Abstract :
In response to a project authorization request submitted by the Microprocessor Standards Committee, the IEEE Standards Board has authorized a project (P961) to study the need for a microprocessor bus standard based on the STD bus. The STD bus is an eight-bit microprocessor busing and packaging scheme currently supported by over 40 card manufacturers. It makes use of a preassigned 56-pin bus connector on a 4.5-inch (l14.3-mm) by 6.5-inch (l65.1-mm) card. The small card is intended to support a modular-by-function approach to designing with microprocessors. The P961 working group is being formed to assemble the first draft standard. A specification managed and maintained by the STD Manufacturers Group is being considered as the core document. This specification, which defines the physical and logical req uirements, will be combined with basic memory and I/O timing as a basis for the first draft.