S := A. Load stack pointer.
1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 LD X,S X := S.
1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 LD X,A X := A.
1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 RCF Reset (clear) carry flag
1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 SCF Set carry flag
1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 RIM Reset interrupt mask (enable interrupts)
1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 SIM Set interrupt mask (disable interrupts)
1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 RSP Reset stack pointer (to top of RAM)
1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 NOP No operation. (=LD A,A)
1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 LD A,S A := S
1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 LD A,X A := X.
1 mode opcode value ? Two-operand instructions A := A op operand
1 0 1 0 opcode imm8 OP #imm8 8-bit immediate operand (forbidden as destination)
1 0 1 1 opcode addr8 OP addr8 8-bit absolute address
1 1 0 0 opcode addrhi addrlo OP addr16 16-bit absolute address
1 1 0 1 opcode addrhi addrlo OP (addr16,X) Indexed with 16-bit offset
1 1 1 0 opcode addr8 OP (addr8,X) Indexed with 8-bit offset
1 1 1 1 opcode OP (X) Indexed with no offset
1 mode 0 0 0 0 value ? SUB A,operand A := A − operand
1 mode 0 0 0 1 value ? CP A,operand Compare A − operand
1 mode 0 0 1 0 value ? SBC A,operand Subtract with borrow A := A − operand − C
1 mode 0 0 1 1 value ? CP X,operand Compare X − operand
1 mode 0 1 0 0 value ? AND A,operand A := A & operand, bitwise and
1 mode 0 1 0 1 value ? BCP A,operand Bitwise test A & operand
1 mode 0 1 1 0 value ? LD A,operand Load A := operand
1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 imm8 (reserved, =LD #imm8,A)
1 mode 0 1 1 1 value ? LD operand,A Store operand := A
1 mode 1 0 0 0 value ? XOR A,operand A := A ^ operand, exclusive-or
1 mode 1 0 0 1 value ? ADC A,operand A := A + operand + C, add with carry
1 mode 1 0 1 0 value ? OR A,operand A := A | operand, inclusive or
1 mode 1 0 1 1 value ? ADD X,operand A := A + operand
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 imm8 x (reserved, =JP #imm8)
1 mode 1 1 0 0 value ? JP operand PC := operand, unconditional jump
1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 soff8 CALLR label PUSH PC, PC := PC + operand
1 mode 1 1 0 1 value ? CALL operand Push PC, PC := operand
1 mode 1 1 1 0 value ? LD X,operand Load X := operand
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 imm8 (reserved, =LD #imm8,X)
1 mode 1 1 1 1 value ? LD operand,X Store operand := X

References