
2001 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS35007B-page 11
PIC16F84A
2.4
PCL and PCLATH
The program counter (PC) specifies the address of the
instruction to fetch for execution. The PC is 13 bits
wide. The low byte is called the PCL register. This reg-
ister is readable and writable. The high byte is called
the PCH register. This register contains the PC<12:8>
bits and is not directly readable or writable. If the pro-
gram counter (PC) is modified or a conditional test is
true, the instruction requires two cycles. The second
cycle is executed as a NOP. All updates to the PCH reg-
ister go through the PCLATH register.
2.4.1
STACK
The stack allows a combination of up to 8 program calls
and interrupts to occur. The stack contains the return
address from this branch in program execution.
Mid-range devices have an 8 level deep x 13-bit wide
hardware stack. The stack space is not part of either
program or data space and the stack pointer is not
readable or writable. The PC is PUSHed onto the stack
when a CALL instruction is executed or an interrupt
causes a branch. The stack is POPed in the event of a
RETURN,
RETLW
or a RETFIE instruction execution.
PCLATH is not modified when the stack is PUSHed or
POPed.
After the stack has been PUSHed eight times, the ninth
push overwrites the value that was stored from the first
push. The tenth push overwrites the second push (and
so on).
2.5
Indirect Addressing; INDF and
FSR Registers
The INDF register is not a physical register. Addressing
INDF actually addresses the register whose address is
contained in the FSR register (FSR is a
pointer). This is
indirect addressing.
EXAMPLE 2-1:
INDIRECT ADDRESSING
Reading INDF itself indirectly (FSR = 0) will produce
00h. Writing to the INDF register indirectly results in a
no-operation (although STATUS bits may be affected).
A simple program to clear RAM locations 20h-2Fh
EXAMPLE 2-2:
HOW TO CLEAR RAM
USING INDIRECT
ADDRESSING
An effective 9-bit address is obtained by concatenating
the 8-bit FSR register and the IRP bit (STATUS<7>), as
PIC16F84A.
Register file 05 contains the value 10h
Register file 06 contains the value 0Ah
Load the value 05 into the FSR register
A read of the INDF register will return the value
of 10h
Increment the value of the FSR register by one
(FSR = 06)
A read of the INDF register now will return the
value of 0Ah.
movlw
0x20
;initialize pointer
movwf
FSR
;to RAM
NEXT
clrf
INDF
;clear INDF register
incf
FSR
;inc pointer
btfss
FSR,4
;all done?
goto
NEXT
;NO, clear next
CONTINUE
:
;YES, continue