How to Design, Build & Program your Own Advanced Working Computer System

Cover
Introduction
1 Review Of The Microprocessor Field: Advanced Systems Concepts
Microcomputer Trends
Magnetic Disk
The Importance of Hard Copy
Other Major Developments
Components
Hardware Support
Software
Publishing
The Build-or-Buy Decision
Basic Concepts for The Advanced System
Overall Approach to System Expansion
Review of Original Design Boards
2 New Fast Memory Cards: Improved Construction Techniques
High Capacity Board Techniques
Cheap Video
The TRS-80 Video System
A Multiprocessor Video Technique
Preliminary Design of New Memory Boards
Circuit Design for the 2K Board
Circuit Design for the 8K Board
Board Construction
Layout
Soldering
Etch Resist
Checking the Finished Boards
Bench Checks
Operating Checks
3 A NIBL-Based Operating System
Data Flow Routing
Hardware Control Requirements
OS Programs
NIBL Capabilities in the Direct Execution
NIBL as an Operating System
Extending NIBL OS Capability
NIBL and Peripheral Control
Typical OS Program Features
Relocating NIBL
Modifying NIBL
4 ROM Cards, NIBL in ROM and NIBL Extension
Circuit Design
NIBL in ROM
A NIBL, NIBL MOD, and EPROM Design
Alternate Circuit Selection
Extending Memory Address Space
Using Specialized Preprogrammed ROM
Building Your Library of ROM
ZIBL-A NIBL Derivative
NSC Tiny Basic
Nonportability Problems
5 Hard-Copy Devices for I/O
Hardware Character Extension
Software Character Extension
The Internal Computer Character Set
Code Conversion
Headers and Leaders
Eliminating Other Baudot Machine Disadvantages
Eliminating the Odor
Cutting Down on Noise
Pondering Size
Paper Tape for Input and Slow Memory 11
Standard Output Formats
Alternate Teleprinter Connections
Conversion to RS-232 Signals
Use of Eight-Level Teleprinters
Adding Machine Printers
Note on Record Permanence 1
6 A Tape Cartridge Data System and Its Controls
Cartridge Tape System Decisions
The Basic Record-Reproduce-Circuit
Basic Control Circuits
Board Construction
Interconnect Cabling
Tape Deck Preparation
Head and Other Adjustments
Tape
Formatting the Tape Records
Programming for Tape Operations
Maintenance
Alternatives to Cartridge Recording
Mounting the Tape Decks 1
7 PROM Programming
Review of PROM Characteristics
The 2708
The 2716
Review of Programmer Design
EPROM Burner Circuit Design
Board Construction
Modification to Computer Control Panel
Board Check
The PROM-Burner Program
Programming the EPROM
EPROM Erasing
Alternate Designs
Notes on OS Programming: Structured Programming
8 An Auxiliary Processor Panel and Its Programs
Alternatives to Computer Math Units
Basic Characteristics of Calculator Chips
Computer Arithmetic Chips
Obtaining Chips and Data
Design of a Universal Calculator-Processor-Board 186
Circuit Design
Board Construction
Calculator Panel Precheck
The Calculator Subpanel
Subpanel Construction, Test and Installation
Final Checkout
Software for the Computer Panel
Special Number Processor Designs
9 Using Other Microprocessors
The INS-8073 Architecture
The INS-8073 Instruction Set
The Z80 Architecture
The Z80 Instruction Set
Comparison of Addressing Modes
Bus Assignments and Characteristics
Timing Signal
Board Use of Signals
Bus Assignment for Three CPU Board Designs
Board Design for the 8073
A Z80 CPU Board Design
Alternatives—Purchased Designs
10 Multitasking, Multiprogramming and Multiprocessing
Time-Shared Systems
Nomenclature and Time-Sharing System
Multiprogramming and the Home Computer
Multiprocessing and the Home Computer
Loose Coupling
Tight Coupling
Shared-Resource Multiprocessing
Summing Up Multiprocessing
Multitask Operation and the Small Computer
Interrupts
Bus Control
Why a Home System?
Appendix
SC/MP Bootstrap Loader
SC/MP Subroutine Supervisor
Block Transfer
Hexadecimal Memory Dump
Reverse Polish Tape Loader
Punch Complemented Binary PROM Tape
Quad Square Root
Double Unsigned Multiply
Fifteen-Bit Square Root
SC/MP Editor
PLOT
SC/MP Disassembler
Word Game
References
Index