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THE MAGAZINE OF DIGITAL EL
MICROPROGRAMMED CPU ARCHITECTURE OFFERS USER-ALTERABLE MINICOMPUTER PERFORMANCE

INTERDATA USERS The TC-120 did it/or Data General users TheTC-130 did it/or DEC users
~Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim Now the TC-140 does it/or you

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CIRCLE 3 ON IN9UIRY CARD

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Tally's "up-time" performance means extremely low operating costs. Couple this with our low purchase price and it adds up that the Tally T-2000 offers the lowest cost of ownership available.
The reason for this superior reliability is the proven and patented print comb mechanism. Based on the simple design premise of moving light masses over short distances, it's impervious to wear or malfunction. As a bonus, it delivers page after page of outstanding print quality.
Tally Corporation, 8301 S. 180th St. Kent, WA 98031. Phone (206) 251-5500.

VOLUME 17, NUMBER 6

COMPUTER DESIGN
THE MAGAZINE OF DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
JUNE 1978

DEPARTMENTS

6 CALENDAR

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

14 COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
Statistical analysis techniques aid in projecting traffic behavior where voice and data share a common communications network. Tariffs, networks, and technology are considered as they relate to digital communications

34 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW
Practical voice-operated Intel ligent terminal
permits operators to enter data directly to computer, in English language terms, via microphone or telephone. Other state-ol-theart technologies are examined as they relate to available equipment

64 DIGITAL CONTROL AND
AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
All sessions at the 1978 conference of IEEE's Professional Group on Industrial Electronics and Control Instrumentation fit the theme of "Industrial Applications ol Microprocessors." Those abstracted here range from an automated vehicle with an art ificial eye to a home microwave oven, and from a computer-controlled engine test system to onboard supervisory control ol an electric railcar

130 TECH BRIEFS

135 MICRO PROCESSOR/ COMPUTER DATA STACK
Command decoder soltware simplifies programming by determining the address ol the instruction to be executed by the microcomputer. Trends, design, and applications !or microprocessor and microcomputer hardware and soltware are covered

162 AROUND THE IC LOOP
Despite its potential advantages, I IL tech-
nology presents the designer with some distinct obstacles that may be circumvented using the methods presented. Recently announced IC devices are discussed and
evaluated

188

PRODUCT FEATURE
Office environment line printer contains two control microprocessors: one !or print !unctions, the other for 1/0, status, and selldiagnostic functions

225 LITERATURE

227 GUIDE TO PRODUCT INFORMATION

232 ADVERTISERS' INDEX

Reader Service Cards pages 233-236

FEATURES
MICROPROGRAMMED CPU ARCHITECTURE OFFERS USER-ALTERABLE MINICOMPUTER PERFORMANCE 91 by Philip Gordon and Scott Stallard Design constrained to emulate its family of predecessors except for the targeted microprogrammable CPU, the resultant minicomputer executes the expanded and powerful attributes of microcode tci achieve comparable hardware throughput rates at reasonable cost
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DUAL-DENSITY DISKETTE CONTROLLERS 103 by John Worden Design techniques and design principles are analyzed for a dualdensity diskette controller, which can operate with either singlesided, single-density encoded or 2-sided, single- or double-density encoded diskettes for a greater media applicability, data transfer rates, and storage capacities
SOFTWARE ANALYSES FOR COMBINATORIAL LOGIC 113 by John L. Pokoski Three software design methods for logical decision making and control by microprocessor implementation are compared for simplicity, flexibility, memory requirements, and speed in the generation of complex output functions
PROGRAMMABLE HANDHELD CALCULATOR COMPUTES DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER ERRORS 122 by Paul Prazak Determining static errors of a D-A converter is a time-consuming task unless an elaborate test setup is available; however, it is possible to evaluate D-A converter performance in less than a minute with only a power supply, digital voltmeter, and handheld programmable calculator

1=1#4

CiRCULATION: 67,078 (DECEMBER 1977)

. Copyright 1978, Computer Design Publishing Corp.
3

Ann Arbor makes over 1000 standard RO and KSR display terminal mod els. Alphanumerics. Graphics. Or both.
We also thrive on tough CRT display applications . Unique character sets. Unusual graphics. Difficult interfacing. Custom keyboards. Special packaging. You name it.
Standard or custom, every terminal produced is based on a field-proven Ann Arbor engineering concept. Sleek desktop terminals to complement any office decor. Compact, rugged terminals that defy industrial environments. Or Smart Monitors for OEMs who prefer to package their own.

Many companies sell CRT terminals. But Ann Amor sells creative solutions to CRT display problems, as well .
Probably at lower cost than anyone else in the business .
Contact us at 6107 Jackson Road , Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Tel : 313-769-0926 or TWX : 810-223-6033 .
RnnRRBOR
l"EF<l'V11NA..L-S, INC
. . .creating new way s to communicate

CIRCLE 4 ON IN9UIRY CARD

64KB MICROPROCESSOR MEMORIES

Cl-1103 - BK words to 32K words in a single option slot. Plugs directly into LSI 11, LSI 11/2, H11 & PDP 1103. Addressable in 2K increments up to 12BK. BK x 16 $390.00. 32K x 16 $995.00 qty. one.

Cl-1103 32K x 16

Cl-6800 - 16KB to 64KB on a single board. Plugs directly into Motorola's EXORcisor and compatible with the evaluation modules. Addressable in 4K increments up to 64K . 16KB $390.00. 64KB $995.00.

Cl-6800 64K x 8

Cl-8080 - 16KB to 64KB on single board. Plugs directly into Intel's MOS BOO and SBC B0/10. Addressable in 2K increments up to 64K. 16KB $390.00. 64KB $995.00.

Tested and burned-in. Full year warranty.

Chrislin Industries, Inc,
Computer Products Div1s1on
31312 Via Colinas . Westlake Village , CA 91361 · 213-991 -2254

CIRCLE 5 ON IN9UIRY CARD

I I STAFF

Publisher and Editorial Director
Robert Brotherston

Associate Publisher Anthony Saltalamacchla

Editor John A. C·muso

Managing Editor Sydney F. Sh·plro

Technical Editor George V. Kotelly

West Coast Editor
Michael Chester Arcadia. Calif. (213) 574-7447

Associate Editors Peggy Kiiimon
James W. Hughes

Assistant Editor Joanne O'Donnell

Editorial Assistant Renee C. Gregorio

Editorial Advisory Board Brian W. Pollard Ralph J. Preiss
Rex Rice

Contributing Editors

Richard Ahrons

s. A. S. Buchman

Mllller

H·rold H. Seward

Production Manager Judy Lober

Advertising Production Linda M. Wright

Art Director James Flora

Technical Illustrator Charles Manchester

Circulation Manager Alma Brotherston

Marketing Manager Geoffrey Knight, Jr.

Assistant Marketing Manager Megan Kern

Research Associate Sidney Davis

Business Manager David C. Clommo

Vice President-Sales Lindsay H. Caldwell

Edltorlal & Executive Offices 11 Goldsmith St
Littleton, MA 01460 Tel. (617) 486-8944
(617) 646-7872
Edltorl·I m·nuacrlpta should be ad· dreHed to Editor. Computer DHl1n, 11 Goldamlth St., Littleton, MA 01480. For det·ll· on the prep·r·tlon and aubmlaalon ol manu1crlpt1, requeat · copy ol the "Computer DHlgn Author'· Gulde."

Computer Design Is published monthly. Copyright 1978 by Computer Design Publishing Corporation. Controlled circulation postage paid at Pontiac, Ill. No material may be reprinted without permission . Postmaster: CHANGE OF ADDRESS-FORM 3579 to be sent to Computer Design, Circulation Dept., P.O . Box A, Winchester. MA 01890. Subscription rate Is $24.00 In U.S.A., Canada and Mexico , and $40.00 elsewhere. Microfilm copies of Computer Design are available and may be purchased from University Microfilms, a Xerox Company, 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106.
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

RobeM H. F. Lloyd President
CONVER Corporation RCA Solid State Division,
'57-60, R&D and Mfg .· M g m n t .
IBM,'60-68, Product Development Mgmnt.
ADVANCED MEMORY SYSTEMS (now INTERSIL)'68-74, Founder and President
NATIONAL SEMI· CONDUCTOR.'75-77 Group Director,
MOS/ LSI

I I CALENDAR

CONFERENCES
JUNE 20-22-32ncl Annual Conv of the Armed Farces Communications and Electronics Assoc (AFCEAl, Sheraton-Pork Hotel, Washing ton, DC. INFORMATI ON : Judith H. Shreve, AFCEA Skyline Ctr, 5205 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Tel: (703) 820-5028
JUNE 26-28-36th Annual Device Research Conf, U of California, Santa Barbara, Calif. INFORMAT ION : James C. McGroddy, 1978 DRC Chm, IBM T. J. Watson Research Ctr, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Tel : (914) 945-1228
AUG 1-4--4th Workshop on Computer Architecture for Non - Numeric Processing, M innowbrook Conf Ctr, New York, NY. INFORMATION: Prof P. Bruce Berra, 441 Link Holl, Syracuse U, Syracuse, NY 13210. Tel: (315) 423-2826
AUG 6-9-3rd Jerusalem Conf on Information Technology (JCIT l , Jerusalem, Israel. INFORMAT ION: Anthony Ralston, SUNY at Buffalo, 4226 Ridge Leo Rd, Amherst, NY 14226
AUG 20-25-Sym for Innovation in Measure ment Science, Hobart /Smith College, Geneva, NY. INFORMATION: Peter Vestal, Instrument Society of America, 400 Stanwix St,
Pittsburgh, PA ism. Tel: (4 12) 281-3171
AUG 21 - ~th lnternot'I Congress of Cybernetics and Systems, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. INFORMATION: Dr J. Rose, c/o College of Technology, Feilden St, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 l LH, England
AUG 21 -31- 17th USITA Data Communications Conf, Scheman Continuing Education Bldg, Iowa State Ctr, Iowa State U, Ames, Iowa. INFORMATION: Paul Bond, Conf Director, Engineering Ext, 110 Marston Hall, Iowa State U, Ames, IA 5001 1
AUG 22-25-lnternat'I Conf on Parallel Processing, Shanty Creek Lodge, Bellaire, Mich. INFORMATION: Dr Charles S. Elliott, College of Engineering, Wayne State U, Detroit, Ml 48202. Tel: (3 13) 577-3812
AUG 28 -SEPT I-8th Australian Computer Conf, Canberra, Austral ia. INFORMATION: ACS-8 Programme Committee, PO Bax 448, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
SEPT 4-6-5th Nat'I Systems Conf, Pun jab Agricultural U, Ludhiana, India. INFORMATION: Dr R. K. Varshney, Organizing Secretary, NSC 78, Dept of Electrical Engineering, PAU Ludhiana 141004, India
SEPT 4-8-Searcc 78, South Eost Asia Regional Computer Conf, Philippine lnternat'I Canv Ctr, Manila, Phil ippines. INFORMA -

TION: Searcc 78, Philippine Computer Society, MCC PO Box 950, Makoti, MetroManila, Philippines
SEPT 5-8- COMPCON Fall '78, Capital Hi Itan, Washington, DC. INFORMATION: COMPCON Fall, PO Box 639, Silver Spring, MD 2090 l. Tel : (30 l ) 439-7007
SEPT 6-8-FOC '78, Fiber Optic and Com munications Expo, Hyatt Regency-O'Hare, Chicago, Ill. INFORMATION: Information Gatekeepers, Inc, 167 Corey Rd, Suite 212, Brookline, MA 02146. Tel: (617) 739-2022
SEPT 6-8- lnteraat'I Optical Computing Canf, Imperial College, London, England. IN FORMATION: S. Horvitz, Box 274, Waterford, CT 06385. Tel: (203) 442-0771
SEPT 12-14-Western Electronic Show and Convention (WESCON ), Los Angeles Conv Ctr, Los Angeles, Calif. INFORMATI ON: W. C. Weber, Jr, 999 N Sepulveda Blvd, El Segundo, CA ~245. Tel : (213) 772-2965
SEPT 19 -22-Conf on Microprocessors in Automation and Communications, U of Kent at Canterbury, England . INFORMATION : Cant Secretariat, Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers, 99 Gower St, London WCl E 6AZ, England
SEPT 21 -23- lnteractive Techniques in Com puter-Aided Design, Palazzo dei Cangressi, Bologna, Italy. INFORMATION : Dr Betram Herzog, Computer Ctr, U of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303. Tel: (303) 492-6501
SEPT 26-28- The Automatic Test Equipment Conf and Expo (ATEX ), Hynes Auditorium, Baston, Mass. INFORMATION : Bill Hickey, Golden Gate Enterprises, 1307 S Mary Ave, Suite 210, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
SEPT 26-29-4th lnternat'I Conf on Com puter Communication (ICCC -78 ), Kyoto lnternat'I Conf Hall, Kyoto, Japan. INFORMATION : ICCC-78 Executive Committee, c/o lnternot'I Affairs Bureau NTT, 1-6, Uchisa iwai-cha, 1-chome, Chiyada-Ku, Tokyo 100, Japan
OCT 6- 11- Japan Electronics Show '78, Tokyo lnternat' I T rode Ctr, Tokyo, Japan. INFORMATION : Japan Electronics Show Assoc, No 24 Mori Bldg, 11 F, 3-23-5, Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan
OCT I0- 12- 2nd Conf of the European Cooperation in Informatics (ECI ), Venice, Italy. INFORMATION: Prof Dr Peter Lockemann, lnstitut fU'r lnformatik 11, Universitat Karlsruhe, Postfach 6380, D-7500 Karlsruhe 1, Germany
OCT 17-1 9- EUROMICRO 78, 4th Sym on Microprocessing and Microprogramming, Munich, Germany. INFORMATION: Dr Helmut Berndt, Siemens AG, Div WS PZl, Pastfach 70 00 78, D-8000 Munchen 70, West Germany

NOV 20:22- ISth BIAS lnternat'I Conf: Automation and Microcomputer, Milan Fair Ground, Milan, Italy. INFORMATION : Federazione delle Associaziani Scientifiche e T ecniche, Piazza le Roldalfo Marandi, 2, 20121 Milan, Italy
SEMINARS
JULY 10.- 12- Queueing Systems; JU LY 1719- Satellite Data Communications; and JULY 24-26-Experts on Networks; Arlington, Va; Arlington, Va; and Atlanta, Ga. INFORMATION : Technology Transfer Inc, PO Box 49765, Las Angeles, CA 90049. Tel: (2 13) 476-133 1
AUG 8- lndustrial Robot Research Seminar, U of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. INFORMATION: Ada Willis, Dept of Electrical Engineering, Kelley Hall, URI, Kingston, RI 02881. Tel : (40 1) 792-2514
BHDRT CDURSEB
JULY 10- 14-Charge Transfer Devices: 1978 Theory and Appl ication s; and July 18-20Microcomputers : Principles and Applications, American U, Washington, DC. INFORMATION : Jennifer Murphy, Director, Office of Summer Sessions and Special Sessions, American U, Mass and Nebraska Aves, NW, Washington, DC 20016. Tel: (202) 686-2697
JULY 10 -21- Programm ing Methodology; JULY 17-22-0perating Systems; and JULY 31-AUG II- Compiler Construction; and Computer Graphics, U of Calif, Santa Cruz, Calif. INFORMATION: Joleen Kelsey, U of Calif Ext, Carriage House, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Tel: (408) 429-2614
JULY 13 - 14-Program Testing Tutorials, San Francisco, Ca lif. INFORMATION : Software Research Associates, PO Box 2432, San Francisca, CA 94126. Tel : (415) 921-11 55
JULY 19-21 - Microprocessors, George Washington U, Washington, DC. INFORMATION : Continuing Engineering Education Program, George Washington U, Washington, DC 20052. Tel : (202) 676-6106
AUG 28 -30-lnterfacing Instrumentation and Control Hordwore to Min icomputers; AUG 29-SEPT I- Understanding Microprocessors and Their Appl ication s, U of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. INFORMAT ION : James E. Nicholls, Dept of Engineering, U of Wisconsin-Ext, 432 N Lake St, Madisen, WI 53706. Tel: (608) 262-2061

· COMPUTER DESIGN/ J UNE 1978

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an THE '.",;<....
llllJIE iT"!I WJlallllEIJ WiTH!
Berk-Tek back panel wire is the best available. The company we keep is proof of our quality . .. our customers are the major users in the wire-wrap@ market. It is the reason we are a major.supplier to the military, computer. telecommunications and process control equipm~nt markets. Berk-Tek's years of experience offer you advantages in product quality and capabilities both in standard and special type constructions. Complies with MilW-81822, U/L and C.S.A. requirements . Tight tolerances are a specialty with us. Tolerances on standard
constructions are ±.001 ,
special construction tol-
erances of ± .0005 can
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'~ Registered T.M . Gardner- Denver
Berk-Tek ·:·:·:·:· 24 HOUR DELIVERY FROM INVENTORY (We stock all popular gauges in all colors) #1SPECIFY BERK-TEK...THE BACK PANEL WIRE
Write us for free wire-wrap product bulletin.
BERK-TEK, INC.
Morgantown Road Reading, Pa . 19607
Phone (215) 376-8071 TWX 510-651-0511

CIRCLE 7 ON IN9UIRY CARD

Intel announces seven Now you can really

Hold the power, hold the clock, order the speed you need. Our 2141 family includes seven new low power, fully static 4K RAMs that give the designer the choice. Now you can get the speed/power product you want without the design com.. plications ofclocked RAMs. That's just what you need to simplify design of main, buffer, cache and control store memory systems, and speed your product to market.
HMOS, our new memory technology, is the key. Its active speed/power product is just one fourth that of previous processes. So while maintaining the highest performance in its class, the 2141 operates with as
little as 40 mA. And automatic
power down on deselection cuts
standby power to 5 mA. In larger
systems, where most devices are deselected at any given time, the combined power savings can reach 90% or more over other fully static 4K x 1 RAMs. That cuts cooling and power supply costs dramatically.
Faster, easier design is what Intel's HMOS is all about. Automatic power down is ac.. complished without a clock so the 2141 can be designed into either synchronous or asynchronous systems with equal ease. And the cycle times equal access times. That means higher data rates, as fast as 8.3 MHz for the fastest version.

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

new fully static 4K RAMs.
have it your way.

For even greater speed, the seven

4096 x 1 BIT HMOS STATIC RAMs

2141 parts are directly pin and function

DEVICE

Max. Access Max. Active Max. Standby Time (ns) Current (mA) Current (mA)

compatible with our three super fast 2147 2141-2

120

2141-3
HMOS parts. So you can have it your way 2141-4

150

200

from 55ns to 250ns using the 2141/2147

2141-5

250

series, with a virtually identical

2141L-3

150

2141L-4

200

speed/power product.

2141L-5

250

Both the 2141and2147 follow the

industry standard 4096 x 1 bit, 18..pin

pinout, and can replace conventional 4K static RAMs in both clocked and

unclocked systems. Both 2141and2147 are directly

lTL compatible in all respects: inputs, output and
operation from a single +5V supply. And both parts

deliver the inherent reliability of HMOS. They've

already achieved the same dependability as the 2102A.

For a copy of our HMOS reliability report and

data sheets, write Intel, Literature Dept., 3065 Bowers

Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051.

The 2141 is in production and available now.

You can order directly from your distributor, or from

your local Intel sales office. Just ask for the new

4K static RAM with everything on it.
infel.delivers.

Europe: Intel lnternatlonal, Rue du Moulln a Papler, 51-Bolte 1, B-1160, Brussels, Belglum. Telex 24814. Japan : Intel Japan, K.K., Flower Hlll-Shlnmachl East Bldg. 1-23-9, Shlnmachl, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154. Telex 781-28426.
US and Canadian distributors: Almac/Stroum, Component Specialties, Cramer, Hamilton/Avnet, Harvey, Industrial Components, Pioneer, Sheridan, Wyle/Elmar, Wyle/Llberty, or L.A. Varah, Zentronlcs.

CIRCLE 8 ON INQUIRY CARD

I I LETTERS TD THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Iteration
2 3 4 5 6 7

Class
2 2
2

w
(0,0,0) (3,1,1) (3,1,1) (4,-1,0) (4,-1,0) (4,-1,0) (4,-1,0)

-x
(3,1,1) (1,2, 1) (1,-2,-1) (2,-1,-1) (3,1,1) (1,2,1) (1,-2,-1)

d(x) Modify w

yes

Since publication of the article, "Pattern Recognition: Basic Concepts and Implementations" (see Computer Design, Dec 1977, pp 57-68) , I have discovered two notable errors. First, the derivation in the first column on p 61 involves several w0 symbols. Six are unit vectors that do not have the /\mark over them. This could be confusing to a reader unaware of such omissions. [These lines are reprinted
in correct form below.]

/\
Line 11: Wo =

Wo Wo

Line 21 : D(line)

\;:j = 1 ~o·x 1 = \ 11::n \= \ 1 1I

Line 25: 11 Y - N 11 = ~0·y - ~o·x

Line 28: ~0·x

w0·x

w·x

= 11 Wo 11 - 11 Wo 11

= Lm. e

30 :

/\ · Wo x

11WWno+1l1

Second, the perceptron example (Fig 10) on p 67 necessitates change. The ls under the x values in iterations 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 12 should be negative. This leads to a much longer tabulation in Fig 10 before convergence, making the corrected table pedagogically unwieldy. A simpler example is given in the table above,
= using the same x1 and XJ! but with
-x3 (1, -2, -1) and -x4 = (2,
-1, -1). The final weight vector (4, -1, 0) is perpendicular to a line which separates the tWo classes. The value of d (x) is a measure of how close a
= given x is to d(x) 0. Note that
x1 and -x4 have the largest values
of d(x) and are farthest from d(x) =
0, while it:i is closest and has the smallest value of 2.
I hope these corrections will make the article easier to assimilate.
Dennis Feucht Tektronix, Inc Beaverton, Ore

To the Editor:
First thank you for the pleasure your magazine gave my husband. All his life he worked ·as an engineer and designer and tech writer and was a great reader.
Unfortunately my husband dropped dead of a sudden and unexpected heart attack.
My husband saved all magazines and since his passing my son has given all my husband's books and magazines to three different schools, so all

your magazines are still being used by someone. Mrs W. W. Bennert San Jose, Calif
Letters to the Editor should be addressed:
Editor, Computer Design 11 Goldsmith St
Littleton, MA 01460

Moxon Salee Offices
Alabama {LA, GA, MS, N&S C.) International Scientific Instruments P.O. Box 2091 Huntsville, AL 35804 205 I 533-6880
Callfomla (HI, NV) Advanced Digital Group 23750 West Sarda Road Valencia, CA 91355 213/341-6998
Colorado (ID, UT, WY) Par Associates 3333 Quebec Street, Suite 5600 Denver, CO 80207 303/355-2363
Florida Truex Associates 4864 S. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32806 305/859-2160
Maryland (VA, WA D.C.) Farrell Associates 416 Hungerford Drive Rockville, MD 20850 301 I 424-9460
Massachusetts (CT, VT, NH, ME, RI) Ken Corporation 38 Montvale Avenue Stoneham, MA 02180 617 I 438-5464
New Jersey (NY) SOM Representatives 23 N. Fairview Paramus, NJ 07652 201 /368-0123
New Mexico (AZ) Rustco Enterprises 127 General Somervell, NE Albuquerque, NM 87123 505/292-2741
Ohio (Ml, KY) Electro Sales Associates 851 E. 222nd Street Cleveland, OH 44123 216/261-5440
Pennsylvania (DE, S. NJ) Stein Instrumentation 413 Johnson Street Jenkintown, PA 19046 215/885-2370
Texas (LA, OK, AR) Comspec, Inc. 10000 Old Katy Road #275 Houston, TX 77055 713/461-4487
Washington (AK, ID, MT, OR) Rush Drake Associates 6133 6th Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98108 206/763-2755
.L.m.~-~.~!~:n:J'
I COMPUTER DF.sIGN JUNE 1978

Kluge Goldberg

This "Rube Goldberg" could be the beginning of a great electronic design.
But instead of investing unnecessary effort to produce a costly custom-design kluge, why not get Moxon's "Logical Team"?
You can program a Maxon Data Generator to provide the data you need.With the keyboard, it takes just seconds to program in hex, octal, binary or timing formats. The team handles 16-bit words in parallel or 1024 bits in serial even more with available extended memory.

The Logic Analyzer half of the team is programmed with a "compare memory" for automatic bit-by-bit comparison with incoming data. It's able to trigger on serial or parallel data, with the trigger word flagged in inverse video.
Data Generator. Logic Analyzer. Together as a team, they're unbeatable.
Moxon's Team... the Logical Answer.

L=-: ·.. 1·· .1 I

~=..-.: 0 ,,...,,.. ae'N«oo··";
Ill

FREE KLUGE GOLDBERG POSTER.
Please send full details on Moxon's Logical Team (and a free color poster of the ultimate kluge).
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CIRCLE 9 ON INQUIRY CARD

PLUS EVERYTHING THEY WANT IT IN.

The new RLOl SMb disk.

Introducing a top-load, rack mountable, low priced 5.2Mb disk with state-

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The RLOl features 512.Kb per second transfer rate.

Plus an incredibly simple design. There's no back plane. And just 5 elec-

tronic modules. So it's super reliable and easy to spare.

The RLOl is simple to service, too. All maintenance is done from the top

of the unit. The heads can be changed in minutes, not hours. There's even a

universal power supply with a frequency range of 47.5-63 Hz that can be quickly

(but not accidentally) switched between 100-127V and 200-254V. And it can be

replaced with just four screws without disturbing heads or logic.

The RLOl is also easy to configure. Our one board controller can power

four drives for up to 20.8Mb.

Our RLOl is so good, you probably

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we're offering those, too.

Incredibly priced new packaged

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~nmnomo
OEM PRODUCTS GROUP

CIRCLE 10 ON IN9UIRY CARD

CDMMUNICATIDN CHANNEL

COMMUNICATIONS TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
John E. Buckley
Te lecommunications Management Corporation Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania

C ommon voice and data communications networks are a continuing trend in today's information systems. Therefore, it is increasingly important to statistically analyze and project the operational behavior of a known traffic pattern on a fixed communications network. Before an organization decides to implement its voice and data traffic on a common communications network for maximum cost savings, the effect of such savings must be accurately profiled. Many statistical algorithms address this requirement; however, in actual practice, the basic technique described below has been found useful in accurately projecting such communications traffic behavior.
Assume that there are both randomized :voice and data communications calling patterns; the combined pattern is then segmented into a representative period, such as the average usage or the peak usage hour. Assume also that both voice and data events have equal access to the shared network. Since most calling networks are computer-controlled, they provide automati'c network selection, as well as queuing if the facilities are busy at the time of selectfon. The major concerns of network design and management are the definition of the proper type and quantity of network facilities and relative economic advantages and disadvantages of various queue lengths.
The technique is applicable to any system where a number of random-duration, randomly generated events, together comprising a definable "demand," are to be transmitted over a limited number of available paths or routes. The paramount unknown to be determined is the probability of "blocking"-that is, an event finds all available paths or routes in use. Where such blockage occurs, the automatic building and distribution of a queue must also be determined; and, with respect to the queue, the amount of recovered traffic must be statistically definable. The difference between the queued volume and the recovered volume is the queued overflow. In operational terms, it must be decided: is this overflow volume cancelled, is it reinitiated again~t the communications network, or is it transmitted over the more costly toll network? These problem definitions are readily applicable to a
14

telephone switching system where the "events" are telephone calls, and the "paths" are transmission circuits.
Communications engineering principles, applied to a switched telephone system, have resulted in a calculated grade of system service, based on an average or a peak period of operation. Two demand characteristics must, then, be defined: the duration spectrum of the event or events that would be expected to occur during the selected time period; and the relation of the selected period of time to total demand. In communications network system design, the first of these characteristics is usually the total amount of required time represented by the "demand" during the selected period of elapsed time. The second characteristic is, typically, the representative hour of operation, and can therefore be regarded as the application of a worst-case design philosophy.
Logically, if the system can accommodate the peak period with a satisfactory grade of service, it follows ·that all other periods of operation will enjoy an even better grade of service. It should be remembered, however, that this relation takes into account neither system economics nor other realities; and the term "satisfactory" is not always subject to a purely objecti~e definition. Such a design goal should be to achieve an acceptable-vastly different from the best-grade of service. Demand in a selected hour is the sum of all call durations, or total time required to sequentially establish and complete all selected-hour calls, expressed in "hundred call seconds" (ccs). There are 3600 seconds, or 36 ccs, in one hour.
Private line and/or WATS network engineering is based on the number of calls to be handled, average call duration, and available circuits or trunks. These criteria are directly dependent on the average call duration and on the total demand for available circuits. In the event of an all-circuits-busy condition, the call must be queued until a circuit is free. Delay on queued calls is primarily determined by the average call length and by the number of possible paths that could be available to process the waiting call. Once the selected-hour ·demand has been established, it is assumed that this demand will be pro-
COM P UTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

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CIRCLE 11 ON INQUIRY CARD

Introducing the IMI 7710 Disc Memory System

The Plan
Less than a year ago, when the design of the 7710 was started, manufacturers of minicomputer based systems had two choices when it came to disc memory. They could spend $5,000 for a large 14 inch disc drive and take on the task of fitting that drive into a very limited space, while maintaining acceptable aesthetics, and then decide how the large extra costs could be disguised by publishing high performance specifications!
Or, they could keep costs down by incorporating a $500 floppy disc drive, making it easy to provide a cost effective system, but extremely difficult to offer high performance and hard disc reliability.
The 771 O was to be the best of both worlds with its 200 mm diameter discs providing the high performance of a hard disc, the inherent reliability of Winchester technology, and the diminutive dimensions of a floppy disc drive.

Specifications Model 771 O

PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION

Average Access Time: 50 ms .

Height: 5.25 in.-13.34 cm

Servo System: Full Track Following

Width w/o slides: 8.55 in.-21.75 cm

Latency Time. 8.3 ms

Width with slides: 8.96 in.-22.75 cm Track to Trace: 10 ms

Depth w/o Bezel: 19.0 in.-48.26 cm Weight: 22 lbs.- 9.98 Kg RECORDING CHARACTERISTICS AND DATA

POWER The drive requires a D.C. Power Supply:
+ 24 volts , ± 1~ volts, :t5 volts Power Consumption: 100 watts

Recording capacity: 11 megabytes Data Tracks per Surface: 350
Track Density: 300 T.P.I. Recording Density: 5868 B.P.I. Disc Speed: 3600 R.P.M.
Transfer Rate: 648 K Bytes/sec.

ENVIRONMENT The drive will operate normally within
the following Temperatures: 10"C-50°C (50°F-120"F) Relative Humidity: 10% to 80%
(Non-condensing)

The drive requires no scheduled maintenance, and the M.T.B.F. is 10,000 hours.
The 7710 uses only 100 watts of D.C. power, and no A.G. power is required .
The inexpensive cost is an extra facet of this diamond: $1,500 in O.E.M. quantities, and a mere $2,400 when the built-in controller is included.

The Execution
The IMl7710 incorporates all the typical characteristics of a Winchester drive. It uses standard Winchester read/write heads, a track following servo system controlling a voice coil actuator, which positions the heads at the desired address. A closed loop recirculating, filtered air system provides the operating environment for the 200 mm diameter discs which are directly rotated by a patented brush less D.C. motor. Cooling for the electronics is provided within the drive. An optional disc controller, with the IEEE-488 bus interface standard, fits within the drive electronics package.
The Product Today
Now, one year later, the 7710 is being produced in a new facility that has been specifically designed for high volume production.
The drive itself meets or exceeds all the original design requirements.
The overall dimensions of 5"x 8V2" x 19", allow for direct physical replacement of a floppy disc drive. Memory capacity
is 11 .12 megabytes, with a 24 megabyte version to be available in early 1979. Average access time is 50 milliseconds.
See us at N.C.C., in the 3M booth #2257 & 2259

Applications
For most minicomputer based business systems, the 7710 has the capability of expanding system capacity to handle a whole new class of applications. Now you can eliminate the problems inherent in multiple floppy disc installations by using the 7710 to enhance the cost/performance of your business system. Scoop your competitors - the way we've scooped ours. Write, or call for the IMI 7710 Disc Storage System literature package today.
~~ INTERNATIONA L MEMORIES, INCORPORATED 10381 Bandley Drive P.O. Box 880, Cupertino , CA 95014 (408) 446-9779 TWX : 910-338-7347

CIRCLE 12 ON INQUIRY CARD

It takes craftsmanship and attention to detail to make a fine automobile, a fine watch, or a fine character printer. Those qualities, available at low cost, have made the Spinwriter family from NEC Information Systems the finest character printers available.
Spinwriters offer perlormance beyond that of today's best character printers, at prices averaging 10 percent
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Die-cast aluminum housings lined with sound-absorbing foam make Spinwriters quieter than office typewriters- and as easy to use.
Spinwriter housings swing open for easy operator access to ribbons and the thimble element, and easy access for service personnel to Spinwriters' modular components. Ribbons, thimble elements, and formshandling modules can be replaced within seconds.
Spinwriter keyboard send/receive (KSR) printers also provide easier operator access to controls offering more functional capabilities than other character printers provide. A thumbwheel switch enables your operators to specify the precise forms length desired, and they can specify vertical spacing at

either six or eight lines per inch. The unique Spinwriter self-test feature is enhanced to include the interface and communications lines in on-line applications.
Compare Spinwriters with the printers you use now, and see how NEC craftsmanship makes Spinwriters different. See the difference in Spinwriters' smoothcontoured styling, and feel the difference in durability. The appearance, and the ruggedness of Spinwriter printers allow them to fit well in every environment.
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CIRCLE 13 ON INQUIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

TABLE 1 Optimum Network Loading DlatrlbuUon

Total minutes

= 20,000

Total calls

4000

Average call length =

5.0 min

Total CCS

= 71 .4

Network Trunk 1 Trunk 2 Trunk 3 Trunk 4 Trunk 5 Trunk 6

'Total

Minutes Utilized
5700 5020 4130 3061 1765
324 20,000

cessed without any blockage-which could only be introduced by the public telephone network. In such an event, the call would be automatically reintroduced.
Communication common carriers define network service in the context of these terms. Grade of service is

based on the probability of finding all trunks busy, and this probability is the basis of the circuit capacity tables, developed from the Poisson theory. These tables identify grades of service as POI, P02, P03, ... , which indicate the probability of a call finding a circuit busy during the selected hour. For example, POI signifies probability of I in 100 r,alls finding a busy condition; P02, 2 in 100; etc. With PIO grade of service, 90 calls in 100 will find idle trunks on the first attempt. A representative grade of service for the public telephone network is, typically, at 2: 100 or P02, using Poisson distribution.
Specifically, Poisson probability is used where the number of provided trunks or facilities assures a minimal percentage of blocked calls. The selected-hour lo~d to a group of circuits is the amount of traffic (demand) expressed in terms of ccs which will receive the optimum grade of service. The extent to which total available circuit time in the group is actually used during the selected hour is an indication of the group's efficiency and loading.
As shown in Table I , potential fixed network loading using an optimum P02 grade of service indicates a requirement for six circuits or trunks. Total minutes to the Band 5 area are assumed to have occurred over a 2Iday activity month comprised of 8-hour business days. This traffic loading represents a total of 71.4 ccs average hour calling activity. Using P02 Poisson distribution, the total of six circuits would not incur any local network blocking. The objective of a fixed network would be to install a minimum number circuits or trunks which would be shared by all of the specified calling activity.
If economic analysis indicates that it is desirable to install only three trunks, the traffic on trunks 4 through 6 in Table I would statistically find this network busy and would be assigned to this network's queue. In this ex-

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CIRCLE 14 ON IN9UIRY CARD

am ple, a total of 5150 traffic minutes would experience a busy network and would comprise the accumulated queued minutes.
The next analysis objective is to determine how many of these queued minutes would actually be recovered by the network, and how many minutes would be designated as queue overflow as defined above. In t>his phase of the analysis the average call length and the number of potential trunks or "paths" are critical. Since the selected network has three paths, a call waiting in the queue has three opportunities to gain access to the network. Assume that all three trunks are busy with average-length calls; also assume that the three additional calls are attempted. Finding the trunks busy, these additional calls will be relegated to the queue. The first of these will have three opportunities to seize an available trunk. The second of these additional calls, however, will have only two opportunities to be connected to an available trunk while the third queued call will only be given one. As shown in Table 2, the average queue time of these three queued calls is 183.3 s. The maximum queue time in this example is twice the average, or 366.6 s.
If a 5-min maximum queue length is to be established for operational or management reasons, a total of 81.8% of the queued traffic will actually be recovered by the 3trunk network. In this example, this recovered queue traffic would equate to 4212.7 min while 937.3 min of queued traffic would be determined to be queue overflow traffic. This overflow could be cancelled, reintroduced to the network, or be completed using an alternate route such as the toll network. The recovered queued traffic will typically distribute over the three network trunks in proportion to the sequence and loading originally calculated for

TABLE 2

Queue Length Det9rmlnatlon

= = Average call length

5.0 min

300 s

= Total available trunks

First call average queue

= 100 s

Second call average queue = 150 8

Third call average queue = 300 s

Total
Average queue time Maximum queue time

550 8
= 183.3 s = 366.6 s

TABLE 3
Projected Network Loecllng Dl9lrlbutlon

Total minutes Total calls Average call length
Total CCS
Queued minutes Recovered queued minutes Overflow queued minutes

= 20,000

= 4000

5.0 min

= 71.4 = 5150

4312

= 937

Network
Trunk 1 Trunk 2 Trunk 3
Overflow

Total

Minutes
lit Ill zed 7317
8444 5302
937
20,000

ELECTRONICS DIVISION

COMPONENTS DEPARTMENT

CIRCLE 15 ON IN9UIRY CARD

optimum network loading. Table 3 shows projected network loading for these characteristics.
Using this analysis one can rapidly determine that if the maximum queue length threshold were extended to 366.6 s, the queue over:B.ow would be reduced to zero. The value of different maximum queue lengths can be easily quantified using this suggested traffic analysis technique.
As with any statistical analysis, there are in·herent assumptions which can result in unacceptable deviations from reality. In this example, the consistent use of average traffic distributions and average call durations provides an average network profile. To profile the expected range of possible network performance accurately, the same calculations must be performed using a maximized call length and maximized traffic distribution (ie, peak day, peak hour). Conversely, a minimized projection of the same parameters must then be calculated. The results are an envelope of expected network tolerance and behavior. By use of a reiterative computer program, it is relatively simple to develop the expected network performance envelope through a range of variable parameter values. It is important to realize that in a communications traffic environment, diversification of the communications characteristics is the norm. Such statistical analysis, as discussed, must always be interpreted and applied in a relative context.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

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CIRCLE 16 ON INQUIRY CARD

I I COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

Prepro9rammed Analyzer Eases Troubleshooting of Data Networks

Active or passive troubles·hooting of data communications networks is enabled by model 1640A serial data analyzer from Hewlett-Packard Co, 1507 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, CA 95304. In the passive mode, it can be connected to an RS-232-C (V.24) interface, to monitor and record both the transmit and receive data. When used in active mode, the analyzer can simulate a computer, modem or terminal, and can interact with the network under test. The user is relieved of the need for programming the device because it is provided with a keyboardcontrolled "menu" selection of all preprogrammed RUN mode parameters, such as triggering (trap) conditions

Hewlett-Packard serial data analyzer can record up to 2048 characters in any combination of transmit and receive. Data are trapped and displayed in real time, with transmit data displayed in video on a 10 x 13-cm CRT. F;ull-duplex data are shown as interleaved characters in proper timing relationships. Separate 1024-char buffer generates userentered messages for the simulate modes
and format specifications. Initial settings can be recalled at any time for review and modification.
On both monitor and simulation modes, the analyzer can operate in full duplex, half duplex, or simplex on 2- or 4-wire links. Transmission is up to 19.2k bits/s synchronous, or to 9600 bits/s asynchronous, with a choice of 15 internal clock speeds. Data can be made up of five through eight information bits, plus a parity bit, in ASCII, HEX, or EBCDIC.
A "copy" mode feature allows the user to monitor protocol exchanges between CPU and terminal, and automatically transfer either transmit or receive data into the unit's transmit

buffer. It is not necessary to enter complex protocol sequences via the keyboard. Copy mode allows data to be edited prior to transmission; this feature reduces need for the user to be intimately familiar with network protocol, and minimizes possibility of human error during message composition.
The analyzer can be set to trigger on five modes: on any 8-char sequence, including "don't care" states and "not" chars; on any control-lead po~itive state; if and only if an error occurs; on a specified time interval between any two events up to 6 s apart; and on an external event.
A patch panel matrix at the top of the front panel connects the analyzer to the interface and enables simulation of various terminal or computer c'onfigurations. It also allows the user to configure his own variation of the RS-232-C interface. A Mylar overlay can be punched for each configur-
ation. An HP-1'B (IEEE-488) option al-
lows user programming and remote control of the 1640A through a programmable controller. Optional p I ROMS permit up to eight different menus or test patterns to be entered automatically via a rear-panel push-
button.
Circle 450 on Inquiry Card

Distributed Data Entry Key-to-Diskette System
Used either as a standalone system or as part of a computer communications network, Universal Distributed System 2000, (uns 2000) from Sperry Univac, PO Box 500, Blue Bell, PA 19422, can handle distributed or decentralized data processing, be used as a remote data entry system, or as a remote communications device. The freestanding, user-programmable system uses a stored program microprocessor to accept keyboard or peripheral inpnt and store the data on the flexible diskette. In the basic system configuration, a desk-type cabinet houses a master workstation with 32k bytes memory, display screen and keyboard, and single diskette drive. Three additional workstations, which can be located as far as 2000 ft (610 m) away from the master, can be added to expand the system. Each

workstation may have up to two diskette drives. Workstation main storage is expandable to 65k bytes in 8k byte increments.
The master workstation has a 96char keyboard. Various national fonts are available, including a 128-char Katakana set. Three keyboard styles are available: keypunch, keypunch/ adding machine, or typewriter. Display is 7 x 9 dot matrix on a 9" (23-cm) CRT; capacity is 512 ch~, in a format of eight 64-char lines.
System is user-programmable either by check-box programming using a simple coding sheet, or through a procedural language, or COBOL subset, for tailoring the system for specific needs.
Optional peripherals to complement the system include a freestanding mag tape unit, card reader, interpreting punch or verifying punch for 1/0, character printer or line printer, and data communications controller.

System transmits and receives synchronous data in half-duplex mode over a single line. Speeds of 2000, 2400, 4800, and 9600 bits/s are available. Binary Synchronous Communications (BSC), UniscopeR 100 terminal line protocol, and Univac Data Link Control (UDLC), are communications protocol options.
Circle 451 on Inquiry Card
Virtual Network Supports Multiple Protocols
Virtual NetworkTM is a network architecture in which the location and function of any and all elements of the network are completely transparent to the user; which will support, at the same time, SNA/soLc, X.25, and bisynchronous protocols; and which allows the user to goo-

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

Put your waveform ontheGPIB ...
...with aTektronix Digitizing Oscilloscope!
The Digital Alternative
Our Digitizing Oscilloscope is a versatile data acquisition instrument based on the familiar TEKTRONIX 7704A Oscilloscope with a P7001 Processor added for interface to the digital world. Signal Acquisition Flexibility. The Tektronix Digitizing Oscilloscope acquires data through a wide selection of standard 7000 Series Plug-Ins such as amplifiers, time bases, spectrum analyzers, sampling heads to 14 GHz, time domain reflectometers, curve tracers, digital counters or multimeters and more. AID Conversion with Four Waveform Memories. Almost any waveform that can be displayed on an oscilloscope, can be digitized to 10 bit by 512 horizontal point resolution and stored in any of four memories in the P7001 Processor. In addition to waveform data, all crt scale factor readouts are stored as well. Any of four stored waveforms may be recalled for display on the crt.
New GPIB Interface. ND conversion memory selection and
data transfer can now be controlled externally via the the GPIB bus. Digitized waveforms in any of the four memories may be transferred to a GPIB controller for analysis and automated processing. Complex waveform calculations are now possible with the convenience of oscilloscope acquisition. And a New Optional Hardware Signal Averager. It permits rapid averaging of repetitive waveforms for dramatic signal to noise improvement.

With that kind of flexibility, practical applications for the Digitizing Oscilloscope are numerous!
In the field of . .. Research-a Digitizing Oscilloscope can be used to analyze fiber optic circuits, or for their research and design. This unit is also an effective tool in chemistry and chemical research for electrochemical and perturbation kinetic studies.
Development-a Digitizing Oscilloscope can be used in microwave system development by extracting pertinent spectrum analysis data for study through a frequency range up to60 GHz. Production ATE-a Digitizing Oscilloscope can be used to automate ultra-sonic testing of nodular iron in foundries. This unit can even automate electronic system tests or diagnostic troubleshooting systems in the aero-space industry, and in many other types of production test environments. Component Testing-a Digitizing Oscilloscope can be used to characterize coax insertion losses, or characterization of semiconductors. With appropriate programming this unit can also provide profiles and histograms of line transient absorbing materials and devices.
Interfaces available are GPIB (IEEE 488-1975), CAMAC, CP Bus (for operation with PDP 11 Series), TEK Calculator and others.

Optional controller based systems with powerful TEK SPS BASIC software and graphic terminal display offers unmatched signal processing sophistication!
Photos courtesy of: University of Oregon Graduate Center Ampex Corporation Rockwell International ESCO Corporation
Put your waveform on the GPIB .. . write for free information today, Tektronix, Inc., P 0. Box 500, Beaverton, Oregon 97077, or phone (503) 645-6464, Ext. 1164.
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For technical data, circle 18 on Inquiry Card. For a demonstration, circle 19 on Inquiry Card.

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CIRCLE 20 ON IN9UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

I I COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

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10 HOST MAINFRAME

MULTIPLE VllHUAL NETWORKS - MAY BE INTER · CONNECTED. ALLOWING UN · LIMITED GROWTH
Various combinations possible with typical SyFA virtual network. User has available two concurrent high speed synchronous channels: one automatic channel uniting SyFA systems at file management level using X.25 protocol; plus additional synchronous communications channel which can be used in various forms to concurrently communicate, interactively or in batch mode, with mainframe system or other distributed installations. Communications protocols are supported via software emulators; complexion of network and protocols used can be changed dynamically by downline loading software from central site

graphically distribute his data base, while retaining direct access to any data base from any terminal in the network. Virtual network interconnects multiple SyFA network processing systems (Computer Design, Mar 1978, p 20) and was developed by Computer Automation, Inc, 18651 Von Karman, Irvine, CA 92713. Since the system simultaneously supports all major communications protocols, the user is never forced to dedicate his syste.QJ. to one particular network architecture.
The architecture allows 31 network processors and 992 information station terminals to be interconnected to a common geographically distributed data base via loeal or remote high speed channels. Each processor supports up to eight disc drives; therefore a configuration using 300Mbyte disc drives can provide a com-

mon online storage of 74.4 billion bytes, in adciltion tu data files residing on mainframe systems.
Since any number of virtual networks may be linked together, there is no upper limit to the total number of systems or tenninals which may be configured. Also, siuce the system supports all 111ajor communications protocols, such equipment as I.BM 3270 terminal clusters, 3790 (SNA/ SDLc) systems, Teletype Dataspeed 40 /4 clusters, or X.25-compatible units can be interfaced to the network. Virtual network communications are handled automatically at the file management level, and are therefore transparent tO the terminal user.
The entire network is controlled by the virtual network controller, (based on a version of the company's LSI 4/90 computer) , which contains appropriate directory and space alloca-

tion information. Since the virtual network communications use X.25 protocol, the network can be optionally interfaced to a public packet switching network, or to other X.25-compatible units. First deliveries are scheduled for the third quarter of 1978.
Circle 452 on Inquiry Card
Hi9h Speed Modems Are Approved by FCC For Direct Connection
Direct connection of the 9600-, 7200-, and 4800-bit / s LSI series high speed data modems to the Direct Distance Dial (DDD) network has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. The registered model 22055 dual dial option

I I COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
from Codex Corp, 15 Riverdale Ave, Newton, MA 02195 contains protective functions previously provided by the telephone company's external data access arrangement (DAA) or protective connecting arrangement (PCA) .
In addition to the dedicated line, two dial-up lines can be connected directly into the modem via miniature data jacks. A switch in the modem alternately connects it between the dedicated and dial lines, facilitating the testing of the dedicated circuit without disconnecting the dialed lines.
Racal, Vadic Negotiations Completed
The business and assets of Vadic Corp, 222 Caspian Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, have been acquired by Racal Electronics Ltd, Brack11ell, Berks, UK, for a figure in the $10 million area. Vadic designs and manufactures low to medium speed modems, in the 300- to 2400-bit/s

range. This move, coupled with the purchase of ICC/Milgo last year, enables the Racal group to offer voiceband modems from the lowest speeds up to 9600 bits/s, augmented by baseband and wideband units at significantly higher data rates. The name of the new company is Racal-Vadic; it will operate independently of Miami-based Racal-Milgo. Vadic employs some 200 people.
Optical Waveguide Price Decrease Coincides With Addition of 16 Fibers
Prices on the Corguide line of optical waveguides have been reduced an average of 25%, and 16 waveguides have been added by Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY 14830, to give a total of 20 types . Attenuation levels range from 3 to IO <lB/km, and bandwidths from 200 to 1000 MHz/km.
All have core diameters of 63 ,,xn , outside cladded diameters of 125 ,,xn,
and outside coated diameters of 138 µ.m. Tensile strength screen tests rate them at 25,000 lb/in2 ( l 757kg/cm2 ) . Ten have numerical apertures (NA) of 0.24; the other IO have NAs of 0.21. Waveguides are shipped 1100 m/reel.

Data Communications System Software Enhancement
Users of the PIX-II Virtual Data Link may now assign priority access parameters to remote devices in mixed interactive and RJE configurations by use of a software enhancement, newly introduced by Paradyne Corp, 8550 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33541. The software allows remote console entry of simple control words which group interactive devices, such as IBM 3720type display terminals, into a highpriority subset, and similarly to place batch-type devices, such as printers, card readers, and tape systems, into a lower priority subset group. All of the devices are supported on a single physical link for reduction of line costs. All data communications functions, including the prioritizing enhancement, are handled within the PIX-II system; there is no teleprocessing overhead on the mainframe. CRT terminals interact with the host on an attention interrupt basis, eliminating CPU device polling cycles. Deviceaccess priorities may be established on the basis of the device mix, in terms of work patterns, or on a special-need basis.
Circle 453 on Inquiry Card

Put a Pittmali®D-C motor in your hands for consistent performance at a reasonable price

f:~)

THE

When you 're designing a permanent-magnet motor into your product, it will pay you many times over to look at the Pittman line . We may not have all the answers but you 'll get prompt and accurate design data plus realistic prices and deliveries. We 've been helping others power their equipment for over 40 years. So, contact us regarding :
SERVO MOTO RS-currently in three standard series. inputs from 6 to 30 V d c, load speeds up to 10,000 rpm , and stall torques from under one to more than 100 oz-in
GE ARMOTO RS - in two standard series for torque outputs to 300 oz-in. gearing for output shaft speeds from 2 to 650 rpm
Integral tachometers can also be supplied with selected motors as well as any model gearmotor. And we welcome inquiries about modified units and special designs. Let us hear from you. The Pittman Corporation, a Subsidiary of Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.,
PITTMA~.,,~~;;~~~;~N

@ The Pittman Corporation, 1978

6A/77

CIRC LE 21 ON IN9 UIRY CARD

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

U)
"z-

Make intelligent keys 6righter.

Introducing Fairchild 's DatakeyTM display. A state of the art LCD technology that makes intelligent keyboard keys smarter yet. It uses LCD 's as keyboard keys to display messages by means of reflectedambient light.
For example, in a computer control keyboard, Datakey can turn a blank function key into an intelligent message by illuminating the key only when it's a live option.
This simplifies operation, saves ti me and opens the door for less experienced (and less costly) operators.
Or in telephone keyboards, Data key can replace incandescent bulbs and keys. And because it
uses only nanoamps of power, it
doesn 't even require hookup to your main power source.
And that's just the beginning . Our Datakey display is so innovative we're still discovering things it can do.

Can we give you a light?
Maybe you have an application where our Data key LCD technology will shine. It can be built in many sizes. And with a great complexity of characters. In fact, we can make displays using virtually any symbol or picture you come up with.
We're lighting the way.
Of course, it's not surprising that Fairchild would develop this new LCD technology. We 've been manufacturing LCD's for years. And we have a fully dedicated, high volume factory turning them out.

If you 'd like to read our Datakey LCD Application Note and receive a sample key, just ask on your company letterhead. Write: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, 464 Ellis Street, Mountain View, CA 94042 . Tel: (415) 493-3100. TWX: 910-373-1227.

···········
l=A.IRCl-llLC>
Call us on it.
(415) 493-3100

CIRCLE 22 ON INQUIRY CARD

ICOMMUNICATION CHAN~

U.S.·U.K. Packet Switched Data Service
An international packet switched service to and from the United Kingdom is scheduled to start July 1, 1978, according to RCA Global Communications, Inc, 60 Broad St, New York, NY 10004. It will expand the company's overseas low speed data service offerings, and provide customers in both countries access to computer services and to a wide range of data base information. A variety of terminals operating at rates between llO and 1200 bits/s, asynchronous, can be accommodated by the system. Customers in the U.S. will have access to the service through the converttional telephone network, by value-added carriers such as Telenet and Tymnet, and through specialized common carriers. They may also interconnect directly with the RCA international data exchange at the New York gateway.
The company says that this is the first international use of the X.25 switching protocol recommended by the CCITT, (Consultative Committee on International Telephone and Telegraph); the protocol allows users to operate terminals at 2500, 4800, and 9600 bits /s in the synchronous mode, directly into the international data network. Packet switching optimizes the switching and transmission capacity of t>he international network through the use of virtual circuit paths. In this way, there is no longer a requirement for terminals to be exactly matched to the characteristics of a computer host, as long as both the computer and terminal conform to the CCITT protocol.
RCA has received authority to proceed with the service to the United Kingdom, via the services of the British Post Office, and will shortly file a tariff to incorporate the new packetized charging methods.
Uniform Tariffs Proposed for Public Data Network
Uniform nationwide pricing for use of its public data network is planned by Telenet Communications Corp, 1050 17th St, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Subject to approval by the

FCC, the new tariff structure will be implemented July 1, 1978. The company says it is the first US common carrier to offer data communication rates independent of distance and user location throughout the continental United States. Regardless of t>he customer's location, there will be a single rate, for each speed of service, for dedicated or leased line access to the network.
For dedicated access, the new rates range from $300/mo for 50- to 300bit/s transmission, to $1100/mo for 9600-bits/s. Included in these charges are a port at a network switching center, the access line, and the required modems or digital interfaces.
Users dialing into the network for connection to a distant computer will be charged a flat rate of $3.25 / h in all cities directly served by the network. This rate applies to both llOto 300-bit/s and 1200-bit/s access.
Also planned is In-WATS service for 1200-bit/s terminals to augment its In-WATS service for lower speed communications. Both services will be priced at $15/h.
The company has additionally filed rates for PPX (Private Packet Exchange) service, aimed at customers who have a high concentration of usage in a particular city. PPX allows purchase of a group of ports at any network location at rates "offering an attractive alternative to a private concentrator or public dial-in service" according to Mr Ralph Johnson, vicepresident, marketing. PPX features capability of automatically switching overflow calls to public dial ports.
Software Packages Aid Network Design
Network designers having access to the Tymnet network can now avail themselves of a set of network design tools that, up to the present, were available only to larger users for implementation on in-house computers. Small- to medium-size users of leased line networks, with point-topoint or multipoint configurations may use this modular software system to determine the most cost-effective network architecture, according to the DMW Group, Inc, 2975 Hickory Lane, Ann Arbor, Ml 48104.

The design packages include the Network Design and Management System, (NDMS) and Response 1 and 2. NDMS calculates optimum network layouts and produces detailed reports on such variables as line configuration, network partitioning, traffic generation, and multistage network design based upon throughput as well as upon response time.
Response 1 and 2 modules of the system are interactive programs that calculate maximum traffic volume a single multipoint line can handle, and the response time for a typical terminal on a specified line, respectively. Both modules also compute message length, polling wait time, and other important characteristics.
Users accessing these programs via Tymnet will be charged a mouthly software subscription fee and Tymnet processing charges. Subscription agreements are on the basis of 3-mo, 6-mo, or 1-yr periods.
Circle 454 on Inquiry Card

Contracts Awarded For Dual Development of TDMA Burst Modems

Two development contracts provide

for delivery of five prototype time-

division multiple access burst modems

and associated equipment from both

the Satellite Communications Div of

Harris Corp, Melbourne, Fla, and

Fujitsu, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan with firm

prices for optional quantities for

operational use. Satellite Business

Systems, 8003 Westpark Dr, PO Box

908, McLean, VA 22101 will conduct

field tests with three from each manu-

facturer; the remaining units will

continue life testing at the contractors'

plants.

Providing signal processing and

modulation/demodulation of burst-

mode digital bit streams, the modems

will be located at customer-premises

earth stations, along with the radio

frequency terminal and satellite com-

munications controller. The company

plans to launch its first two satellites

in the second half of 1980 and begin

serving large communications users

through its Operational System in

early 1981.

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Don't be afraid to pay
justalittle more...
upfront!

You'll find that life cycle costs tell the real story

The quoted price for a CRT display is just the beginning. Cut corners here, and you pay for it later. For example:
Alignment - Will that low-cost monitor be completely adjusted and ready to go when you receive it? In-house adjustment hassles can wipe out that lower price in a hurry.
Specltlcatlona - Do those bargain displays meet performance minimums now? Will they in six months? The display is your face to the world. It should look good. It should be built right.

Maintenance - Low MTBF figures will jeopardize product performance and make you look bad. A small investment in quality parts and design at the start will cut future maintenance costs.
Remember, the best CRT display purchase is one that is a bargain year after year, every time your customer turns it on. Don't find out about life cycle costs the hard way. Your Ball representative will be happy to explain the benefits of paying just a little more initially for CRT displays. Ask him.

Bell Electronlc Dlaplay Dlwlelon P.O. Box 43376, St. Paul, Mn. 55164 (612) 786-8900. TWX: 910-563-3552

0 - . 1 ..... Otllc:ee:

Addison, Illinois (312) 279-7400

Senta Clere, Callfomle (408) 244-1474

Ocean, New Jersey (201) 922·2800 Upland, C.llfomla (714) 1185-7110

CIRCLE 23 ON IN9UIRY CARD

There may be a t1P board
out there we can't test.

But we haven't found it yet.

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

Chances are we won't. Dozens of different µP boards have run through our new 3040A LogictesterT'" in the first six months, with 100% success.
You never know what our rapidly changing technology will produce tomorrow though, and you need assurance your tester can handle it. The 3040A delivers that confidence, and more.
Like testing at full data and clock rates. Four bi-directional buses handled at one time. And four processors test your board's µPinstructions, RAMs, ROMs, PIAs ... all at multi-MHz rates!
All this and programs finished in
days, not months.
To us, the most important consideration is that boards passing our tester will work in your product ... every single IC and com-
ponent. That1s confidence, and it
keeps both of us in business.

If confidence is important to you, look into the Fluke logic testers priced between $13,000 and $60,000. Features like dynamic LSI diagnostics and Autotrack~M the guided clip system that reduces your operator's probing time and error, and saves money.
We've got more logic test systems operating in the world than anyone. For data out today, CALL COLLECT (415) 965-0350. Or, circle the number below for general data.
For a complete technical package, drop a line on your company letterhead to Don Harter, Fluke Trendar Corporation, 630 Clyde Avenue, Mountain
View, California 94043.
In Eu rope, write Fluke (Nederland) B.V., P.O. Box 5053, Tilburg, The Netherlands. Or, telephone: (013) 673973. Telex: 52237.

====® lFLUKEI

1712-8002

Circle 48 for literature.

Circle 49 for a demonstration.

I I DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

Voice Data Entry Computer Terminal Allows User to Select 900·Word Vocabulary

The Intelligent Voice Terminal enables operators to enter data directly into a computer in familiar English language terms by speaking into a microphone or telephone handset. Operating with a vocabulary of up to 900 words, the user programmable system can significantly increase overall accuracy of data entered into computerized data bases by allowing errors to be immediately and easily corrected at the source.
Developed by Interstate Electronics Corp, 707 E Vermont Ave, PO Box 3117, Anaheim, CA 92803, a basic system contains an input/operator feedback station, intelligent controller (user programmable processor), asynchronous output or control interface, and executive software. An ex-

panded system will handle up to four user-input stations simultaneously, provide audio response through a voice synthesizer unit, and accommodate optional features for computer interfacing, 1/0 peripherals, and mass storage. Single or multiplexed 4-channel Asen interfaces allow completely interactive operation with most computers and information processing systems.
Heart of the terminal is an acoustic pattern classifier that produces a digital code in response to a received utterance. The classifier consists of spectrum analyzer, analog multiplexer and A-D converter, programmed digital processor, reference pattern memory, and output interface. The spectrum analyzer divides

0
the input speech signal into 16 frequency bands that cover the useful frequency range. By means of parallel detection and lowpass filtering the resulting 16 analog signals represent a power spectrum that constitutes the feature for speech classification.
A coding compressor compensates for changes in the rate of articulation and reduces the spectral data generated by each utterance to a fixed-length code for the classifier. It reduces every word, regardless of length, to a 240-bit pattern. A word boundary detector establishes the start and end of each utterance by experimentally determined criteria. During the training period, the operator repeats each vocabulary word. The estimator compensates for variations to form a 240-bit reference pattern stored in the memory to represent a particular vocabulary word.

,----------------,
USER STATION·3

SINGLE FILE CASSETTE
MULTl·FILE LINC TAPE

INPUT /OUTPUT PERIPHERALS
4-CHANNEL ASYNCHRONOUS

DISC MASS STORAGE

APPLICATION CONTROL PROCESSOR CUSTOMER HOST COMPUTER

Basic voice terminal uses intelligent terminal controller comprising voice recognition unit and signal interface unit, single voice channel with user station, and asynchronous Interface. Providing up to 900 vocabulary words, Interstate Electronic's basic system can expand to control up to three additional voice channels

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

''Simplicity is the key to advanced fiber optic tenninations.
That's why OPTIMATE connectors light the way:'

Meaningful progress in fiber optics technology is no longer hampered by impractical termination techniques. Today, AMP innovation is opening the way for an expanding array of applications.
We are especially proud of the unique contributions of our OPTIMATE line. These connectors have made universal termination possible for a wide variety of fiber optic cable. And they do it simply, quickly and with highly repeatable accuracy. Single optic fibers, as small as .004 ", can be terminated and OPTIMATE connectors incorporate a resilient material which ensures optical centering. Precise, accurate polishing is easy and fast, thanks to a simple adaptor.
There are more OPTIMATE contributions···such as providing for the intermixing of fiber optics with conventional power or signal cable in a wide range of standard housings. And more are on the way. Because we at AMP have over 2,000 people involved in research, development and engineering

activities alone. And because we are committed to the same kind of leadership in fiber optics that we have achieved in other termination areas.
For more information on our OPTIMATE line, just call Customer Service at (717) 564-0100. Or write AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

2. Simple, proven crimp.

1. Few parts to assemble.

AMP has a better way ...Fiber Optics
To help you innovate, two OPTIMATE Kits are available: just connectors, cable .and tooling, or complete with active devices by Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc., and predrilled circuit boards for construction of optical links with TTL or CMOS input/ output.
For more information, call Customer Service at (717) 564-0100.
AMP is a trad e mark o f AMP Incorpo ra ted ~i s a trad emark of M otorola Inc.
~IVIP INCORPORATED CIRCLE 26 ON INQUIRY CARD

wll1

Mostek's newest ~-----------------~static operation, and

ROM, the MK 36000 offers 24-pin compatibility with our

ACcEaa

direct TTL compati-

TlllE

bility with com-

mon 1/0.

complete family of SK

Not only do you

and 16K ROMs, as

Y·

get all that in the

well as existing

standard 24-pin

EPROMs. That means

package, but you can

you can achieve

get it now. There's no

higher system density

better way to upgrade

at a much lower cost. ------------------~your system than

Mostek's 64K ROM can be accessed in

with Mostek 's 64K ROM.

250ns max; it requires no more than 220 mW

For more information on Mostek ROMs,

active power, and automatic standby power

call a Mostek distributor or sales

is just 25 mW typical.

representative now. Or contact Mostek at

Mostek's widely copied Edge-ActivatedrM

1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton, Texas

design concept provides many other features

75006; telephone (214) 242-0444. In Europe ,

including + 5V only power with ± 10%

contact Mostek GmbH. West Germany ;

tolerance, on-chip address latches, totally

telephone (49) (0711) 701045.

MOSTEI<.

<!:> 1978 Mostek Corporation
38

CIRCLE 27 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

CHllTAL TECHNCLCGV REVIEW

SPEECH SPECTRUM 16

SIGNAL

ANALYZER

r
MUX s I
& ADC
I

CODING COMPRESSOR
WORD BOUNDARY DETECTOR

CLASSIFIER

1 OUTPUT INTERFACE

ESTIMATOR DIGITAL
LPROC:,:~~~~ '--~-
I I
L--

Essential to terminal's ability to accept voice data entry is acoustic pattern classifier, which is made up of spectrum analyzer, analog multiplexer, and A-D converter, programmed digital processor, reference pattern memory, and output interface

These 240 bits represent the tendencies common to the utterance and the variations that are inevitable when a human being repeats the utterance several times under varied conditions.
After the system has been "trained" to a particular operator's voice, each new pattern from the coding compressor is compared with a syntactically determined subset of all previously learned reference patterns in memory. In sum, the system not only learns the desired vocabulary word, but learns also to distinguish it when spoken with the variations normal to the speech habits of a particular operator. Recognition accuracy is greater than 99%. In addition, its syntax processor allows organized vocabulary lists for specific interactions so that a rejection rate of 90 to 98% of invalid inputs, including extraneous noise, is achieved.
Supplied as an integral component, VOICE (voice-oriented in-core executive) operating system allows users to specify system parameters. Among these are configuration parameters, including vocabulary size, number of users, configuration of Ilo devices, and number and size of internal buffers and data arrays; dictionary of vocabulary items to be used along with representations for each vocabulary item; and a dictionary of prompt and error messages. Also user-specified is an action structure associating an appropriate system action with each command that is recognized. Actions may range from simply outputting a code associated with a recognized word to executing a complex computer program that is a function

of several previously input commands. A syntax structure associates subsets of the dictionary with specific functions to be performed in the application. The syntax structure provides a context for the user, and permits the use of large vocabularies without loss of recognition accuracy.
A variety of voice input and feedback options are available to tailor the terminal to operator and environment. Operator voice characteristics (reference patterns), terminal control programs, and operator input data can be stored using a variety of mass storage devices. Numerous input/output peripheral devices are also available to enable configuration to special requirements. With the telephone compatibility option, a standard telephone handset forms a direct voice link with the host computer.
Circle 170 on Inquiry Card
Vector Graphic System Uses 32-Bit Micro, Dual Bus Architecture
A microprocessor-based self-refreshing vector graphic system, the MEGRAPmc 7000 provides high performance interactive computer graphics. Designed by Megatek Corp, 1055 Shafter St, San Diego, CA 92106, the total refresh system uses a 32-bit microprocessor and a dual bus architecture to provide capabilities that include selective erase of points without affecting the remainder of the image, 12-bit resolution (4096 x 4096), and 16 levels of intensity.

The graphic display unit (GDU) is composed of a number of independent modules connected to one another by an asynchronous 3-state bus structure. This architecture facilitates expansion or addition of options. Four basic modules in a minimum system are vector generator (VG), graphic processor (GP), memory module (MM), and computer interface (CI) . Each plugs directly into a motherboard backplane which resides in a rackmountable or tabletop chassis.
An optional peripheral control unit ( PCU) plugs into the CI module and controls interrupt priority and data flow between host computer and graphic peripherals via an additional 16-bit bidirectional data bus. In addition; each system includes a 21" (53-cm) diagonal electromagnetic monitor.
Built around bipolar bit-slice architecture for speed and versatility, the 32-bit wide graphics processor controls access of the graphics display list stored in the memory module, interpreting display data, controlling graphics functions, and preparing x-Y coordinate pairs for input to a FIFO memory. The vector generator incorporates a proprietary design that provides sharp, constant intensity vector. 12-bit resolution and 16 levels of intensity are standard. A FIFO buffer and high speed normalize circuits
are used to supply maximum average throughput and to permit the digital portion of the system to keep up with the high speed and precise rampcomparator vector complement to the magnetic deflection tube technology. Each vector generator can control two monitors, with either identical or dif-

Before you design-in
a Z-80, 6800 or 8085, compare it with the high performance R6500.
Rockwell's R6500 delivers boosted performance and economics through its third-generation pipe1ined architecture with 13 powerful addressing modes, true indexing capability, complete decimal/binary arithmetic mode selection, on-chip clock and proven 2MHz performance. Prove it to yourself- Benchmark it!

R6500 offers innovative architecture and technology.
The 8-bit R6500 is produced with. N-channel, silicon gate, depletion load technology and innovative architecture. The result is smaller, faster chips to keep your system costs down and performance up.
A family of ten software compatible CPUs in 28- and 40-pin DIP packages give you the most cost-effective fit for your application. Prove it to yourself- Price it!
R6500 is designed for greater memory and 1/0 efficiency.
Of the le?tding NMOS microprocessors, only the R6500 has 13 addressing modes and true indexing capability. More addressing modes coupled with an advanced instruction set makes programming the R6500 easy and efficient. Fewer program steps means lower memory cost and faster program execution.
R6500 memory-managed 1/0 eliminates performance pottlenecks associated with the separate 1/0 buses, 1/0 commands and register overhead required by other microprocessors.
A broad selection of memory, 1/0 and combination memory-1/0-timer circuits are available. And Rockwell is presently delivering the industry's firstfully static 32K ROM-the R2332- and the industry's fastest 32K ROM-the R2332-3.

SYSTEM 65 gets you started for less.
SYSTEM 65 Microcompyter Development System is efficient and easy-to-use and is equipped with dual mini-floppies. It's priced at only $4800.
ROM-resident SYSTEM 65 firmware features a two-pass assembler, text editor and symbolic debug/monitor package.·current loop, RS-232C, printer and scope sync ports are also provided. The optional USER 65 (User System EvaluatoR) module extends the power of SYSTEM 65 for in-circuit emulation.
Other design support includes KIM-1, TIM, timesharing cross-assembler, complete documentation and extensive applications engineering.

Industry

researchers

I ·:;.-;.:,s
-'- I I

say the multiplesourced 6500
outshipped the Z-80, 6800 and 8085 during the

last quarter of 1977. Benchmark it!

For more information, contact your local

Hamilton/Avnet distributor or write: D/727-A

Microelectronic Devices, Rockwell International;

P.O. Box 3669; Anaheim, CA 92803 or phone

(714) 632-3729.

-~- Rockwell International
...where science gets down to business

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

MEMORY
OIVlCI ADDllfSS MOOOO· m111
m m MICIOCDCE
10CIOCIO -
~'·1
111
11 ~..~..~,·~
"~ 11 l l
HOSf CX>MPUTEI INTEIFACI

GRAPHICS PllOCESSOR
J1
GRAPHICS 8U5 PERIPHERALS BUS
11
UYIO.UO

VECTOR GENERATOR

..}>...

-) v

TABLET, JOr STICIC,
ADC.ETC

MEGRAPHIC 7000 SYSTEM ORGANIZATION
Megatek's vector graphic system is based on dual bus structure and 32-bit bipolar microprocessor. Graphics processor, vector generator, and memory modules reside on graphics bus; peripherals bus is reserved for keyboard, tablet, joystick, or plotter options

ferent images. Two modules can be plugged into each system chassis, to drive four individual displays.
Memory modules use fast 4k RAMs for display refresh. Each module can accept up to 4k (32-bit) words RAM and 2k (32-bit) words ·p/ROM. Each system accepts up to eight memory modules.

Flexibility of the equipment is not limited to standard options or configurations. Standard (DMA) interfaces and graphics software modules are available for DEC PDP-11 UnibusTlll and Data General NovaT" and EclipseTM minicomputers, allowing users to chose the host computer.
Circle 171 on Inquiry Card

Intelligent Clustered Terminal System Offers 3270 Emulation
Capable of supporting eight keystations and four printers, System 4000, an intelligent clustered terminal system, can perform onsite processing independently within a cluster even if communication with the central processing unit is broken. In designing the system, Racal-Milgo, Inc, 8600 NW 4lst St, Miami, FL 33166 built in emulators that allow operation in IBM 3270 and 2260 terminal modes, cutting line costs for users of those terminals by concentrating data.
System components include cluster controller/processor, floppy disc storage for up to IM bytes of data, keyboard/display stations, and high

speed line printer. Terminals are capable of buffered synchronous operation at data rates up to 9600 bits/s. Keystations can function in different modes simultaneously, with some performing online data entry over communications lines, while others edit local data on disc. Keystations and printers operate over a single coaxial cable at distances up to 2000 ft (610 m) from the main cluster.
Both application and emulation programs in the system are user programmable. Applications programs provide a uniform method of accessing data in disc storage; programming may be done in COBOL and ESAL. For emulation, high level KCL and COUPLE languages are used in programming terminal control and communications protocol.
Circle 172 on Inquiry Card

Computer Systems Improve Operating Speed With High Performance Processors
Among the features of 1000 F -series computer systems introduced by Hewlett-Packard Co, 1507 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304 are improved operating speed, a hardware processor for floating point operations, and use of 350-ns 16k RAMS. The series includes the memory-based model 25 and the disc-based model 45, which handles main memory arrays as large as 2M bytes, and F-series computers, models 2111F and 2117F.
Speed improvements in the F-series processor are attained by use of a scientific instruction set (SIS) for hardware execution of transcendental and logarithmic functions, a separate hardware processor for faster execution of floating point instructions, a set of microprogrammed routines that accelerate FORTRAN performance, and 16k RAM high performance memory. The scientific instruction set is a group of hardware-executed instructions that calculate trigonometric and logarithmic functions of floating point numbers at extremely high speeds. The instructions use the hardware executed floating point instruction set as a computing resource, allowing the processor to complete a sine function in 47.6 µs. The fast FORTRAN processor accelerates commonly used FORTRAN operations, such as parameter passing between subroutines, GO TOs, and array address calculations.
When coupled with computation features provided by the processor, RTE-IV, the realtime executive operating system, provides the model 45 with ability to handle programs that include data arrays as large as 2M bytes. An extension of RTE-III and -M operating systems, the executive supports user program code up to 54k bytes in each of 64 memory partitions. Space available for user code is independent of operating system size or number of drivers. An extended memory area addressing capability allows 2M-byte arrays of data to be accommodated. Concurrent execution of realtime, interactive, and batch programs is possible.
Graphics capabilities for 1000 series systems are provided by GRAPHICS/ 1000 software. A graphics plotting package allows plots to be described in any coordinate system and then converts automatically to whatever

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

Take a chance on a power supply and win an airline trip.

Red Eye Flights to Customer Sites A chancy power supply's bottom -line cost doesn 't show up on a price list. It shows up in increased emergency service calls, total aggravation , and catastrophic downtime costs to the customer. Our Switching Regulated Power Supplies - the Dependables - can minimize such worries.
Time Proven Winners: the Dependables For over 19 years , the Dependables have pruved their reliability in OEM digital applications where superior line and dynamic load regulation are needed . And their low RFl/EMI and low output ripple (less than 3 mV peak-topeak at line frequencies) make them ideal for sensitive analog applications.
Brownoutproof: These Days a Must The Dependables can supply their specified regulated outputs at full load over input variations from 92 to 138 or 184 to 250 VAC. And they'll keep it up for several minutes even if the input drops to 70 or 140 VAC. If AC fails completely, the supplies will hold up for at least 30 mSec., allowing orderly shutdown or shift to optional DC backup . Catalog DP-27 gives details on our single output supplies and brownoutproof features.
The tables at the right list our standard single and multiple output supplies. Other configurations can be provided. Standard DC input voltages are 48, 120 or 220 VDC.

Multiple Output Supplies

AC Input - Model Number PM2675 PM2676 PM2677 PM2678

DC lr1put - Model Number PM2775 PM2776 PM2777 PM2778

Total Power

3 75W 600W 750W 850W

Main Channel Max Power 250W 500W 600W 750W

Second Channel Ol!!i?_ut

10 a m_Q_eres or 150 watts

Third Channel Output

10 amperes or 150 watts

Fourth Channel Output

4 amperes or 75 watts

Standard Output Voltages

2.3.5. 12. 15. 18, 21. 24.28

Single Output Supplies

AC lf!J>_ut - Model Number

DC Input - Model Number

Outputs:

Volts

2 3 5 5 12 15 18 21 24 28

PM2496
PM2721
Amps
100 60 50 25 25 22 18 16 13

PM2497
PM2722
Amps
200 100 100 150 60 50 45 38 33 27

PM2498
-
Am_1>_s
400 200 200 300 120 JOO
90 76 66 54

To find out how the Dependables can keep your system on the air and your maintenance people out of it, call or write Pioneer Magnetics, Department B, today .

1745 Berkeley Street · Santa Monica, CA 90404 Telephone (213) 829-6751 ·TWX 910-343-6249

CIRCLE 29 ON IN9UIRY CARD

DIGITAL TECHNDLDGIV REVIEW

coordinates are appropriate to the display peripheral being used. The package accommodates a choice of 2648A raster-scan terminal, 7245A thermal plotter-printer, or 9872A 4-color graphics plotters.
Representative prices for units in the series include model 25 with F-series processor, 64k-byte memory, and 2645 console terminal at $27,500; model 40, using the E-series processor
Midrange Computer Handles Batch and Interactive Applications
META 4nI 5000 series computers range from low end processors to systems offering performance comparable to that of midrange System/370 CPUS. Digital Scientific Corp, 11425 Sorrento Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92121 designed the systems to handle high throughput, timesharing applications. System overhead and peripheral idle time are reduced by giving individual users access to all system functions while concurrent jobs are running. Processing results are spooled to any disc subsystem, with-

F-series processors in HP 1000 series, model 45 add hardware floating point processor, scientific instruction set, and fast FORTRAN processor in form of microcoded routines to provide performance needed in computation intensive applications
with 128k-byte memory, 2645 terminal, and 7906 20M-byte disc drive, supported by RTE-IV begins at $40,000. Combining all the enhancements with 128k-byte memory, 2648 graphics terminal, RTE-IV operating system, 20M-byte disc, and graphics plotting software, the F-series model 45 is priced at $46,500 in a deskstyled system.
Circle 173 on Inquiry Card
out programmer intervention, cutting the time required to do the job.
All processing is carried out under conb·ol of a timesharing operating system (TPS), which supervises a batch operating system, optional interactive data entry and retrieval system, and a conversational terminal operating system. The operating system also supports APL and BASIC language processors, plus FORTRAN IV, COBOL, and RPG II compilers.
First of the series, model 5020 provides multiprogramming control for up to 32 job streams, including two concurrent card reader/punch jobs, and up to 30 terminals, in interactive, batch, or remote batch appli-
Digital Scientific's META 4n1sooo
series small computer systems handle high throughput timesharing applications with power of mainframe processors at lower prices than compara'ble large scale minicomputers

cations. The 16-bit computer is equipped with 500-ns semiconductor memory with capacity for 128k bytes. A microprogrammed control panel permits ready control of program execution, determination of system status, and passage of information to and from programs.
The system accommodates a range of peripheral hardware including standard IBM devices, such as the 1403-Nl line printer, via channel simulation. It interfaces to magnetic tape drivers and to 2310, 2311, and 2314 type disc storage systems, and is capable of handling eight 164M-byte discs for a random-access disc subsystem with 1320M-byte storage capacity. Available communications adapters handle IBM BiSync protocol and 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-line asynchronous adapters operating at speeds as high as 19.2k bytes/s on each line.
To assure troublefree operation, an extended power sequencing and system parameter monitoring (SENTRY) feature keeps track of various de power levels, cooling air flow, and temperature throughout the system, and controls sequencing of operations. In automatic diagnostic mode it can isolate suspected power or line problems as well as equipment problems.
Circle 174 on Inquiry Card
Terminal Processing System Expands Through Modular Plug-ins
A complete terminal processing system in a desktop package, MDT-400 incorporates an 8-bit microprocessor, up to 32k bytes of memory, minidiskette, keyboard, CRT display, and communications interface. In the systems, Compugraphic Corp, 80 Industrial Way, Wilmington, MA 01887 has provided an extended bus architecture that allows additional memory modules, communications interface, and hardcopy printer options to be added by simply plugging them in. Device handlers are built-in, allowing configuration expansion in the field.
Hardware/software flexibility permits the unit to be used for text or word processing, source data acquisition, distributed processing, and network communications. Each of the 122 keys on the keyboard can be programmed and complete keyboard configurations can be loaded from

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

Quick Change Artist.
Our OEM 600 lpm printer
has a replaceable character cartridge as fast and easy to change as a typewriter ribbon.

How fast? Less than a minute. How easy? Easy enough for anyone with the strength to pick up 10 lbs. and the skill to change a typewriter ribbon. Data 100 knows what an OEM wants in a line printer. Like fast and easy

character set interchangeability. A capability that's standard on our 600 lpm printer.
It not only gives the user greater flexibility, but also eliminates the need to buy two line printers just to satisfy that requirement.
Make good sense to you? It should. We're adding

this Quick Change Printer to our Data 100 systems, too.
DATA 100
CORPORATION
Data 100 knows what an OEM wants
in a line printer.

NEWPORT BEACH CA (714) 549-0982 · SANTA CLARA CA (408) 732-1530 · BRAINTREE MA (617) 848-6100 · SOUTHFIELD MI (313) 358-3984 · EDlNA MN (612) 941-6500 · CHERRY HILL NJ (609) 665-5141 · WOODBRIDGE NJ (201) 634-7800 · HOUSTON TX (713) 777-4413 · McLEAN VA (703) 790-5560 · TORONTO CANADA (distributor) (416) 495-0222 · HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ENGLAND (0442) 66511 · BRUSSELS BELGIUM 251 ·69·72 · FRANKFURT GERMANY 72·04·71 · PARIS FRANCE 630·2144 ·MILAN ITALY (02) 659·52·32.

CIRCLE 31 ON IN9UIRY CARD

Advanced Micro Devices is in the PROM business. And what an opening!
II II
II
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

THE FAMILY.
There's a 256-bit, a lK, a 2K and a 4K with output latches. Choose open-collector or three-state outputs. All have the same electrical characteristics. All are programmable from the same card set.
Are they fast? Are they fast! Just take a look at the chart.
Performance and reliability? MIL-STD-883 for free. Designed for military performance. Enough said.
And with every AMD PROM, you get one small miracle: After almost two billion fuse hours of testing, the fuse failure rate is zero. Zip. None.
The magic ingredient is platinum-silicide. The programming is fast. The yields high. And the long term reliability is excellent.
ANOTHER FIRST.
In the family you'll find an Am2977 4/ 75, the world's first 512 x 8 registered PROM.

Make room for it. 35% less room. It's a 22-pin part. It's 35%smaller than 24-pin counterparts.
Here's yet a third first: easy pipelined microprogramming. The Am29774/ 75 has edge-triggered full master/ slave registers built right into each output, eliminating an external 20-pin octal register and saving another 20% in board area.
All this means is that the next time you need high performance PROMs, call The First Family.
Call Advanced Micro Devices.
Advanced Micro Devices
~
Multiple techn ologies. One product: excellence. 901 Thompson Pl ace, Sunnyvale. California 94086
Teleph o ne (408 ) 732-2400

DIGITAL TECHNCILCIGY REVIEW

diskette. Eighteen user-defined keys can be changed by an operator with a few keystrokes; the data key allows variable as well as fixed data to be associated with each of these keys. Full cursor controls, scrolling, a I28-char set, and a special key for fast cursor and data positioning provide flexible screen management. Communications include asynchronous or binary synchronous interfaces with software implemented protocols that allow communication with most host
processors. Users can write their own applica-
tion programs using the program development facility which supports assembler and high level language. Complete file management is provided for transferring data to and from the disc and setting up disc files. Two communications em.ulators -Teletype 33/35 and IBM 2780are availabl!!.
Representative prices are $4275 for a model 40I with Bk-bytes RAM, integral minilloppy, CRT, and keyboard; and $4500 for the 402 with an additional 8k bytes of memory. Substantial discounts are available on quantity purchases.
Circle 175 on Inquiry Card

Dltilll(DP)
Through realtime monitor and dynamic resource allocation techniques, Electronic Associates' HyshareT>< computer system ·allows digital, analog, and hybrid capabilities to be used simultaneously

Hybrid Computer Meets Demands of LarCJe Scale MultitaskinCJ Applications
HYSHARET><, a hybrid computer developed by Electronic Associates, Inc, West Long Branch, NJ 07764, meets multiuser, multitask demands of large simulation and scientific computation laboratories. Consisting of a model 3200 digital computer and up to six high speed analog processors, the A-D and D-A communications interface uses online dynamic resource allocation techniques which allow analog processors to be assigned to specific tasks or linked together.
Capable of functioning as a digital, analog, and hybrid system at the same time, the cqmputer incorporates a realtime monitor and priority structure that permit several tasks to proceed simultaneously. These tasks are interrupt driven hybrid simulation at speeds of ISOM, 250M, or more operations/second; timeshared scientific digital computation; analog-only simulations on selected analog processors; setup and check-

out of analog/hybrid programs via the digital computer; and compilation of new simulation programs.
The digital processor is a 32-bit word machine with up to IM bytes of 600- or 900-ns cycle time core memory. Up to 16 terminals are accommodated through the system bus interface to which all peripherals and analog interfaces are addressed. 600 systems use the 68I 10-V analog computer, while 700 systems use the 78I, a large scale 100-V analog computer. Both the 68I and 781 are controlled entirely through the digital processor. Systems iµcorporating the multivariable function generation system, in addition to the analog processors, can operate at digital-equivalent speeds of up to 500M operations/s.
System bus interface, an extension of the system interface bus (sm) for the digital processor, is data communications/transfer medium for the entire system. All functional elements of the computer-CPU, 1/0 controllers, and memory-communicate over

this high speed, synchronous time divisioned, multiplexed bus, as do the
communications interface and optional function generatorI processor. Aggregate data rate for the bus is 26.67M bytes Is. The bus is bidirectional, with 32 data lines and 24 address lines, with transfers requiring I50 ns. Direct memory data transfer allo vvs direct device communication to memory without CPU intervention.
The communications interface is fully integrated into the digital processor by direct connection to the bus. Its time-critical design provides fast ( <75 µ.s) interrupt response, multiplexed ADC and DAM conversion direct to and from core, floating point conversion, and variable interval realtime hybrid operations clock.
Up to six parallel analog processors may be included in a given system. Through the interface, and given the appropriate instructions, each analog unit may be assigned to a separate, single task; or they may be trunked together in any

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

Implement your488 bu with the MC6848~

488BUS HANDSHAKE
----..
BMUGSMT. {

Yoo
DATA IUS

DATA VO

DI01 DI02 DI03 DI04
DI05 DI06 DI07 DI08

MotOl'Ola peripherals-doing more so your processor can do morel

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

t he eas~ low-cost way Motorola's unique GPIA.

Motorola's MC68488 GeneralPurpose Interface Adapter, GPIA, makes microprocessorsmicrocomputers IEEE 488-bus compatible.
Development of the IEEE Standard 488 instrument bus enabled practical interconnection and remote programming or controlling of multiple programmable instruments. However, interface between the microprocessor or microcomputer and the 488 bus remained a costly and cumbersome task.
The GPIA provides that interface simply and inexpensively, and automatically handles handshake protocol needed on the instrument bus. As part of our fully compatible M6800 Family, it's designed to operate with all the M6800 microprocessors and single-chip microcomputers, but it serves other microprocessors, too. It's absolutely unique.

Probably most useful among the GPIA benefits are features like its serial polling capability, single or dual primary address recognition, and secondary address capability. There's so much more: complete source and acceptor handshakes, talk-only or listen-only capability,

synchronization trigger output, and selectable automatic features that min imize software. There's plenty of software to implement your own features, though, never fear.
Many designers will appreciate the GPIA's operation with a OMA controller, the programmable interrupts, and RFD holdoff for prevention of data overrun. As indicated, although the MC68488 is a member of the M6800 Family, with some additional logic it also can serve non-'6800 processors as the easiest, least expensive 488 bus interface. In 25-99 quantities, the plastic MC68488P is $19.00, and the MC68488L ceramic device is $21.50.
The GPIA is designed to team up with our MC3448A standard 488 bus drivers, to meet the complete electrical specifications of the IEEE 488 bus. Use it, and we believe you'll agree, it's the way to get your instruments on the bus.

Your microprocessors can do more,

because Motorola LSI puts

systems on silicon.

The M6800 Family is the epitome of our concept for putting your systems on our silicon. With existing and soon-to-be available components, it offers an amazing variety of complexity and performance in applications from controls, to instrumentation, to data handling and communications. · Multi-chip microprocessor-based systems from the MC6800 to the MC6809. two-chip MC6802 systems. single-chip microcomputers and microcontrollers like the MC6801 and the MC6805. Everything, including development and support hardware and software is fully compatible.

A new brochure covering Motorola's total systems-on-silicon capability is now available. For a copy, and copies of both the MC68488 data sheet and our 32-page IEEE 488 Bus Implementation brochure, circle the reader service number or send your written request to Motorola Semiconductor Group, P.O. Box 20912, Phoenix, AZ 85036.

Our various LSI and VLSI

Family memories, RAMs, ROMs,

technologies range across CMOS,

and EPROMs, a variety of peripheral

NMOS, LSTTL, and ECL, from single- control and 1/0 chips, and special

bit to 16-bit capability, and provide a purpose components like the GPIA

choice among multi-chip, two-chip, generate an unmatched synergism.

single-chip, and the bit-slice approach. To ensure that your microprocessors

There's a full complement of hard-

can do more, we don't just build

ware and software support to make components, we put systems on

it all go.

silicon.

MOTOROLA INC.

CIRCLE 33 ON IN9UIRY CARD

DHilTAL TECHNDLDGV REVIEW

desired combination to obtain the desired analog computation power for problem solution.
Software, in addition to the realtime monitor and the embedded priority structure, includes the ECSSL Program Generation-Compilation System and an advanced HYTRAN interactive operations interpreterI executive program. FORTRAN IV compiler, BASIC interpreter, symbolic assembler, hybrid operating systems, and extensive scientific and mathematical runtime libraries are included.
Circle 176 on Inquiry Card
Bus-Oriented Systems Speed Throughput With Dedicated Processors
Expandable EX3000 computer systems are built around architectural and software concepts of much ·larger machines. Developed by Extensys Corp, 380 Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94040 using cost-effective microprocessor circuits for computational and control functions, the system provides distributed processing capability for hardware and multitasking for system software.
Its modular, flexible structure is made up of a series of boarqs and subsystems, allowing users to put together configurations for a variety of specific applications while offering expansion capability as usage demand increases. Subsystems include FOS 1000, a diskette subsystem with IM to 4M bytes of online storage; HDS 1500, a hard disc subsystem offering 96M bytes of storage; MTS 400, a a multiple terminal subsystem with eight or more independent RS-232-C serial interfaces; and EIT 2000, a terminal/operator processor subsystem with keyboard, CRT, RS-232-C serial interface, and expanded video features. The RM 650 board provides 16k to 64k bytes of RAM storage. MM16, the memory management board, allows bank switching of up to lM bytes of RAM and has a priority DMA mechanism for high speed transfers. The 8085 CPU board, MPU 805, provides space for 16k of p/RoM, an 8-level prioritized vectorized interrupt, and interval timers/ event counters.

The bus-oriented system contains several processors, some of which are dedicated to particular functions. Th~ system's host processor assigns tasks to subsidiary processors which execute them on demand to increase system throughput. Configurations may contain up to 16 subsidiary processors which control any combination of one or more floppy disc, hard disc, or remote terminal RS-232-C subsystems. Up to eight 9600-baud serial lines can be multiplexed into each terminal subsystem; remote terminals can also be plugged into the bus as local operator's terminals.
System software includes a multitasking, multiuser operating sysl:em (EMOS), which provides high level interface between application programs and system hardware components. In addition to file handling capabilities and program development tools, system software provides user memory protection and intersystem communication to allow multiple systems to operate with a common data bank.
In a typical configuration the system consists of combination system console/terminal, three remote terminals, 24M-byte hard disc, 200-char/s matrix printer, 192k RAM with DMA, and eight independent microprocessor controlled RS-232 channels. Processing is distributed throughout 19 microprocessors to maintain performance and to support multiuser capability.
Circle 177 on Inquiry Card
Vector Function Chainer for Array Processors Reduces Host Overhead
Vector Function Chainer automatically ties together array processor assembly-language routines so that a long series of array processor computations can be initiated by a single FORTRAN call from the host computer rather than separate calls for each routine. Announced by Floating Point Systems, Inc, PO Box 23489, Portland, OR 97223, the software is intended for use on the company's AP-120B and -190L processors.
Vector function chainer (VFC) software allows a user to chain together standard math library routines and

user-created routines. While its principle benefit is reduced host overhead, an additional benefit is that programmers can use familiar :fORTRAN syntax to create new array processor routines.
Parallel, pipelined computers with optimized architecture for scientific computations, the array processors offer up to 200X increase in computing power for minicomputers, and a IOX increase for large computers. Architecture is optimized for vector data processing with seven independent data paths, floating point adder and multiplier, integer arithmetic unit, memory, and interface. Adequate precision is made available by a 38-bit floating point format.
Circle 178 on Inquiry Card

Networkin9 Systems Offer Distributed Processing At Low Cost

Distributed processing series 220 DPS

networking systems from General

Automation Inc, 1055 S East St,

Anaheim, CA 92803 are claimed to

provide mainframe computing power

at terminal prices in source data

processing applications. The family

offers batch processing capability in

COBOL or FORTRAN, a comprehensive

ISAM/PSAM file management pack-

age, and remote batch communica-

tions.

Systems are based on the 16-bit

GA-16/220 LSI computer with 128k

bytes of 400-ns semiconductor mem-

ory, and IOM bytes qf online disc

storage. Each CPUI cluster processor

can support up to four online video

display terminals operating in a multi-

tasking environment up to 2000 ft

(610 m) away. Systems provide 2780

communications capability for access

to most remote host systems and sup-

port peripherals including line print-

ers for hardcopy output.

Software includes comprehensive

data entry software that provides

supervisory functions necessary to use

system resources efficiently. Easy-

form, a forms generation package,

allows screen formats to be created

online without compilation.

Circle 179 on Inquiry Card

a DICWriter after reading this ad, you deserve it.
~ Pussycat Printer and Model 1100 Interactive CRT Terminar Together, they do a lot more than a

DEDMW1ff and cost less.

In fact, at $1795, it's like buying a top-quality

lr.~j~~~~~i;._-=::;·iiiiiiiiiir

printer And

and getting a what a CRT!

tTerhreificMloittdleelC1R10T0frdeies.plays

\Characters per line in an easy-to-read, 9 x 12

1matrix and ' communicates at up to 9600 baud.

Compare that to DECwriter Ill's puny 1200 baud.

Then when your results are ready, touch the

PRINT key and the Pussycat printer lays down a

whole screenful of characters in only 20 seconds.

But, best C?f all, the CRT is ready for use again in

2 seconds or less. So the operator can go right

back to work.

The Pussycat Printer is silent, too. And,

because you print only what you want, there

are no rr!ounds of unsightly printout around

the machine.

Clean. Quiet. Inexpensive. The Pussycat

Printer and the Model 1100 CRT from Perkin-

Elmer. Compared to a DECwriter Ill, they do

more and cost less.

~·

APerkin-ElmereditiillCRTwith

line drawing a.nd a100cps thermal paae IJl'bllttL

You can also plug the Pussycat Printer into our Owl-.1200 Terminal and have a powerful editing temliMt Wilt

forms drawing capabilit~ and hard copy, too.

Draw forms or bar charts on the Owl, then print them on the Pussycat. The Pussycat even prinlt inwt9e

video fields for highlighting charts.

The Owl and The Pussycat. Another

great CRT thermal printer combo from

Perkin-Elmer.

Call (800) 631-2154, toll free, to

order your Pussycat and CRT.

For more information, write Termr-

nals Division, Route 10 and Emery

Avenue, Randolph, New Jersey 07734,

or telephone toll-free (800) 631-2154.

PERKIN-ELMER
Data Systems
Helping people succeed with computers.
CIRCLE 28 ON INtj)UIRY CARD

DIGITAL TECHNDLDGV REVIEW

Hardware /Software Combination Increases FORTRAN Performance
A combination of hardware and software, the FORTRAN Enhancement Package substantially improves performance of FORTRAN VI programs on the model 8/32 MegaminiR computer. Available from the Interdata Div of Perkin-Elmer Corp, 2 Crescent Pl, Oceanport, NJ 07757, the package implements FORTRAN RTL routines in the 2k writable control store, increasing their speed of execution two to three times over assembly level implementation.
Single and double precision routines include trigonometric functions such as SQRT, EXP, cos, SIN, ALOG, DSQRT, DEXP, DLOG, and real and double exponentiation. These occupy approximately l.5k of the writable control store, leaving 0.5k available for system customization. A software development package includes a microassembler that allows users to create microprograms as simply as assembly level programs, and a support program with debugging facilities.
Circle 180 on Inquiry Card
Enhancement Memory Expands 360/65 Capacity
To 9M Bytes
A plug compatible mainframe memory for IBM 360/65 computers, the ARM-2365G offers memory expansion up to 9M bytes. Produced by Ampex Corp, 200 N Nash St, El Segundo, CA 90245, the enhancement memory provides expansion capability for all versions of the J.BM 2065 processor without adding IBM upgrades, and with minimal modifications to the processor.
From one to four memories can be attached to 'the processor through the 2065 storage discriminator, which creates one to four independent memory ports. This capability permits expansion of systems already fully populated with IBM memory to the desired memory capacity.
The memory is software transparent to the system in operation. Two-way interleaving is performed in the same manner as with IBM

2365-2 memory and each installation includes a convenient reconfiguration capability.
In addition, a software patch is provided for the machine-check handler to implement correct error recovery management with expanded memory. Effective cycle time is 750 ns, with an access time of 400 ns.
The cabinet provides space for 512k to 2048k bytes of memory and requires 8 ft 2 (0.74 m2 ) of floor space. Each cabinet houses a completely independent memory system including interface logic, 2-way internal interleaving, fetch protect, customer engineering panel, and an internal test unit allowing memory testing and corrective maintenance to be performed oflline. Since it is nonvolatile, no elaborate power backup is required to protect against data loss in the event of a power interruption.
Circle 181 on Inquiry Card
Operatin9 System Provides Lar9e Machine Capability on Minicomputer
Developed for commercial data processing applications, F AS'.r"' is an advanced multitasking operating system for Interdata 16- and 32-bit computers. Concepts used by Cybertek Computer Products, Inc, 3255 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 in designing the system are similar to those found in large machine operating systems, such as IBM's 360/370 os/MVT.
The system minimizes time required to run a program and maximizes CPU utilization. FAST features dynamic memory allocation without fixed partitions, which allows programs to load immediately where there is space in memory. A powerful link-editor minimizes object module load time.
Appropriately, the system handles multiterminal, interactive applications quickly; up to 100 terminals are accommodated simultaneously. Programs can be executed rapidly because of five disc access methods; overlapped 1/0, so the processor can execute other tasks while 1/0 takes place on a previous one; and spooling,

which allows writing printer output files to disc rapidly.
FAST provides a powerful facility for program development. With its IBM-like concepts, storage-to-storage instruction set, and 360/370 BALlike assembler, it enables easy transition from large machines to minicomputers. The entire system requires as little as 20k of memory for system residence. Two versions-FA.:STI 16 and FASTI 32-run on Interdata 16-bit processors and 32-bit machines, respectively. Both versions provide complete task management; memory management services; file management; system control facilities, including a powerful command language; multiterminal capability; and compatibility with Interdata and IBM software.
Circle 182 on Inquiry Card
COBOL Software Packa9e Optimizes Pro9rams, Speeds Development Cycle
OPTIMIZER III is intended to both improve COBOL program quality and reduce development costs, by working directly with programmers, providing the information needed to produce more reliable programs with less effort. Developed by Capex Corp, 2613 N 3rd St, Phoenix, A'Z 85004, the software presents information to the program listing, showing what the program does and does not do, what was tested, and where performance can be improved.
By providing the programmer with easy-to-use COBOL-oriented information, the need for cryptic hexadecimal dumps is virtually eliminated. Since automatic object program optimization techniques are used, all programs produced are smaller and faster. The result is a reduction in the number of program compiles and test shots required to develop the program, a reduction in printing load, and overall improvement in program performance and reliability.
The package supports all aspects of COBOL programming and operates in conjunction with any IBM ANS COBOL compiler on any of the IBM os, os/vs, or MVS operating systems. No system or compiler changes are required.
Circle 183 on Inquiry Card

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

Identical twins...almost.

This one prints.
$655.

This one prints &plots. $795.

In 1977, AXIOM pioneered low-cost electrosensitive line printing , setting an example which others have been quick to follow.
However, we believe that once you are the market leader, you should stay out in front . So we're proud to announce the birth of two exceptional new products , the EX-801 MicroPrinter and the EX-820 MicroPlotter which set new standards for versatile low-cost hard copy.
These babies are beautiful , housed in sleek molded cases designed by the award-winning Inova design group . But beauty is more than skin deep. Each unit is packed with unique features . Like serial RS232C/20mA and parallel ASCII inputs as standard . Reverse printing. Oversized input buffers . Expandable character sets . User program memory for real "intelligence'.'
Twins , yes, identical, not quite ....
.Meet the .MicroPrinter
Here's the answer to a micro (or mini) computer's fondest dreams. Designed around the Intel 8048 microprocessor, the EX-801 MicroPrinter operates to 160 cps (that's 14 times faster than a TTY), and gives you the choice of 3

intermixable character sizes to provide 80, 40 or 20 columns on 5-inch wide electrosensitive paper, making this printer ideal for CRT hardcopy, data logging , remote message printing , program listing, record keeping ... In fact, any application needing fast, low-cost copy.
Introducing the .MicroPlotter
Our EX-820 MicroPlotter does everything the EX-801 does - plus it plots. Under software control , you have unlimited flexibility to mix alphanumeric ASCII and graphics on any line. Just define the size of each graphic field , and choose from 3 pre-programmed dot resolutions up to 128 dots per inch . Once the fields have been defined , the EX-820 automatically formats graphic and alphanumeric printouts to your specs .
Complete stand-atones
The EX-801 and EX-820 are both complete stand-alone units , including molded case, power supply, parallel ASCII and Serial RS232C/20mA interfaces , character generator, low paper detector, bell , built-in self tester and paper roll holder. Not to mention a whole range of fantastic low-cost

options like 2K character buffer, 256 character set and user PROM memory.
Any questions???
OEM discounts? The above prices are single quantity end-user. If you're an OEM they sound even better. Distributors? Everywhere in the USA and in 18 overseas countries . Service? Just call one of our 20 nationwide service centers . Maintenance? Minimal. The printhead is self-adjusting and there are no inky ribbons to change . MTBF? 11.6 million lines. Need we say more?
Whether you need sophisticated graphics or simple printout, AXIOM still has the lowest cost, highest performance printers in the field - so we're still the market leaders . Phone or write today for the whole story on our almost identical twins .
AXIOM CORPORATION
5932 San Fernando Rd ., Glendale , CA 91202 (213) 245-9244 · TWX 910-497-2283

CIRCLE 35 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

Just plug an HP interface board into your computer or micro-
processor and your system signals are immediately available for det.ailed analysis.
Now, it's easy to get a clear picture of system activity in your minicomputer or microprocessor with HP's 1610A Logic State Analyzer and one of HP's interface boards. Just plug into the system . . . use a simplified menu concept for quick set-ups ... and with a few simple keyboard entries, you'll have an easy-to-interpret display of your state flow including address, data and control line activity, or the time interval between specific bus-arbitration steps.
Whether you're designing or maintaining a minicomputer or microprocessor-based system, here's a powerful combination that lets you quickly solve state flow problems and analyze handshake operations. Now, you can easily evaluate and optimize your programming, lowering testing and troubleshooting costs.
Find out how this versatile combination of HP's 1610A (priced at $9500*), minicomputer interface boards ($300*) and the 10277A general purpose interface board ($400*) can help you get at your system problems quickly. See the listing for available boards dedicated to various minicomputers. For complete details, contact your local HP field engineer today.
· Domestic U.S.A price o nly.

..,....... /
Simple keystrokes let you define sequence requirements for a specific bus-arbitration process. And by selecting the count time, you can measure the elapsed time Intervals between all of the specified sequences. Now you can accurately troubleshoot timeout problems or optimize time-dependent code.
/ Quick _.,...ofetatef'l-ow orbueubltntion.
Trace-list menu lets you observe the results of the specified handshake. The time interval adjacent to each event can be either relative (between each event) or absolute (referenced to the trace start). And by defining another trace specification, you can easily monitor program flow in the numerical bases of your choice.

HEWLETT 'hp PACKARD

Boards now available include:

Model Number Minicomputer

10275A

DEC PDP/11 (UNIBUS)

10276A

DEC LSl/11 (Q-BUS)

10277A

General purpose probe interface

1507 Page Mtll Road, Palo Alto, Calilorn1a 94304

For Ullstanco caM . WuNngton (301) 1148-8370. CNcago (312)

2ss-9800, Atlanta <·04) 1155-1500. Loo"~ c213J 871-1:1112

"'"''

CIRCLI 36 ON IN9UIRY CARD

DIGITAL TECHNCLCGV REVIEW

Pascal Software For Disc-Based Minicomputer Systems
A general-purpose, block-structured language noted for ease and speed of use and for its excellent maintainability, 990 Pascal is closely compatible with the standard Pascal as defined by Jensen and Wirth in their "Pascal Users Manual and Report." Introduced by Texas Instruments Inc, Digital Systems Div, PO Box 1444, Houston, TX 77001, the software executes in the multiuser environment of the DXIO disc-based operating system to add over 170 interactive user-oriented commands plus 240 utilities. Additionally, the DXIO operating system supports COBOL, RPG rr, Business BASIC, BASIC, and FORTRAN IV . programming languages.
Included in the software object license are a Pascal compiler and runtime library, a nester utility for standardized source indentation, a configuration processor to support separate compilation of nested program modules, and a reverse assembler that outputs Pascal object modules in 990 assembly language source format. Minimum hardware requirement is the TI DS990 model 4 packaged disc system, which contains a 990/10 minicomputer with 128k-byte memory, a !OM-byte disc drive, a 911 video display terminal, a single-bay desk enclosure, and a DXIO disc operating system software license.
Circle 184 on Inquiry Card
Magnetic Card Composer Aids in Preparing Copy for Offset Printing
An electronic direct impression composition unit that can use magnetic cards, the Mag Card Composer, adds flexibility to preparation of copy for publication. Its primary use is preparation of copy to be photographed and converted to offset printing plates; however, a direct image master can be made. Applications in commercial printing, and inhouse printing departments of large and small companies are within the range of this equipment.
The composer is attached to a low profile console which contains the unit's electronics as well as a packfeed unit for reading and recording

up to 50 magnetic cards with a total

capacity of 250k characters. The

equipment, introduced by Interna-

tional Business Machines Corp, Office

Products Franklin

Div, Lakes,

PNaJrso0n7's417P, oonfdfersDr~

built-in memory that automatically

retains and replays up to 8k char-

acters of keyboarded copy.

Material entered into the unit is

easily reformatted; thus a page of

single-column copy can be played out

in any configuration the copysetting
specs require. Changes in text are

done quickly and simply. Once all

the information is recorded correctly

in memory, the operator gives the

unit a few simple instructions, and it

automatically prints out the text.

Over 125 fonts are available in 13

languages and 11 different type styles

with basic type sizes ranging from 6

to 12 points. All are interchangeable

with IBM's other direct-impression

composition equipment.

Circle 185 on Inquiry Card

Large-Scale Computer Exhibits 1.8 Times Speed of Predecessor
FACOM M-200, developed by Fujitsu Limited, 6-1 Marunouchi 2-chome, chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan, is 1.5 to 1.8 times faster than the M-190. Connected with up to four CPUS, this large-scale computer exhibits about five times as much performance as an M-190. When connected with as many as four channel processing units (CHP), it can have a maximum of 64 channels. An improved multiple virtual storage (MVS) function is suitable for high speed processing such as timesharing systems.
Use of LSI technology allows reduction in electric power requirements, and results in greater system reliability and economy. Logical elements adopt 100-gate/chip ECL LSI, and the main logical circuit is all LSI. Main storage element uses NMOS LSI with 16k bits/chip to provide capacity for up to 16M bytes, and buffer storage employs bipolar LSI of lk bits/chip with capacity for 64k bytes. OSIV/F4 and OSIV/x8 operating systems are available.
osiv/F4 and /x8, provide a range of functions which can meet needs for local batch processing, remote batch processing, online realtime processing, conversational mode

processing, timesharing system (TSS), and Advanced Information Manager (AIM) . OSIVI x8 uses "VS Overlay System" technology, and a "Temporary Fix" concept for its multivirtual storage control.
Circle 186 on Inquiry Card

Enhancements Add Power to Structural Analysis Programs

Structural analysis programs that are

available through CYBERNET Services

have been enhanced to provide more

flexibility, higher accuracy, and great-

er capability. CDC/NASTRAN now

offers new elements, multilevel sub-

structuring methods, and a labor-

saving dynamic analysis feature.

EAC/EASE2 has added a plotting

postprocessor and a beam special

output postprocessor. Internal heat

transfer analysis, and element, ma-

terials, and structural procedures

library additions are among enhance-

ments provided by MARC-CDC. All are

available from Control Data Corp,

Box 0, Minneapolis, MN 55440.

The QUAD4 quadilateral and TRIAc3

triangular plate elements in CDC/

NASTRAN analyze combinations of

membrane action, bending, sandwich

plate properties, or heterogenous

materials. Improvements in theoret-

ical accuracy are particularly notic-

able in membrane actions, which pro-

vide for linearly varying thickness

along the edges.

E2SPEC, the plotting post-processor

for the EAC/EASE2 structural analy-

sis program, uses either card input

or EASE2 results to create time-

history plots or response-spectrum

curves, and automatically produces

a printer plot of each curve, making

it possible to preview printer plots

before selecting more expensive pen

plots. E2Bso provides greater capa-

bilities in analyzing beams. It will

combine load cases, produce tabula-

tion of quantities along any beam

and supply a minimum-maximum

summary for any number of load

cases.

Major enhancement in the MARC-

CDC linear and nonlinear structural

analysis program is internal incor-

pora~ion of heat transfer analysis,

prev10usly a standalone program,

MARCHEAT.

Circle 187 on Inquiry Card

TAL CDNTAOL AND IJTDMATIDN SVBTBM

Control and Instr

· C·ferenc·

E111pha1lze1 lndustrlal AppllCclffOa of Microprocessors

i~ at each of its past three annual COD· the IEEE's Profeeaional Group on Industrial
and Control Instrumentation once again llfAttabld ita technical presentations on "Industrial
tiCms of Microprocessors.'' General topica at the 20 to 22 conference, held in Philadelphia, Pa,
data acquiaition, testing, signal prOClelsinB,
~IJlllJt motor control, energy systems, and con· ~ u well as varied industrial control
-~·-. In addition, evening panel seuio1'8 with lllldience participation periods were held on interfaces and new control devices. The _.riea cover a sampling of papen preare particularly relevant to digital control
the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory iD haw developed an "intelligent" vehicle1 teleriaion cameras mounted above om
the vehicle'· front bumper and hood u
obttacle data "seen" by theae "eyes" are
IFt a microprOcet10r into ateerins, accelerate
'ng commanda to the vehicle. On a felt
Qtomobile has been driven succeufally at km)/h.
ViaiOn and ita application to automated
for example-are currently aubJ-.
*dhla in many countriea.1 In a~
1Mea a number of atudies on automatieally
(Some BUclt vehicles have been drma
(100 bn) /h by aenaing a magnede Wd
BJ a who;.reference ayatem.) However, Meehan-
..,.· ·18 Laboratory engineers have added the

ability to "aee" the road and have developed a vehicle with funedona to control speed d to enable it to

tam at a comer. "Problem &0lving" is accomplished

hy a microproceuor, 8k b)'tea lWI, 3k bytes ROM, 1/0
interface, and D-A and A.·D coavertera.

The two TY camera function aa part of a pattern recoanition device to note the preaence of obstacles
ot to indicate a clear path in front of the vehicle.
Bec.uae the cameras are phyaically oftset, the images

aeen are .tufted from one another vertically. By
acanaing the images, the apatial ahift is converted into a time dileretace between the two video signals. In

order to pro'ride briPtDell/darlmeu changing points, tlae 'rideo 8*a1a ~ fed into difterential circuits and
then to wav.h&pm· ciicwita (Fis 1).

Both rfllllltiai pulie traina are input to au AND gate
~ then to a flip.b. By cMaiins the delay time,
an obetaole can he &it.eeied at any distance between 5.5 el 22 yd (5 ancl 20 m) and in any direction Wlthiii Jhe41-de& ~area.

11ae patliein ~idon device disitiw the field of

'rieW: ~rdina to tU delay tbase between signals and

..t.blWm a iaellh ef aoaea (F11 2). All sones are

il:HW eontin.....ty ltf the device to detect obstacles

ot ti> aot:e elear ]Jldhs. Output data inclieate distance from
fthWe to lone, Wt and risht edJes of clear paths,

UMl loCMl«>U .., ~ Sfnsle image IC&Jl time is

nm. 83.3 a.; ~ ti* ia lele dwa 2 ma. Road con-

dkic* a.ta

W ~ recognition device and

.,.. ...... from ftldele ue eent to the problem

~~ ~

naolvel the condition in

&oat of the ~ .,....... proper maneuvering

:eomm.nd . . . . . aDd tends thole signals to the re-

Q8cti'N iuniPVlatiDI deriOet.

TV CAMERA

WAVESHAPING CIRCUIT
WAVESHAPING 1 - - - - - - ' CIRCUIT

FLIP- FLOP

!='lo 1 lntelllgent vehicle pattern
ntcooriltlon device simplified
bioqk diagram. T'tlO TV cameras 1erv& as artlflclaJ ayes to locate obltacla in car'a peth. One pulse
""" from waveshaping circuits II delayed for fixed period of
ct.,,.,.. time beHd on apace between and dlatance between
Y9hiOle and obstacle

(Continued on. p 68)

·andF
A-l"'ao"a

TbeAP·l20B ARRAY PROCESSOR COMPUTER Interfaces to all popular minicom· puten ... a typical AP· 1208 complete ls less than SIOK.
TbeAP·l90L ARRAY PROCESSOR COMPUTER Interfaces to IBM 360/370, UNIVAC 1100, Sigma 5.9, and DEC System l 0 ... a typical AP· l 90L System is less than$97K.
Simulation: Mechanical Systems, Flight, Theoretical Physics Ir Chemistry, Electric Power Distribu· Hon · Image Processing: Satellite Imagery, X·Ray Tomography Ir UJ. trasonlcs · Graphic Research · Finite Element Analysis · Meteorology · Signal Processing: Speech, Vibra· lion Analysis, Geophysical and Seismological.
More than 500 FPS Array Processor computers are in use worldwide, providing their users with the computational power of large. mega-dollar scientific computers at greater reliability, greater applicability, easier pro· gra-ablllty, and at a small fraction of the cost.
A typical minicomputer/FPS Array Processor system (such as a PDP 11/34 and AP120BJ provides a computational throughput

for scientific and signal processing algorithms that is on the order of two hundred times greater than the throughput of the mini alone.
A large computer/FPS Array Processor system allows heavy data processing, which would severely load the host CPU, to be off-loaded to the AP· I 90L for effi· cient processing while the host CPU is utilized for tasks more appropriate to its architecture and operating system.
The unique, efficient instruction set and complementary architecture of FPS Array Processor computers are specifically de· signed to accommodate the vector and matrix algorithms for scientific data processing. High processing speeds result from the seven independent data paths that move operands synchronously to and from the 38-bit floating·point arithmetic units, accumulators. and multiple memories. This inherent simplicity allows FPS Array Processors to be readily simulated on the host or frontend computers for program development. It allows FPS to provide you with a large volume Scientific Math Library (more than 200 functions) and additional volumes for Signal Processing and other special operations. And it allows you to program FPS Array Processors so you can create your own special. unique, or proprietary functions.

FPS Array Processor computers offer high reliability (much more than your present computer) and compactness (only slightly larger than minicomputers). They are found in research, shipboard, airborne, and mobile installations, as well as computer rooms throughout the world.
FAST 167 nanosecond multiply/add The following algorithms are memory to memory 2.7ms 1024 pt real FFT 26.lms 8192 pt real FFT l.5Ss 512 x 512 real 20 FFT 10.2ms 20 x 20 matrix inverse
EASY PROGRAMMJKG The power of FPS Azray Processors is easily called through FORTRAN subroutines resident in the host or front~end minicomputer. A Vector Function Chainer permits routines to be chained together for a single call. reducing host overhead . Extensive documentation and a simulator/debugger help you create new routines.
HIGH CAPACITY Data memory to 512K words (2-million bytesi
PRECISJOK 38.bit floating point arithmetic
FPS can bring new power to your computer system. Find out how FPS Array Processor technology can benefit your application. For more information and an FPS Array Processor brochure, use the reader re· sponse number or coupon below. For immediate consultation, contact Float· ing Point Systems directly.

Floating

CALL TOLL FREE 800-547-9677
P.O . Box 23489, Portland. OR 97223 TLlC: 360470 FLOATPOINT PTL In Europe & UK: Floating Point Systems, SA Ltd. 7 Rue du Marche. 1204 Geneve, Switzerland 022-280453, TLX: 28870 FPSE CH
Point Systems, Inc.

FPS Sales and ServiceWorldwide: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Hunisville, Los Angeles, New Yorlc, Orlando, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland San Franasco. WashL~gton, D.C . Intemahonal o!l.ices: Geneva, London, Munich , Parts, Tel Aviv (F.astronix. Ltd.), Tolcyo (Halruto Co. Ltd.)

r---------------~--,

I 0 I have an immediate need. Please have a technical consultant contact me.

~ I
.,,

I I 0 Please send me an FPS Array Processor brochure.

I I Name

Title

I Company

Phone

I Address I I City

State

ffi Zip _ _ 5

I I My Computer System is

My application is

L-----------------~J

CIRCLE 38 ON IN9UIRY CARD

32 line Digital 1/0.
66

ACTUAL SIZE.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

16-bit microNOVA.

Introducing the Data General microNOVA

Board Computer, MBC/l. The smallest,

most functional 16-bit single board micro-

computer you can buy. More power and

capability in less space than any other.

It's a full 16-bit processing unit. And it has
multiplyIdivide, stack architecture, data

channel (DMA) and 16-level priority inter-

rupt, 2K bytes static RAM, sockets for

up to 4K bytes of PROM. It also has async

interface, 32-line digital 1/0, optional con-

sole debug software and self-test diag-

nostics. All in a space of 7. 5 x 9. 5 inches.

It's all supported by our MBC/M

real-time multi-tasking monitor and moni-

tor emulator that lets you develop soft-

ware under Data General's AOS, RDOS

and DOS operating systems for execution

onMBC/l.

To go along with all of this, there's

a full array of compatible interfaces, design

interface support, compatible software

and excellent program development tools.

If you want more board in less room,

reserve a Data General MBC/1 micro-

NOVA Board Computer. For more infor-

mation, mail the coupon, call Data General

or your nearest full service industrial

distributor: Schweber or Wyle (ElmarI

.--------------, Liberty). Or call your local dealer. ·Single wlit price. Quantity discounts available .

Mail to: microNOVA PRODUCT INFORMATION
I DATA GENERAL CORPORATION, I WESTBORO, MA 01581

I I

I Name

Title

I Company

Tel. No.

I Address

I I City

State

Zip

I Data Gen.;ral Corporation. Westboro, MA 01581, (617) 366-89ll. Data General (Canada) Ltd.,

I Ontario. Data General Europe, 61 rue de Courcelles, Paris. Franc-e, 766.51. 78. Data General

I Australia, (03) 89-0633. Data General Ltda. , Sao Paulo. Brazil. 543-0138. Data General Middle

East, Athens, Greece, 952-0557. © Data Gene ral Corporation, 1978.

I -t-·-D--a-ta-G--e-n-er-a-l-.J L.nlicroNOVA is a registered trademark ofData General Corporation.

CD-6

We make computers that make sense.

CIRCLE 39 ON INCjlUIRY CARD

DIGITAL CDNTROL AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

A ut omatic Tester for Electronic Engine Control Systems
Because automobile mechanics may have difficulty following deductive processes in diagnosing malfunctions in the electronic engine control systems incorporated on some 1978 model cars, an automatic tester has been designed as an aid.3 This diagnostic device leads the mechanic step by step through collection of data and the analysis of results.
An engine control system influences spark plug timing, fuel mixture, recirculation of exhaust gas, and air input to the manifold for operation of catalysts. Several engine condition inputs are measured by the system to determine engine revolutions per minute and load conditions.
Simulation signals for the system under test can be generated by the tester on up to 16 input lines (Fig 3). A 48-channel multiplexer in the system includes

20 m 16

i1'il5i 'Vif"w
... . ..

5m l l

\ 7 128

[ VEHICLE

Fig 2 Mesh of zones digitized by pattern recognition device. Fie ld of view covers area of 41 deg at 5 to 20 m from automated vehicle. On test track vehicle has been driven successfully at 30 km/h. Proper operation of vehic le is dependent on presence of bright sunlig ht, but improvements underway on artificial eye and software should remedy this. De· velopers believe study will be relevant to collision avoidance systems and to robots with artificial intelligence.

a 10-bit D·A comerter in which only the eight high order bits are u:>ed. Eight multiplexer channels are utilized internally for self test or measurement; although the other 40 channels are available for external test functions, that number is far in excess of any present system requi1ements.
<.RT messages are condensed into a message dictionary that enables the computer programmer Lo call out a message either by the address of a complete message or the address of words from the dictionary . This reduces the amount of material which the computer has to generate for each message, but requires storage of an indexed dictionary.
A Z80 microprocessor was chosen for the test system. The CRT screen display is loaded into a 256-character static RAM by the computer in one pass, and contents of the RAM are then read in synchronism with the display by special display control circuitry.
Energy Demand Limit C ontro l
By contract, large power users are charged at a per kilowatt-hour rate based on the highest demand recorded during a given interval that can range from a month to a year. Therefore, such users attempt to regulate power consumption rate to within predetermined limits for any period.
A number of demand limit control systems have been designed,4 but performance characteristics make most of them useful only for specific applications. The specialized requirements inherent to foundries having electric furnaces whose power levels can be adjusted continuously or in small steps resulted in developinent of a microcomputer-based device. A 1-chip Intel 8748 microcomputer continuously calculates margin between predicted energy usage accumulated at the end of the demand interval and the demand limit set by the contract with the utility.5 Based on these predictions, the controller provides power limit commands for up to four electric furnaces.
Memory on the microcomputer chip consists of only lk bytes of EPROM and 64 bytes of RAM but that is adequate for this application. An 8243 port expander accommodates excess 1/ 0 channels.
As indicated in Fig 4, closures of count and sync contacts within the demand meter cause current flow in optoisolators to set respective flip-flops that interrupt the main program sequence and identify the closure during the interrupt polling routine. The principal output appears on an 8-bit bus. Six bits are bused directly to output interface modules; two remammg bits are decoded to four priority selection lines that are also bused to the modules.
Power level data for the selected priority are clocked into the 6-bit latch by the priority line pulse. This sets up a corresponding pattern of relay contact closures that establishes a specific value of resistance in series with the power level control potentiometer at the furnace control console. As the 6-bit power level data increases, it establishes a corresponding
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Sperry Univac minis are doing

In Portland, Oregon, Sperry Univac minis help the Police Bureau come to the rescue hundreds of times a day.
Because Boeing Computer Services has computerized all of Portland 's emergency services with Sperry Univac Series 77 minis.
Now when a citizen reports a crime, our minis verify the address. Examine the surrounding area for similar calls, hazards, and temporary situations (such as streets under repair) . And suggest which units should respond to the call.
This futuristic system coordinates dispatchers and officers and keeps them con-

stantly updated. Much of the paperwork required of field officers is eliminated . And the data base it generates is used for uniform crime reporting and resource allocation .
Boeing Computer Services has found that our minis are cost effective and can han dle the job efficiently and with real-time speed .
The Sperry Univac minis used in Portland are just part of our complete family of minis . One and all of them are supported by our powerful software.
If you have a system application , we undoubtedly have a mini that's just right for it. Whether it be business data process-

alarming things in Portland.

ing, scientific, instrument control, or data communications.
For more information , write to us at Sperry Univac Mini-Computer Operations, 2722 Michelson Drive, Irvine, California 92713. Or call (714) 833-2400 .
In Europe, write Headquarters, Minicomputer Operations, London NW10 8LS, England .

We'd like to hear from you . Even if your system application isn't as arresting as the one in Portland.

s1=5~y_..I.,Lr UNIVAC SPERRY UNIVAC IS A DIVISION OF SPERRY AANO CORPORATION

CIRCLE 42 ON INQUIRY CARD

Introducing GMR-37
Low cost, high performance graphics

$5100 256 x 512 resolution 4 memory planes 7 colors plus blink

$ 5 9 0 0 256 x 256 resolution 12 memory planes 4096 colors

$5400 256 x 256 resolution 8 memory planes 256 grey levels

$ 4 3 0 0 512 x 512 resolution 1 memory plane Black &white video

These are just a few of the ways you can tailor the all solid state GMR-37 to fit your needs.
You don't give up performance either. Every GMR-37 has, as standard, the generation of vectors, characters, plots, graphic data and high speed images. Plus 4K MOS random access memories, memory readback, full alphanumerics and a standard RS-232 computer interface.

In addition, a powerful instruction set minimizes software overhead and simplifies programming. You don't need complex macro instructions and high order programming languages.
Available options include video lookup tables, independent cursors, trackball or joystick control
units and many more. Plugcompatible parallel interfaces are available for most minis.

Further, if you ever want to move up, Grinnell has a complete line of larger systems-all software compatible with the GMR-37 -to do things like animation, image processing and real-time frame grabbing.
GMR-37 systems start at $3900, and quantity discounts are available. (Domestic U.S.A. prices.)
For a quotation on your specific needs, call or write.

GRINNELL SYSTEMS 2986 Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara, California 95050 (408) 988-2100 CIRCLE 43 ON IN9UIRY CARD

DIGITAL CONTROL ANC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

r - -- --- -- -- - --- - - - - - ~

SYSTEM UNDER TE ST

MAIN

i ~~~~

iats VEHICLE

I L___ ____

L---- - - - ~

TEST LEADS

" T" CONNECTION

EMI FILTERS

MICRO· PROCESSOR

ANALOG SUBSYSTEM

PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

110 PORT INTERF,o\CE

KEYBOARD

RAM

ROM

COUNTER/ TIMER

REFRESH MEMORY

CRT DISPLAY

Fig 3 Block diagram of test system fo r electronic automotive engine control system. Automatic test system leads mechanic through all procedures in specified sequence by instructions and comments displayed on CRT in up to eight lines of ASCII characters. Mechanic's responses input through 20-char keyboard are repeated on display

current value to the potentiometer. The control furna ce power therefore is a function of the data output issued by the microcomputer.
Count signals are accumulated and compared at frequent intervals to an advancing limit which progresses linearly from an adjustable preset value at the beginning of the interval to an adjustable limiting value at the end. At each instant, the rate at which the count approaches the limit is calculated in addition to the

difference beween them, and these values are used to compute the allowable power level for each furnace.
Control of Wind Turbine Generator
A prototype wind turbine generator located at the NASA station in Sandusky, Ohio6 operates unattended under control of a microprocessor-based system (Fig 5). Its 120-ft (36.6-m) diameter blades turn at 40 r / min
73

DIGITAL CDNTRDL AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

MICROPROCESSOR AND 1/0 EXPANDER

LIMIT

CLOCK CRYSTAL
DEMAND METER CONTACTS
COUNT SYNC
LOOP POWER SUPPLY

XTL XTL
'I
110
)
INTEHUPT

TO LOAD CONTROL CIRCUITS
OUTPUT INTERFACE MODULES

Fig 4 Block diagram of microcomputerbased demand limit control system for foundry. BCD-coded parameter entry switches containing limits and periods are sequentially enabled under software control via decoder. Each switch then sets up bit pattern on 4-bit data input port. Output modules interface to furnace control circuits. Six-bit data words for each load are presented in sequence accompanied by pulses on appropriate decoded priority line

PITCH ANGLE CONTROLLER
R/MIN SETPOINTl
t--1--- ---
kW_J SETPOINT

FAIL-SAFE VALVES

g_
J
HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT

POSITION SETPOINT -

---1+-----_J L_____ _

I :
1 _. kw - ~-- - - __ I I

I I
SYNCHRONIZE - - - - - - -
SYNCHRO COMPLETE- - f - - - - - -

I I
I

R/MIN - ~----_j-I -----w-~'T>~

-l I WIND_ ~ - - - - -
! VELOCITY

WIND VELOCITY .

MICROPROCESSOR

HYDRAULIC
PITCH ANGLE ACTUATOR

Fig 5 Block diagram of control system for NASA-designed 110-kW wind turbine generator. Microprocessor selects one of three closed loop modes of operation. Signals from sensors are compared to setpoints for blade rotation speed (r/min), kilowatt (kW) output, and blade position. 45 :1 gear train increases rotor speed to match 1800-r/min speed of synchronous generator

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

FIJel' optics is getting 80 much
~from its use in t.elephone
communications that you may see that aa its only important applicaUon.
It's not

As a matter of fact, we can fill your
needs more quickly, because all of our standard cables, including Galileo's highly versatile Galite® 3000, are in stock.'We even stock complete lines of
connectors and electronic components for you.

Intel announces 32K and
for EPROM and micro
Check Pin 18 on our new 2332. It~ the key to compatibility with high performance microcomputers and EPROMs.
Now's the time to get samples or place your order for the 2332 or 2364. They're our new 32K and 64K ROMs that will change the way you design your system. Here's how. Microcomputer system
components- EPROMs, ROMs and microprocessors need to be designed as an integral unit, not piecemeal. That's the only way to provide maximum design flexibility and ensure a longer life cycle for your system. We've looked ahead at your future design require, ments to provide you with components today that will enable you to take advantage of tomorrow's advances. The result is a family of compatible SY EPROMs and ROMs for microcomputer systems. Intel's new 2332 and 2364 are the latest members of that family. They provide system compatibility in three important ways. First, these new ROMs have a guaranteed access time of 300 ns-fast enough to take full advantage of new, advanced microprocessors. To achieve 300 ns speed with low power dissipation, our parts are Edge,Enabled. That's where Pin 18 comes in. It provides the Chip Enable function necessary for the internal clock circuitry.

COMPUTER I DESIGN JUNE 1978

64K ROMs designed
computer compatibility.

Second, the 2332 and 2364 are com.. .:.: .. .~. .:.:

.. ..

.N..C..
.:.:

patible with our 2716 industry..standard ~

~ ~

~ 151!

16K EPROM and wi11 be compatible

"2
:;

:; ~A1Q '-2

z; ~Ac

A.2

~ :; ..., "2

. .. . with our 32K EPROM when it is intro..
duced. Again, Pin 18 is the key. Note

;
~
-

~~°':"'

~ -

~~"':"'

O~H·--~~°':"'

~ """

that Pin 18 performs the same power con..
trol function on all devices. So you can prototype with EPROMs and go directly to high density ROMs for production.

16KEPROM 32K ROM/EPROM 64KROM

Organization Active Ice (max) Standby Ice (max) Access lime (max)

2Kx8 100mA
25mA 350-450ns

4Kx8 40mA 15mA 300ns

8Kx8 40mA 15mA 300ns

Engineering the 2332 and 2364 for microcomputer system compatibility led

us to the third important advance-the end of bus contention problems. In new

multiplexed microprocessor systems, such as the MCS..85 and MCS..86, the

Output Enable (Pin 20) needs to be independent of the Chip Enable (Pin 18)

which is the power control and selection function. So the 2332 and 2364 have an

Output Enable (OE) for independent control of the data bus, with no possibility

of multiple device selection. And input latches on all Edge ..Enabled devices

allow direct interface with new multiplexed microprocessors.

Low power is essential to meet today's design requirements. We've achieved

low power in our 32K and 64K ROMs that can't be matched by fully static parts.

Active current of the 2332 and 2364 is 40 mA (maximum). And Intel's Edge..

Enabled devices have the added benefit of using Pin 18 for the power control

function. So standby current is automatically reduced to 15 mA (maximum).

To get complete details on this important and complex subject, send for our

2332/2364 applications note AP..30, "Applications of Intel's 5V EPROM and

ROM family for microcomputer systems." It provides board

layout recommendations, system design applications, timing

diagrams, function explanations and discusses PL/M modular

software compatibility. Write: Intel Corporation, Literature

Dept., 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051.

inter delivers. Or for samples of these new parts, contact your local
Intel representative.

Europe: Intel International Corporation S.A., Rue du Moulin a Papier, 51-Bolte 1, B-1160, Brussels. Belgium.Telex' 24814. Jepen: Intel Japan Corporation K.K . Flower HHl-Shinma<:hi East Building 1-23-9, Shinmachi, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 154. Telex 781-28426.

CIRCLE 45 ON IN9UIRY CARD

proceMOr can 61 devices.
It uses our semi-conductor or core memory modules. Like the CPU, they're Mil-Spec components ready for se-
vere environments. Select from a full line of ROLM interfaces ranging from
standard 1/0 buffers to NTDS and communications interfaces. Tie the whole system together with a custom, or stan-
dard, motherboard ready for an enclosure of your design or the ROLM Mil-Spec Half ATR chassis.
That1sWhy We1re #1 in Mil-Spec ComputerSystems
MIL-SPEC Computers
4900 Old Ironsides Drive , Santa Clara , CA 95050. (408) 988-2900. TWX 910-338- 7350 .
In Europe: 845 Hanau, Muehlatr8aaa 19, Germany, 08181 15011, TWX 418-4170.
CIRCLE 46 ON INQUIRY CARD

DIGITAL CONTROL AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

to produce 100 kW of electrical power in an 18-mi (29-km) / h wind.
Controller operation can be in any one of three modes as selected by the microprocessor. In "position" mode, the pitch controller functions as a closed loop position control system driving the pitch angle until it corresponds to the position command setpoint generated in the microprocessor. In "automatic-r/ min" mode, the pitch controller acts as a closed loop speed control system, adjusting the pitch angle until the rotational speed of the blade corresponds to the speed command setpoint generated in the microprocessor. In "automatic-kW" mode, the pitch controller acts as a closed loop power control system that positions the blade pitch angle until the power output of the wind

turbine matches the kilowatt setpoint generated in the microprocessor.
Blade pitch angle is controlled by driving an electrohydraulic servovalve that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the pitch angle actuator. A signal from a rotary differential transformer, representing the actual pitch angle, is fed back to the input of the position amplifier where it is compared with the position command signal. The position command signal comes from the microprocessor when the controller is in "position" mode or from the control amplifier when the controller is in either of the "automatic" control modes.
For "automatic-r/ min" control, a revolution-perminute sensor detects the actual rotary speed of the

ELECTRONIC DATA TERMINAL

MAGNETIC MAGNETIC

TAPE

CASSETTE CASSETTE

ASCII CODE

MODEM

KEYBOARD

RS-232-C

ELECTRICAL
INTERFACE
\~...

___/ELECTRICAL INTERFACE

EIA CODE

NUMERICAL
CONTOURING CONTROL

TAPE READER
ELECTRICAL INTERFACE
\~-·

CENTRAL
COMPUTING FACILITY

1----------------r~

8-BIT DATA BUS

: SERIAL
I I I INPUT/
~ OUTPUT
I UNIT

RANDOMACCESS

READ ONlY

r., PARALLEL f--

MICRO-

INPUT/

OPTICAL

I I

MEMORY MEMORY PROCESSOR

OUTPUT

ISOLATION J

(DATA) (PROGRAM)

1-1 PORTS I-

I
16-BIT ADDRESS BUS

J I

IL _ _ _ - - - - M-IC- ROC- OM- PUT- ER - - - - - - - -

Fig 6 Block diagram of microprocessor-based NC unit for 3-axis milling machine. Original paper tape unit is used for standard runs but dual magnetic tape cassettes input control data for jobs requiring large amounts of data. Because microprocessor has to communicate via existing signal and control lines, system contains high speed optically coupled isolator as interface to numerical contouring control

DIGITAL CONTROL AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
blades and feeds a signal back to the input of the control amplifier. This feedback signal is compared against the speed command setpoint generated by the microprocessor and an error signal is calculated. The controller amplifier uses the error signal to compute the position command signal that goes to the position amplifier.
For "automatic-kW" control, a power sensor feeds a signal back to the input of the control amplifier where it is summed with the kilowatt setpoint signal from the microprocessor. An error signal is derived and used to compute the position command signal for the closed loop position control system.
Shipboard Weapons Power Drive Controller
When developers of a solid-state shipboard device for directing various weapons hardware incorporated a microprocessor in the power drive control system,7 they used a Texas Instruments 990/4 microprocessor development system during feasibility testing. However, that system, based on the 16-bit TMS 9900 microprocessor, was used only because no militarized development system then matched capabilities of the 9900. Later, when the Hughes AN/ UYK-30 military microcomputer became available, it was substituted in the engineering design model.
The need to minimize quantization noise in analog power drives governed the decision to use a 16-bit processor, and a 128-Hz sample rate was chosen to minimize the influence of sample harmonics in the analog hardware--in effect providing a "continuous" signal to the power drive analog hardware.
Analog inputs to the microcomputer are channeled through an analog multiplexer to a 12-bit converter, and digital inputs derived from S·D converters are channeled through a digital multiplexer. Analog inputs are angle error voltages and velocity commands. Digital inputs are mode request bits from various switches, outputs of the 16-bit S·D converter, 14-bit target designation commands, and 14-bit handwheel input commands.
Numerical Control Data Ir.put Unit
At the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Shops, a microprocessor system has been added to numerical contouring control of a 3-axis milling machine as an enhancement to the original paper tape input device. Existing jobs will continue to be run from paper tape but new jobs that require large amounts of input data will receive NC instructions from dual tape cassettes. No modifications to the controller were necessary.8
System CPU is an Intel 8080A microprocessor, backed up by 256 words of RAM and lk words of EPROM. The CPU card also contains three output and three input 8-bit ports as well as an 8-level priority interrupt manager (Fig 6). Input data terminal is a Texas Instruments model 733 ASR with dual magnetic tape cassettes, full ASCII keyboard, hardcopy printer remote
80

device control, automatic search control, and modem for telephone line interface.
RAM is provided by two Signetics 2606-1 type lk-bit (256-word x 4-bit) static MOS devices, while EPROM is provided by four Intel l 702A type 2k-bit (256-word x 8-bit) uv erasable devices. An additional l.8k words of EPROM are provided for the operational program. 1/ 0 ports are made up of six Intel 8212 type 8-bit LSI devices, and 8-level interrupt capability is provided by an Intel 8214 priority interrupt control unit. Incoming cassette data are stored on a l6k-word RAM card made up of Intel 2107 type (4k-word x 1-bit) dynamic devices.
Program software was written in the procedureoriented Intel PL/ M high level language. Approxi· mately 400 lines of PL/ M source language needed for system requirements produced 2800 lines of assembly language instruction words.
The software program organizes the 16k words of RAM as a circular buffer. Two pointers control thfl end and the beginning of data entered into the circular buffer. When the circular buffer is nearly full, the cassette terminal is turned off. A check of the circular buffer space availability is made continually and the cassette terminal is turned on again after the milling machine has commanded data from the microprocessor. This check nroduces a value for a variable that provides hysteresis for control of the data cassettes.
Electric Railway Car Onboard Supervisory Control
Trains on two lines of the Japanese National Railways run at average speeds of 99 mi (160 km) / h. Each train is made up of 16 electric railcars for a total length of 438 yd (400 m). Yet an automatic train control system maintains train speed within set speed limits, keeps a specified distance between any two trains, and slows trains from maximum speed- up to 130 mi (210 km) / h-to under 19 mi (30 km) / h before stopping at a station.
Therefore, information concerning conditions onboard each car is an absolute requirement in order to prevent troubles with onboard apparatus, detect any apparatus that is malfunctioning, and make emergency repairs or take corrective actions quickly. Such data are compiled and supplied to the control system by an onboard supervisory control system. Originally this system was based on a minicomputer controller. However, a microprocessor-based system has been developed to maintain all functions except automatic inspection and automatic train operation.9
Two supervisory systems, each configured basically as shown in Fig 7, are installed in every railcar-one for routine operation, the other for backup in case of failure of the first. A 12-bit, single-chip microprogrammed microprocessor handles eight levels of interrupt.
A lk-word RAM stores data and temporary values used in calculations and provides a work area for multiple processing of application programs by the operating system. Programs and constants are stored in a 5.Sk-word p/ ROM (3.2k are presently unused but are available for system expansion.)
Software for the supervising system is divided into operating system and application programs. In order to monitor and control application programs that
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Our l/O muscle-builder for plant minicomputers.

Minicomputers are very fast, very sharp-and very weak at getting and giving signals in hot, static-filled factories.
Mod icon has a simple, economical way to make the factory front-ends of minis a lot stronger. It's based on our experience as suppliers of industrial control equipment for over 9 years.
Mod icon #500 1/0 modules.
They interface easily with any mini . They're rugged, heat-resistant, shielded against electrical interference. They take and transmit 1/0 signals-AC, DC , analog and pulses -despite heat, electronic interference, humidity, vibrations. And they're individually fused, with indicator lights, for instant trouble-shooting.
Result? Less downtime. Faster troubleshooting. More muscle, more hustle in

I
I
I
Mod icon 1/0 modules highlight failures with blown fuse indicators. Can be replaced without c hanging wiring or shutting off power.
your plant. Find out how to change your mini or micro from a plant pushover to a production line heavyweight. Write or phone Gould , Mod icon Division, PO. Box

83 S.V.S.. Andover, MA 018 10. 617-475-4700. Wedidn 'tget tobe#l by being second best to anything.

I I r;,;;;~;;u-;- - ----, Gould, Modicon Division , P.O. Box 83 ,

S.V.S., Andover, MA01810.

I D Tell me more, please, about your muscle-
' builder 1/0 for plant minis and micros .

I 1

I NAME TITLE - -- - - -- - -- -- -
I1 COMPANY STREET _ _ _

I I I

I CITY ZIP

I STATE
PHONE _ _ _ _ _ _

L_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _J

·) GOULD

CIRCLE 47 ON INQUIRY CARD

New Developments from Systems ...
The SEL 32/30

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

Until now, you've either had to forego 16-bit pricing to get 32-bit performance, or you've had to give up 32-bit performance just to keep the budget in line.
No longer. Now you can invest in a full-blown 32-bit computer and pay no more than you would for a 16-bit computer. And not have to worry about insufficient power for future needs.
The SEL 32/30 is the smallest of the SYSTEMS hierarchy

of 32-bit computers. But don't let its small size fool you. This Maxibox is big in performance and throughput, ideally suited for scientific or process control applications such as telemetry, simulation, industrial or laboratory automation. And it costs you no more than a 16bit computer.
The SEL 32/30 is value-engineered for the OEM. It is a single chassis, fully integrated system that is upward compatible with the entire SEL family of 32-bit computers. So even if you start with a minimal investment,

it will continue to pay off as your customers' applications expand.
If power and performance is what you need, and budget is a definite consideration, talk to us. We'll make sure that when you invest in a SEL 32/30 Maxibox, more dollars .will flow to your bottom line.
Call us. We're easy to talk to (305) 587-2900 6901 West Sunrise Boulevard Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33313.

MOS Maxibox.

ENGINEERING LABORATORIES

. CIRCLE 24 ON INQUIRY CARD

A new land speed record? A candidate for Guinness'
k of Records?
Perhaps so.
At any rate, Telefile Computer Products, Inc., of
Irvine, California, decided to see if Telex' new highperformance tape drive really was as flexible as we've touted (and have a little fun along the way).
The results in Telefile's own words:
"We wer impressed by Telex' engineering achievements and interfacing ease. To be able to offer
such a variety of speeds and densities in a single basic unit
s med almost too good to be true.
"But Telex passed the test with flying colors. "It means that our customers can upgrade and
increase system performance simply by changing circuit modules and heads on site. This flexibility will help keep
our spares, training and logistics costs down, too'.'
Telefile has since increased their tape order to 200
units including formatters. Now they can offer users of various minicomputers

and major mainframes the full range of storage capabilit y in their Matchmaker systems-high- and low-density disk drives with tape to match.
Look into Telex' new dual-density tape drives and triple-density formatters. You'll have full IBM compatibility, break speed records (forward and reverse) and be able to handle lower-density PE and NRZI data formats ... and GCR as well.
Telex has the only tape drive and formatter in its class that writes 0.3-inch interrecord gaps-without program restriction.
Get on the right track, contact: Dan O'Neill, Telex Computer Products, Inc., 6422 E. 4lst St., Tulsa, OK 74135. Telephone: (918) 627-1111.

Tape drive miniaturization ··· In a big way.

CIRCLI 50 0

Y CARD

It went from 45 to 125 ips and 800 to 6250 bpi in 28 minutes flat.

DIGITAL CDNTRDL AND AUTDMATIDN SYSTEMS

GENERATOR

INTERRUPT LATCH UNIT

INTERRUPT INPUTS

8-0iAN'IEI. MUX

ANALOG INPUTS

DIGITAL

INPUT

DIGITAL

BOARDS

INPUTS

14----

DIGITAL OUTPUT
BOARD

DIGITAL

1----·0UTPUTS

Fig 7 Railcar supervisory control system block diagram. Data acquisition and control unit gathers information from 32 points within each railcar via multiplexer. Memory is accessed through 12bit common bus and memory control
units

realize various functions, an operating system was developed that was similar to the one used in the minicomputer. This system is capable of multiple processing of 20 application tasks on the basis of the task priority. It can handle eight levels of interrupt signals at the most and can analyze 12 interrupt inputs introduced in the microprocessor through an interrupt input board. In addition, it controls and selects the overlaid memory chips for memory extension. About 210 words of RAM and 400 words of p/ ROM are used for the operating system.
Chlorine Plant Supervisory System
An 8080A microprocessor with 12k of p/ ROM and l 7k of RAM are key elements of a microcomputer-based supervisory system (Fig 8) for a memory-anode chlorine plant.10 The system monitors 52 (expandable to 60) chlorine cells and stores data for each of 16 buses of every cell.
Data consist of both cunent and voltage values which are provided by a cell scanner that monitors the bus currents aud voltages and performs an A-D conversion upon request. Storage is provided for present, 24-h , and month-to-date data. Data are retrieved from the computer memory using selected keyboard commands.
In normal mode of operation, the computer begins a cell scan by sending the address of cell 1, bus 1 to the cell scanner. When data are ready, the status signal from the scanner is used to interrupt the

computer and the data are input into memory. Alarm conditions for both the voltage and current are tested and logged if an alarm condition exists. The operator is notified of an alarm condition via a CRT and a serial printer.
Alarms in the system are generated from both cell scanner and computer. Those generated by cell scanner are tested as a result of an interrupt produced every 2 s by a hardware clock. Alarms are of three types: primary and secondary bus current, and low voltage.
Control of Microwave Oven
Availability of inexpensive single-chip microcomputers has made microprocessor control practical for home appliance applications. One is for a microwave oven that combines a microcomputer with a high voltage reed relay to form a power control system.11
Principal factors that must be controlled are variable power, defrost, temperature, and memory cooking as well as clock functions. Use of a microcomputer with the high voltage relay reduced component count and simplified operation. Plans for a future oven control system include adapting a sensor device with greater capability and a different microcomputer that contains an A-D converter and more interface circuits.
Filmstrip Projector Control
A very inexpensive one-chip microcomputer contammg 640 words (8-bit) of ROM, 48 words (4-bit) of RAM, and 22 1/ 0 ports, has been included in the design
85

DIGITAL CCNTROL ANC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

24-HOUR CLOCK ALARMS AND DATA FROM CELL SCANNER
CRT

PRIORITY INTERRUPT NET'NO!K

OUTPUT MODULES
SERIAL PRINTER

CE LL AOORESSES TO CEli SCANNER

Fig 8 Block diagram of supervisory system for mercury-anode chlorine plant. 24 ports allow input of alarms, data, and status; 20 output ports are available for addresses and data and for activating cell control relays Data entry and display are provided by CRT and serial printer. 24-hour clocK provides stable time base for controlling microcomputer
functions

of a controller for a filmstrip projector with synchronized audio accompaniment.12 The system includes a built-in audio cassette player for narratives that relate to the filmstrip. The tape normally runs continuously and inaudible cuing tones recorded on the tape track enable synchronization by causing the film to advance frame by frame.
A Rockwell PPS-4/ 1 microcomputer used as control element has neither interrupt capability nor other direct means of keeping track of time. In addition there is no means for precise frequency control of the processor's clock. Therefore, the program is written as a large loop which considers in turn each input that requires action to be taken and checks internal software timers that control output signal times. Because period of the most rapidly occurring input signal is 6 ms, the main loop was carefully adjusted so that its maximum execution time was less.
All available ROM, most of the RAM, and all 1/0 ports of the microcomputer were utilized for the program. The program was assembled on an IBM 370/ 168 computer using Rockwell's cross assembler written in FORTRAN IV. Monitor and prototyping facilities of the Rockwell PPS-4 Assemulator were used for program debugging.
References
All of the following items, except where noted, are included in the /EC/ '78 Conference Proceedings. 1. T. Yatabe et al, "Driving Control Method for Automated Vehicle with Artificial Eye," pp 29-35 2. S. F. Shapiro, "Digital Technology Ena:bles Robots To See," Computer Design, Jan 1978, ·pp 43-59 3. E. R. Pella and K. S. Gold, "A Microprocessor Control Automatic Test & 'Diagnostic System for Use on Electronic Automotive Engine Control Systems," pp 106-112
86

4. Computer Design, May 1978, pp 50-56 5. R. F. Herrman, "A Micr<>processor-Based Demand Li'mit Control," pp 50-54
6. A. J. Gnecco and G. T. W·hitehead, "'Microprocessor Control
of a Wind Turbine Generator," pp 143-149 7. 'D. L. Chenoweth et al, " Development of a Power Drive Con-
troller Using the TMS 9900 Microprocessor and the AN /UYK-30
Military Microcomputer," pp 168-173 8. C. D. Ethridge and W. M. Seifert, "Microprucessor DataInput.Control Unit for Mark Century Numerical Contouring Control," pp 77-82 9. S. Yasukawa et al, "Microprocessor-Based Supervising Sys· tern of High-'Speed Electric Railcars," ·pp 227-232
10. J. 'L. Hilburn et al, "A Microcomputer-Based Supervisory
System for a Mercury-Anode Ghlorine 'Plant," pp 4649 11. T. Yashioka et al, "A Microprocessor Control for Micro· wave Oven," pp 159-163
12. J. D. Garland and J. V. Landau, "A Microcomputer-Con-
trolled Filmstrip P rojector," pp 164-167
Copies of the !EC/ '78 Conference Proceedings containing full text of most papers presented-with the exceptions of evening panel discussions and the keynote address-are available from the Institute of Electrical ·and Electronic Engineers, Inc, 345 E 47th Street, New York, NY 10017. Per copy price is $25.
The 1979 IECI conference-and exhibit- will be held in Philadelphia on March 19-21. Areas of interest listed on the "Call for Papers" cover current and new work of industr_ial microprocessor applications.
For details on IECI '79 circle 160 on inquiry card.
For a copy of the "Call for Papers" circle 161 on inquiry card.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

The microprocessor that thinks it's a minicomputer can now evaluate itself.

Not too long ago, Fairchild introduced 9440 µFLAMETM - the world 's first 16-bit bipolar microprocessor that executes a minicomputer instruction set with minicomputer performance.
Now we 're introducing SPARK-16-
a double-sided pc
board designed to evaluate the 9440 µFLAME CPU . The newest addition to our µFLAME family can also be used as a stand-albne microcomputer for applications requiring small amouhts of memory.
Before we give you the details on SPARK-16, let us bring you up-to-date on µFLAME :The 9440 µFLAME microprocessor is a

bootstrap and binary loader (Fl RELOAD), and an interactive entry and debugging program (FIREBUG).
In addition, the µFLAME microprocessor can execute the Data General NOVA 1200 instruction set. FIRE software such as text editor, symbol ic debugger and business BASIC
are also available now.
Hot new technology.
The new microprocessor is based on an advanced form of l2 L technology known as l3 L® (Fairchild's lsoplanar Integrated Injection Logic). It provides the combined advantages of bipolar high-speed and MOS packing density and power dissipation. In addition to the l3 L circuitry on the 9440 chip, there is conventional

a TIY or CRT terminal. The single board price is $995.00. If you would rather do it all yourself, we can also supply you with a 9440 +FIRE I software for $550 (single unit price).
Gilly the beginning.
More sophisticated FIRE software, board level hardware and LSI support circuits will become available throughout the year. The software wi ll include a floppy disk operating system , disk operating system and a FORTRAN compiler: New LSI circuits will includeal6KTTL dynamic RAM; a memory control with control , refresh and DMA cap-
abilities; and an 1/0 bus controller:
For 9440 parts and SPARK-16 boards, contact your Fairchild representative or sa les office. For a MICROFLAME brochure and data sheets, write Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, MICROFLAME, P.O. Box 880A, Mountain View, California 94042.

NOVA 150 tmdo!'morl <J Ooto~I ( ·J".Onlf'°"

complete minicomputer CPU on one chip, packaged in a 40-pin DIP.
Major applications for this device include OEM data processing in a variety of computing control and instrumentation environments; telecommunications PBX and PABX switching installations; and distributed intelligence, distributed multiprocessing and front-end (terminal) processing.
Where there's flcime there's fire.
Fairchild is also introducing its FIRETM (Fairchild Integrated Realtime Executive) software. FIRE I is an initial software package for the 9440 that includes the required development aids: diagnostics, a

TIL circuitry which allows TIL interface with other logic, PROMs and RAMs.
Aspark of genius.
The new SPARK-16
pc board is loaded
with features including a 16-bit 9440 µFLAME CPU, 4K words of RAM, 2K words of Autoload PROM, Memory control with DMA capability, interface logic for a Teletype or RS232C, 100-pin connector with 9440 Bus, connector for TIY/ RS232C, control switches (Autoload, Continue, Halt and Reset) and display. SPARK-16 requires only a single 5 V, 4.0 A power supply and

SPARK- 16
F=AI RC t-11 LCJ
Call us on it.
(415) 962-4626

CIRCLE 52 ON I N'!)UIRY CARD

Another Industry Breakthrough!

..~ ~ ~......~ ............~ . - __~.......
~ Introducing...TheHarris
HI-562 D/A Converter.

I ......· .

.... ....

If you've been looking for the right DIA converter to match your brightest design ideas, you can stop looking ... it's here ... the new Harris HI-562.
The HI-562 is the first monolithic DIA to combine high speed performance and true 12-bit accuracy on the same chip-attained through the utilization of the most advanced laser
resistor trimming techniques in the industry. Consider these features:
· Fast Settling: 200 ns to ± 1/2 LSB ·Excellent Linearity: ±114 LSB ·Low Gain Drift: ±2 ppml°C · Fully monotonic over temperature At only$19.50 (100-up), the Harris
HI-562 is the cost-effective answer to your most demanding data conversion

design problems. So if you are into AI D converters, CRT graphic displays, process control systems, precision instruments, data acquisition systems, communication terminals ... to mention a few ... the Harris HI-562 can provide you with the performance, economy, accuracy and design versatility you won't find in any other DIA converter.
Available in a 24-pin DIP, the 562
operates on +5V and - 15V supply voltages and a + lOV reference.
Harris Technology ... Your Competitive Edge

Check out this new dimension in data conversion. Contact your nearby Harris Semiconductor distributor for evaluation devices. For full details, call the Harris Hot Line, or write: Harris Semiconductor Products Division, P.O. Box883, Melbourne, Florida 32901.
HARRIS HOT LINE!
1-800-528-6050, Ext.455
Call toll -free fo r phone number of your nearby Harri s sales office. authorized d istributor or expedited lite rature service.
HARRIS
SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS DIVISION
A DIVISION Of HAR R IS CORPORATION

CIRCLE 53 ON IN9UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

MICROPROGRAMMED CPU ARCHITECTURE OFFERS USER-ALTERABLE MINICOMPUTER PERFORMANCE
:Nlicroprogramming is designed directly into central processor organization, while preserving existing support hardware and software, resulting in a versatile minicomputer that offers increased performance capabpities of extremely fast computation, self-testing, remote program loading, customized 1/0 interfacing, and very high data transfer rates
Philip Gordon and Scott Stallard Hewlett-Packard Company, Cupertino, California

M ost minicomputers are developed in a family con-
cept, sharing instruction set definitions, principles of operation, and/ or logical structures. Traditionally this compatibility-retaining foundation has been extended through designs which either encompassed a broader range of applications or replaced outdated, less competitive models, usually at lower cost and greater' performance.
Initially designed with relatively simple instruction sets and hardwired control logic, minicomputers later appeared with microprogrammed control sections that not only supported more complex instructions in firmware, but also minimized cost as read-only memory (ROM) technology became less expensive than hardwired logic. Currently minicomputers feature complex instructions for floating-point and decimal arithmetic, fast Fourier transform, and data array operations. Support documentation, training programs, and hardware and software packages enable these minicomputers to be customized to the application through microprogramming-the technique by which programs are writ-

ten for execution on the internal control processor. Although typically reserved to accomplish emulation of the machine instr'uction set, microprogrammable minicomputers provide this access and allow control over the entire control processor. Analysis of the Hewlett Packard 21MX E-Series minicomputer shows how general microprogramming techniques provide an opportunity to design improved minicomputers while working within a framework of family compatibility.
Design Constraints
The goal in designing the E-Series minicomputer was to improve on the performance of its predecessor without significantly increasing cost. Because the computer was to be based upon the previous architecture, it was constrained as to peripheral interfacing, operating systems, compilers, application programs, and other software. These constraints, coupled with price and performance requirements, dictated that the design be based physically on existing hardware assemblies, such
91

DATA AND ADDR ESSES

INSTRUCTIONS "ND COUNTS

IN f'UT/ OUTPUT
SECTION

MICROPROCRAM CONTaQl

CONTROl PROCESSOI !SEE flG2)

MICROPIOGl"M CONTROL MICROPROCUM CONTROL

REA.OJWRITf

ADDRESSES

FROM/TO

WRITAIM..E CONTROl

r------,

::::::=:='....:S:T=O=RE====:::'.>!I !*J:~~

MICROINSTRUCTIONS IASE SET

r -----..,

r - - - - - I

US U

FIRMWAR E A CCUSOll'I'

I I

lI CONTROL I STORE l tf

IOAllD I

._ _ _ ____ _j

L.------

OPERATIONS ANO DISPLAY

r---· -- ---,

I DUAL CH4NNEL I

PORT

I CONHIOllEJI I L _ _ _ -- --'

---,

MEMORY'

ARITHMETIC/ LOGIC
SECTION ISEE flG JI

MEMORY' ADDRESSING
BUS

(M-BUSJ

- - - -,
MEMOIH II
I I I e~6~SL~ I IDYN4MIC
l'~~~!i~ J

MlCROPIOGRAM CONTROL

r- __{J____ _ -..,

I I

M41N

(SEMICONOUCTORI

MEMORY'

H.CTION

I
I I I

L__ ----- ---- -'

MICllOPROGR"MMA.BLE PROCESSOR PORT
Fig 1 Block diagram of minicomputer processors, including accessories. 1/0 system commun icates across single data bus and address (select code) bus. 1/0 control signals are generated by microprogrammed control processor or dualchannel port controller (OMA-like). Memory system consists of protection interface, controller, and dynamic mapping system, which provides for maximum physical address space of 2M bytes

MACROINSTRUCTION
REGISTER ( 16 BITSI
MICRO· JUMP LOGIC
CONTROL MEMORY AOOllESS REGISTER
, 11· BITS)
CONTROL MEMORY (16K WORDS)
MICROINSTRUCTION
REGISTER
12· BITS)
DECODING LOGIC

SAVE STACK (3 LEVELS)

Fig 2 Control processor operation. While microinstruction residing in microinstruction register is being executed, control memory address , register is incremented to present new address to control memory to access next microinstruction. At end of microcycle, microinstruction registe r is clocked with new microinstruction and procedure is repeated. Sequential microinstruction processing is interrupted by micro-j ump log·ic, wherein control memory address register is parallel-loaded with target branch address

I COMPU TER DESIGN JUNE 1978

110 TIMING AND CONTROL
INSTRUCTION REGISTER COUNTER

OCPC
------,
I I L-----~--{

!RCM (16 BITS) CNTR ( 8 BITS)

IIO BUS
I BACKPLANE)

100

101

8 BITS A
A REGISTER

A MICROINSTRUCTION REGISTER (MIR)
IMMEDIATE OPERATION

~~~~~ ~lc.::.0..::cBl"'TS=-+-~"4
SYSTEM

MAIN MEMORY SYSTEM

_ _ _l_O_B-IT_S_ _.. A2D0D- BRIETSS

IS BITS

READ,WRTE
MEMORY BUSY REFRESH WARNING

M REGISTER

PNM

!RCM

T REGISTER TAB

CONDITION TEST FLAGS

CNDX

s-Bus (16 BITS) ALU

ROTATE/ SHIFT LOGIC

8 REGISTER

LATCH ..__ __.(16 BITS)

T-BUS (16 BITS)

INSTRUCTION FIELD DECX>OERS

PROCESSOR CONTROL SIGNALS
}

Fig 3 Arithmetic section operation. Minicomputer is based on microprogrammed, bus-oriented control processor. Typical data manipulative microinstruction calls for contents of register to be enabled onto S-bus, while certain arithmetic and/or shift operations are further specified for duration of microcycle. At end of cycle, specified destination register is clocked to load resultant data from its input lines

as memory, system options, power modules, and packaging. Therefore attention focused on one design opportunity-the central processing unit (CPU) .
CPU Architecture
Ten minicomputer variations or rev1s10ns made up the existing family. All shared the same basic architecture and kernel instruction set. The architecture evolved around two accumulators, and 70 instructions that operated on 16-bit data. As the family expanded the instruction set grew to include 128 standard instructions, to perform indexed references, and to operate on multiple word floating-point data, but implementation techniques remained similar.
The E-Series CPU is designed as two functional sections: control processor and arithmetic section (Fig 1) . The control processor (Fig 2) is the core of the minicomputer and guides it sequentially through various basic processing and decision-making steps required to execute higher order software instructions (referred to as macroinstructions) . This control processor executes microinstructions in a time interval called a microcycle.
A microinstruction is a coded word that defines a single data manipulative operation to be carried out by the arithmetic section (Fig 3). Divided into fields

that contain micro-operand pnm1tives (mnemonics that specifically control a small portion of the arithmetic section of the CPU) , microinstructions physically reside in a special control memory and are stored in a microinstruction register (MIR), where they are executed. This register provides simultaneous access of the next sequential microinstruction from control memory during execution of the current one. Micro operands (ops) are the basic building blocks for constructing microinstructions, which, in turn, are combined for creating microprograms. Two microprograms (a fetch routine and an execute routine) are required to completely execute a macroinstruction. Depending upon the minicomputer and the macroinstruction under execution, other microprograms, such as an indirect operand routine or an indexing routine, may be required.
A 24-bit wide microinstruction word is used-identical to that of earlier microprogrammable minicomputers. Length, format, and structure of the microinstruction qualify the control processor design as a "diagonal" structure, rather than a purely horizontal structure or a vertical structure. This compromise design accommodates a high degree of functional parallelism (characteristic of the horizontal structure) , while keeping firmware costs low and microprogramming techniques relatively simple (indicative of a vertical structure) .
93

I s 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 IS 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 I 0

OPlllATION

S·IUS

S1Cll

SPICIAL

READ WRTE

PASS INC ADD AND

A !REG) B IREGI P \REG) X REG) 101
la)

AIREG) B IREG)
P\REG) X REG) IQO

RI L 1
SsoTFvL

s 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 B 7 6 4 3 2 1 0

I I I Opt_,.TION

COND

ADDRESS

SPft:IAL

JMP JSB
RTN

OVFL COUT
All

RJS (b)

JUMP TARGET

CNDX

MNEMONIC
JMP JSB RTN Rl LI STFL
sov
RJS OVFL COUT All

FUNCTION
JUMP TO SPECIFIED CONTROL MEMORY ADDRESS JUMP TO SUBROUTINE AS SPECIFIED BY ADDRESS FIELD RETURN FROM SUBROUTINE LOGICAL RIGHT- SHIFT I BIT LOGICAL LEFT - SHIFT 1 BIT SET CPU TEST FLAG SET CPU OVERFLOW BIT REVERSE JUMP SENSE OVERFLOW BIT BRANCH CONDITION ALU CARRY OUT BRANCH CONDITION ALU OUTPUT ALL ZEROS BRANCH CONDITION

Fig 4 Microi nstruction field definitions. Two most frequentl y used microinstructions are fairly typical in format to encoded vertical microprogramming structures, but are wide enough to perform multiple operations simultaneously. Mnemonic assignments listed under various fields are not all-inclusive

Of the provided microinstructions, the two most commonly used are the data manipulative microinstruction and the conditional branch microinstruction. Data manipulative microinstructions are divided into five fields [Fig 4(a) ]. The S-bus (system data bus) field specifies one of 32 registers to be enabled onto the S-bus for the duration of the microcycle; the ALU field specifies one of 32 arithmetic or logical operations to be performed on S-hus data; and the store field selects one of 32 target registers to he updated with new data at the end of the microcycle. The operation and special fields specify two of 16 or 32 auxiliary functions, which may or may not he incidental to the data operations. For example, a main memory read or write cycle may be initiated concurrently with data manipulation by appropriate mnemonics in the operation field. In the special field, the data shifter could be programmed to shift the resultant ALU data left or right one bit, set the flag register, or set the overflow register.
The second most frequently used type of microinstruction is the conditional branch, similarly divided into five fields [Fig 4(b) ]. Here the operation field .specifies the type of branch to occur (such as a jump, jump to subroutine, or r"eturn froin subroutine). The special field affirms the conditional branch, and the conditional -(COND) field selects one of 32 testable CPU conditions. These may include the overflow register, ALU carry out, or the data output of the ALU all zeros. In the S field, the reverse jump sense (RJs) hit may be set to test the opposite condition specified. The address field is the branch target reached if the condition tested is successfully met.
Commands initiated by the control processor section (Fig 3) are actually carried out in the arithmetic section of the CPU. While the macroprogrammer uses only two accumulators and two index register·s, a supplement of internal hardware registers is required
94

to properly carry out macroinstruction execution. The arithmetic section is a straightforward logical structure based upon the macroinstruction set and rules of operation. Nearly all registers, whether directly available to the macroprogrammer or not, can be enabled onto the S-bus. The ALU and shifter operate on this data, subsequently placing resultant data onto the T-bus (transfer bus) . Registers are appropriately loaded from either the S-bus or T-hus.
Fast Executing Macroinstructions
In a microprogrammable minicomputer, macroinstruction execution time is the product of the number of microinstructions in all microprograms required to complete it and the microcycle time, plus any extra penalties, such as waiting for main memory cycles t o complete. Decreasing the execution time of a macroinstruction usually requires that either fewer microinstructions be used to complete it, faster microcycles be provided, or faster memories he used. In the present design, all three capabilities were improved.
Although exact microprogram compatibility with exist ing processors was not required, preservation of the microword's structure and format as well as mnemonics and definitions of most micro ops simplifies the task of transferring existing programs. A tradeo:fl was encountered between the general-purpose control processor (easy to microprogram) and a complex and powerful (but difficult to understand) set of micro ops that would, if used properly, · reduce the overall number of microinstructions required to perform the same task. The design solution o:flers a general-purpose control processor to the microprogrammer, hut retains the capability to rapidly execute the most frequently used standard macroinstructions.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

I I I I 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Oil OPCODE VC

PAGE

BIT 15 BITS 14-11 BIT 10 BITS 9-0

DIRECT OR INDIRECT REFERENCE OPCODE (IE, LOAD, STORE, AOO, ETC) PAGE · BIT (ZERO PAGE OR CURRENT PAGE) PAGE DISPLACEMENT (PAGE IS 1024 WORDS)
(o)

I o o o o!Alal I I 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 l 0

INSTRUCTION

BITS 15-12 BIT 11 BIT 10 . BITS 9, 8 BITS 7,6
BIT 5 BIT 4 BIT 3
BIT 2 BIT 1 BIT 0

ALL ZEROS REFERS EITHER TO THE A OR B ACCUMULATOR 1 CLEAR.COMPLEMENT, OR CLEAR AND COMPLEMENT THE ACCUMULATOR CLEAR.COMPLEMENT, OR CLEAR AND COMPLEMENT THE E· REGISTER SKIP IF E-REGISTER IS ZERO SKIP IF SIGN BIT OF THE ACCUMULATOR IS ZERO SKIP IF THE LEAST SIGNIFICANT BIT OF THE ACCUMULATOR IS ZERO INCREMENT THE ACCUMULATOR SKIP IF THE ACCUMULATOR IS ZERO REVERSE SK IP SENSE
(bl

Fig 5 Group instructions. Formats of memory reference group and alter-skip group instructions do not lend themselves to execution by generalpurpose emulators

From a frequency analysis of instruction execution, the class of macroinstructions called the memory reference group is encountered approximately two-thirds of the time. Memory reference group instructions share a common format (Fig S(a)] with a 4-bit opcode and a 10-bit page displacement. Page displacement must be concatenated with either five zero bits or the upper five bits of the internal program counter, depending upon whether the macroinstruction references the base (zero) memory page or the current memory page. In an .efficient, but pure, general-purpose microprogrammable CPU, from three to six microinstructions may be required to mask and merge the contents of instruction register and program counter, depending upon the results of a test of the page bit, to create the target operand address. The 1 µ,s necessary would be a prohibitive time penalty in a minicomputer that was to completely fetch and execute such a macroinstruction in that time. Therefore, a concession to the general-purpose microprogrammable minicomputer was made, and supplemental hardware was included in the arithmetic section to create the effective operand address by factoring all inputs simultaneously with the loading of the instruction register; thus, no time penalty was encountered in the process of creating the operand address.
In the process of executing a class of macroinstructions called the alter-skip group, a dramatic example occurs. The format [Fig S(b)] includes a common opcode. Bit 11 designates which accumulator the macroinstruction references, bits 9 and 8 specify an arithmetic operation, bits 7 and 6 specify a logic operation on the extend register, and additional operations can be specified by setting any of the lower six bits. Complicating the execution are rules determining in which order tests and data operations are to occur. In a general-purpose microprogrammable CPU, it may take 25 or more microinstructions, too great a penalty to

be considered in the updated design. The concession was to add hardware to fully execute this type of macroinstruction, adhering to all testing sequences in two to four microinstructions depending upon the tests and operations desired. The dedicated, finely tuned hardware, which handles the complexities of the instruction set, is in fact simply an optimization of hardware techniques used in earlier hardwired machines that is appended to the current microprogrammable machine to execute the base set faster. A certain set of micro ops became the firmware link from the control processor to enable this complex hardware. These micro ops are used exclusively for high speed execution of the base set macroinstructions; they are not useful to the microprogrammer in general-purpose computations because of their machine-oriented definitions.
Although supplemental hardware is necessary to emulate the macroinstruction set of the previous hardwired machine with reasonable performance, this hardware need not impact the general microprogrammable machine.
In most microprogrammable minicomputers processing of a typical macroinstruction is divided into two distinct phases: fetch and execute. Responsibility for reading main memory at the location pointed to by the program counter, possibly incrementing the . program counter, waiting for main memory to complete the access, and loading the returned data into an instruction register, usually belongs to the fetch phase. These functions are usually incorporated into a single, common, fetch microprogram. The link to the execute phase is the subsequent enabling of decoding logic (usually a ROM or a programmed logic array that looks at various instruction bits and maps them into an appropriate execute phase (ie, one of many execute microprograms that is specifically dedicated to execution of a particular macroinstruction).
95

Because access time of most minicomputer main memories is much longer than the microcycle, the fetch microprogram can require up to one-half of the total time dedicated to processing even a simple macroinstruction [Fig 6(a) ], due to the often inefficient wait for main memory. One solution to this problem is to reduce effective main memory access time through use of superfast memory systems, interleaved modules, and/ or cache fr ontend memories. This minimizes effective fetch time, but results in increased cost.
In the processor under consideration the problem was attacked using an approach that requires no additional hardware costs beyond the basic memory system, yet attaches virtually no main memory wait penalty to fetching the macroinstruction. The concept involves pipelining macroinstruction fetches so that they appear· as transparent to the overall macroinstruction processing time as possible. The next fetch (read of main memory) begins when the execution microprogram of the previous macroinstruction nears completion. The corresponding main memory read time, typically much greater' than the execution time of a single microinstruction, thus overlaps as much as possible the execution microprogram of the earlier macroinstruction; therefore, by the time the fir.st macroinstruction is completely executed, the next macroinstruction is available for use at the main memory. Consequently, a
shorter fetch microprogram is required [Fig 6 (b) J
to load data into the instruction register and to perform a direct program branch to its execution microprogram. Implementing an overlapped fetch can be straightforward in a microprogrammable minicomputer·. Near the end of all executed microprograms, one microinstruction is inserted to update the program counter and memory address register, and to begin the actual memory access for the next macroinstruction. This extra microinstruction is not an absolute time penalty, but rather a relocation of a microinstruction that eventually would have been encountered in the fetch microprogram. By initiating the next macroinstruction access early, what is traditionally the fetch microprogram is distributed among all execute microprograms (Fig 7).
The possibility of using interleaved main memory with a high speed cache front-end was analyzed, but was determined to offer no significant performance increase beyond that achieved with the overlapped fetch concept [Fig 6(c) ]. One factor in this decision was that high speed random-access memories (RAMs) provided a main memory that cycled in less time than the access time of many cache-based memory systems that were commercially available. Therefore, enhancement of the control processor through microprogramming methods was the most cost-effective approach to augment performance.
Memory system in the minicomputer is implemented in an asynchronous method: ie, any speed memory system can be accommodated automatically. Since memory activity can occur in parallel with execution of the requesting microprogram, memory access time is generally masked by other computational tasks.
96

(o) STANOAAD

FETCH TIME n/us

J J EXECUTE TIME n/us

READ

MODIFY

MEIK:li« PROGRAM

COUNTER

LOAD INSTRUCTION REGISTER AND . BRANCH TO EXECUTE MICROPROGRAM

( b) OVERLAPPED FETCH

I I 400 ns ~g~~LETE
LOAD INSTRUCTION REGISTER AND BRANCH TO EXECUTE MICROPROGRAM

I I EXECUTE TIME' "'"'

READ MEMORY

MODIFY COUNTER

{c) WITH CACHE MEMORY HIT OR VERY HIGH SPEED MEMORY

I WT~'H'
MODIFY PROGRAM COUNTER/ LOAD INSTRUCTION REGISTER AND BRANCH TO EXECUTE MICROPROGRAM

lus EXECUTE TIME

Fig 6 Fetch and execute times. Overhead to fetch macroinstruction can be significant for low cost microprogrammable minicomputers. Pipelining, or overlapping, fetch operation or adding cache are two ways to overcome this penalty

When, in a main memory read access, memory data are required by the microinstruction sequence, the control processor will "pause," if required, until the memory system access time has been realized. This pause time is a function of memory system speed and the amount of other computations (microinstructions) that can be performed between memory start command and the data retrieval command (or next memory start command).
Dynamic modulation of microinstruction execution times is implemented in a further effort to fine tune the control processor for fast performance. As previously indicated, data manipulative microinstructions represent a high frequency and, therefore, a performancedictating event. Data paths within the processor are limited by device delays and bus loading to an approximately 175-ns read-modify-write cycle. The basic control processor is designed, then, to extract maximum performance by defining tqe clock system such that those instructions execute in 175 ns.
Branching instructions, however, impose a sequence of events that cannot be accommodated in 175 ns. The microaddress register (MAR) is incremented typically at the end of each microinstruction. Since a branch is detected and its condition is evaluated in the micro-
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

A. TRADITIONAL FETCH

Ml CROI NSTRUCTI ON
2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10

DESCRIPTION UPDATE PROGRAM COUNTER AND MEMORY ADDRESS REGISTER, AND BEGIN READ WAIT FOR MEMORY WAIT FOR MEMORY LOAD INSTRUCTION REGISTER FROM MAIN MEMORY BRANCH TO EXECUTE ROUTINE
RETURN TO FETCH MICROPROGRAM

B. OVERLAPPED FETCH

MICROINSTRUCTION
2 3 4 5 6
7 8

DESCRIPTION LOAD INSTRUCTION REGISTER FROM MAIN MEMORY BRANCH TO EXECUTE ROUTINE
UPDATE PROGRAM COUNTER AND MEMORY ADDRESS REGISTER, AND BEGIN READ
RETURN TO FETCH MICROPROGRAM

Fig 7 Traditional vs overlapped fetch. Processor (b) saves time because it has initiated its memory fetch near completion of previous execute microprogram. Processor (a) may lose valuable time waiting for relatively slow main memory to complete access cycle, as in traditional fetch sequence. Using high speed cache memory in (a) would reduce wait time as illustrated in Fig 6(c) . Concepts of processor in Fig 7(b) can be economically applied to any microprogrammable minicomputer where microcycle interval is faster than main memory access time

instruction immediately preceding the target microinstruction, the MAR must be reloaded during execution of the branch instruction. To allow for subsequent delays through control store of this new address, the microinstruction must be stretched (to 280 ns, in this design) to guarantee that access time. While other schemes avoid this problem, such as a "prepare to branch" instruction in a previous program step, they were found to be conceptually more difficult to code, and were therefore deemed unacceptable in a user microprogrammable environment.
Self-Test Microprogramming
Microprogramming allows for inexpensive self-test capabilities in a minicomputer. Performed automatically on power-on or boot-up, or invoked manually, these self-tests ensure a properly configured and cabled processor, and provide a degree of confidence in memory system and internal data paths. Extending through standalone memory-resident diagnostics to online system fault detection programs, they require access to internal control points not accessible to the macromachine, but made available through the microprogrammable processor. These control points are tested

first in the self-test sequence, as they are required for the manipulation of the data paths and the control processor state sequence. Upon successful completion, data paths, shifter, ALU, and register file are checked for any "stuck-at" faults or addressing errors. If at any point an error is detected, the failure is reported through a previously verified link, which might be a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or as in this design, a hardware front panel. Reported information should be sufficiently explicit to direct the operator to the failing assembly.
On system boot-up, a read-write complement-restore test is performed on the memory system to assure that it is nondestructive. On cold power-up and manual self-test, a more thorough test on the memory is performed. Here, microprogramming provides the capability to test processor-installed memory with a diagnostic that is not resident in the same memory. Test patterns and addressing sequences are chosen as worstcase tests for dynamic RAMs, error-correction syndrome in the memory controller, and processor-to-memory handshake logic. This capability is invaluable in quick diagnosis of "soft" or "hard" memory failures. Any failure detected is reported to the front panel along with the address and failing data patterns, allowing
97

for quick board exchange and fast interpretation of failure information.
Remote Pro9ram Load
A common problem is how to gain the attention of a minicomputer system regardless of its present state without extensively manipulating an operator panel or system console. Applications may include systems where a minicomputer is an inaccessible element in the configuration, "turnkey" systems that power-up intelligently without operator assistance, or remote unattended satellite systems. Solutions have been obtained through such schemes as specific power bootstrap sequences or terminal drivers in either ROM, main memory, or default firmware in microprogrammed machines. Downline loading capability has been more difficult to ensure, however. An unattended, remote, minicomputer installation that has improperly executed its program is difficult to analyze from a master system if, for example, interrupts to the remote system are not subsequently recognizable. Microprogrammable capability called remote program load (RPL) has been incorporated in the present design to solve this.
An external input/ output (1/ 0) device requests RPL by asserting a request line in the 1/ 0 backplane that is sampled by the emulation microprogram during fetch and indirect routines. This triggers a sequence of events and invokes a microprogram that halts the computer, presets the 1/ 0 system, loads one of four selectable ROM-resident bootstrap programs into main
memory for disc or other 1/ o systems, and initiates
its execution. RPL provides two convenient modes of operation. First, a properly configured system will automatically boot after power is applied, and no inter·vention is required. Second, RPL provides the same auto-boot capabilities in a remote computer site or satellite system. Any backplane 1/ 0 device may invoke RPL, or it may be triggered from a user-written assembly program (privileged) that is executed.

(assembly) instructions are usually general in their capabilities, defined instructions improve the efficiency of control over the memory-data path system. In addition, main memory is freed from maintaining state sequence control (program flow) for those segments that are microprogrammed. Since the control processor in this design can cycle two to three times fastP-r than the memory system, and since approximately 40% of all memory accesses by assembly language programs are to facilitate program sequence control, resulting performance is significantly improved.
Microprograms are invoked by 176 user instruction group (UIG) machine-language opcodes that map to specific locations in control store. The UIG opcode may be followed by a parameter list of arbitrary length. Control store address space is 16k words, which provides a large capacity for potential code development.
Microprograms are developed by the use <'f a debugaid, microassembler/ cross-reference generator, text editor, programmable ROM (p/ ROM) tape generator,

Improved Micropro9rams
Microprogrammable minicomputers offer increased computing power. The application price/ performance ratio can be improved by developing microprograms to alleviate computational bottlenecks in the system. Microcoding is generally effective when used to complement programs or portions of programs that are executed frequently. Examination of a program's locality with an activity profile generation program or other monitoring technique will show that certain (and usually small) segments of code are being executed most of the time. By microcoding those segments of code, performance can be increased six to ten times or more by the total program.
Microcoding in this manner serves to tune a processor system to a specific task. Since macro-machine
98

MBIO INTERFACE
1/0 DEVICE
Fig 8 Microprogrammable block 1/0. Microprogrammable data path is provided between processor and 1/0 bus. Data transfers between 1/0 bus and processor require only a single microcycle
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

and a lk writable control store (wcs) driver. These tools, which run under the real-time executive (RTE) operating system, provide the designer with a complete environment in which to develop microcode. Once code is developed, it may be loaded into wcs when needed, or permanently burned in p/ ROMs.
Learning how to microprogram is comparable with learning an assembly language. The complete power of the processor system is available through an easy to understand language. The memory system, dynamic mapping system interface, 1/ 0, and operator panel are controlled directly from the microprogrammable processor. Each device has one or more mnemonics in the microprogramming language to control its operation.
A subroutine save stack a·llows up to three levels of subroutine calls for more modular and structured microprograms. Two levels of indexed branching provide for fast instruction decoding for the UIG, as well as a powerful tool for algorithmic coding. Utilities that are standard in the base instruction set may be

MPPIO BUS
MPP DATA PATH
EXTERNAL DEVICE

CONTROL PROCESSOR
- --'

Fig 9 Microprogrammable processor port (MPP). Port serves as a high bandwidth direct data path between processor and external device, such as frontend microcomputer, special arithmetic array processor, or another identical minicomputer

invoked by microcode, ie, all standard instructions, indirect handler, initial bootstrap loader, interrupt processor, or any of the diagnostic programs that test the main CPU data paths and main memory system. This approach reduces the effort required by the microprogrammer.

Interface Capabilities

Historically, designer-generated microprograms have been written to perform or augment some computational task. With this minicomputer, the designer may also microprogram high speed drivers for custom hardware 1/ 0 interfaces by utilizing existing familycompatible interfaces. For additional speed, the interface can be modified slightly and be controlled by signals under microprogram control.
Peripherals and other external hardware capabilities not required for proper functioning of the standard minicomputer CPU are usually interfaced via an 1/ 0 system. Using what is commonly referred to as programmed 1/ 0, the CPU and 1/ 0 system usually perform one smaH interfacing task per macroinstruction (typically 1 to 2 µs). Bandwidth is thus limited to transferring one data element (usually one word) once per some multiple of the macroinstruction execution time, depending upon the interfacing complexities encountered. While this is adequate for devices such as terminals, time clocks, cassettes, or printers, interfacing to higher speed storage devices or arithmetic data processors requires far greater bandwidth than is realizable with programmed 1/ 0. Therefore nearly all minicomputers offer direct memory access (DMA) capability that, although implemented differently throughout the industry, is usually composed of extra hardware (and cost) for conducting high speed block data transfers between memory and the 1/ o system.
Bandwidth limits vary typically from IM to 6M bytes/ s.
Capability to perform economical program-1/ 0 type functions at DMA speeds is accomplished by using principles similar to programmed 1/ 0, but performing interfacing tasks · on blocks of data at the rate of once per microinstruc?ion (typically 150 to 300 ns). Bandwidth is again limited, but at some multiple of the microinstruction execution time, which may net a five to ten times increase over macroinstruction programmed 1/ 0.
Interface between the minicomputer and an external device linked through the microprogrammed block 1/ 0 (MBIO) interface is shown in Fig 8. Three signals, block 1/ 0 output, block 1/ 0 input, and block 1/ 0
strobe, (moo, BIOi, and BIOS), in the I/ o backplane
are under microprogram control. To input data from the external device to the A register, for example, the microword is

OP SPECIAL ALU STORE ENABL'E OOMMENT

PASS A

IOI

Pass I/O Data

into Reg A

to activate signals BIOi and BIOS. Conversely, to output data to the external device, the microword is

OP SPECIAL ALU STORE ENABLE COMIMENT

PASS JOO A

Pass Reg A Data Into I/0 Device

to activate signals BIOO and BIOS. Several devices can be addressed using the select code scheme used in the traditional interface. Several other control and test signals in the 1/ 0 system can be re-interpreted and defined according to requirements. Since the external device controller card resides in the 1/ 0 backplane of the processor, it can use the interrupt system of the minicomputer family.
Custom interfaces that do not reside in the 1/ 0 backplane may use the microprogrammable processor port ( MPP). Interface between the minicomputer and an external device using the MPP link is shown in Fig 9. Once again, under microprogram control, data are passed to and from the external device using the proper mnemonic in the source and destination registers, as follows

Mm> Control Signal

OP SPECIAL ALU STORE ENABLE

COMIM·ENT

MP Pl MiPP2

PASS MPPB PASS A

A (output) MPPB (input)

Pass Reg A Data Into Microport B
Pass Microport B Data to Reg A

MPPl and MPP2 are optional control lines, which are user-defined if desired. By using the MPP, and under microprogram control, high data transfer rates can be attained as follows

Transfer Type
Burst Mode (<16 words to register file)
Synchronous (no 11.ag test for handshake, "assumed data·ready")
Asynchronous (<:omplete handshake, interruptible, haltable)

'Data Rate
5.7M words / s (max, port to scratchpad transfer)
l.58M words/s (max, port to main memory transfer)
0.75M words / s (ifor applications where transfer can be suspended )

The MPP is generally most effective at transferring

buffered data in a block fashion. Possible applications

for the MPP are connection to a high speed array

processor or a hardware floating-point processor, allow-

ing parallel processing between external processor and

associated microprogram.

Summary
Microprogrammed architecture allows fine tuning of a processor to a specific application in a cost-effective
100

manner. The designer can provide speed gains and emulate sophisticated macroinstructions with great ease, as well as provide a more structured debug environment in which to develop them. Similarly, powerful features may be inexpensively added with the aid of microprogramming to produce a more useful and adaptable minicomputer. Similarly judicious use of microprogramming allows the mm1computer to be custom-tailored to a particular task in a cost-effective and performance-oriented fashion. Microprogramming offers several valuable benefits that include: (a) higher execution speed at low cost, (b) better main memory utilization, (c) increased security for code segments, (d ) additional functionality through full control of the control processor, (e) a high speed communication link to a variety of custom 1/ 0 interfaces, (f) nonvolatile .self-test capability, and (g) an inexpensive method of implementing new capabilities.
Bibliography
A. K. Agrawala and T. G. Rauscher, Foundations of Microprogramming; Architecture, Software, and Applications, Academic 1Press, Inc, New Yor'k, 1976
Hewlett-Packard Co, "HP 21MX E-Series Computer Microprogramming Refer ence Manual," 1977
Hewlett-Packard Co, "HP 21MX E-·Series CompUter, HP 2109B, .and HP 2113B Operating and Reference Manual " 1977
T. A. Lane, "Microprogr.ammed F eatures of the 21MX E-Series," H ewlett-Packard Journal, Mar 1977, ·pp 24-27
S. J. Stallard, "How the E-Ser.ies ·P erformance Was Attained," Hewlett-Packard Jo urnal, Mar 1977, pp 20-23
M. V. Wilkes, "The Best Way to Design an Automatic Calculating Machine," Manchester University Computer Inaugural Conference, Ju]y 1951
M. V. Wilkes .and J. B. Stringer, "Microprogramming and the Design of th e Control Circuits in an Electronic -Digital Computer," Proceedings Cambridge Philology Society, Vol 49, Apr 1953, pp 230-238
Philip Gordon, currently a development engineer at Hewlett-Packard, was involved in development of the 21 MX M-Series and subsequent E-series minicomputers. He holds a BSEE degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Scott Stallard holds a BSEE from the University of California at Berkeley and is working on his MSEE degree from Stanford University. He is currently a development engineer for HewlettPackard, where he participated in design and integration of the E-series minicomputer.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

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102

C IRC LE 55 ON IN9U IRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/JUNE 1978

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DUAL-DENSITY DISKETTE CONTROLLERS
An expanded outlook of design factors for a dual-density diskette controller involves system integration of the diskette drive and covers bit packing densities, data recovery methods, input and output interfaces, and available methods of accessing data
John Worden Magnetic Peripherals, Incorporated, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

I mplementation of flexible diskette drives as low cost
data processing peripheral memory devices is increasing rapidly in terminals and standalone systems, where storage capacity, performance, and capability to randomaccess data make them suitable for on- and offiine information and software applications. Previously limited by the ability to operate using single-density, singlesided media, the storage capacity of flexible diskette drives quadrupled during the past year when units capable of both double-density and 2-sided media read/ write operation were introduced. However, since ex1stmg single-sided, single-density-encoded diskette drive controllers were incapable of operating 2-sided, double-density-encoded devices, a major effort was needed to develop controllers that were capable of handling the double-density drives.
The most useful diskette controller will operate with either single-sided, single-density-encoded diskettes or 2-sided, single- or double-density-encoded diskettes, ie, a dual-density diskette controller. A controller that would provide IBM compatible format for data interchange using single-density-encoding, and would operate with double-density capability under program control for file use, would furnish maximum diskette flexibility and storage capability and would maintain current media interchange standards.
Implementation of these criteria and considerations for the dual-density controller demands particular

attention to the hardware/ software interfaces of both the diskette drive and the host computer. Specifically, the controller· interface must consider diskette format, read/ write-erase head design, data encoding and recovery means, and diskette drive requirements. The host computer interface must be concerned with software command-level interface, logical interface between the two devices, and the timing relationships necessary for contiguous-sector data transfers-the optimum condition for diskette data transfer.
Soft- and Hard-Sectored Formats
The most commonly used diskette format is the singledensity, soft-sectored (or IBM 3740 compatible) type, wherein a diskette is preformatted with individual record identification fields followed by the data field (Fig 1). A 2-sided diskette doubles the data capacity of a single-sided diskette; similarly, double-density devices double both capacity and data transfer rate of the single-density devices. Storage capacities for
soft-sectored diskettes are specified in the Table. In-
creasing the number of bytes per sector and decreasing the number of sectors per track actually increases the total storage capacity of the diskette because track capacity is more efficiently utilized. For single-density IBM format of 77 tracks, 74 are used for data storage,

103

Soft-Sectored Diskette Capacities

Diameter Package size Coating Total tracks/diskette Data tracks/ diskette (includes index) Data transfer rate Spindle speed Average latency
Unformatted capacity bytes/track bytes/disc (74 tracks)
Formatted capacity (bytes/sector for)
26 sectors/track 15 sectors/track 6 sectors/track 4 sectors/track
2 sectors/track 1 sector/track
Bytes/ diskette (74 tracks for)
26 sectors/track 15 sectors/track
8 sectors/track 4 sectors/track 2 sectors/track 1 sector/track
Data reliability Recoverable errors Unrecoverable errors

Single-Sided Single Density
77 74

2-Sided

Sing le-Sided

2-Slded

Single Density Double Density Double Density

7.88" (200.2 mm)

8 x 8" (203.2 x 203.2 mm)

Magnetic Oi<lde

154

148

31.2k bytes/s

31.2k bytes/a 62.5k bytes/a 360 rev/min 83.3 ms

62.5k bytes/a

5208 385,392

10,416 770,784

20,832 1,541 ,568

128 256 512 1024 2048 4096
246,272 284,160 303,104 303,104 303,104 303,104

128 256 512 1024 2048 4096

256 512 1024 2048 4096

492,544 568,320 606,208 606,208 606,208 606,208

492,544 568,320 606,208 606,208 606,208

1 in 10" bits 1 In 10u bits

256 512 1024 2048 4096
985,088 1,136,640 1,212,416 1,212,416 1,212,416

two as alternates for bad tracks, and one for maintenance purposes. Track 00 is the index track and certain sectors within it are defined for specific data. The controller design must consider bad tracks, variable sector sizes, and single and double densities.

Hard-sectored techniques use equally spaced holes around an inner circumference of the diskette. These holes are sensed by a photocell to define the beginning of each sector location (Fig 1). A hard-sectored diskette with 32 sector holes, 128 data bytes/ sector, and 4096

----------1 SECTOR------------
DATA FIELD lo) SOFT- SECTORED FORMAT

1 4 - - - - - - - - - 1 SECTOR----------~

: I GAP
_fl

(SECTOR PULSE)

DATA FIELD

JGAP I :

(bl HARD· SECTORED FORMAT

Fig 1 Sectored diskette formats. Soft-sectored diskette consists of two fields (header and data) per sector; hard-sectored diskette may contain only one field (data) per sector. Hard-sectored diskettes allow greater data storage per track because header fields are eliminated

104

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

bytes/ track, represents 23 % more storage capacity than a similarly encoded soft-sectored diskette.
For a soft-sectored diskette, the controller locates a sector by searching for and interpreting the contents of the header field. In 3740 compatible format the header contains track number, sector number of the following data field, diskette side (0 or 1) , and length of the following data field. Once the desired header field is located, data contents of this sector may be read or written by enabling the read or write gate at a fixed time interval from the header field.
To read or write a hard-sectored diskette, the controller uses a sector counter register, which is initialized to zero by the singular index pulse from the diskette drive. The sector counter is then updated with each sector pulse, and the controller locates the desired sector by comparing contents of the sector counter with the desired sector value. Data contents of this sector are then read or written by enabling the read or write gate at a fixed time interval from the diskette drive sector pulse.
A hard-sectored data field may contain an imbedded header for read verification, whereas a soft-sectored format usually contains only system data. Start of data field bytes may also be different. Media interchangeability and incompatibility of separate hard- and soft. sectored diskette controllers are key design considerations. Since current IBM devices do not use hardsectoring, compatible designs do not require additional logic to handle hard-sectored operation.
Read/Write-Erase Head Design Impact
Presently, two types of read/ write and erase head constructions are prevalent-tunnel erase and straddle erase (Fig 2). Both types consist of a single read/ write magnetic transducer and two erase magnetic transducers. The read/ write transducer senses or

creates magnetic field flux reversals on the diskette media in line with disc rotation. These flux transitions are interpreted as digital data bits by the controller according to the data encoding scheme used. Erase transducers create a separation band between adjacent tracks on the diskette: a magnetic field in line with disc rotation for tunnel erase and at right angles to it for straddle erase. The tunnel-erase design has the advantage of minimizing the noise influence of data stored in adjacent tracks; the tunnel erase geometric construction produces a more clearly defined erase band, thus improving signal to noise ratios.
An advantage of straddle erase heads results from the shorter distance from the read/ write head to the end of the erase head. This allows erase current to be turned on and off earlier, while still ensuring erased bands the entire length of the written data fields. (Note that this timing is affected by different head velocities and packing densities at the inner and outer tracks.) Shorter erase times allow shorter gaps between data or data header fields on the diskette, which permits more recoverable data to be written on the diskette. From a cost viewpoint, analysis shows insignificant manufacturing advantages of one head type over the other when yield, material, and labor factors are considered. However, from a business standpoint, the tunnelerase head has a definite advantage due to its wide acceptance in the industry and its multiple sources.
What type of erase head to use in conjunction with a diskette controller design is mainly a system consideration. Most drives incorporate a fixed delay interval to control erase current turn-on and turn-off; ie, erase-coil control is not accessible by the controller. If IBM format is used, either head type should allow data to be read or written, since IBM equipment uses a tunnel-erase head. However, if nonstandard IBM format is used, with gap times between data and/ or data and header fields determined by the controller for the optimum performance characteristics of a

ERASE HEADS

- - - - ( 0 . 0 3 3 TO 0.037")---

(o) TUNNEL-ERASE HEAD

I ) ; ; J:t5~-~--~

p-:1~~,.

!· o.ooe" I !
i. ·i 0.011"
(b) STRADDLE-ERASE HEAD

Fig 2 Read/write and erase head types. Tunnel-erase and straddle-erase heads are independent conventional magnetic
transducers that create magnetic field at diskette surface proportional to current applied through individual read/write or erase coils. Principle is common for both erase head configurations. Major differences are constructional and geometric, which create head views shown looking from diskette surface

105

straddle erase head, this format can not be read or written if the drive uses a tunnel-erase head.
Dual-Density Format Considerations
Modified frequency modulation (MFM), double-densityencoded, soft-sectored diskette format utilized by the CDC 9474 controller (see Fig 3) is generally the same as the IBM 3740 single-density, soft-sectored case except for different gap lengths, preambles, data contents, data transfer rates, and address marks. Each data sector is defined with a header or identification (ID) field and a data field. ID field consi~ts of a preamble (PRE) that allows the controller to differentiate between MFM encoded clock and data bits, lock in a phaselocked loop data detector or synchronize the data recovery detector, and enable an address-mark decode. The unique address ID mark (AMH) allows controller electronics to group each succeeding 8-data-bit group into data bytes that define meaningful binary data, thereby establishing byte synchronization. ID field also contains track (T) and head (H) number for position verification of the head, sector (s) value in the ID field that identifies the data field sector location, and data record length field (LL) that informs the controller how many bytes of data are to be transferred to or from the data field. The 2-byte cyclic redundancy check (CRC) characters are compared to regenerated CRC bytes during reading to verify data.

Header gap 2 (GAP2) field allows the controller designer to establish the timing relationship relative to the location of the data field. It also permits a tolerance gap that enables drive electronics to switch between header read mode and data field write or read mode. Generally header fields are not rewritten after a format operation. Data fields are written, including preamble, address mark, data, and CRC at a location on the diskette determined by a fixed time interval from the header field. Data field will shift slightly between gaps 2 and 3 due to controller and device tolerances, creating "write splices" of unknown data and clock content. Care must be taken in the design to prevent false address mark detection due to these write splices.
Data fields are read by enabling read electronics a fixed time interval after the desired header (ie, past possible write splices) . Purpose of the data field preamble is identical to that of the ID field preamble. Data field address mark (AMD) establishes byte synchronization and identifies the data field as valid data or as a control field. For data integrity, regenerated CRC bytes are compared to recorded CRC bytes.
Logic implementation of a hard-sectored diskette controller differs from that of soft-sectored controllers; however, data rate logic is the same. Read/ write timing is controlled by occurrence of the sector pulse, and sector location is determined by counting sector pulses relative to the index pulse, or possibly by reading the imbedded header of the previous sector. In practice, the entire sector is written, including preamble char-

INDEX

TRACK FORMAT

(GAPl) · X 'FF'

SECITOR SE.CiTOR

SECTOR n

IND X GAP·
(GAP4)· X 'FF'

AMH ' HEADER. AOORESS MARK
DATA ' X 'OD' CLOCK ' X ' 50'
T , TRACK VAWE 0 TO 76 H 'HEADER NUMBER (O·SIDE 0,
1-SIDE1)
S ' SECTOR 11 TO 26)
LL , DATA RECORD LENGTH

AMO ' DATA ADDRESS MARK

VALID DATA CONTROL FIELD

DATA X 'OF'
X 'OE'

X '01' ' 256-BYTE SECTOR X '02 ' ' 512 ·BYTE SECTOR
CRC ' CYCLIC REDUNDANCY CHECK CHARACTERS
1x16+xl2+x5+1 J

X '03' '1024-BYTESECTOR X '04' ' 2048- BYTE SECTOR
X '05' '4096- BYTE SECTOR

SECTORS PER
TRACK (n)

DATA FIELD LENGTH
(BYTES)

GAP l· (BYTES)

GAP 3· GAP4· (BXTES) (BYTES)

256

512

1024

2048

4096

146

57 "'506

146

"'340

146

117 "'638

146

147 ::.1238

f46

177 .. 1598

106

Fig 3 MFM diskette format. Double-density soft-sectored diskette format offers twice data storage capacity of single-density diskette. Format is similar to IBM 3740 format except for differences in gap widths, sector sizes, preambles, and address marks. Address marks are still defined with illegal missing blocks under MFM encoding rules
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

acters, address mark, imbedded header in the data field for possible read verification, data field, and CRC. For sector reads, preamble and address mark are functionally equivalent to their soft-sectored counterparts; however, hard-sectored address marks usually do not contain illegal missing clocks. lmbedded header of the sector being read can be used only for sector verification as it is really part of the data field.
Encoding Schemes and Data Recovery Methods
Four encoding schemes in current use with flexible diskette drive devices are frequency modulation (FM) , ~ also referred to as double-frequency (DF) coding; modified frequency modulation (MFM); modified-modified frequency modulatio~ (M 2FM) ; and group code recording (GCR) · (See Refs 1-5) . Single-density IBM 3740 compatible diskette units use FM encoding.6 Double. density diskette drives and their associated controllers use either MFM, M 2FM, or GCR encoding. Hardware complexity generally increases in the following order: FM, MFM, M 2FM, and GCR. Implementation cost and/ or IBM interchange compatibility will greatly affect the double-density encoding scheme chosen. Key factors to be considered for all schemes and methods are data recovery method, peak-shifting for double-density encoding, and coding/ decoding.
Data recovery for FM encoding can be accomplished by either a one-shot pulse or a phase-locked oscillator (PLO) . Since the latter is mandatory for all doubledensity encoding schemes, it should be used with both single- and double-density encoded diskettes. For FM encoding, the read head signal frequency components1 are 125 and 250 kHz-a subset of the 125-, 166.7-, and 250:kHz frequency components of MFM encoding.1 For M 2FM encoding, frequency components1 are 100-, 125-, 166. 7-, and 250-kHz, which require a wider bandwidth but still have FM frequencies as a subset. However, GCR frequencies1 are 104.17-, 156.25-, and 312.5kHz, wit~out any FM encoding frequencies as a subset.
The PLO data recovery method has several advantages over the one-shot method even in single-density controller operation. As a result of its inherent locking onto the data stream frequencies, the PLO averages and negates the effects of phase shift due to different motor speeds, drive bit shifting, and circuit delays. In contrast, a one-shot pulse interval is fixed and is not modifiable to the incoming data stream frequencies. Additionally, a PLO automatically accounts for speed variations in defining window times for data or clock bits, whereas speed variations must be subtracted from one-shot window times.
Peak shifting1·2 is a characteristic of magnetic discs that results from interference of adjacent bit flux reversals, which cause a flux reversal to be read slightly before or after its nominal time. Although not critical in single-density encoded diskettes, due to wider data window times, peak shifting becomes critical in the inner tracks of double-density encoded media. Critical bit patterns are Oll, 1000, llO, and 0001, with pulses occurring according to MFM encoding criteria. In the innermost tracks (43 to 77) peak shifting may be accounted for through "write precompensation1·2" where

the appropriate bit either delays or precedes the theoretical bit times by 250 ns. This holds true for MFM and M 2FM encoding but is of questionable value for GCR.
In addition, the controller should be able to accommodate two different write currents-a high value for the outermost tracks (00 to 42) and a low value for the innermost tracks (43 to 77)-for better data recovery reliability and compatibility with single-density IBM formats. Controller requirements involving both single- and double-density coding can use MFM advantageously for double-density encoding, with the resultant simpler design also furnishing the FM frequency component subset required for single-density encoding.
Diskette Drive Control Lines
The write data line to the disc drive electronics (Fig 4) is a single serial line at the hardware level with write data being composed of 250-ns pulses for data or clock bits. Associated with it are a write enable line that brackets the write data and a low write current line that is turned on if tracks 43 to 77 are being written. Composite data and clock signals are transmitted over the single read data line. Two other read-lines-read data separated and clock separated-are available, but are not generally used for formats having missing clock patterns in address marks.
A head load signal line loads the read/ write head against the medium; a head select line is used to select the appropriate head for double-sided operation. Head movement is usually controlled by a 10-µs pulse (3- to 10-ms step rate) that steps the head one track at a time, acting in conj unction with a direction signal that moves it toward innermost or outermost tracks, one track at a time. Some drive units use separated pulsed step-in and step-out signals instead. Generally, the desired track is specified to the controller, which should be able to calculate the direction and number of tracks to be crossed to reach the specified track from the current one, and to handle interim assigned replacement tracks (two maximum) while performing this seek.
Initial radial reference point for soft-sectored diskettes is established at power turn-on by stepping the head out one track at a time until the track 00 positioning signal is detected. Rotational timing is available in the index/ sector pulse to give a rotational reference point on the diskette; normailly, this signal is used only during formatting and for diskette speed checks. For hard-sectored diskettes, a sector pulse is generated for each sector that is photoelectrically sensed on the diskette; this pulse is generally encoded into and with the index hardware lead, but may be obtained via a separa<e lead.
Drive status includes a ready line indicating that medium is in place and that the drive is ready for operation; a write fault line monitoring the interactive control of the write data, write enable, and head load signals; and a write protect line indicating when the write protect slot in the diskette is uncovered. Unit select and write fault reset input leads provide signals to select a particular drive and to reset a drive after a detected write fault, respectively.

107

CRC CHECKER
SHIFT REGISTER
- + - - - PARALLEL
DATA OUT PARAL LEL __,,___~ ()ATA IN

SINGLE DENSITY
DATA RECOVERY
DOUBLE DENSITY
DATA RECOVERY

SD/DD

COMPOSITE READ DATA

SINGLE DENSITY (SD)
DOUBLE DENSITY (DD)

250- kHz DATA BIT RATE
500-kHz DATA BIT RATE

SHIFT REGISTER
CRC GENERATOR

~t~~lr~ DATA ENCODER
DOUBLE DENSITY
DATA ENCODER

WRITE PRECOMPENSATION
LOGIC

COMPOSITE WRITE DATA
(250 1500-kHz DATA BIT RATE)

CONTROL 1 - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - j - --j D >-'W'"-'R'-"IT"'-E-'G"'A'""TE,___ __

1 - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - t - - - j D LOW WRITE CURRENT

OUTPUT GONTROL
LOGIC

l TO 4 1--------------::-----------t--"""1 D

UNIT SELECT

1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - j D HEAD LOAD

l------------------------1D'>'-H~EA~D:.._::;SE~L~EC~T---

Fig 4 Diskette drive serial data interface. Data are available if unit is selected, head is selected and loaded, and write gate is not enabled. Write data frequencies, data encoding, and data recovery are different for single- and double-density encoded diskettes. Data are written on diskette by serial write data line if enveloping write-gate signal is true, unit is selected, and head is selected and loaded. Double-density diskettes may also require write precompensation. Low write current line is available to red·uce write current for inqermost tracks to minimize peak shifting. This functional system contains some logic that may be shared

Typical power requirements of diskette drives are
120 or 240 Vac, 24 Vde, or ±5 V de. The designer
should evaluate the feasibility qf either the controller or an alternate source providing the power.
Subsystem Logical 1'1ferfaces
Subsystem interfaces for diskette controllers (Fig 5) usually involve either parallel data and control signal lines connected to an associat~d host processor or serial transfer of both dat~ 'llnd 'control information between drive/ controller and a r.emote processing system over a hardwired or communication type circuit.
108

The obvious advantage of parallel over serial data transfer is speed-more than 35 times faster in most applications--,but this is often offset by the simpler hardware (and software) requirements of the RS-232-C serial interface and baud rates transmitted over data set telephones. However, a standardized software level interface is not implied, and various communication protocols are not covered. Note that for ~ither interface the controller must contain logic to handle a high level software interfac~, which specifies desired unit, track, sector, direction of data transfer, status exchange, and the ability to o'btain desired single or double density format
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

INTEGRAL SUBSYSTEM

MINICOMPUTER

MINICOMPUTER OMA

INTERFACE CONTROL

DATA BUFFER

SEEK
READ/WRITE CONTROL

DATA SET

SUBSYSTEM

DISKETTE CONTROLLER

DRIVES

Fig 5 Diskette controller subsystem interface. Subsystem interfaces usually involve either parallel data and control line interface or serial transfer of both control and data over ha rdwired or communications interface. Advantage of speed via parallel interface must be traded off against low cost standard RS-232-C communications interface

For maximum flexibility, drive controllers use generalized parallel interfaces with character present and character accept handshake logic, since fast processor interfaces vary between manufacturers. Normally these controllers contain data buffers to account for the mismatch between data rates of the drive and parallel interface. A 2-byte buffer is adequate to handle data transfers on-the-fly if data transfer rate and byte response time of the host processor are less than 16 µ,s. However, if the interface has a fast data transfer capability but requires a relatively long time to get control of the data transfer channel, sufficient buffering must be provided to cover this extended access time.
Serial (RS-232-C ) data transfer is generally effected at a maximum rate of 9.6k baud. Since the serial interface can not handle straight-through diskette data transfer rates in real time, data must be buffered at least on a sector basis.
Contiguous-Sector Transfers and Interface Timing
Seek time for a data file is a function of file placement on the diskette, and is defined in terms of both track-to-track traverse and read/ write head settling times. Typical times vary from 3- to 10-ms track-to-track and 10- to 20-ms settling time; thus a 77-track seek could require from 248 to 770 ms. Careful organization of data files on the diskette plus the final position of the read/ write head after a file access operation can minimize seek times.
Contiguous sector reading or writing using a parallel interface results in the most efficient transfer of data between the drive/ controller subsystem and its host processor. For example, an entire track of data may be transferred in one diskette revolution (0.167 s) plus the diskette latency (time to find the first sector ) , if contiguous sectors on the diskette can be read or

36..,

34-1

32..,

30-1

28-

26-
. 24-

t,, 22-

~ 20-

;:::

°'~ 18-

0 ~

1614-

~< 12-

'~"<"i

108-

~
~ }

2400 - BAUD. DOUBLE-DENSITY(DDI TRACK

4800-BAUD, ~ DOUBLE-DENSITY(DD) TRACK
}
:=-.:.--------- ~ )9600-BAUD, DOUBLE-DENSITY(DDI TRACK

64-

~ )9600-BAUD, SINGLE - DENSITY ISO) TRACK

0--t-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 4 8 15 26

NUMBER OF SECTORS PER TRACK·

NOTES : ·'ASYNCHRONOUS "'SYNCHRONOUS
· SECTOR SIZE FOR DOUBLE-DENSITY IS TWICE DOUBLE FREQUENCY. THE NUMBER OF BYTES PER SECTOR IS PER TABLE 1
INCWDES SECTOR LATENCY AND ASSUMES .A SINGLE SECTOR BUFFER . DOES NOT INCLUDE CCMMJNICATIONLINE- TURNAROUND TIME
Fig 6 Read/write times for sectors per track. Track read/write times for RS-232-C interface are dependent on number of sectors per track, number of data bytes per sector, baud rate , and communications interface character structure (asynchronous vs synchronous). Double-density track takes longer than single-density track due to double number of bytes per sector. Impact of two extra bits (start and stop) for asynchronous character structure is most noticeable at lower baud rates. Impact of diskette rotational latency has visual impact on slope and parallelism of curves at all baud rates and number of sectors per track. Effectors of all communications protocols are not included

109

written. The first sector accessed must always allow for rotational latency, ie, 0 to 167 ms (83 ms avg). However, where the next sector of data to be transferred is just missed, necessitating another complete rotation of the disc before writing or reading can occur, a delay of up to 26 revolutions (or 4.342 s) will result if 26 sectors/ track are to be transferred. To read or write contiguous sectors with minimal data buffering, data transfer rate to the host processor must be equal to or greater than that of the diskette drive (62,500 bytes/ s for a double-density drive, or 31,250 bytes/ s for a single-density drive) .
Another critical design parameter for consecutive sector transfers is the amount of information that must be transferred between host and controller. This information-transferred between the last data field byte and the preamble of the next data field-verifies a successful transfer of the previous sector and specifies the next sector transfer. Information interchange may vary from a complete drive status transfer; host specification of the next sector, head, and track; to a single good/ bad status lead with an automatic controller sector, head, and track update; or to a simple read/ write command. If system constraints disallow consecutive sector transfers, sector interleaving-separation of sequential logical sectors by one or more physical sectors-should be evaluated for enhancing system performance.
Contiguous sector read or write operations are not possible using a single sector buffer with the serial RS-232-C interface. Achievable track read/ write times are shown in Fig 6. A timing analysis should be performed to assure that, after line turnaround times and line protocol times have been executed, the diskette
did not i ust miss a multiple of its revolution time.
If baud rate and timing just miss a multiple of revolution time, 4.3 s are added to the time for a 26-sector read and/ or write. Parallel interface controller design techniques, as well as multiple sector buffers, can be used to eliminate wasted revolutions encountered with the serial interface. Nonparallelism of asynchronous and synchronous transmission modes (Fig 6) indicates this wasted revolution time. Effects of the two extra bits required for asynchronous transmission (start and stop), plus the effect of rotational latency due to the different time intervals employed, can be seen. Note the greater effect of the two extra bits at lower transmission rates. Slopes of the curves are affected primarily by the greater number of information bytes required for the lesser number of sectors per track and by the relationship of the diskette rotational position after data transfer to the next sector.
It is evident that software-interface timing considerations are concerned mainly with data transfer, while the controller handles head positioning and timing for diskette read and write operations with respect to the physical location of the sector on the diskette.
Summary
A dual density controller doubles data storage capacity of a diskette. Cost impact is in the controller design and not in the drive or medium. Industry standardization and media interchangeability are
110

achieved if the IBM 3740 single-density soft sectored format is used. This format also permits utilization of either multiple-sourced tunnel erase head diskette drives or single-sourced straddle-erase head drives. System data storage capacities are increased either by utilizing a hard-sectored format or by redefining the format for straddle erase head performance parameters; however, media interchangeability and multiple source diskette drive probl~ms are created.
Higher cost for a dual density controller results from use of a PLO to recover both single and double density encoded data, different or more complex data recovery and e.ncoding circuitry (FM versus MFM, M 2FM, or GCR), different decoder·s for preambles and address marks, different gap sizes in terms of byte counts, doubled data transfer rates, and write precompensation for double density data encoding.
Diskette controller to processor interface design is determined mainly by performance tradeoffs. While a high speed parallel interface for both data and control yields greater performance, no standardized parallel interface exists and this interface differs for each processor. In addition, controller implementation, software/ hardware interface, and diskette format impact realizable system performance due to the tumng relationships required to achieve optimum performance levels with consecutive sector data transfers. Although yielding a lower system perfo~mance, the RS-232-C communications interface for both data and control implements an industry-standardized electrical interface. Since many communications protocols exist, final diskette controller design will depend upon the selected method. The determining performance factor is the communications baud rate, which requires at least a sector-length buffer in the controller, but timing considerations are more critical for the parallel interface.
References
1. D. J. Kalstrom, "Simple Encoding Schemes Double Capacity
of a Flexibie Disc," Computer Design, Sept 1976, pp 98-102 2. R. C. Franchini and D. L. Wartner, "A Method of Hig:h
Density Recording on Flexible Magnetic Discs," Computer Design, Oct 1976, pp 106-109 3. P. S. Sidhu, "Gmup-Coded Recording Reliably Doubles Diskette Capacity," Computer Design, Dec 1976, pp 84-88 4. Magnetic Peripherals, Inc, "tProduct Specification (77834772) for Flexible Disc Drive Subsystem, Model 9474," Nov 1977 5. Magnetic Peripherals, Inc, "Product Specification (75888213) for Flexible Disc Dl'ive, Mo·del 94Q6," Feb 1978 6. 1JBM Corp, OEM .Publication "lBM Diskette OEMll," Pub No. GA 21-9190-2
John Worden is a principal electrical engineer in the software engineering section of the systems and engineering services department at Magnetic Peripherals, where he provides systems engineering support for flexible disc and cartridge disc drive product lines. He holds a BSEE degree from the University of Oklahoma and an MSEE degree in large scale computing devices from the University of Pennsylvania, Moore School of Electrical Engineering.
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COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

SOFTWARE ANALYSES FOR COMBINATORIAL LOGIC

To produce output logic functions from variable inputs in microprocessor-based monitor and control systems, the traditional hardwired approach is replaced by ad hoc, match, and lookup software methods, whose operational speed, memory size, and costs are compared to provide improved price/performance

John L. Pokoski

University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

B asic focus of most instrumentation and control
systems involves monitoring a number of input variables and generating output functions that are logical combinations of these variables. In many cases, the output function involves simple combinatorial logic. Numerous textbooks and papers have been written regarding efficient hard-wired implementation of such functions, but little has been written regarding their implementation in software. Consequently, with the increasing number of microprocessor-based systems, it is important that simple and efficient software methods be available so that costs of program development and computer hardware can be minimized.
Any combinational logic function can be written as
a sum of products (eg, F = W · X · Y + Z).
This is probably the most commonly used form. Such simple expressions can be easily programmed for a computer, since most computers possess AND, OR, and COMPLEMENT instructions. However, for a more complex expression, the required program is not so straightforward.
Ad Hoc Method
The "ad hoc" method involves writing a separate program to generate each unique switching function desired. The term "ad hoc" emphasizes that the pro-

gram corresponds to a single specific function. Each product term is generated by applying the AND instruction to the corresponding input variables (or their complements) sequentially until all literals (ie, variables or their complements) have been ANDed. ·Then, the product terms are sequentially ORed together.
This method is best explained by the following exampleJhe functio_!!_ to be generated is F (W, X, Y,
Z) = W · X · Y + Z. Assume that variables
W, X, Y, and Z have already been entered into the computer and that each is stored in a separate memory location as a 1 or a 0. Thus, if the computer words are eight bits wide, a "true" variable would be 00000001, while its complement would be 00000000. Similarly, depending on whether the resulting F(W, X, Y, Z) is 1 or 0, a 1 or 0 will be stored in a prespecified memory location. Assume that the corresponding memory locations are W, X, Y, Z, and F for the remainder of this example.
Since most computers have instructions that can operate on only one, or at most two arguments (independent variables), F will be generated sequentially as indicated in the flowchart in Fig 1 (a). A variety of similar ad hoc approaches could produce the same result. For example, Z could be tested first. If it is 1, a 1 output would be generated for F. If Z is 0, then W · X · Y could be generated and tested. A 1 output would be generated if W · X · Y is 1;
113

EXCLUSIVE - OR W WITH #01
TO GENERATE W
AND W
WITH X ANO SAVE IN M

EXCLUSIVE - OR Y WITH #01 TO
GENERATE Y
ANO Y WITH
CONTENTS OF M
OR W·X·Y WITH Z
PUT RESULT IN F
(a)

START END

MOV A, M XRI 01H
INX H ANA M MOV B, A INX H MOV A, M XRI 01H
ANA B INX H ORA M INX H MOV M. A

;PUT W IN REGISTER A. ;NEGATE W ·BY IMMEDIATE EXCLUSIVE OR WITH 01 (HEXADECIMAL) . ;INCREMENT H AND L REGISTER PAIR. ;AND W_ (REGISTER A) WITH X. ;SAVE WX IN REGISTER B. ;INCREMENT H AND L REGISTER PAIR . ;PUT Y IN REGISTER A. ;NEGATE Y BY IMMEDIATE EXCLUSIVE OR WITH 01 (HEXADECIMAL) . ;AND Y (REGISTER A) WITH WX (REGISTER B) . ;INCREMENT H AND L REGISTER PAIR .
;OR W · X · Y (REGISTER A) WITH Z .
;INCREMENT H AND L REGISTER PAIR . ;PUT FUNCTION IN MEMORY LOCATION F.
(b)

Fig 1 Ad hoc method. For computer generation of function F = W · X · Y + Z, each block
of flowchart (a) may require several instructions, depending on particular instruct·ion set involved. Exclusive-ORing a bit with 1 results in negation of that bit, while Exclusive-ORing with O results in no change. Corresponding 8080 assembly language listing (b) shows variables W, X, Y, Z, and F stored in consecutive memory locations, with H and L address registers initially set to address where W is located. If used as subroutine, additional instructions would be required for "bookkeeping" operations, such as saving and restoring A, B, H, and L registers

otherwise, the output would remain 0. Fig 1 (b) shows an assembly language listing for an 8080 program which could result from the flowchart. Each mnemonic instruction listed in the program must now be assembled into its corresponding 8080 machine language instruction. In the 8080, the H and L registers (all registers are eight bits wide) serve as address registers for memory, and the results of aU logical operations are deposited in register A.
One advantage of the ad hoc method is that it is straightforward in the sense that program flow is directly related to the form of the switching function. In addition, for functions with very few variables and product terms, the resulting program may be faster and use less memory than the more general methods to be described.
Several disadvantages are associated with the ad hoc method. Each new logic function requires that another program be written, which, of course, results in high development costs due to initial program writing and subsequent error debugging. This lack of standardization also is detrimental to software maintenance. In addition, programs become quite lengthy and complex as the function to be implemented becomes mor'e complex; multiple output functions of the same input variables require that separate programs be written
114

for each function; and the approach wastes memory space, since an 8-bit byte (in the 8080) is used to represent a single logic variable. Using this approach, it is not practical to store all variables in one word, because most computers do not possess instructions to perform logical operations between word bits.
Match Method
This method involves matching input varial>les against a set of words corresponding to the switching function. The variables are packed into a single word in a predefined order, with a 1 representing a true variable and a 0 representing a negated variable. The variable word is compared sequentially with a prestored table of product terms which, when ORed together, represent the switching function. If the variable word exactly matches any product word, a 1 output is generated.
If the switching expression is a sum of "minterms" (ie, each product term includes all variables or their !Ilegations), the table will simply consist of these minterms. For functions involving a large number of variables, the minterm table could be lengthy. An alternative approach weuld be to fir'st apply standard minimization techniques to the function, thus reducing
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

the number of product terms required in the table. In this case, however, some of the product terms will not contain all literals, and the matching operation must be preceded by a masking operation that will exclude the "don't-care" variables. Masking means changing specific bits of a word to 0 by ANDing those bit positions with 0 and all other bit positions with 1.
Again, the approach is best illustrated by an example
= using the function F(W, X, Y, Z) W · X · Y + Z.
The variables have already been entered into the computer a~d are stored as one word. Each product term is stored in a stack, alternating with the corresponding mask term. A pushdown stack is a memory storage array that is filled by pushing new information sequentially onto its top, and emptied by sequentially popping information off the top in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) format. In the 8080, the stack is stored in read/ write memory and is accessed through a stack pointer register that always holds the address of the top of the stack. Data can be popped from the stack into a working register, and the stack pointer will automatically point to the new top-of-stack location. The end of the array is indicated by an all zero mask. Thus, in this instance, the stack is initially set as follows.
Variables
STUVWXYZ
= Top of stack 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0
XXXXOlOX
000000 0 1
XXXXXXXl End of array = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
xxxxxxxx
The mask precedes the corresponding minterm. An X means that it does not matter whether the bit is a 0 or a 1 since it will be masked out of the comparison anyway. Fig 2(a) presents a flowchart for this program. The Exclusive-OR operation results in a 0 in each bit position where a match (both Os or both ls) occurs, and the AND operation sets the "don't-care" positions to 0. Thus, a perfect match of a product term with the critical positions of the variable word results in F being set equal to a logical 1. The 8080 assembly listing is shown in Fig 2 (b) .
While fairly compact and logical, the method more importantly allows one program to handle any single output logic function (eight variables maximum in the example shown). In fact, the same program can be used for a variety of functions by simply setting the stack pointer to the top of the appropriate product term table.
Multiple output functions of the same variables require multiple tables and multiple calls of the same program. Also, the size of the table and the amount of time required depend upon the function being implemented. The number of necessary terms may be reduced beforehand by standard minimization schemes, either manually or computer generated. However, for very complex functions, both could become excessive, particularly time. A final disadvantage is due to the use of the stack pointer. Normally the stack pointer is used to facilitate the transfer of parameters and saving of registers during subroutine calls and execution of interrupt service r·outines. Since the match method uses the stack pointer, each subroutine or interrupt

TABLE 1
+ Output Listing for 'function F = W · X · Y Z

Location
00000 00001 00010 00011 00100 00101 00110 001 11 01000 01001 01010 01011 01100 01101 01110 01111

Contents
00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000001 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001

Location
10000 10001 10010 10011 10100 10101 10110 10111 11000 11001 11010 11011 11100 11101 11110 11111

Contents
00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000001 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001 00000000 00000001

routine must ensure that the stack pointer is properly saved at the beginning and restored at the end of the routine.
Lookup Method
With this method, the appropriate output value is "looked up" in a prestored table, which is analogous to using a read-only memory (ROM) for hardware implementation of combinational logic. Incoming variables are packed into a word that is used as a pointer address for some location in a prestored output table corresponding to the desired function. Thus, for eight input variables, there are 256 possible address locations, each of which can represent eight output values for an 8-bit computer. If only a single output is desired, 32 8-bit words are necessary. In this case, five input variable bits select the output word, and the three remaining variable bits select the proper output bit in that word. _For instance, with the generated function F
W · X · Y + Z, the variables have been read
into the computer and are stored as one 8-bit word. The output table for the function consists of 32 8-bit words as shown in Table 1. The variable word repre'sents S T U V W X Y Z. The four unused variables (S, T, U, V) are always 0, and the output bit is always found in the least significant bit (LSB) position. Thus, the same program can be used for any single output function of eight (or less) variables by addressing another output table. The five LSBs of the variable word are used to select the output word, while the three most significant bits select the proper bit from that word. The flowchart and assembly language listing of Fig 3 (a) and (b) demonstrate this method.
A slight modification of the same program can be used in a system for any function of up to eight

115

SET F · 0
POP MASK AND PRODUCT TERM OFF STACK
YES
EXCLUSIVE -OR PRODUCT WORD WJTH VARIABLE WORD

NO
START
ONE DONE

YES SET F· 1

(a)

STOP

POP DE ADD ·E JZ DONE MOV A,B XRA D ANA E JZ ONE JMP START
INR c

;PUT PRODUCT T·ERM AND MASK IN D,E REGISTERS. ;TEST MASK FOR ZERO AND ;STOP IF ZERO. ;PUT VARIABLE WORD IN REGISTER A. ;ZEROS WHERE MATCHES OCCUR . ;ZEROS WHERE DON'T-CARES OCCUR .
;ZERO RESULT MEANS F = 1,
;OTHERWISE TEST NEXT PRODUCT TERM .
;SET F = 1.
(b)

Fig 2 Match method. Flowchart
= (a) demonstrates function F
W · X · Y + Z; however, any
logic function can be generated by appropriately setting stack contents. 8080 assembly language listing (b) assumes that stack and stack pointer have already been set up, variable word has been loaded into register B, and A and C registers have been initialized to O. C register will be set to 1 if value of function is 1

variables by storing the appropriate output table for each function. In addition, multiple output functions can be handled easily by restructuring the output array so that all outputs are in the same output word
116

and hy appropriately modifying the addressing appr'oach used in the program. Finally, the amount of memory required is constant for the same number of input variables and output functions of those variables.
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PUT LOWER FIVE BITS OF VARIABLI;: WORD IN LOW£R PART OF ADDRESS REGISTER
MOVE OUTPUT WORD FROM OUTPUT TABLE INTO REGISTER A
PUT TOP THREE BITS OF VARIABLE WORD INTO REGISTER C
SHIFT TOP THREE BITS OF REGISTER C INTO BOTTOM THREE LOCATIONS OF REGISTER C

SHIFT REGISTER A TO RIGHT ONE BIT
(a)

START 2 3 4 5

TEST

DONE

MVI A,1FH ANA ·B MOV L,A MVI H,OOH DAD D
MVI A,EOH ANA B RLC RLC RLC ADI OOH MOV D,A MOV A,M JZ DONE OCR D RRC JMP TEST

YES
t.SB OF A CONTAINS F
;FORM MASK FOR ROM BYT>E LOCATION . ;PUT LOWER FIVE VARIABL£ BITS IN A. ;PUT ARRAY LOCATION OF OUTPUT BYTE IN L.
;SET H = 0.
;GENERATE ADDRESS OF OUTPUT BYTE BY ADDING D,E (START OF ARRAY) TO H, L. ;FORM MASK FOR OUTPUT BIT LOCATION. ;PUT UPPER THREE VARIABLE BITS IN A. ;ROTATE 'BIT LOCATION ;FROM A1 Ao ·A· ;TO A· A1 Ao. ;SET CONDITION FLAGS .PROPERLY. ;PUT BIT LOCATION IN D. ;PUT OUTPUT BYTE IN A. ;TEST FOR ZERO BIT 'coUNT . ;DECREMENT BIT COUNT. ;ROTATE OUTPUT BYTE RIGHT . ;GO TO TEST.
(b)

Fig 3 Lookup method. Flowchart (a) and 8080 program lisUng (b) for computer gener~tion of logic function. correspond to one another. Output function is stored in 32 x 8-bit table that ;fs addressed by variable word. Program assumes that initial address of output table has been loaded into registers D and E and that variable word has been loaded into register B. Upon completion of operation, value of function will be stored as LSB of register A

The amount of memory and time required with the lookup method is relatively large for simple functions. However, the program could be slightly modified to save memory or time for simple fonctions at the

expense of some loss of standardization. The amount of time required varies as a function of i:he number of shifts required in the output word, while the amount of memory required depends upon the number of input
117

TABLE 2 Comparllon of Memorr and Time R9q11lrwd by Logic Melhocle

Logic Method
Ad Hoc Match Lookup

Fo Memory
(Bytea)
20 20 60

Time (14)
40 70 90

. Fs
Memory Time (Bytea) (14)

320

F1
Memol)' Time (Bytes) (14)

190 2600

260

variables and on the number of output functions to be generated. For example, a 4-variable, single-output function need use onlv two 8-bit bvtes in its output table. This requires that the program of Fig 3 be modified so that only the lower hit of the variable word is used to define the ROM byte location. This can he done by changing the mask in line 1 of Fig 3 (h) to 01, and defining the variable word as W X Y _ _ _ _ Z. Alternatively, time can be saved at the expense of memory by using a 16-byte table with only one hit of each byte being used to designate the output value. To do this, the mask in line 1 of Fig 3 (b) would be changed to OF and the variable word defined as _ _ _ _W X Y Z. Lines 6 through 12 and 14 through 17 can be eliminated, since they concern rotation of the output word. Other variations to the basic approach can be generated similarly.
Summary
The approximate amount of memory and time required on a 0.5-,us 8080A are compared in Table 2. The ad hoc approach is not compared for the more complex functions, since it would not he practical in terms of programming, memory, and time costs in these cases.
+ The times for F0 (W · X · Y Z) and F 1 (any
8-variable, single-output expression with ten product terms) using the lookup method are average values, based on four shifts of the output byte required to produce the correct output. The minimum time (no shifts) would be about 40 ,us, while the maximum time (seven shifts) would he about 140 ,us. Note that for F2 (any 8-variahle, 8-output expression with ten product terms per output), the output table contains 256 bytes, without shifting. This reduces the complexity of the program and the time required, at the expense of output table memory.
The comparisons indicate that there is little to he gained from the ad hoc approach, particularly when programming costs and loss of standardization are con-
118

sidered. In general, the match approach uses less memory than the lookup approach at the expense of time used. For the control of slow processes, the timing factor may he unimportant. It should he reemphasized, however, that if the number of variahies is reduced, the output table required for the lookup method can he greatly reduced by modifying the program slightly. Therefore, the designer should weigh the application speed requireinents and tradeoffs between hardware and software development costs (for the total number of units to be constructed) before choosing the particular programming method of implementation.
Acknowledgement
The author wishes to acknowledge the generation of the match method by Michael O'Shaughnessy.
Bibliography
T. Blakeslee, "Digital Design with Standard MSI and LSI," John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1975
A. Osborne, "8080 P rogramming for Logic Design," Adam Osborne and Associates, Inc, Berkeley, Calif, 1976
"A Logic Designer's Guide to Program Equivalents -0f TTL Functions," National Semiconductor Corp, Santa Clara, Calif, 1976
"Intel 8080 Microcomputer System User's Manual," Intel Corp, Santa Clara, Calif, 1975
John L. Pokoski is an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire, where he teaches and consults in the areas of digital logic, digital control, and computer architecture. His previous experience involved computer development. He has a BSEE degree from St Louis University, an MSE from Arizona State University, and a PhD (EE) from Montana State University.
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

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Our data: A, BInputs -7 YOutput Cn -7 Y Output D Input -7 Y Output Clock ----7 YOutput Minimum Clock Period Read-Modify-Write Cycle

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120

COMPUTER DESIGN / JUNE 1978

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121

I I APPLICATION NOTE

Programmable Handheld Calculator Computes Digital-to-Analog Converter Errors
With input data provided from a simple test setup, a convenient program has been coded for the SR-52 handheld calculator, with or
without a PC-lOOA printer, to quickly and easily compute and record
offset, gain, and linearity errors of a binary-coded D-A converter that has a resolution of 12 bits or less

Paul Prazak

Burr-Brown Research Corporation, Tucson, Arizona

The total error of a digital-to-
analog converter is most meaningfully expressed as the sum of three error components: offset or minus full scale error, gain error, and linearity error. Offset error is the deviation of the actual converter's all hits off output value (V -Fs) from the all hits off output value of an ideal converter. Gain error is the difference between the actual output span [all bits on output value (VFs) minus the all hits off output value] and the ideal output span; initial gain and offset errors can easily he eliminated in many applications with external potentiometers. Linearity error is the deviation of the analog output value relative to the straight line drawn between the all hits off and the

all bits on output values. Sometimes called relative accuracy, linearity error is the true measure of digitalto-analog converter performance because it cannot be adjusted externally; this error is usually specified in terms of least significant bits (LSBs), where one LSB is equal to (VFs V _ FS) / (2n - 1) , and n equals the number of digital input lines or bits. Most digital-to-analog converter applications require a linearity error of
less than ±1/2 LSB for any digital in-
put code to ensure that the output will be monotonic (ie, the analog output will increase or remain the same for an increasing digital input code) .
A program has been developed for an SR-52* programmable calculator and PC-lOOA printer to allow

a designer to rapidly evaluate and record the error performance of a binary-coded digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a mm1mum amount of input data. The user enters into the calculator the output voltage or current value obtained by turning each hit on by itself, beginning with the most significant hit (MSB) . The SR-52 automatically calculates and
prints the offset error [ % of full scale range (FSR) ] , gain ~rror ( %), and
linearity error (in both LSBs and volts) , as well as the worst-case linearity error (in LSBs) and associated digital input code. It requires less than one minute to execute the calculator program for a 12-bit DAC. The program can be modified easily for use without the printer.

122

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

REF IN

DACIO.Cll ·V 12-llT
D-A CONVERTER

20 SUMMING JUNCTIH

11 llT 11

15 RW IRING VOLTAGE OUTU-- W o r - -

12 BITl2 (LSI) 15

(Op1 ional)

5-0IGIT OVM
l!.D.111%)

DAC test setup. Each bit line is connected to ground one at a time beginning with MSB. Output voltage noted on voltmeter is entered into S.R-52 calculator to provide complete de error analysis of 12-bit DAC in less than 1 min. Only minimum input data are needed; results are given in units common to most major converter types

Test Setup
The test setup in the Figure is applied to the DAC80-CB1-V 12-hit DAC;
however, the program will operate
for any binary-coded DAC with a resolution of 12 hits or less. Necessary test equipment includes a
regulated ( ±0.1 %) power supply of
±15 V (other DACs may require different voltages) , and a digital voltmeter (ovM) whose accuracy is at least 10 times better than the linearity of the converter being
tested; % LSB is about 0.012% of
the FSR for a 12-bit DAC. Therefore, a
= 5-digit DVM (accuracy ±0.001 %)
is required. Since the digital input code of the
DAC80 is complementary binary (a 0 on a digital input line turns that hit on), all that is necessary is to simply connect each bit to ground one at a time beginning with the MSB ; the voltmeter reading is noted, and the output voltage is entered into the calculator. The only other information required is the FSR
124

Step 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
3.5 4.0

TABLE 1
SR-52 UNI' Instructions for 12-Blt DAC Enor Analpl9 Progrmn

Procedure
Load program card (sides A and B)
lnltlallze
Input data
Enter full scale range
Enter minus full scale (Ideal)
Enter minus full scale (actual)
Enter output value obtained with each bit turned on by Itself (begin with MSB)
Repeat 3.4 for each bit (12 bits max) Calculate D-A errors

Enter

Praea

Vn·

y_.,. ....1

Y-n·e-1

Vob1

Run

Dlaplay
1.0000 Vns
Y-r· ····l
Y-naetaal 1.0000
Worst-cue
binary code

Error Analysis Printout for 12-Bit DAC

FULL SCALE RANGE IDEAL (A~L BITS OFF)
ACTUAL (ALL BITS OFF)

20. 0000 10. 0000 -9. 9973

INPUT

BIT I VOLTAGE (MSB) BIT2
BITJ BIT4 BIT 5 BIT6 BIT 7 BIT 8 BIT9 BIT 10 BIT 11
BIT 12 (LSB)

O. OC104 -4.9985 - 7. 4980 -8.7478 -9. 3718 - 9. 68.48 - 9. 84 10 -9 ..91 ~3
-9. 9585 -9. 9780
-9 . '387:3
- 9.9926

OFFSET ERROR(% OF FSR) 0.0135

GAIN ERROR(%)

-0. 0261

LINEARITY ERROR (GAIN ANO OFFSET ERROR ELIM INATED)

BIT I (VOLTS) (LSB S)

0. 000~:
o. 06'33

BI T ~ (VOLTS) (LSBS)

0. 1)001 0. 0214

BIT 3 (VOLTS) (LSBS)

0.0000
-o . oo·~s

BIT 4 (VOLTS) (LSBSJ

- 0. 0002 -0. 0356

BIT 5 (VOLTS) (LSBS)

0. 0007 0. 1358

BIT6 (VOLTS) (LSB S)

0. 0001 0.0167

OUTPUT

BIT 7 (VOLTS) (LSBS)
BIT 8 (VOLTS) (LSB S)

0. 0001 0.0186
-0.0001 -0. 0214

BIT 9 (VOLTS) (LSBS)

-0.0003 -0. 0517

BIT IO(VOLTS) (LSBS)
BIT 11 (VOLTS)
(LSB S)

-0.00 02 -0.0463
-0. 0003 -0 ..0539

BIT 12 (VOLTS)
(LSBS)

-0.0 002 -0.0 372

W.C. LINEAR ITY ER. (L5B)

0.2559

WORST CASE CODF.

32%. OOOG

(10 V for a 0- to 10-V output or 20 V for a ±10-V output, for example) , the ideal minus full scale or all bits off voltage (0 V for a Oto 10-V output or -10 V for a ± 10-V output, for instance) , and the actual all bits off value. No adjustments of gain or offset errors are required for computing linearity error since the calculator automatically computes a "best-fit" straight line between the all bits on and all bits off output values of the DAC. Actual input and output data obtained with this test method and the printer are sh<>wn in the Error Analysis Printout for 12-Bit DAC.
126

TABLE 2
SR-12 Coding Fonn for 12-811 DAC Error Analpl· Progl'lllft

Loe Code Key
000 43- -RC[

01 1

43 RCL

005 01

05 5
95 =
42 STO

010 08 8

55 +

RCL

04 4

015 65

01 1

00 0

00 0
95 =

020 99

pap

98 prt

RCL

09 9

025 75

42 STO

06 8

030 95

STO

42 STO

035 00

00 0

Loe Code Key
65 -x -

RCL

040 08

94 +!-

RCL

045 07 7

RCL

050 85

RCL

04 4

55 +

055 02 2

RCL

09 9

080 95

55 +

RCL

01 1

04 4

065 95

42 STO

01 1

07 7
65 x

070 01 1

00 0

00 0
95 =

Loe Code Key

~ prt

075 99 pap

99 pap

43 RCL

01 1

07 7

080 85

01 1
95 =

20 1/x
65 x 085 53 c

IND

43 RCL

06 6

09 9

090 75

43 RCL

01 1

08 6

)

095 95

43 RCL

01 1

04 4

100 55 +

02 2 45 ys

43 RCL

06 6

105 09 9
95 =

98 85

prt
x

02 2 110 45 ys

Error Analysis Program Equations
= Offset Voltage (Vos) V. .-s ac tual - V. .-s Idea l

Offset Error(% of FSR) = V Vos x 100
FSR Id ea l

Gain Error = 6K = VrsRactual - VrsR Ideal
VrsR Idea l

~ [ .~ Vob1 - nV.rsactua1 ] 1= 1

[ V.-sa1dea1- V.-s&2·1du1]

V FBR Ideal

where : VrsR = .full scale range

= number of bits

COM PUTER DESIGN/ J UNE 1978

Loe Code Key

~ RCL

112 09 9

08 8

43 RCL

01 1

117 04 4

98 prt

99 pap

22 INV

122 80 if pos

01 1

04 4

02 2

44 SUM

127 01 1

03 3

02 2

(

132 43 RCL

00 0

01 1

137 54 )
95 =

44 SUM

01 1

09 9

142 01

44 SUM

Loe Code Key
oe- 6

58 dsz

147 00

pap

RCL

152 01

prt

RCL

157 09

prt

HLT

LBL

162 42 STO

prt

HLT

167 46

LBL

13 c

STO

172 98

prt

HLT

LBL

STO

Loo Code Key

177 01

prt

pap

HLT

182 46

LBL

prt

IND

STO

187 09

SUM

192 01

SUM

HLT

197 86

rset

LBL

CLR

CMS

202 ~7

fix

STO

207 09

HLT

Label s: A = bit val ues, B = FS R, C = - FS ideal, D = -FS actual, E = initi alize
Registers: 00 = bit counte r, 01 = bit 1 value, 02 = bit 2 value, 03 = bit 3 value, 04 = bit 4 value, 05 = bit 5 val ue, 06 = bit 6 value, 07 = bit 7 val ue, 08 = bit 8 value, 09 = bit 9 val ue, 10 ;::::. l> it 10 val ue, 11 = bit 11 val ue, 12 = bit 12 value, 13 = worst-case
linearity error, 14 = FSR, 15 = - FS ideal, 16 = -FS actual, 17 = gain error, 18 = v·., 19 = worst-ca se code, 69 = coun ter, 98 = n (# of bits), 99 = c ounter

Vob, = individual bit output voltage or current Gain error(%) =AK x 100

Bit error (volts) = E, = 1 +1A K(Vob, - v -FS actual) - VFsR2'·····

Bit e rro r (LS B) = .. = VE, x 2·
FSR Ideal

n
Total linearity error (LSB) = ~ ·1, (., > 0)
i=1

Worst-case code (decimal) =

2 > 1 , (.,

i=1

User Instructions
Concise user instructions1 for the programmable calculator are listed in Table 1; the SR-52 coding form for the DAC error analysis program is shown in Table 2. The computations performed by the program are listed under the Error Analysis Program Equations.
An implicit assumption in the calculation of total linearity error and worst-case code is that the individual bit errors are not interdependent; that is, the contribution to the output value of each individual bit should not change when the other bits are turned on or o:ff.2 If the contribution to the output value of each bit 1s dependent upon whether the other bits are turned on or off, the converter is said to exhibit superposition error. Almost all DACs exhibit a slight superposition error due to thermal gradients or critical currents sharing a common ground path; but as long as it is less than Yio LSB, it can be neglected. This error is almost always negligible for well-designed discrete, hybrid, or monolithic DACs that have a resolution of 12 bits or less.
The PC-lOOA printer provides a convenient hard copy of all input and output data. To use the program without the printer, replace the print statements {prt) at calculator memory locations 021, 074, 107, 119, and 154 with halt statements (HLT). The results will be displayed in the same order as shown in the Error Analysis Printout. Simply press run after recording each result.
This program can check the accuracy of DACs used in automatic or manual test equipment, process control, or data processing to determine quickly whether calibration is required. Another application is to check DACs on an incoming inspection basis to ensure that critical parameters are being met.
References
1. "SR-52 Owner's Manual," T exas Instrume nts, Inc, Dallas, Texas, 1975 2. T. Cate, "Tom Cate of Burr-Brown speaks out on D / A converter specs," EDN, June 1, 1971, pp 34-40
*Interested readers may obtain a copy of Mr Prazak's program for the TI-59 calculator by requesting it in writing from the Editor, Computer Design magazine.
127

OEM America Meets

at the Invitational Computer Conferences

In Boston ... in Ft. Lauderdale ... in Denver and in eight other cities. OEM decision-makers meet the country's top computer and peripheral manufacturers at the Invitational Computer Conferences- the only seminar/displays designed specifically for the unique requirements of the quantity user.
In one day, at each 1978/79 ICC. guests will receive a concentrated, up-close view of the newest equipment and tec hnology shaping our industry. Some of the companies which participated in the 1977/78 ICC Series were:

Amcomp, Applied Data Communications, Beehive International, Calcomp, Cambridge Memories, Centronics, Cipher Data Products, Computer Automation, Conrac, Control Data, Data 100, Dataproducts, Data Systems Design, Datum, Dataram, DEC, Diablo, Educational Data Systems, EECO, EMM, Florida Data, General Automation, Hewlett Packard, Honeywell, Intel, Interdata, ISS/ Sperry Univac, Kennedy, Lear Siegler, 3M, MOB Systems, MFE, Microdata, Mohawk Data Sciences, Micro Peripherals Inc., Monolithic Systems, National Semiconductor, NEC Information Systems, Okidata, PerSci, PCC/Pertec, Pioneer Magnetics, Plessey Microsystems, Powertec, Printronix, Remex, Rianda Electronics, Rolm, Shugart, Storage Technology, Tally, Tandberg Data, Tektronix, Teletype, Texas Instruments, Varian Graphics, Wangco, Xylogics, Zeta Research.

The schedule for the 1978/79 Series is: Sept. 6, 1978 Newton. Mass. Oct. 3, 1978 Valley Forge, PA Oct. 5, 1978 Washington . D.C. Nov. 9, 1978 Palo Alto. CA Jan. 16, 1979 Orange County, CA Feb. 8, 1979 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Feb. 26, 1979 Atlanta. GA Mar. 29, 1979 Dallas. Texas April 17, 1979 Dayton. Ohio April 19, 1979 Chicago, Ill. May 8, 1979 Denver. Colo.
Invitational Computer Conferences

Invitations are available from participating companies or the ICC sponsor For further information contact B. J. Johnson & Associates. 2503 Eastbluff Drive, No. 203. Newport Beach. CA 92660. (714) 644-6037

128

CIRCLE 61 ON IN(j)UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

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CIRCLE 62 ON IN9UIRY CARD

129

I [ T ECH BRIEF

Exclusive-OR Frequency Multiplier

Degree of signal phase shift determines cJesirecJ multiplication factor

An exclusive-OR logic element and phase-shift network combine to perform frequency multiplication in a digital logic circuit. The exclusive-OR gate structure uses both input terminals connected in parallel to receive signals from the same source. Prior to injection into the gates, the input signal is split: half passes through the phase shifter and into one gate, while the remainder is directly introduced to the other gate input. Assuming a phase shift of 90 deg, the output frequency of the exclusive-OR is twice the frequency of the source.
The degree of output signal symmetry (and therefore the multiplication factor ) depends on the amount of phase shift employed. For multiplication factors other than 2, a series of gate circuits and phase-shift elements are cascade-connected. The degree of phase shift is seleoted for each element to yield a cumulative multiplication factor.
Owing to the operation of an exclusive-OR gate (the output goes high when one of the inputs does), the gate output varies between a logiclow state and a 1ogic-high condition at twice the frequency of the source signal. As shown in the Figure, logic variable A is the signa'l that appears at one input of the gate and at the phase-shift network input. Logic vari-

CLOCK IN

CLOCK X2 OUT

~---. . .!

..!J

I~----''

n~---fl.

f-- PHASE SHIFT e --j

Multiplier output signal C has frequency twice that of input A. Symmetry of C results from choice of values used to create phase shift
e. If B is delayed about 10 deg
with respect to A, C goes high for only about 10 deg in each period. Phase shift of 180 deg latches output of gate in high state, preventing Exclusive-OR multiplier from operating as such

able B represents the network output signal, and variable C is the gate output. The degree of phase shift of logic variable C relative to A is a function
of e, about 10 deg in the example.
Although a single exclusive-OR function is limited to frequency

doubling when its common-source inputs are phase-shifted, an infinite variety of multiplying factors can be achieved by cascading functions
e and choosing vafoes of that, when
cumulatively added, represent the total phase shift required. When N exclusive-OR gates are cascaded, the total phase shift needed at the input to the Nth exclusive-OR gate is N/ (180/ n) degrees, where n is the desired multiplication factor.
Note
This work was done by Kenneth G. Har£ of The Singer Co for Johnson Space Center. For further information, write to: John T. Wheeler, Johnson Space Center, Code AT3, Houston, TX 77058. Title to this invention has been waived under the provisions of the National Aeronautics and Space Act [42 USC 2457 ( f) ] to The Singer Co, Binghamton, NY 13902. (MSC-16677) .
This document was prepared under th e spansorship of the National Aer onautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States Government n or any person acting on 'behalf of the United States G<>vernment assumes any liability r esulting from the use of the information contained in t:his document, or war.rants that such use will be free from privately owned rights.

130

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

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CllCLI 63 ON INQUIRY CARD

I [ TECH BRIEF

Concatenated Algebraic Decoder

A coding/decoding technique for manipulating information in digital data streams

For manipulating digital data, this technique mates two separate coding/ decoding methods to produce a hybrid inner-code/ outer-code system. Hardware to implement the technique has been developed using interactive digital circuitry to manipulate casually related digital data.
The inner code is an (8,4) orthogonal code which may be regarded as a (7,4) Hamming code augmented by an overall parity check bit (the last bit in each word). To correct one error, the decoder determines the 3-bit Hamming Code syndrome (P1P2Pa) from the :first seven codeword bits. If the syndrome is all Os, no errors have occurred; if the code word contains an odd number of ls, overall parity bit is in error (excluding, of course, the possibility of three or more errors) . In either event, information bits 1, 2, 3, and 5 can be assumed to be correct.
If the syndrome is other than all Os, it will uniquely identify the location of the error (again provided only one error has occurred). A logical combination of the syndrome bits can then be used as the error corrector. (If the error is not in an information bit, no correction is required.)
Thus, if the word contains no errors, no correction is made. If it contains either one or two errors, they are corrected. If the word contains three or more errors it is rejected. A total of 0.017 ms is avail-

able for carrying out the two steps needed to decode each inner code word. These decoded words then constitute the 4-bit symbols of the outer code. Symbols are shifted serially in groups of 15 to the outer-code decoder shift register.
Only erasures are to be corrected in the outer-code decoder. When the code word contains at most two erasures, it is always possible to shift the code word cyclically until one erasure appears at either the 4th or 9th symhol positon and the other appears at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, or 14th position. In the absence of either erasures or errors, any nine consecutive symbols of a (15,9) Reed-Solomon Code define the next succeeding symbol. If one of these nine symbols is an erasure, the 10th symbol then uniquely determines what these symbols must be. But this is precisely the situation when the code word is cyclically shifted as described above.
If the code word contains errors as well as erasures, the corrected erasures may be in error. If the number of erasures plus errors is six or less, however, distance properties of the code guarantee that the resulting corrected word will not be a code word and, hence, that some of the parity checks must fail. This event can therefore he detected by shifting the code cyclically 15 times ( ie, 15 I-symbol shifts}, and checking each time to see whether or not all the

parity check relationships are satisfied. While only six shifts are required, it is convenient to return the code to its original position.
Both erased symbols will he replaced by the time two full cycles (30 shifts} have been completed. Then the corrected word is shifted 15 more times. If any parity checks fail during this last step, or if more than two erasures are observed, the reject flip-flop is set and the decoded word is rejected. Otherwise it is accepted as a valid word. This completes the decoding operation. The decoded pair of command words can then be -read out serially (or on a 4-bit byte basis) from the 9th column of a shift register. This can he done whi'1e the first nine symbols of the next code word are being read in.
Note
This work was done by Raytheon Co for Johnson Space Center. For further information, write to: John T. Wheeler, Johnson Space Center, Code AT3, Houston, TX 77058. (MSC14058).
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National Aeronautlics and Space Administration. Neither the United Sbates Government nor any person acting on 1behaH of the United States Government assumes any lia·bility resulting fmm the use of the information contained in ~hi·s document, or warrants that such use will be free from privately owned rights.

132

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

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133

I I MICRO

PROCESSOR COMPUTER

DATA

STACK

MICROCOMPUTER INTERFACING: COMMAND DECODERS
Jonathan A. Titus and Christopher Titus
Tychon , Inc
Peter R. Rony and David G. Larsen
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Stat e University

Asmicrocomputer programs become larger and larger,
it becomes apparent that the user may wish to execute only certain sections, or all of the program sections, perhaps in different orders. One way of executing only certain sections would be to enter into the microcomputer the starting address of each section, or the address where the first instruction of each section is stored in memory. After entering the starting address, the user would have to instruct the microcomputer to begin execution of the program at that address. If the program contains ten sections, ten starting addresses and the function of each program section would have to be remembered.
An easier method would be to enter a single letter or number into the microcomputer using a teletypewriter,

DIAGNOSTIC
POINTER ADDRESSES

o< LO BYTE N HI BYTE

THUMBWHEEL

~ 2

N·2 1<

N+ 4 2(

N· 6 3<

N+ 8 LOCATION 4<

N·lO

6< ~---
I

N·12
__ __.,.
I

Organization of diagnostic program starting addresses in c o mmand address table

terminal, thumbwheel switch, or small keyboard. Once the character is entered from one of these input/output devices, the microcomputer has to determine the proper address to jump to, based on the entered character. Command decoder software permits commands to be entered into the microcomputer and decoded. Once the actions are performed, the microcomputer can return to the command decoder software so that another command can be entered, decoded, and acted upon.
A simple 8080 system monitor program can be written to enter information into the microcomp uter's read/write memory, to list the content of memory, and to move the content of one memory location to another. A teletypewriter can enter these commands into the microcomputer. The letters X, Y, and Z could be used in the command decoder software so that the microcomputer executes the enter, move, and list commands; however, it is difficult to remember that the X key corresponds to enter instructions and the Z key corresponds to list instructions. It would be easier to use the first letter of each command in the software: the E key causes the microcomputer to execute enter instructions-input some data; M executes move instructions, which move the content of memory; and L implements list instructions, which list the content of memory.
Software required to decode the command entered on the teletypewriter is listed in Example l; the software required to perform the enter, list, and move functions is not listed. At address CMDDEC, the teletypewriter input subroutine is called. The 8080 microprocessor only returns from the TTYIN subroutine when a key has been pressed. The 7-bit ASCII character will be in register A when the microprocessor does return. T he content of register A (the ASCII value for the key that was pressed) is then compared to the ASCII values for the valid singleletter commands ( 105 for E, 114 for L , a nd 115 for M) .
135

If the ASCII value for the pressed key is equal to any one of these values (the immediate data bytes for the CPI instructions), the microprocessor jumps to the section of the program that corresponds to that command.
No instructions are included in Example 1 to actually cause the move, list, or enter function to be performed. However, at the end of ea·ch section, the microprocessor should be programmed to jump back to CMDDEC. This means that after the microprocessor completes a task, it jumps back to the command decoder software so that another command can be entered, decoded, and the appropriate actions taken.
Suppose that in another program, a command decoder is needed for enter, exit, extract, and equalize commands. Because these commands all begin with the letter E, the
single letters N, E, X, and Q could be used respectively
for a single-letter command decoder. It might be diffiCU!t to remember whether E represents exit and X is extract, or that X is exit and E is extract. To solve this problem, the microprocessor can be programmed to recognize the first four letters of each command. Command EXTR would have to be entered for the extract sequence of instructions to be executed, and EQUA would have to be entered to execute the equalize sequence of instructions. Of course, a command decoder could be written so that the entire command is entered (exit, extract, enter, and equalize). Only if every character in the entered command matches the characters stored in memory are the desired acti.ons performed by the microcomputer. Such ,a program requires about 60 memory locations for the command decoder program and additional memory to store the ASCII characters for each command.
136

In some small systems it may be difficult to justify the cost of a teletypewriter or terminal. Instead, a thumbwheel switch, which is a very inexpensive peripheral device, might be used to enter different commands. The thumbwheel switch is used in this case (see Figure) to specify a diagnostic program that the microcomputer must execute to test digital~to-analog or analog-to-digital converters, memories, or peripheral devices. The switch has ten positions and produces binary-coded decimal (BCD) codes 0 through 9 (0000 through 1001). However, a particular diagnostic program must relate to a number on the switch. A pushbutton can be interfaced to the microcomputer; when it is pressed, producing a logic 0, the number on the thumbwheel switch should be interpreted as the number of a diagnostic program. The program listed in Example 2 must be called periodically to check the state of the pushbutton, and if it is pressed, to interpret the data from the thumbwheel ·switch as a diagnostic program number. If the pushbutton is not pressed, the microprocessor returns to the program that called CHECK.
Periodically, the microprocessor must call the CHECK subroutine. The first instruction in the subroutine inputs the data from the thumbwheel switch and the state of the pushbutton. The ANI instruction saves only the state of the pushbutton in the A register. If the pushbutton is not pressed, the microprocessor will return from the subroutine. If the pushbutton is pressed, indicating that a diagnostic program must be executed, the microprocessor will not return from the subroutine; instead, the stack pointer is incremented by two. This has the function of cleaning the return address for the subroutine off of the stack.
COMPUTER I DESIGN JUNE 1978

a new pin-out of an 18-pln, 5V, 1Kx4 static RAM ~hat we've been delivering In production quantities for a year and a half.
The SEMI 2114 features low power (onry 300 mw), TTL compatible 1/0,

and all the speed you need for microprocessor applications.
If you'd like complete information on the SEMI 2114, or any other members of the Royal Family of static RAMS, see your local EMM/SEMI
distributor, or contact us directly.
Memory at Work

Emm seM1, INC.
A subsidiary of Electronic Memories & Magnetics Corp., 3883 N. 28th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85107 (602) 263-0202
ALAllAMA: Gentry Aaaociatea, Huntavilia 205/534-9771 · ARIZONA: EMM , Phoen ix 602/263-0202 · CALIFORNIA: EMM, Hawthorne 213/1144-11881; EMM, Loa Alamitos 213/5118-8705; EMM, Burlingame 415/692-4251; Varigon, El Segundo 213/322-1120 ·FLORIDA: Gentry Aaaoc., Orlando 305/894-4401 · Ql!ORQIA: Gentry Assoc., Atlanta 404/455-1206 · ILLINOIS: EMM, Des Plaines 312/297-7090 · MASSACHutl!TTS: EMM, Lexington 617/881-9850 · MINNESOTA: EMM, Hopkins 612/933-7115 · NEW JERSEY: EMM, Cherry Hill 609/779-7911 · NIW YORK: EMM, Melvllle 518/423-5800 · TEXAS: EMM, Dallas 214/231-2539; Young Sales, Dallas 214/341-2900 · WASHINGTON: The Thorson Co., Bellvue 206/455-9180 · CANADA: Cantec, Ottawa 613/255-0363

CIRCLE 64 ON IN(j)UIRY CARD

137

CHECK, TABLE,

EXAMPLE 2 Command Decoder Using a Thumbwheel Switch

IN 340 ANI 020 RNZ INXSP INXSP IN 340 ANI 017 ADDA LXIH TABLE 0 MOVEA MVID 000 DADD MOVEM INXH MOVDM XCHG PCHL

/Input the status of the pushbutton land the thumbwheel switch data. /Save only the pushbutton 's /state in the A register. I Return if the pushbutton is a logic 1. /Increment the stack pointer to "clean" /the return address off of the stack. /Input the data from the thumbwheel /switch again. /Save only the thumbwheel switch data.
I Double the data from the switch. I Load register pair H with the "base I address" of the address table.
/Save the doubled number in the E register. /Set the D register to 000.
I Add the switch data to the table address. /Load a value from the table in memory, into E. I Increment the memory address. /Load a value from the table in memory, Into D. /Move the two address bytes Into Hand L. /Jump to the address pointed to by Hand L.
I Address to jump to if a 0 is on /the thumbwheel switch. I Address to jump to if a 1 is on /the thumbwheel switch.

I Address to jump to if a 9 is on /the thumbwheel switch. This is the /end of the table.

The microprocessor then inputs the BCD data from the thumbwheel switch and sets all ot>her bits in register A to 0 by executing the ANI instruction. The BCD data in register A are doubled when the ADDA instruction is executed. This result is saved in the E register, and the D register is set to 0. The address for the table that contains the starting addresses for the ten diagnostic programs is loaded into register pair H. The doubled BCD value is added to the address of the table. Register pair H now points to the starting address of the diagnostic program, the number for which was dialed in on the thumbwheel switch. This address has to be moved from memory into register pair D (the D and E registers) by two MOV-type instructions.
Once the starting address is in register pair D, it is moved into register pair H and then loaded into the microprocessor's program counter. The microprocessor then begins to execute the diagnostic program specified hy the thumbwheel switch. With this type of command decoder, ten addresses must be stored in the command address table, even if only three diagnostic programs are stored in memory. Otherwise, a number could be dialed in that does not represent a valid diagnostic pro-
138

gram number. The seven "dummy" addresses could be

used to jump the microprocessor back to the beginning

of the program, causing no net effect.

Command decoders in one form or another are used

in most microcomputer programs. BASIC interpreters use

these decoders to perform different ·tasks for LET, SIN,

LN, DIM, READ, and PRINT commands; editors, assemblers,

debuggers, system monitors, and operating systems use

them to allow users to direct the How of information.

Microcomputer-controlled peripherals such as p/ROM and

EPROM programmers and floppy discs also use command

decoders, as do many end-user products. The micro-

computer-controlled microwave oven has a command de-

coder to defrost, broil, or simmer food, and an atomic

absorption spectrophotometer has to know whether it is

running blanks, unknowns, or standards. Without com-

mand decoders, which are an important building block

in microcomputer software, the application of micro-

l J computers to many problems would be severely limited.
This article is based, with permission, on a column

appearing in American Laboratory magazine.

_ ..

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

1heHP2649A
is what ~u make it.

A controller. It's a natural. just program the built-in
8080 microprocessor to do your thing, and get it into your system. The HP 2649A has a variety of
synchronous, asynchronous, serial and parallel interfaces (including HP-IB, our IEEE
Interface Standard 488). This makes it easy to hook up with instruments and peripherals. In short, it's a complete controller system in a single package.
A terminal. Terrific! Great editing
ability, a choice of keyboards, flexible data communications,
and a variety of baud rates make it an excellentfit in an RJE
situation. Preprogrammed firmware is available to get you
off to a head start.

A microcomputer. liVhy not? The
microprocessorgives you a lot ofpower. Then you can add ROM memory, interface with a disc, control peripherals, and access other systems via a modem. So the HP 2649A acts like a small computer, even zf it doesn't look like one.
A graphics display station. Sure.
You can put a window in your system and see exactly what's going on. Alphanumerics,
auto-plot, and full graphics, including Area Shading, Pattern Definition and Rubber-band line, give you the whole picture.

You can really make

a lot with the HP 2649A.

You start with the

basics - a CRT, power

supply, backplane, I/O

cards, .MPU, and versatile,

modular architecture.

You program

it to do your specific job, and pick only the

memory, keyboard, I/O, breadboard,

and other modules you need. These include RAM (up to 32K bytes on one

module), ROM, and PROM boards, which all simply slip into the chassis.

(There are slots for your own boards as well.) You can also

add 220K bytes of mass storage on dual plug-in cartridges.

To top it off, we have documentation, development

tools, and a one week training course in programming and customizing

the HP 2649A.

,------------------------

So whatever you

I'm interested in your microcomputer/controller/graphic display

call it, call your nearest

station/terminal.

Hewlett-Packard office

D Have your representative contact me.

listed in the White

Pages and ask for complete

details. Or send us the coupon. We'll help you make

D Send me technical literature. D Send me OEM information.

it any way you want it.

Name

Title

Company

HEWLETT~PACKARD

Address City/State/ Zip

CIRCLE 65 ON INQUIRY CARD

Mail to: Ed Hayes, Marketing Manager, Hewlett-Packard Data Terminals Division, 19400 Homestead Road, Dept. 1218, Cupertino CA 95014.

42802HPT6

~,If I~~
ADVANCED OPTOELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

How To GiveYour
Displays a Lot More Character:

Put more LED alphanumerics in less space with Monsanto's new MAN2815. Save panel space with
the "More Character Display" from Monsanto. Advanced engineering gives
you more character density IcharacterI
inch of panel space) than competitive displays. Monsanto's unique lens and font design takes advantage of human engineering experience. More pleasant viewing with a height/width ratio that is optimized, not squatty and square.
MAN2815 gives you wider viewing angles with less distortion. Our
new lens design lets you view the characters from several angles. Where other displays distort at off-axis viewing angles, the MAN2815 shows you the real message ... clearly, brightly, undistorted. Less chance of error. More convenience.
Displays can be precisely aligned from character to character with MAN2815. The MAN2815 is precision
manufactured to allow end-to-end stacking for any number of units. And you can maintain the alignment of the characters from module to module so a full line of words looks even and professional.
Reliability is high ... the power requirement is a cool low. An
average current of 0.5 mA is more than adequate for viewing in ambient condi·

Left: More characters-MAN2B15 (top) and competitive unit character density in same panel space. Right: Less distortion-MAN2B15 (top) and competitive unit when viewed 25° off of normal.

tions of 100 ft-candles of illumination. That's only 60 mW, yet the MAN2815 is rated for 1200 mW. And competitive units can't match the MAN2815 for operating temperature range 10-85°C.). Not only do you get power savings . .. but cooler, longer, and more reliable operation.

MONSANTO

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Send now for the MAN2815 Design Kit-limited time offer.
Now you can order Monsanto's More
Character Design Kit: sample, complete data, applications design information, everything you need to evaluate this new display in your prototype. Compare it to other units. You'll get "more character" in your equipment.
Send $44.00 Icheck or money order,
please) to: Monsanto Commercial Products Co., Electronics Division, 3400 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Telephone 1415) 493-3300.

FIRST IN LED MATERIAL AND TECHNOLOGY
Monsanto

142

CIRCLE 67 ON IN'f)UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

MICRO :;~~';,~,'~-~~" DATA STACK

A-D/D-A Data Acquisition Packa9e for microNOVA Saves On Both Software and Interface Desi9n

Hardware interface circuit design, fabrication, and software program development problems that are involved in preparing to operate a computer system are alleviated for Data General's microNOVA series of microcomputers with the introduction of an analog A-DI D-A data acquisition system by Datel Systems, Inc, 1020 Turnpike St, Canton, MA 02021. This SineTrac ST-MNOVA series includes a hardware interface and development software program on paper tape. The circuit board slides directly into the microNOVA's card guides, and

is mechanically and electrically compatible with the computer bus.
Three PC board layouts comprise the family, and may be varied to match a user's con.figuration and cost requirements. All measure 7.5 x 9.5" (19.1 x 24.1 cm). The high density microcircuit A-D and D-A components are manufactured inhouse.
The A-DID-A master board accommodates up to 32 single-ended or 16 differential A-D channels with two optional D-A channels and a ±15-V de-de power converter. The A-D is a successive approximation 12-bit converter.

Prices start at $630 (single units) for 16 A-D channels. Add-on items such as additional A-D channels, ADC, amplifiers, and converter are priced separately.
The A-D slave channel expander board, priced at $345, acts as a slave under control of the A-DID-A master board while adding 64 single-ended or 32 differential channels. Further expansion to 256 channels is available by cascading several of the boards inside the computer or by using the company's System 256 remote A-DI D-A housing and a controller-only version of the master board.
In addition to the master board's two D-A channels, a standalone peripheral offers four or eight 12-bit D-A

MICRONOVA CPU & MEMORY

A-D CHANNEL EXPANSION

A CONN

A-D START FINAL
ADDRESS AND COMPARATOR
LOGIC

A-D DATA CHAN CONTROL
LOGIC

CONT LINES 16-BIT BUS

ADC AND DIFF OR PROG AMP AND ANAlDG MUX

v----~ ANALOG 1"-r---~ INPUTS

A -D DATA

D-A STR ~--~" DAC

D-A OUT

D-A ADDR AND
CONT ROL LOGIC
12-BIT BUS

::=====:::>! DAC

D-A OUT

Sine-Trac A-D/D-A board is directly compatible with bus characteristics of microNOVA; it may be interfaced to all other Data General peripherals and software support offered for the microcomputer. Various component configurations are available, allowing 32 A-D channels, two D-A channels, de/de power converter, differential or programmable amplifier, and analog multiplexer. Datel supplies diagnostic paper tape program with board for teletypewriter printouts once analog signal connections are made

143

channels/board. The 4-channel board may include the optional ±15-V power converter, while the 8-channel version requires external ± 15-V power; both have a 12-bit TTL port. Prices start at $550 and $785, respectively. The master board and D-A peripheral exclude certain Data General controller circuits which are available separately from Date! or Data General.
The master board aids signal conditioning with its offering of an optional differential instrumentation amplifier for fixed gains to 1000, and gain-programmable amplifiers. It operates with the company's software, as well as Data General's NOVA assembly language, BASIC, FORTRAN, nos, RDOs, and programs for peripheral devices.
Interfacing is by register transfer, interrupt, or DMA to all microNOVA compatible peripherals. An included diagnostic program tape allows immediate teletypewriter printouts of analog input signals as soon as signal connections are made, applying it to all situations that require analog voltage r/o to the computer.
Designed to place A-DID-A components and interface controller inside the computer, the board holds D-A sections wirh two extra latched digi-
Microcomputers for Data Communications Contain CCD Memory
Up to 256k bytes of low cost ccn memory are available in the 20 series communications processor, a Z80-
0
based communications-oriented microcomputer system from Micom Systems, Inc, 9551 Irondale Ave, Chatsworth, ·CA 91311. The memory inte~ face implementation permits the ccn

Datel's data acquisition package contains 32 A-D and two D-A channe ls on single board (right) that slides into Data General's microNOVA microcomputer, relieving user of the problem of designing and building hardware interface circuit and developing software programs. Optional peripheral is 4-channel, 12-bit D-A board with 15-V power converter (left), or 8-channel board requiring external ±15-V power. Optional A-D channel expander board, adding 64 channels, acts as a slave under control of master board
tal bits per DAC. The bits may be used under program control. To achieve process system compatibility, an A-D channel used with a D-A channel permits the user to insert the computer in the control loop; in addition, 4- to 20-mA current inputs (common to process tra~smitters) are included. Optional onboard DACS can serve to calibrate the A-D section.
Hardware functions such as current and final channel address registers for the A-D section and a selectable clock for DMA mode relieve software requirements and increase throughput. Each A-D and D-A section appears as a separate r / o address in the microNOVA 6-bit peripheral address bus, and is referenced as such by the assembler mnemonics.
The A-D section features a 20-µ.s throughput period, 12-bit binary resolution, 2's complement coding, ±10-V input range, and overall system accuracy of ±0.025% of full-scale input range. Sample-and-hold aperture time is 50 ns with 12-µ.s acquisition time and 8 µ.s of A-D conversion. 1/ 0 transfer rates of 45k samples Is in DMA mode can be achieved. The D-A section has 12-bit accuracy with ±5- or ±10-V output ranges, 50-mn impedance, and drive of ±5 mA.
Circle 400 on Inquiry Card
to be accessed in the same manner as a floppy disc.
The processor is suited to the implementation of concentrators or contention units with four or eight channels, and single-channel converter systems between different communications protocols. The memory configuration enhances applications in large data environments, as well as CRT terminal controller uses requiring a large paging memory.

In a 2.5" (6.35-cm) high package, the unit can be equipped with up to nine synchronous and asynchronous communications interfaces, 6k bytes of p / ROM control firmware, 7k bytes of RAM buffer storage, and an operator's console consisting of LED status display and IO-position thumbwheel switch. This module permits diagnostic test and system monitoring. Additional RAM and p/ROM can be provided in custom configurations. Other features include an auto-restart timer, programmable realtime clock, and rear-mounted 25-pin connectors.
The processor normally is supplied in turnkey systems with firmware to perform communications network functions. Alternatively, it is available to OEMS with a program development system to facilitate firmware development.
Circle 40 I on Inquiry Card
Improved Language Augments ..uComputer Syst em Development
FORTRAN, an applications language rather than a system-type language, allows a system designer to create software modules to solve problems that other microprocessor development languages cannot adequately handle. Applications requiring large amounts of detailed arithmetic computations are easily processed by FORTRAN-80, which meets and exceeds the ANS FORTRAN 77 language subset specification ANSI X3J3 / 90.
Intel Corp's Microcomputer Systems Div, 3065 Bowers Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95051 has developed the language to operate on Intellecn Series
IJ models 220 and 230, and the MDS-
800 and -888 development systems as well. Equipped with this problemsolving tool, the system can perform standalone FORTRAN processing, in addition to developing applications software for microprocessor-based systems. It is available in single- and double-density floppy diskettes at a price of $1750 for single units.
Supporting the company's floatingpoint standard, the language has a complement of intrinsic functions including all trigonometric functions and absolute value. Formatted r/o is produced with FORTRAN and the rs1s-n run-time library to ease the problem of 1/0 handling.
The language produces relocatable and linkable object code that is compatible with both PL /M and 8080/ 8085 macro assembler. In addition, it supports full symbolic debugging with ICE-80TM and -85T", and contains

144

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PDP-11 users, let the computer experts heln
you play your hana
DEC* computers are among the best ever. Everybody knows that. But even with DEC there is room for improvement. We took advantage of that fact and made the best ever even better. In the process, we've given you a chance to supercharge your present PDP-11*instead of upgrading to the next computer. We've given you more time and improved your cash flow with the most complete line of sophisticated computer enhancements on the market today. They are available off the shelf. They are priced competitively. They install in minutes. They provide immediate results. And, in every instance, they outperform the competition. They should. We are-the only computer people in the business. We are the only people really qualified to help you play out your hand and win.
Here are all the cards in our present deck: CACHE/34'" ,CACHE/40'" and CACHE/45'", a series of 2048-byte single-board buffer memories which increase processing speeds as much
as 100% in the PDP-11/34, PDP-11/40 and PDP-11/45. SCAT145'", an add-in memory which
installs 128K of high-speed memory on the Fastbus* of the PDP-11/45, PDP-11/50 and PDP-11/55. QUADRASYNC'", a quad interface board between the PDP-11 Unibus* and 4 asynchronous serial communication channels which presents only one load to the Unibus. Current loop or EIA/RS-232 versions available. REBUS'", a dual-width · board which supplies a repeating function for the Unibus without requiring space for an entire system unit. And UNIVERTER'" , an adapter which converts the LSI* bus to a Unibus structure and gives the LSI-11 access to a megabyte of memory.
There are more cards coming. In fact, we would like to build something especially for you. We'll tell you all about it when you write for details on our present line.
Ahle Write now. Able Computer Tec4nology, Inc., 1751 Langley Avenue, Irvine, California 92714. (714) 979-7030. TWX 910-595-1729.
the computer experts
*DEC, LSI, UNIBUS, PDP and FASTBUS are registered trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporat io!J.
CIRCLE 89 ON INQUIRY CARD

MICRO ~~~';.~~':.":.'" CATA STACK

sophisticated code optimization to ensure efficient compiled programs that use the least amount of memory.
Such benefits as reduced, concise codes; reduced program size; more power; greater reliability; and improved 1/ 0 handling are obtained from FORTRAN-80. A structured programming approach is supported by an if . . . then . . . else . . . if . . . else . . . end if construct. String variables also are permitted.
The language handles sequential and direct access files. It also implements internal file units for formatting and reformatting of data in internal memory buffers. Added error handling facilities permit a branch to a specified location if an error occurs.
List directed formatting enables a read or write without a format statement; data representation may be formatted, free formatted, or unformatted. Finally, this version supports logical or nonequivalence operators and permits arrays of up to seven dimensions.
Further extensions that have been added are logical operators, binary and hexadecimal integer constants; and ability to specify an integer or logical storage length of one, two, or four bytes. Besides these language features, the compiler facilitates program development. Multiple compilations of a main program and subroutines, similar to those of large-scale data processing systems, are performed together. Assembly language listings, as well as cross-reference, symbol attribute, and error listings, of any compiled program are produced to aid in debugging.
Circle 402 o n In q uiry Card
Microcomputers Solve Professional and Small Business Problems
System 88 is a line of personal computing microcomputers. Hardware, contained in three separate units, consists of a main unit using an 8080processor and accommodating from one to three mini-floppy drives, an upper/lower case keyboard with control keys, and a quick updating video monitor. PolyMorphic Systems, 460 Ward Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 is offering the system (excluding printer) for a starting price of $2795.
With a flexible file system and built-in application aids, system software includes complete operating

software plus word processor, BASIC, and complete macro assembler on disc. BASIC has multidimensioned strings and numeric arrays, a plot statement to support graphics, variable cross-reference listing by line number, and inverse trig and hyperbolic functions. The text editor allows
Single-Board Analog Output Systems Mate With LSl-11 / µComputers
Two single-board analog output systems, designed to plug into the backplane of Digital Equipment Corp's LSI-11/2 microcomputer series, are available from Data Translation Inc, 4 Strathmore Rd, Natick, MA 01760. Both models, the 12-bit DT2766 and 8-bit DT2767, have four D-A output channels on a dual height card. Each DAC is fully buffered to avoid intermediate <>utputs. Four digital outputs are available for TTL control signals. All channels are powered directly off the computer's 5-V power through a highly regulated, low noise de-de converter.
Each board is shipped with test and calibration software for verified operation with the computer at the field site. The LSI-11/2, in combination with either model, forms a 4-channel analog output system. Applications include industrial and laboratory uses for computerized control and readout.
The 2766 offers 12-bit resolution and accuracy of ±0.012% FSR, while the 2767 has 8-bit resolution and accuracy of ±0.2% FSR. Differential linearity is ±"Jf LSB, gain and offset are adjustable to 0 for each channel, and settling time is 3 pS to 0.01% FSR.
Circle 404 on Inquiry Card

Line of PolyMorphic Systems 88 microcompute rs includes System 8813 consistin g of processor, mini-floppy drives, keyboard, video monitor, and system software
the operator to move, copy, and delete blocks of text, search for specific shings, and exercise 2-dimensional cursor control. In addition, an integral RS-232 printer utility is already configured for several printers and can be adapted to others.
Circle 403 on Inquiry Card
Disc Controller Formatter Interfaces Easily to Microcomputers
Designed to provide a cost-effective interface for microprocessor-based computer systems, the DCFlO hard disc controller formatter conforms to industry standard 2.5M, 5M, lOM, and 20M-byte disc drives. These drives may use an IBM 2315 or 5440 removable cartridge and up to three fixed platters.
Physically, the device is a 3.5" (8. 9-cm) rackmount chassis package for low power dissipation, with no fan cooling required. Functionally, the controller can be divided into three parts: the computer interface, including address decoding; the drive controls, concerned with drive status and head position; and the data transfer portion for writing and reading.
The disc drive contains one or more platters with data recorded on both surfaces. The cartridge is organized into 200 or 400 cylinders, with each one containing two or more tracks with the same track number. Each track's data are subdivided into 24 equal sectors, and each sector has four main fields.
Sync field is the first. A 2-byte header field follows, which contains the cylinder, sector, and head address as well as a defective track flag re-

146

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

..............

MICRD =:.~":.~':.':." DATA STACK

TRACK 000

11216'32161·2 CYLINDER ADDRESS

LONGITUDINAL PARITY FIELD

Disc format diagram for XCOMP's DCF10 disc controller formatter. Heads are positioned to the same track number on all disc surfaces ; data are accessed by cylinders to minimize access time. Tracks are divided into 24 sectors, which are each further divided into four fields : sync; header containing cylinder, sector, and head address and defective track flag ; 256-byte data; and 16-bit longitudinal parity fields

corded on the disc when a surface analysis program was run. This field is tested by hardware before a data transfer is started; a defective track or address mismatch aborts the transfer. Next is a 256-byte data field, and finally a 16-bit longitudinal parity field that the controller adds during a write operation; it is read at the end of a read operation to guarantee data reliability.
Controller and disc communicate through use of various processor instructions. Either a CPU memory DMA chip or buffer (with 256 bytes minimum) controls data transfers. The DMA must be assigned a high priority on the memory bus to meet the 310kbyte transfer rate.
The disc controller from XCOMP Inc, 7571 Convoy Ct, San Diego, CA 92111 utilizes random access, rotating memory disc drives to provide up to 40M bytes of storage on microcomputer systems. It operates up to four disc drives with simultaneous seek and overlapping seek/data transfer in multiple disc drive systems.
The controller bus, a byte-oriented 1/ 0 system used to communicate with the CPU, comprises eight bidirectional data lines, seven control lines, three test lines, and one initialize line. Data lines transfer an 8-bit byte of data between the processor and controller.

Communication over the bus is performed on a request/response basis where each sequence is processorcontrolled. The design of the controller, which incorporates a universal 8-bit CPU interface, facilitates adaptation to any 8-bit computer.
Circle 405 on Inquiry Card
System Monitor for 8085 Microprocessors
Is Hardware Connected
Examination and modification of memory locations and microprocessor registers at any point in an operating program through the implementation of addressable traps can be handled by the MICRO MATE-85 system monitor operating with a keyboard terminal. The operating program may be started or stopped at any location, or may be stepped one location at a time. With this tool from Spectrogram Corp, 385 State St, North Haven, CT 06473, both the microprocessor system development engineer and programmer may load or punch a paper tape of memory data for 8085 microprocessor systems that do not contain conventional peripheral 1/0.
Circle 406 on Inquiry Card

5-100 Compatible Single-Board 11Computer Holds Bk p/ROM, Bk RAM
Geared toward OEM users, the Little Brain I is a 6802-based single-board microcomputer that is S-100 compatible. Components include an 8-bit bidirectional data bus, 16-bit address bus, onchip 128 x 8-bit RAM, clock oscillator and driver, expandable interrupt system, and DMA capability. The board has onboard voltage regulators ; fully buffered, TTL compatible data, address, and control buses; and a 128-word scratchpad memory. The 1.8-MHz crystal controlled timing assures accurate, program execution and 1/0 operation.
Program memory permits from lk x 8 to 16k x 8 words of p /ROM to be installed on the processor board. uv erasable 2708, nonerasable 2708P, or 2716 type p/RoMs may be used; 7643 type fusible-link p/RoMs m ay b e used in place of up to 8k of RAM. The 2114 type fully static RAM may be installed in lk x 8-bit increments for an onboard capacity of Bk x 8 words.
Seven baud rates from 110 to 19.2k are switch selectable; 16 rates are available onboard through jumpers. The RS-232-C 1/o features full- or half-duplex asynchronous operation

148

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

CIRCLE 70 ON INQUIRY CARD

/-0.!!!t~_I _I'
~Systems, Inc., 1650 W. McNab Road, Fl Lauderdale, FL 33309 · Phone (305) 974-1380
the MODCOMP Classic at booth# 1507 during the 1978 National Computer Conference.
CllCLE 71 ON INfi)UllY CAID

and automatic parity generation and checking. Other specs include power requirements of 8 Vdc at 1.6 A (max) and 16 Vde at 100 mA, operating temperature of 1 to 70 °C, and 98% relative humidity.
BPI Electronics, Inc, 4470 SW 74th Ave, Miami, FL 33155 has added a monitor that operates through the RS232-C 1/o channel permitting operation with most CRTS, hardcopy terminals, and computers. Multidrop operation permits up to 1000 boards to operate on the same 1/0 line. Each board receives and retransmits characters to the next terminal; the selected station then interprets incoming characters as commands. Command mode is terminated by an escape sequence. Error messages are transmitted for parity and framing errors, as well as receiver overrun.
Custom programming services are available. A fully socketed version with 2k monitorI debug program and l k words of RAM sells for $395.
C ircle 407 on Inq ui ry Ca rd
,uComputer Development Tool Operates in Dual Memory Map Mode
EXORciser II, an extended version of the EXORciser Development System, offers capabilities needed to design and develop high performance microcomputer systems based on the M68BXX series of 2-MHz chips from Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc, PO Box 20912, Phoenix, AZ 85036. The system directly supports designs
Motorola's EXORc iser II consists of two modules , power supply, and 14-s lot chass is which holds PC board modules necessary to user to emu late microcomputer system ha rdware . Development system contai ns motherboard, data and address buses, and RS-232-C port

of 1.5-MHz M68AXX and LO-MHz M6800 series.
With this tool, the user is able to communicate with systems, load programs, monitor the execution of programs in real time, and isolate and analyze hardware and software problems. Optional modules allow configuration of the company's other microprocessor and microprogrammable families.
Dual memory map mode of operation allows full use of the complete microprocessor addressing map. With this feature, emulation and debugging of the user's system can be achieved more completely since memory in the 65k-byte map does not need to be allocated to the EXbug 2 program, which resides in its own 65k-byte map. It may also reside in the user's memory map.
Optional modules are provided with a jumper arrangement for assigning memory and peripherals to either map in the dual map mode, or to any page in extended memory systems. A 20-pin connector on certain modules offers additional flexibility for implementing priority interrupts, multipaged memory and 1/o systems, parity error detection, and power down restart.
The basic unit consists of MEX6800-2 MPU II with timer and priority interrupt controller, and MEX 68DB2 Debug II modules, power supply, and 14-slot chassis with cover to accommodate emulation PC board modules. A motherboard provides power and signal connections to the microprocessor control, data, and address buses, and an RS-232-C port facilitates communications with peripherals. The module supplies eight selectable baud rates, from llO to 9600 bits/s, and serves as the communications link between EXbug 2 firmware and the user's terminal.
C ircle 408 o n Inquiry C a rd
Microcomputer Uses Plug-in Cards to Achieve Application Flexibility
The S-100, 8080-based UC2000 microcomputer system is available in five configurations (A to E) which range from a mainframe card rack to a complete system with CPU, memory, multiple flop py disc, and printer. Although systems B through E are supplied with an 8080-based computer, any S-100 compatible computer

can be used in the A system version, thus suiting it for industry, business, and hobby applications. Prices start at $995.
The 54 x 48 x 39-cm console is provided with a 12-MHz, 30.5cm CRT which has a 7 x 9 matrix upper /lower case alphanumeric font, 96 ASCII character set, and 64-char x 16-line display. The 8-card slot mainframe can hold up to 64k bytes of RAM. The standard system is supplied with Bk bytes. Also included are an 18-A power supply, axial blower, and 56-key ASCII unit with various keyboard options.
Plug connections on all subsystem modules facilitate maintenance. An IEC approved emi filtered power connector is standard; DB25 type connector slots are provided on the rear panel for peripheral interfacing. A 230-V, 50-Hz power option also is available.
Infinite, Inc, 1924 Waverly Pl, Melbourne, FL 32901 has developed a special built-in program that electronically replaces the function of many mechanical switches, thereby reducing the operating controls required. Extensive software is available for the system.
Circle 409 o n Inqu iry C a rd
J1Processor Development System Communicates With Host Mainframe
Microprocessor design teams that use development software stored in a large mainframe computer can now use the 8001 or 8002 microprocessor development systems from Tektronix, In c, PO Box 500, Beaverton, OR 97077 as work stations communicating with the central mainframe over standard RS232 lines. The added software feature allows downloading of source data from the host computer operating system and uploading of data from the development units to the host.
Users will be able to implement the 8001 as a work station; software development capabilities that it lacks may be supplied through the user's

151

MICRO ~~~~~~':.~" DATA STACK

own p rogram. Another alternative is to link 8001 stations to an 8002 to access the capabilities of the 8002.
A central design data base also may be shared among several units operating as design work stations. Programs designed for one microprocessor system can be borrowed for another system under development; they can be tested, debugged, modified, or expanded using the 8002 to operate on the new system. Separate hardware/software teams working on the design of a common system can interact through the central computer, thus saving time and increasing the chance of an optimum design solution.
This program is a standard feature of the 8002. To operate it, the user must enter a simple program in the mainframe computer. The necessary program listings and operating instructions for several computer operating systems will be supplied.
An updated processor emulator module that supports the Intel 8085A microprocessor also has been announced for both development systems. When inserted into the system, the card may be used to develop, edit, and test software for the 8085A. Using the prototype control probe, the finished breadboarded system may be connected to the development system for in-circuit emulation, in real time, of the complete hardware/software prototype. The systems now support the Intel 8080A and 8085A, Motorola 6800, Texas Instruments TMS 9900, and Zilog Z80 microprocessors and their appropriate second sources.
Ci rcle 4 10 on In q uiry Ca rd
Realtime Clock, A-D and D-A Converters Are LSl-11 Compatible
Three types of data acquisition cards, compatible with the LSl-11/2 and LSI-11, are the ADCll, a 16-channel, 12-bit ADC; the DACll, a 4-channel, 12-bit DAC; and the DRTCll, a pro~ gramrnable realtime clock. All are functional supersets of similar Digital Equipment produets, but are in the dual width format; they plug into the LSI-11 backplane. Andromeda Systems, Inc, 14701 Arminta St #J, Panorama City, CA 91402 has introduced compatible connector boxes (CB 11 series) which facilitate external connection to these cards.

The ADC card has 16 multiplexed inputs (eight differential inputs may be special ordered) . Its conversion rate is 20 µ.S /channel (50 kHz). Operational modes are auto-sequence, burst, and truncation. Full rate conversions independent of the CPU program speed are due to the 16-word FIFO data buffer.
Providing remote ground sensing, each of the four analog output channels of the DAC card has a 12-bit DAC that settles to ±J~ LSB in less than 3 µ.S · There also are 16 digital control outputs (4/channel) and four pulse outputs (1I channel).
Minicomputer-Based Software Improves Microprocessor Design
By using computers more powerful than the microprocessor that is incorporated in a system design, OEMS can experience higher speed, larger memory, more powerful editing capability, and higher speed peripherals of a host computer during the design phase. OEMS using S2000, S6800, and S9900 microprocessors of American Microsystems, Inc, 3800 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051 can obtain minicomputer-based software from The Boston Systems Office, Inc, 400-1 Totten Pond Rd, Waltham, MA 02154.
The software includes cross assemblers, relocating cross assemblers, cross linkage editors, and simulatordebuggers. It is written in host CPU assembly language for the DECsystemlO, DECsystem20, PDP-11, and Data General Nova, SuperNova, and Eclipse.
The exact instruction set of the microprocessor is used on the minicomputer. An unlimited-size block of instructions can be written as a single macro-instruction. Conditional assem-

Methods for generating and measuring time intervals, counting events, and determining the frequency of a signal are provided by the counter/ timer. It interrupts the LSl-H. at programmed intervals or on detection of an external signal via its two Schmitt trigger inputs that may be set to trigger on a positive or negative transition between ±1'2 V. There are 13 internally generated rates ranging from 1 µ.s to 1 h, and five operational modes: single interval, repeated interval, event time from trigger, event interval time, and frequency count.
Circle 411 on Inquiry C a rd
bly instructions permit several versions of the program to be generated using a single source file.
Error messages are displayed on the terminal and are placed in the listing file. The assemblers generate dummy object code for correction when errors occur. The ASCII object file can be in AMI standard hexadecimal, relocatable, or other formats permitting the files to be downline loaded directly into RAM or p/ROM.
C ircle 412 o n Inqu iry Ca rd
Linearizing ADC Interfaces With 8-Bit Microprocessors
Handshaking between 8-bit microprocessors and the company's series 100 analog scanner line, the SLllO linearizing A-D converter employs a byte serial architecture to enable a processor to command and interrogate up to 160 channels of data along a single, bidirectional, 8-bit data bus. The converter is designed by the San Diego Instrument Laboratory, 7969 Engineer Rd, San Diego, CA 92111

152

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Nice going, DEC®

DEC's microcomputer
DEC's LSI-ll®has been called the world's most powerful 16-bit microcomputer, and we wouldn't argue with that at all.
Good show, DEC.
!11Reg1stertd trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation

Plessey's Micro-1
In fact, we like DEC's micro so much that we turned it into a mini and named it the Plessey Micro-I.
The Micro-1 consists of a DEC LSI-11 combined with a Plessey Unibus® converter and Plessey backplanes, memory controller and interfaces, packaged in either a 5Yi" or lOYz" rack-mount chassis.
The Plessey Micro-1 has the full instruc-
tion repertoire of the PDP-11/ 34® (more than
400 instructions), supported by DEC's RTll operating systems and diagnostic software. You can mix Q bus® and Unibus interfaces and peripherals; use DMA from your floppies and discs; and think what you can do with the multilevel priority interrupt structure.
All this minicomputer performance is available at microcomputer prices. And we're shipping now.
Values like these have made us the largest independent supplier of DEC-compatible peripherals.Our productline presently includes add-in/ add-on core and semiconductor memories, cartridge disc systems, floppy disc systems, mag tape systems, complete computer-based systems, and a wide variety of backplanes, expansion chassis, and other accessories.
We're the only real alternative to DEC, a complete single source. For all the details, please contact the nearest Plessey sales office today.

· Plessey Peripheral Systems
17466 Daimler, Irvine, California 92714, (714) 540-9945

CIRCLE 72 ON IN9UIRY CARD

153

MICRO ~:~~~~":.~" DATA STACK

SERIES 100 SCANNERS SL 115 RESISTANCE SCANNER
ANY 8 - BIT MICROPROCESSOR
16-BIT ADDRESS BUS
OR I/0 PORT
8 - BIT DATA BUS
OR l/O PORT

SL 1\0 LINEARIZING A-D CONVERTER

8- BIT BIDIRECTIONAL DATA BUS

CONTROL LOGIC

BINARY TO 0
1-0F-8 DECODER I

LOW BYTE WRITE

LOW BYTE READ------~ HIGH BYTE READ-------~ }NOT USED

8- BIT BIDIRECTIONAL DATA BUS

Timing for SANLAB's linearizing ADC involves two write instructions, a start command, and two read instructions. Timing signals are structured for conventional 1/0 porting or for memory mapping. Memory mapped architecture of SL110 minimizes software by making entire repertoire of memory instructions avai lable for scanner control and manipulation of scanner data

to store and load processbr commands into the scanners, initiate scanner sampling, linearize and digitize the resulting outputs, and store the results in onboard memory for processor retrieval.
Linear and nonlinear modes are bit selectable. When activated, an on-

board thermocouple linearizer provides special functions accurate to within 0.1% of full scale for scanner signals. Sample rates up to 40 channels /s are available.
Features include a 3-state 1/ 0 structure, TTL / CMOS compatibility, choice of direct bus connection or porting

through peripheral interface devices,

and memory mapping. Output data

are provided in binary engineering

units and bit selectable temperature

scales in Celsius or Fahrenheit. The

$445 unit plugs into a standard 6.25"

(16-cm) card slot on l" (2.5-cm)

centers.

Circle 413 on Inquiry Card

Multiple Port Computer Functions Alone or as Frontend Processor
Asynchronous communications at selectable rates from 110 to 9600 baud, and synchronous communications at rates in excess of 50k baud are enabled by the MMl-MSC single-board computer with four serial 1/0 ports. Said by Control Logic, Inc, 9 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760 to be the first such computer to provide multiple serial communications ports, it is

supplied with a Z80 CPU that has lk bytes of 2708 EPROM, or 2k bytes of 2716 EPROM and 1280 bytes of RAM.
Interrupt capability is provided upon receipt of data from all four ports, as well as three external interrupt states. Compatible with the company's MMl microcomputer line, the board can be used as a frontend communications processor for a generalpurpose microcomputer system as well as a standalone single-board computer.
Circle 414 on Inquiry Card

Development System Supports ZSO ,..Processor Design
A 2-chip method is incorporated by Zilog, Inc, 10460 Bubb Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 in the ZDS-1/40 development system to reduce problems inherent with connecting the user's system to a development system, and to allow precise emulation to clock frequencies of 4 MHz. Realtime emulation is achieved by using two microprocessor circuits-a Z80-A CPU in-

154

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

We're getting tough with DEC

The PDP-11/ 34®by DEC
T he DEC PDP-11/34 is fast and powerful. Stand-
ard features include stack architecture, multilevel vectored interrupts, hardware multiplyI divide and memory management, DMA and a powerful set of over 400 instructions.
And a broad range of hardware and software options make it an even better value for today's systems.
®Register~ trademark of Digual Eqmpment Corporation

The PM 1150/ RP Ruggedized Processor
We've ruggedized the computer power on the left to make it adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions. These include ships, vans and rigorous test and industrial control applications.
The PM 1150/ RP withstands vibrations up to l.7 G from 5 to 150 Hz and shocks up to 8 G. Optional ruggedized peripherals include a dual floppy disc system and an 80 column daisywheel printer. And the 1150/ RP is priced much lower than you would expect.
Adding value to minicomputers has made us the largest independent supplier of DECcompatible peripherals. Our product line presently includes add-in/ add-on core and semiconductor memories, cartri dge di sc systems, floppy disc systems, mag tape systems, complete computer-based systems,
and a wide variety of backplanes, expansion chassis, and other accessories.
We're the only real alternative to DEC for all your miniperipherals , a complete single source. For all the details, please contact the nearest Plessey sales office today.

· Plessey Peripheral Systems
17466 Daimler, Irvine, California 92714, (714) 540-9945

CIRCLE 73 ON IN9UIRY CARD

155

MICRO :;~~';.~",.':.~" DATA STACK

serted into the prototype system and a second Z80 CPU inside the development system. The standalone hardware and software design tool supports development of Z80- and Z80A-based microprocessor systems, and will be able to support upcoming Z8 and Z8000 products.
The 4-MHz emulator is offered together wibh the development system for $11,690 or as a factory-installed option ZRTE for $2750 to upgrade users' existing ZDS / U development systems to accommodate 4-MHz components. Emulator hardware features include a thick-film hybrid version of the Z80A CPU with the same timing and ac characteristics. The emulator inserts directly into the user's system via a 6-ft ( 1.8-m) flat cable.
Features include memory mapping and protection in lk-byte segments, user memory refresh, verification of user clock integrity, and detection of memory access to nonexistent or write protected blocks. A disc-based software package provides user debug and initialization commands, which set the mode of emulation, and display and edit the memory map.
The standard development system includes 32k bytes of main memory with capacity of up to 65k bytes on a single board. In addition, it offers an RIO operating system with relocating assembler, linker, text editor, and logical file structure; floppy disc drives that each hold up to 300k bytes of ~torage; and programmable breakpoint module that enables monitoring and testing of specific address, data, and control bus states to stop program execution or create a scope sync. A programmable realtime storage module enables recording of address, data, and control bus lines for selected operations; and I/o ports may be accessed when user mode or user clock is selected.
Circle 4 15 on Inqu iry Card
50-MH.z Analyzer Displays Multiple Channel Data for 16-Bit Systems
The model LA1850 logic analyzer provides 18 channels of 150-word deep unlatched or latched data storage, plus three additional qualifiers, suiting it to 16-bit computer systems that require display of several channels of information besides the data/

address lines. Operating at speeds up to 50 MHz, the unit features an integral display formatter that allows a user to study timing or mapping displays, or binary, hexadecimal, or octal data on any oscilloscope or monitor.
Features include a separate 510word reference memory for comparisons, positive or negative logic formatting, cursor and trigger markers, synchronous and asynchronous capturing of signals, and dual thresholds with ECL, TTL, and variable settings. Trigger capability overcomes false triggering on 3-state logic buses and lengthy software loops.
The 5.25 x 16.65 x 13.95" ( 13.3 x 42.3 x 35.4-cm) unit is supplied by EH International, Inc, 515 Eleventh St, PO Box 1289, Oakland, CA 94604 with 18 miniature clip-on probes. Price is $6100. Optional trigger pods can provide up to 40 additional qualifier inputs.
Ci rcl e 4 16 o n Inqu iry Card
Expandable ~Computer System Contains Variable Format Display
The SEVEN-X microcomputer system, which gives flexibility to the OEM, includes a display processor that easily handles formats of up to 132 columns, and permits direct display of line printer-oriented data. Display parameters can be modified in real time by software. Dense text, bold messages, and bit-map graphics are exhibited in different windows of the same display. ECD Corp, 196 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 provides extensive software utilities for development support and incorporation into the end product.
Standard keyboard comes with relegendable keycaps. OEMS can modify software tables in the keyboard handler utility to alter key functions. Codes generated by different shift states can be altered independently by software.
Each system is equipped with an external I/o bus driver, which can be

daisy-chained to up to 10 peripheral devices. The system is easily interfaced and expandable. A central system bus can support up to 12 displays and 16 fully independent processors. A single stack can hold up to IM bytes of RAM.
The basic system consists of a 16k central processor, a display processor, and a general I/o and system support board. It is supplied in an enclosure with a power supply and one expansion slot.
C ircle 417 on Inquiry Card
Committee Scrutinizes Necessity for Microprocessor Standards
Possible standards on microprocessors will be studied and identified by a group (X3 /SPARC/MICRO) being organized within American National Standards Committee X3, which is responsible for developing standards on computers and information processing. Administrative secretariat is the Computer and Business Equipment Manufacturers Association (CBEMA), 1828 L St, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036.
A number of general-purpose X3 standards already published or under development may be applicable to microprocessors, such as those on Minimal BASIC, magnetic tape cassettes, and flexible discs, or they may require adaptations to be useful for microprocessor applications. A proposed scope, work program, and completion timetable will be drafted for each standard that the group finds needed and feasible.
Both users and producers of microprocessors are being sought. Interested persons may contact group chairman Donald Feinberg, principal software engineer with Digital Equipment Corp, 146 Main St, Maynard, MA 01754, for further information.
Online Program Debugger Enhances Multiuser Development System
Users can increase efficiency for writing and debugging programs with DEBUG which operates in conjunction

156

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

DECneverhad it sogood

DEC's semiconductor memories:
if you want to, you can always buy semiconductor memories for your DEC mini's from DEC.
But they tend to be bulky (16K bytes to a board for some mini's and fiv(! boards for their ECC unit).
And you probably already know about DEC's pricing structure on additional memory.
® Registered tradtmark of Digital Equipment Corporation

Plessey's:
We offer a complete family of DEC-compatible semiconductor memories.
64K, 128K and 256K bytes (with ECC) for the DEC PDP-11" series. 128K words for the PDP-8A~ And 64K bytes for the LSI-11~ PDP11/ 03"and our own Micro-1.
Our plug-compatible memories cost less and run faster than DEC's. Reliability is ensured
through 1003 component burn-in and 1003 board testing. Each and every memory is then run in the minicomputer it was designed for before we ship it out the door.
This kind of care has made us the largest independentsupplierof DEC-compatible peripherals. Our product line presently includes addin/ add-on core and semiconductor memories, cartridge disc systems, floppy disc systems, mag tape systems, complete computer-based systems, and a wide variety of backplanes, expansion chassis, and other accessories.
We're the only real alternative to DEC for all your miniperipherals, a complete single source. For all the details, please contact the nearest Plessey sales office today.

· Plessey Peripheral Systems
17466 Daimler, Irvine, California 92714, (714) 540-9945

CIRCLE 74 ON INQUIRY CARD

157

:tl.l··ll Every untt-
' -w·inNJirbum-ln plus 2 ft.Ill
,._.~~ -·teats. 1Wo-yearw~
nlzed, CSAc.rtHted.
hJIWli "Off-theoshelf"-
N~.
v.tr.tll 25 multiple outtlUt modeta in tdlfferent case sizes In 4 b8s1c series ...
o.IOUtput: ±5V to ±24V, 0.4Ato6A; tracking outputs, ±.02% regulation. 1Hple Output: 5V and ±9V to ± 15V, 0.2A to 12A, OVP on 5V outputs, 115/230
VAC Input. Floppy Diak: Four new triple output models for ftoppy disk memory applications. Mlcroproceasor: Dual, triple, and quad output models for microprocessor based systems.
And still at the same 1973 prices NEW '78CATALOG!
Get your free copy now!
uq'hjfli<..
abOOt
OPa111er-aneNC. llC. POWER SUf!eb/ES - Power One Drive· Camarillo, CA 93010 (805) 484-2806 ·TWX 910-336-1297
158 CIRCLE 76 ON INQUIRY CARD

I I MICRO · ~:~'i.':.".':::.· DATA STACK
with MUTE release 2.1 of MuPro Systems Div, 424 Oakmead Pkwy, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For use with the 80DOS microprocessor development system, the debugger offers breakpoints, display, modify, control, trace, and address calculation capabilities. Interuser protection is provided by allowing each user to prohibit program access to areas outside its memory boundaries.
Up to 10 fast and emulation breakpoints may each be set. Fast mode allows the program to be run at full speed, software emulation mode allows use of emulation breakpoints and trace of the last 128 instructions executed, and step mode allows the user to specify a number of instructions that are to be executed in emulation mode.
Display may be in hexadecimal, decimal, octal, binary, or disassembled source code. The debugger is supplied in functional modules with both the source code and relocatable object code included.
C ircle 41 Bon Inquiry Card
Self-Contained System Offers Powerful Microcomputing Ability
The General microcomputer system from Technical Design Labs, Research Pk, Bldg H , 1101 State Rd,
Princeton, NJ 08540 is based on the
4-MHz Z80-A processor. It contains a 32k x 8 dynamic RAM ( 128k capacity), a micro floppy disc drive with 350k-byte capacity, and 80 x 25 lines of video with upper /lower case, blink, reverse video, half and zero intensity, protected field, and graphics with special characters. Also built in are a 22-MHz, 800-line monitor and standard 77-key keyboard with numeric entry pad and special function keys.
Among the features are an interrupt controller, 4-channel DMA control, four memory mapping registers, and dedicated 1/ 0 ports with separate connectors. Up to 64k of ROM may be placed in the system; both video and graphics RAMS are separate. Software definable character sets are optional. An operating system in ROM, the company's DISK BASIC, and word processing software come with the computer.
Ci rcle 41 9 on Inquiry Card

ePiessey Peripherals
Worldwide:
NORTH AMERICAN SALES OFFICES: Irvine, CA (714) 540-9945 Los Angeles, CA (213) 540-1227 Mountain View, CA (415 ) 968-3681 Orlando, FL (305) 859-7500 Schiller Park, IL (312) 671-4554 Wheaton, MD (301) 840-9455 Waltham, MA (617) 890-2654 Southfield, MI (313) 644-4944 Minneapolis, MN (612) 881-0190 South Plainfield, NJ (201) 757-2211 Albuquerque, NM (505) 294-5790 Dallas, TX (214) 387-0229 Olympia, WA (206) 866-2001 Toronto, Canada (416) 677-5410
EUROPEAN SALES OFFICES: Hasselt (Antwerp) (011) 22.77.01 Copenhagen (01) 12.48.03 Helsinki (080) 542.077 Paris (01) 776-4334 Munich (089) 351.7021 Cologne (0221) 58.50.07 Eschborn(06196)48777 W. Berlin (030) 24.72.12 Milan (02) 688.7548 Turin (011) 61.63.33 Zeist (Utrecht) (03404) 21.344 Oslo (02) 15.00.90 Madrid (01) 252.37.22 Stockholm (08) 23.55.40 Geneva (022) 82.55.30 Zurich (01) 50.36.55 Northampton (0604) 62.175 Tolworth (Surrey) (01) 330.4100
OVERSEAS SALES OFFICES: Sydney 929-8299. Johannesburg 724 7241 Madras 600 002
SERVICE CENTERS UNDERLINED

I COMPUTER DESIGN APRIL 1978

We're withyou alltheway,DEC

DEC's PDP-11/60&& 70®
DEC recently introduced two of the most flexible, most powerful minicomputers available today-the PDP-11/60 and 70.
However, the more you want them to do, the more memory you need, and you're probably all too familiar with DEC's pricing structure on additional memory.
®Regi stered trademark of D1g11al Equipment Corporation

Plessey memories for the 11/60 & 70
We're the first independent supplier of add-in core memory for the PDP-11/ 60 and 70 mini's.
Our 64K byte (plus parity) PM-1132 Wis a direct replacement for the MMll/ WP used in the PDP-11/ 60. It is also pin-compatible with theMMll-U/UP memories used in the PDP-11/ 35/40/45/50 mini's.
Our 128K byte (plus parity) PM-1132W! JE is pin-compatible with DEC's MJll-BE. It can be plugged directly into the DEC MJll-BA/BB expansion chassis used on the PDP-11/70 minicomputer.
The Plessey memories occupy less space and cost approximately 303 less. They're also easierto use, with on-board switches for address bank and 1/ 0 mask size selection, and jumpers for interleave/ non-interleave and parity/nonparity operation.
Providing mini users with more for less has made us the largest independent supplier of DEC add-ins and peripherals. Our product line presently includes add-in/add-on core and semiconductor memories, cartridge disc systems, floppy disc systems, mag tape systems, complete computer-based systems, and a wide variety of backplanes, expansion chassis, and other accessories.
We're the only real alternative to DEC for all your mini peripherals, a complete single source. For all the details, please contact the nearest Plessey sales office today.

·Plessey Peripheral Systems
17466 Daimler, Irvine, California 92714, (714) 540-9945

CIRCLE 75 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

159

MICRO ~~~·;::.~. ~~" CATA STACK

Semiconductor Memory for 6800 System Is Easily Expandable
CI6800, a 16k x 8 semiconductor memory system, is designed for operation With Motorola's EXORciserR and MC6800 evaluation module. By interchanging the 4027 4k x 1 dynamic memory chip with a 16k equivalent, the memory is expandable to 32k, 48k, or 64k with no further modificatiohs. The board from Chrislin Industries, Inc, Computer Products Div, 31312 Via Colinas, #102, Westlake Village, CA 91361 plugs directly into existing EXORciser connectors. Data access time is 300 ns and cycle time is 750 ns.
Circle 420 bn Inquiry Card
,..Process~r Power Supply Features Floating Multiple Outputs
A line of ·high performance power supplies, announced by Acopian Corp, 131 Loomis St, Easton, PA 18042, includes dual and triple output models which provide 5-, 9-, 12-, and 15-V outputs, with output current ratings
to 6 A. All outputs are floating, and
may be connected in either polarity. Line .and load regulations are
±0.15.%for most models; ripple, 1 mV rms. Standard input is 105 to 125 Vac, 50 to 400 Hz. Two types of case construction are available.
Circle 42 I on Inquiry Card
6800 BASIC l~terpreter Is Optimized for Industrial Applications
The 6800 4k BASIC, fn.terpreter from Wintek Corp, 902 N 9th St, Lafayette, IN 47904, having such features as rapid coding and debugging, easy maintenance, and advanced control structures, is oriented toward process control and monitoring. It features control of interrupts, direct memory R/ w, assembly language subroutine, and flexible I/o.
The interpreter may reside 1n RAM
or in p/ROM for instant power-on operation. If the BASIC program also is stored in p/ROM, the interpreter immediately enters run mode, allowing unattended operation. Cassette and p / RoM versions are available.
Circle 422 on Inquiry Card

CPU Board and Microcomputer Are F8-Based Components
Two F8 products targeted for the serious hobbyist and design engineer have been introduced by Comptronics, 19824 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. The first is an S-100 bus compatible, F8 CPU board, model F8Sl00, complete with 3850 CPU and 3853 static memory interface. The unit provides sockets for 2k of EPROM monitor, two processor Ilo sockets, and connections for six I/o ports. The board has 64 bytes of scratchpad RAM, and a fully buffered data bus.
The second product, model KD80, is an F8 microcomputer with keyboard and 6-digit display. It provides an audio interface and speaker compatible with the onboard KD-BUG (3856) music routine, 2k of RAM expandable through an S-100 connector, arid lk of EPROM with four additional 2708 sockets.
Circle 423 on Inquiry Card
Z80 CPU Board Operates With 8080 Software Without Modification
Offering the Z80 CPU board either assembled or in kit form, Vector Graphic, Inc, 790 Hampshire Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91361 has incorporated a blocked design with onboard state select. The board is jumper-selectable for operation at 2 or 4 MHz and has fully buffered Z80 lines. Operation with standard 8080 software occurs without modification.
Circle 424 on Inquiry Card
High Density, Wirewreip Boards Serve Separate ,.Processors
Designed to provide design flexibility in circuit layout and interfacing, two high density, prepinned microprocessor Wire-WrapTM panels have been announced by Hybricon Corp, 410 Great Rd, Littleton, MA 01460 for the Intel SBC-80 / 10 and Zilog Z80. For the SBC-80 / 10, the 2-8010A has 62 rows of 52 contacts, each on a 0.100 x 0.100" (0.254 x 0.254-cm) grid pattern with plated through holes. r / o holes for up to three 50-pin flat cable connectors are contained at the

top of the board. The 6.75 x 12" ( 17 x 30.5-cm) panel has two ground planes and 10 independent power buses.
The 2-Z80 board features 3<3 columns of 59 plated through holes on a 0.100 x 0.100'' (0.254 x 0.254cm) pattern; both boards can hold any combination of IC DIPS from 8 to 40 pins. The Z80 panel has a double row of 47 contact holes on 0.100" (0.254-cm) spacing at the top for mounting flat cable connectors. Measuring 7.70 x 7.50" ( 19.6 x 19.l cm), it combines six power and ground planes. Documentation kits are optional for both boards.
Circle 425 on Inquiry Card
8-Channel Seri~I 1/0 Module Is EXORciser CQmpatible
The 9650 asynchronous serial interface module is pin and outline compatible with the Motorola EXORciserTM, MicromodulesT"', and MEK6800D2 evaluation kit. It features full address decoding and fully buffered data, address, and control lines, occupying 16 consecutive memory addresses. Creative Micro Systems, 6773 Westminster Ave, Westminster, CA 92683 includes eight MC6850 asynchronous communications interface adapters with full RS-232-C signal conditioning. An onboard bit rate generator simultaneously provides 14 standard rates that can be strapped individually to each ACIA.
Circle 426 on Inquiry Card
Microprocessor Handles Communication Protocols In Optical Readers
An Intel 8085 has been added to the series 4000 readers by Chatsworth Data Corp, 20710 Lassen St, Chatsworth, CA 91311 to handle different communications protocols. A minor change of program EPROM can upgrade a user's system. The three models are the 4200 1-sided timing mark reader, the 4300 reader for timing mark and standard tab cards, and the 4800 2-sided card reader. One of the available programs is said to emulate the Hewlett-Packard 7260A optical reader at one-third the cost of that machine.
Circle 427 on Inquiry Card

160

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Timing Control Board for LSl-11 , -11 / 2 Keeps Track of Time and Date
Dual-size peripheral board TCU-50D from Digital Pathways, Inc, 4151 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306 provides calendar and realtime functions for Digital Equipment Corp's LSI-11 and LSI-11 / 2. On receipt of a read instruction, unit will present date and time. Units are preset to correct date and local time, and are reset by a simple software routine. Rechargeable battery backup keeps timing unit functioning for up to three months.
Circle 428 on Inquiry Card

Inde pende nt hardware design of AQ System's 8080 micro proce ssor syste m analyzer offe rs compatibility with all system config urations; me mory a llocation, add ress or port assignment, special clock, or separate ter minal is not required. 8080 chip to be tested is not re moved fro m socket, eliminati ng possibility of damage, a nd system is tested in normal configur;:i-
tion

Compact Board for 6800 Parts Is Offered With a Single-B~ard Computer
A single-sided PC board for Motorola 6800 components has circuits etched for 6802 MPU, 6846 ROM, 6810 RAM, and 6850 ACIA l / o port. To enable other addresses, the back of the card may be coated with photoresistant paint, and the unused metal cladding etched away.
Another product from Lumbert Computer Co, 1200 W Alameda
# 104, Tempe, AZ 85282 is the Ace,
a miniature, fully operationaf singleboard computer with 1-MHz clock, programmable timer, and 2k ROM monitor. A full-scale 6802 system, it provides for parallel output up to 50k bytes /s interleaved with serial output up to 500k bytes / s.
C ircle 429 on Inquiry C a rd
8080 Analyzer Is Useful In Developmer,t Testing, Service, and Training
Interactive control of the microprocessor and full monitoring of the address bus, data bus, and status lines are major features of the AQ8080 microprocessor system analyzer that is compatible with and satisfies diagnostic needs of all 8080 system configurations. A fully buffered 40-pin clip-on probe connects the analyzer directly to the microprocessor chip under test.
AQ Systems, Inc, 1736 Front St, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598 has

built in controls and displays to p ermit the user to examine or modify all memory locations, l / O ports, and internal microprocessor registers. LED displays are provided for analyzer and microprocessor system status, microprocessor cycle status, and binary data. Two hexadecimal displays show data, address, and switch register.
Powerful debugging capabilities are provided by conditional breakpoint, data breakpoint, and monitor functions. Address qualifier and loop count
LSl-11 Systems Gain 1/0 Efficiency From Communications Software
An RT-11 compatible software driver for the Mighty-MuxT" llL, DMA, serial line multiplexer has been announced by Educational D ata Systems, Inc, 1682 Langley Ave, Irvine, CA 92714. It provides efficient l / o for any RT-11 based LSI-11 system, and supports simultaneous full-duplex asynchronous l / o to as many as 128 ports on the multiplexer. Control requests determine port status, set port characteristics, assign logical /physical port mapping, and abort l/o requests.
For standalone multiplexer operations, modules are provided which may be linked directly to an applications package, avoiding the intervention and overhead of the RT-11 l/o subsystem. A second configuration loads the package as a standard RT11 driver. The driver will function with any V02 system and is provided at no charge to users of the MightyMux.
Circle 431 on Inquiry Card

fea tures isolate most hardware and software problems; an external breakpoint qualification input is provided for user defin ed test conditions.
Programs may be single stepped by a machine cycle or instruction step, or run at an adjustable speed of 1 to 4000 steps/s while examining memory or registers. The program trace recorder, which provides a block mode of instruction stepping, can also store 128 instructions.
Circle 430 on Inqu iry C a rd

Building Blocks Con fig..re LSl-11 s to Customize Needs

Components needed to assemble a

reliable DEC LSI-11 microcomputing

system or system substation to fit a

;user's requirements are available

from D / L Logic, Inc, 141-A Central

Ave, Farmingdale, NY 11735. Relay

rack mountable and frontloading bin

or chassis accommodates low profile

PC boards and / or wirewrapped

boards. Fans and baffies are chassis

mountable in various configurations,

permitting bins to be stacked. Sev-

eral DEC LSI-11 blocks are mount-

able in one chassis.

LSI-11 microprocessor cards are

offered, as are wirewrappable cards

with shut down overload protection,

accommodating 162 sockets for stan-

dard lCS; Q-Bus extender cards, mount-

able on an LSI-11 block; and Q-Bus

terminator cards. Wirewrap card

backplanes accommodate up to 11

connectors. A power supply assembly

also is available.

Circle 432 on Inquiry Card

161

I I AROUND THE IC LOOP

INTEGRATED INJECTION LOGICA TECHNOLOGY STATUS REPORT
Eric R. Garen
Integrated Computer Systems, Inc, Santa Monica, California

I ntegrated injection logic (IIL) has been hailed in recent years as one of the most significant developments in the area of LSI technology. Its inherent advantages include high packing density (thereby allowing high integration levels and many gates per chip) and a low speed-power product allowing device speed to be traded off with power consumption over a range of nearly four orders of magnitude. Other benefits are compatibility of linear and digital functions on the same chip; higher operating temperature ranges than available with MOS ( -55 to 125 °C is standard); and higher radiation resistance than Mos. In addition, IIL devices are potentially capable of very low power and low voltage operation.
Within the last 2 years many companies have developed IIL products that are now realizing some of these inherent advantages. However, the limited experience with this

technology to date poses difficulties in design and processing.
Ill Fundamentals
Basic building block of IIL is the single-input, multipleoutput inverter stage, shown in Fig 1 (a). It consists of a multiple collector npn transistor whose base is driven by a current-source, the "injector". In the circuit implementation of the IIL gate, Fig 1 (b), the injector is a lateral pnp transistor.
IIL gate configuration lends itself to logic connections with a single input and multiple outputs. This is somewhat different from other conventional logic configurations, which are typically multiple-input, single-output connections. IIL gates can be directly cascaded together by

OUTPUT I

OUTPUT 2

2 IN

{o)

INJECTOR {pnp TRANSISTOR)
A INPUT
1lb)

162

{c)
Fig 1 Basic Ill inverter configuration. (a) Electrical diagram, (b) Ill implementation with numerals ·indicating correspondence to numbered elements of Fig 7 (c) Ill gate symbol (Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc)
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

No bones about it.
What you need now is some straight talk about Smart Editing CRT Terminals.
Selecting the right CRT for your system isn't easy. You 're trying to find a fully capable Editing Terminal in a CRT marketplace that's crowded with a dizzying array of contenders at prices ranging all the way from a few hundred dollars to several thousands.
You 'll be glad to know that for $1500 or less, you can buy all the performance, reliability and support you need in a Smart Editing Terminal from at least four manufacturers - ADDS, Beehive, Hazeltine, and EECO, of course. That's the conclusion of a comprehensive, straightforward report that frankly compares your alternatives model by model , spec for spec.
Get it straight - write for your free copy of "Choosing the right Smart Editing Terminal from the crowd of CRT's" today.
EECDeditor
EECO , 1441 East Chestnut Avenue , Santa Ana , CA 92701 · (714) 835-6000
CIRClE 77 ON INQUIRY CARD

(al

(bl

Fig 2 -Ill NOR gate. (a) Logic symbol, (b) circuit implementation using inverters (Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc)

A B---L~.--1F = '· ' A·B
lo)
lb)
Fig 3 OR-gate implementation. (a) Logic diagram, (b) Ill gate diagram (Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc)

:~F; 'A ·B
lo)

A s----rL\.J ...= /f=F·'
(a)

A~ r I J

F; 'A· B

'- ~

B (bl

Fig 5 NANO gate implementation using wired-AND connection. (a) Logic symbol, (b) Ill gate diagram (Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc)

simply connecting the output of one gate to the input of the next. The only requirement is that the output of the previous gate should be able to "sink" an amount of current equal to the injector current of the next one.
At the present time, no "official" gate symbol exists for IIL gates. For the purpose of this discussion the symbol shown in Fig 1 (c) is used. ·
Since the IIL gate outputs are "open-collector" type stages, multiple outputs can be directly connected together to form a "wired-AND" function (Fig 2). The connection shown corresponds to a NOR gate. By directly coupling inputs or outputs of various gates, OR, AND, and NA1'"'D functions can also be easily obtained, as shown in Figs 3 through 6.
Fundamentals of logic system design using IIL technology are basically no different than in designing with other logic families. One initially starts with a complex system, then subdivides it into simpler sub-blocks, finally reducing it to the level of simple gates.. There remains, however, the one significant difference, which deserves repeating: while most other logic families are built around multiple-input, single-output gates, IIL is designed around single-input, multiple-output gates. Thus, one of the important steps in designing IIL systems is to convert the conventional logic diagram into an interconnection of IIL inverter stages.
After a little practice, drawing an IIL schematic or gate diagram from a conventional logic diagram is easy.
Fig 4 AND gate implementation using wired-AND connection. (a) Logic symbol, (b) circuit implementation using direct wired-AND connection, (c) AND gate symbol (Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc)
The following steps are typical of those used by a designer in making this conversion. 1
Step 1: Redraw the logic diagram using multi-output IIL, so that each output feeds into only one other input. Step 2: Buffer the interface signals feeding AND and NAND gates with two series inverters. This allows IIL inputs to be fed from separate IIL outputs when making a wired-AND connection (Fig 4) . Step 3: Replace each AND gate with a wired-AND connection and each NAND gate with a wired-AND followed by an inverter.

A B
164

lt INVERTER A·B OR
A+T NOR
A.~ ~~PLEMENT
!" INVERTER
{o)

A·B

A+8 Fig 6 Possible logic combinations using three Ill gates. (a) Logic di-
A·B ag ram, (b) Ill gate connection diagram
(Courtesy Exar Integrated Systems, Inc) 8
lb)

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

lntelk ne IIM
Worldk fa test si

z 804h9.. c { /you: f. Control

At llMHz our 8049 is the world's fastest single-chip microcomputer. It's the higher performance brother of our industry standard 8048 and includes 2K bytes of ROM, 128 bytes of RAM, an 8-bit timer, 27 I/O lines and a 1.4 µ,sec instruction cycle. Perfect for high speed control applications such as line printers and cassette drives. The 8049 is pin compatible with the 8048, for easy upgrades.

And, of course, it's backed by the most comprehensive development support available.
Best of all, Intel is delivering the 8049 in production quantities now. For more information contact your local Intel representative or Intel Corporation, 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa C lara, CA 95051. Telephone: (408) 987-8080.

infel delivers.

Circle No. 78 for more information

165

ISOLATION REGION

GATE INPUT

INVERTED npn WITH MULTIPLE COLLKTORS
Fig 7 llL gate structure for all-digital LSI circuits. Numerals indicate correspondence to numbered elements of Fig 1(b)
Step 4: Replace NOR and OR gates with their IIL equivalents (Figs 2 and 3), and redraw the diagram using only IIL inverters. Step 5: Simplify the IIL gate interconnection by eliminating redundant logic gates.

As mentioned previously, a key advantage of IIL is its high packing density. This is a direct result of the layout of the fundamental gate on the wafer. In the crosssectional view of Fig 7, the basic structure of an IIL inverter is a "merged" structure consisting of a pnp injector transistor together with a multiple collector "inverted" npn transistor.
The current source is the lateral pnp, with the n-type background serving as its base. Note that this n-type region, which is grounded, also serves as the emitter of the npn transistor. Collectors of the npn are formed by diffusing n-type regions into the p-type base region of the npn transistor. This p-type base region of the npn also serves as the collector region of the lateral pnp transistor. In this manner, various electrodes or terminals of the IIL gate are merged to give a very compact device layout.
Compared to conventional bipolar npn transistor structure, the npn transistor of Fig 7 operates in an upsidedown, or "inverted" mode. In conventional npn transistors the background n region serves as the collector, and the n + topside diffusion forms the emitter. In the case of the IIL gate, the roles of these "emitter" and "collector" regions are reversed.
Further compacting of an array of IIL gates is possible, since many gates in an array structure can share a single p-type injector rail as shown in Fig 8. This fundamental structure is employed by Texas Instruments in the "4-

Ii
10 DODO
lo DODO
lo ODDO

Fig 8 Top view showing economical real-estate utilization for regular ll'L array

ISOLATION REGION

SHARED BASE/EMITTER

GROUND CONTACT FOR EMITTER

n- EPI LAYER n· BARRIER LAYER
I l l TUB FOR DIGITAL LOGIC
166

n p n TUB FOR LINEAR CIRCUITS AND BUFFERS

Fig 9 Fully isolated llL cross section showing both llL inverted transistor tubs and right-side-up npn tubs
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Fma11y- a cheap
(or rather inexpensive)
VideoA/D Converter

Now you can afford to go digital

We've done today what everyone thought was years away. We've developed a Monolithic Video A/D Converter to sell for less than $500-it works just great-and best of all, it's ready for delivery now.
TRW's new 8 bit TDC 1007J costs only $485 (in 100's) , features up to a 10 to 1 power reduction over existing converters, is less than 1/J the size, and converts with unmatched accuracy up to 30MHz (33 ns conversion time).
The TDC 1007J exceeds the standards that networks require for studio equipment, yet is economical enough for field and/ or industrial use. If you have a product that is now using one of those expensive Video A/D Converters you can mount the TDC 1007J (and about $30 worth of other components) on a card and start saving a bundle immediately. (Incidentally-we are making available, in small quantities, an evaluation board. It's a fully tested drop-in unit containing everything you need to go digital -just ask for TDC 1007 PCB.)
Let us show you how you can go digital. ..economically. Available from stock from Hamilton/ Avnet or contact your local TRW Electronic Components field sales office or call Willard Bucklen at (213) 535-1831 , or send coupon .

r--------------------------~
TRW LSI Products An Electronic Components Division of TRW Inc .· P.O. Box 1125 Redondo Beach , CA 90278
Please send data sheets on the new TDC 1007J Monolithic Video A/D Converter and the TDC 1007 PCB.

Nam e Company Div/ Dept Address City State

Mail Code
Zip CD-6

TRWLst PRooucrs . .. for Digital Signal Processing

CIRCLE 79 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

167

mask" IIL process used to implement the SEP 9900 microprocessor product line.
That approach, however, is not particularly well-suited to implementing analog circuits. If both linear and digital circuits are required, the "fully isolated" llL process shown in Fig 9 is utilized. In this process some "tubs" contain IIL inverted mode transistors used for digital logic, while other tubs contain right-side-up npn devices for linear circuit capability. This structure is employed by TI in watch circuits and other IIL devices, by Analog Devices in the AD571 monolithic analog-to-digital converter, and by Exar Integrated Systems in semicustom master chips with both linear and digital capabilities.
Obstacles to Design and' Processing
For all the potential advantages of IIL, it confronts the chip designer with many unique problems in implementation. First is the requirement for a constant current sup· ply to the injectors. This can either be developed on the chip itself with a constant current source or, more typically, implemented offchip by inserting a series resistor between the voltage supply and each IIL chip.
Once the current is available on the chip, however, the difficulty has only begun. Because the speed of an IIL gate is directly related to the injector current, it is crucial that all IIL gates on a chip receive a uniform current. This poses serious design problems. First, the on-die power buses must be substantial to prevent voltage drop from one end of the bus to the other. Even a 10-mV drop has significant implications. Typically such drops are corrected by inserting a low series resistance between the metal power bus and each p-injector rail. These "ballast" resistors must be custom-designed to differing sizes to compensate for voltage drop along the bus.
Similarly the p-injector rail itself can experience drops and therefore must periodically be broken up into smaller rails separately supplied from the metal buses. The current distribution problem is compounded by the potential for mismatched diodes in the junctions between each p-type injector rail and the surrounding n-material. To summarize this first problem, the success of the nL circuit requires considerable effort by the designer to assure a uniform power supply distribution.
Next, there is the problem of packing density. The primary limitation today in IIL packing density is illlposed by the area required for metal interconnections. First, as described previously, power buses must be substantial. Second, in the fully-isolated IIL technology extensive ground buses are required. Furthermore, interconnecting IIL gates appears to be a more complex problem than interconnecting conventional logic, due to the multipleoutput single-input structure of IIL. The result typically requires a 2-level metallization process and utilizes significant chip area simply for interconnection. In some cases a third level of interconnection may be necessary for efficient chip layout and can only be accomplished by the use of diffused resistive tunnels within the crystal itself.
The multiple-output single-input structure also presents the designer with the problem of how to distribute high fanout nodes such as clocks and other control circuitryand this is the third major problem area. A designer has two choices. Either he must use an internal buffer created with a normal npn transistor to drive one high current line, or he can use many individual lines fanning out from a single IIL gate. However, achieving a high fanout is difficult with the normal inline stnlcture of the IIL gate
168

DODOO 0 0 0 DD

p INJECTOR n BASE/EMITTER p COLLECTOR/BASE

Fig 1O High fan-out Ill structure

shown in Fig 8. If more than four collectors are required, arranging them linearly results in an uneven current distribution between them. Obviously, one could develop a tree-like structure of gates to achieve a higher fanout; however, this leads to significant delays, which generally cannot be tolerated in clocks and other control signals. To avoid this, various other geometries such as that shown in Fig 10 have been suggested. This approach does not avoid the difficulty of routing these multiple individual output lines around the chip nor the resulting requirement for a large interconnection area, as explained above.
Still another design challenge is the implementation of output buffers, especially in the 4-mask process, which does not have right-side-up transistors. Texas Instruments has overcome this problem by perfecting the imple-
= mentation of inverted tran~istors with f3 100. An output
buffer built from two of these in parallel can sink 20 mA with an injector current of only 100 µA. Achieving
= ~ 100 for inverted transistors is not simple, and other
manufacturers have had difficulty with this process. The designer's problem is further compounded by the
lack of a generally available accurate model for the fully isolated IIL inverted transistor. Models must often be artificially manipulated to match the measured characteristic curves of these inverted trapsistors by using unrealistic ~ values (ie, different from the actual measured ~) . This implies that existing models do not account for various phenomena in the inverted transistors and that more sophisticated models must be defined. Present chip design is often an empirical procedure, in which each modification of the gate layout must be checked to determine its effects.
Finally, fabricating the IIL circuits, especially those employing the fully isolated nL linear-digital structure, requires specialized processing capability. First, the base region of the inverted transistors must be extremely narrow to achieve a high ~· However, without very tight process control the base of some inverted transistors may disappear entirely, a phenomenon known as "punch through," which poses obvious yield problems. The second difficult process requirement is the maintenance of a very thin epilayer (the n - region in Fig 9) . Growth of this epitaxial layer must be fully controlled. On the one hand it should be extremely thin to minimize the stored
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

What to do before calling the doctor for a Standard Power Supply.
If a Standard Power Microprocessor Power Supply fails to operate properly, it probably isn 't plugged in properly.
And not only does the SMP li ne give you super reliability, it's directly compatible with the major microprocessor-based systems.
Our SMP Series also offers all the other features you need to build a dependable, cost-effective system: · Overvoltage protection · Open frame · Low ripple · Bu ilt-i n current limiting · Immediate delivery from over 85
distributor locations nationwide
For detailed specs and delivery dates, or to place a direct order, call your nearest distributor, or contact Standard Power, Incorporated, 1400 South Village Way, Santa Ana, CA 92705 , 714 / 558-8512 .

MODEL

AMPS AMPS
@ ·-5 v · 12V

SMP 30 -1 1 o· 0 5·

SMP 30-2 1 o· 0 5·

SMP 50-1 30

o 5·

SMP 50-2 30

o 5·

SMP 60-1 50

06"

SMP 60-2 50

05·

SMP 80-1 60

1 5

SMP 80-2 60

1 5

SMP 100-1 80

SMP 100-2 80

"Fixed ou1pu1

AMPS - 5V 007 " o 5·
o 5· o 5·

AMPS ·9-12V
0 4/0 5 0 4/0 5 0 4/ 05 0 4/0 5 0 4/0 5 0 4/ 05 1 2/ 1 5 12/ 1 5 12/ 1 5 12/ 1 5

SIZE

PRICE

12 07 ' 8 58 ' 8 58 $ 49 00 1207 '858 '858 54 00 1715 x 1080x858 72 00 1715x1080x858 8400 17 15 x 1080 x858 92 00 1715x1080 x858 99 00
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25 4 x 1461x101613700
254 x 1461x101614900

Free Poster "Trouble Shooter", an 11 in. x 14 in. co lor poster, is avail able from participating Standard Power Distributors. Complete portfolio of four cartoon posters offered free with purchase. A $5 value.

ARIZONA Phoenix-L1beny Elec. (602) 249·2232 Wealherlord Co. (602) 272-7144
CALIFORNIA Anahe1m-Weatherf0<d Co
~~,~~g:~-~~9~o:;ii~3~415) 348-2740
~..~Jl.~~~0we~ft!~o~e~o(fd,3jl~~-~~~
Mt Voew-Elmar Elec. (415 ) 961-3611 Palo Allo-Wealherlord Co. (415) 493-5373 Pomona-Wealherlord Co. (714) 623-1261
~;afl..i~~':~tl~ll~l\[.~~~65-9171 or
COLORADO Commerce C11y-Elmar Elec (303) 287·9611 Englewood-Weatherford Co. (303) 761-5431
CONNECTICUT Hamden-Arrow Elec. (203) 248-3801
FLORIDA Ft Lauderdale- Arrow Elec (305) 776-7790 Miami-Lykes Elec. (305) 633-8538 Orlando-Hammond Elec. (305) 849-6060 Tampa-Lykes Elec. (813) 886-6621
GEORGIA Doraville-Arrow Elec. (404) 455-4054 Norcross-Lykes Elec. (404) 449-9400
HAWAII Honolulu-lnduslnal Elec. (808) 533-60~5
ILLINOIS Broadview-LCOMP Chicago (312) 865- 7600 Westmont-RM / Bobelle Co (312) 323-9670
IN DIANA East Chicago-Aero Elec. (219) 397·8681 Ft Wayne-Ft Wayne Elec .1219) 423 -4322 Indianapolis-Graham Elec. (317) 634-8202 or Sheridan Sales Co. (317) 297-3146
KANSAS W1ch11a-Rad10 Supply Co. (316) 267 -5216

LOUISANA Metame-Tnorncs (504) 837 -9025 New Orleans-Lykes Elec. (504) 733-3400 or Radio Parts. Inc (504 ) 581-5959
MARYLAND Baltimore-Arrow Elec. (301) 247-5200 Beltsv1lle-Treeko Sales (301) 937-8260
MASSACHUSETTS Cambridge-Apollo Elec (617) 868·3120 Hingham-Sager Elec. (617) 749·6700 Woburn-Arrow Elec. (617) 933-8130
MICHIGAN Ann Arbor-Arrow Elec (313) 971 -8220
r::~t~~t~~jS:endan Sales Co
Grand Rapids-RS Elec (616) 241-3438 Kenlwood-RM Etec. (616) 531-9300 Livonia-RS Elec (313) 525·1155
MINNESOTA Bloommglon-Arrow Elec. (612) 888 -5522 Minneapolis-Arneson Sales Co. (612) 835-2177 or Northern Elec. Spec1ahs1s (612) 835-2247
MISSOURI Florissan! -Shendan Sales Co. (314) 837 -5200 ~~~~a~2?~~~COMP - St LOUIS, Inc
St. Lou1s-LCOMP - St Louis. Inc {31 4) 291 -6200 or Vansickle Radio Elec. (314) 291 -5000
NEBRASKA L1ncoln-Scot1 Elec Supply Co. (402 ) 464 -8308
NEW JERSEY Bellbawr-Mid Atlan11c (215) 923-6868 MoorestoYrn-Arrow Elec (609) 235-1900 Saddlebrook-Arrow Elec. (201) 797 -5800
NEW MEXICO Albuquerque-Era Elec. (505) 266-5548
NEW YORK Buffalo-Summ11 01stnbu1ors Inc. (7 16) 884-3450

Cornmg-Corn1ng Elec (607) 962 -0555 Farmingdale-Arrow Elec. (516) 694-6800 or Harrison Elec. (516) 293-7990 Ml. Vernon-Oar lnduslnal Sales (914) 699-2224 Rochester- Rochester Radio Supply Co. (716) 454-7800
NORTH CAROLINA Greensboro-Hammond Elec (9 19) 275·6391 Rale1gh-Soulheastern Radio Supply (919) 828-2311
OHIO Cmc1nnau-Shendan Sales Co (513) 761-5432 Cleveland-Arrow Elec. (216) 464 -2000 or Sheridan Sales Co. (2 16) 831-0130 Columbus-Hughes-Pelers. Inc. (614 ) 294-5351 Day1on-Arrow Elec (513) 253·9176, Esco, Inc. (513) 226-1133 or Sheridan Sales Co. (513) 223 -3332 Toledo-RS Elec (419 ) 531 -5544
OKLAHOMA
~~~r~Jt_ f~~1-Aad10. inc
Tulsa-Radio. Inc (918) 587 -9123
PENNSYLVANIA P11tsburgh-CAM/ RPC Industrial Elec (412) 782-3770 or Sheridan Sales Co (4 12) 244 -1640
SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville-Hammond Elec (803) 233-4121
TENNESSEE Knoxv1Ue-Shendan Sales Co (615) 588-5386 Memphis-Bluff City Elec (901) 345-9550
TEXAS Austin-Ouallty Components, Inc. (512) 458-4181 Corpus Chnsti-Douglas Etec. (5121883-5103

Oallas-Ouahty Components. Inc. (21 4) 387-4949 or Wea1herlord Co. (21 4) 243- 1571 El Paso-Era Elec. (505) 266·5548 Houslon-Ouality Components. Inc (713) 772-7100 or Wea1hertord Co. (7 13) 688·7406
UTAH Salt lake City-Century Elec. (801) 972-6969
WASHINGTON Bellevue-Liberty Elec. (206) 453-8300 Seallle-Wealherlord Co. (206) 575 -1340
WISCONSIN Mequon-Taylor Electrornc Co (4 14 ) 241-4321 Milwaukee-Arrow Elec. (414) 764-6600
CANADA
7 {tci8ii'B ~fa4ctaar tndus1na1 Elec
Edmonlon, B.C.- Paar Industrial Elec. (403) 436-4445 London. Onl.-CM Pelerson lid. (519) 434-3204 Don M1Us. Ont.-Saynor Elec. (416) 445-0723 Ottawa-Wack1d Radio TV Lab ltd (6 13) 728-1821 Quebec City-Select-0-Sonore (41 8) 522- 4723
EXPORT SALES
2 31ras f~~~~b~4'J'ans World Trade
STANDARD POWER

CIRCLE 80 ON IN9UIRY CARD

169

charge which must be removed to turn on the IIL gate. On the other hand it must be thick enough not to break down when maximum voltage is applied across the rightside-up npn transistors. Despite these processing constraints, several manufacturers are now successfully producing IIL digital as well as digital/linear LSI circuits.
Current Approaches
An evident exception to the empirical tendency in chip design is Texas Instruments' model for the TI 4-mask gate structure. This model was used by an automatic chip layout program in the design of the SBP 9900 microprocessor. The program, known as "Boolean Source Description Language," uses as its input the designer's NANDgate logic diagram, and outputs the composite layout required for chip implementation. Furthermore, this source description language can generate its own test patterns for the chip. TI has used this program to design each of the three versions of the SBP 9900 and reports that each time it produced a fully functional circuit on the first try, indicating that .the model is accurate within the range of layout variations.
The initial SBP 9900 was a 2-MHz chip. Guard rings between gates were implemented with n + silicon, and resistive tunnels were used to achieve a third level of interconnection. The second version implemented several logic changes and removed the interconnecting tunnels.
In the third version, the 3-MHz SBP 9900A, several changes were incorporated to improve speed. The n +

5 feet $18.00

25 feet $28.00

15 feet $23.00

40 feet $35.50

50 feet $40.00
SPECIFY CONNECTORS AS MALE/MALE, MALE/FEMALE OR
FEMALE/FEMALE.

guard rings were replaced with oxide separators, to prevent crosstalk between adjacent IIL gates. Lookahead logic was also added to increase speed. Segmented injectors interconnected by aluminum replaced the previous long injector rails. Furthermore, bonding pads were made 20% larger so the chip could subsequently be shrunk. The final product contains 6182 gates on a 76,000 mil2 die. Although the chip layout software does an extremely accurate job, it is relatively inefficient in its use of real estate. A chip size comparable to the 57,000 mils2 of the smaller NMOS 9900A could probably be attained if the layout were done by conventional chip design techniques.
In addition to the microprocessor itself, development is continuing on seven peripheral chips. These utilize both 4-mask (oxide separated) and fully-isolated IIL processes.
TI indicates that present yield is adequate to serve the expanding marketplace. No major hurdles in improving yields are foreseen, the present limiting factor being the process's recent start down the experience curve.
An exciting linearI digital IIL product was recently announced by Analog Devices. The AD-751 is a monolithic IO-bit successive approximation mode A-D converter with onchip temperature-compensated voltage reference and also 3-state buffer outputs which enable it to attach directly to a microprocessor bus. To achieve high density coupled with good speed, the heart of the circuit is implemented with IIL technology. A fixed current source necessary for other circuitry on the chip also supplies the injector current necessary for the IIL gates, thus doing double duty. The power distribution problem initially posed design challenges, but once solved this has presented no problem in manufacturing. Chips utilize single metal interconnection with some deep side diffusion underpass structures for interconnection. The IIL gates are not being pushed to their speed limits, and therefore a normal 10/Lm epitaxial layer is used. To prevent breakdown in the normal linear transistors, circuit design provides that these transistors are never exposed to the full voltage swing of even one power supply.
Another IIL chip now in production is available from Exar Integrated Systems. A master chip approach allows a designer to customize his own IIL linear/ digital circuit. A family of chips, each with both standard IIL digital gates and also linear driver circuits is available in various sizes. These semicustom chips were described in this column in Sept 1977 in the article entitled "Semicustom Integrated Circuits-The Do-It-Yourself LSI Chip."

Prices apply ~· all quanti11es,
U.S. only,
-1{!- FOB Springfield, Va. i>~ted Z'4t4 s~

7644 DYNATIECH CT. SPRINGFIELD, VA. 22153 PHONE: 703-669-9000

I A DYNATECH COMPANY

170

C IRCLE 81 ON IN9UIRY CARD

Su mmary IIL technology has made significant progress in becoming commercially viable in recent years. As the manufacturers gain more experience with both design and processing of this technology, it is expected that the problems and limitations listed above will be satisfactorily solved and the process will yield more circuits that achieve the advantages first promised by IIL.
Bibliogra phy Exar l' L Design Kit, Exar Integrated System Inc, Sunnyvale,
Calif E Torrero, "The Multifacets of FL," IEEE Spectrum, June
1977, pp 29-36
J. Meindl, "Microelectronic Circuit Elements," Scientific Amer-
ican, Sept 1977, pp 70-81
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

Our new MegaFloppy family of disk drives zeroes in on the needs of both large and small quantity OEMs. These 5X-inch floppies offer the capacity you'd expect only from 8-inch diskette drives, at 5X-inch prices.
Our 1015 MegaFloppy lets large OEMs incorporate it right into their system. Select from the 1015 MegaFloppy Mod I and Mod 11135-track models. Or the Mod II and Mod IV 77-track models.They're double density single drives available with single or dual heads and capacities up to 946K bytes of formatted storage per drive, when used with the Micropolis Intelligent Controller.TM You can also daisy-chain up to four 1015 MegaFloppy drives-for a staggering total capacity of approximately four megabytes on-line.
Or you can choose from our1055 MegaFloppy, complete system packages for small quantity OEMs. The 1055 MegaFloppy Mod II and Mod IV are 77-track, dual drive modelsfeaturing the integrated Micropolis Intelligent Controller.

The Controller uses a simple, bi -directional interface, so an 8-10 chip personality card is all you need for attachment to a variety of 8 or 16-bit hosts.
It performs data formatting, encoding and decoding. Sector buffering. Error detection and recovery Provides versatile user commands. And interfaces easily with the host system.
So, if your size and price needs call fora 5X-inch disk drive system, write to us about our million-byte MegaFloppy family.
Just one more first from the citizens of Micropolis.
MICROPOLISTM
More bytes in store for you.
For a descriptive brochure, in the U.S. call or write Micropolis Corporation, 7959 Deering Avenue, Canoga Park. California 91304. Phone (213) 703-1121. Or, better yet see your local distributor.

The citizens of Micropolis introduce the MegaFloppy.M

The first 5114-inch floppy that gives you 1 million bytes.

Eric Dunstan Vice President Engineering

See us at NCC, Booth #4443.

CIRCLE 82 ON INQUIRY CARD

171

I I AROUND THE IC LDDP

High Density ROMs Meet Needs of Advanced Microprocessor Systems

ADDRESSES, CS1, aoo CS2

ADDR ESSES VALID AND CSt · CS2 ~ V1H

XL--------~ 2
'-_--------A-DD_R_E_ss_EM_As_Y.cC_sH_A,.N_·G_Eoo_c_s__, _~_____________· -

,__~~~~-+-~~~~~~~~'cvc~~~~~~~~~R~~~~~

IAS

1·001

tee ...

IOI

11001

1'--------------------------------------1)"----------
ICE
1300 MAX .)

~-----

VALID OUTPUT

toF l21 (70MAX I
HIGH Z

NOTES: 1. ALL TIMES SHOWN IN PARENTHESES ARE MINIMUM TIMES AND ARE nsec UNLESS
OTHERWISE SPECIFIED .
2. toF IS SPECIFIED FROM OE OR CI, WHICHEVER OCCURS FI RST. 3. tAee MAY BE DELAYED UP TO 180ns AFTER THE FALLING EDGE OF CI WITHOUT
IMPACl ON tAee .
AC wavefo rm inputs to Intel 2364 ROM. Sepa rate chip enable (CE) and output enab le (OE) signals act to el iminate bus contention

A 32k and a 64k ROM offering 300-ns maximum access time and low power dissipation are configured as edge-enabled devices-a property that allows a ROM to meet speed requirements of state-of-the-art microprocessors while dissipating 25% of the power of a static ROM. The 32k device (2332) is organized as 4k x 8 bits while the 64k (2364) version is organized as Bk x 8 bits.
Both devices are interchangeable with new generation 5-V EPROMS and upward compatible with future very high density devices storing more than 64k bits. A 32k-bit edge-enabled EPROM, the 7232, with matching specifications and features, is to be added to the family. The ROMS are also interchangeable with last generation 8kbit EPROMS by the same manufacturer -Intel Corp, 3065 Bowers Ave, Sant a Clara, CA 95051. They eliminate bus contention, a persistent problem for high performance systems, through the use of a separate output enable function.
As indicated in the waveform diagram, a clock issues a chip enable signal (CE) which powers up inp ut circuitry for access; other operations

are timed by internal circuitry and by the output enable command signal (OE), which activates data output buffers.
The CE input is decoded from the high order system address bits and the OE input is separately controlled by the microprocessor. For example, the "read" bus control command generated by 8080A and 8085 microprocessors can be connected directly to the OE input of all edge-enabled EPROM / ROM devices in the system. Most microprocessors provide such commands.
Other features of the two ROM devices include 400-ns cycle time, 5-V ±10% power supply, direct TIT.. compatibility on all inputs and outputs, and a 3-state output for direct bus interface. Typical supply currents are 20 mA in active operation and 8 to 10 mA during standby. Maximum supply currents are specified as 40mA average ~ximum in active operation and 15-mA standby current.
The chips go into active operation when selected via CE decoding, and go on low power standby when deselected. Devices have onchip address latches. Addresses are latched

within 50 ns after the CE input becomes true. Thereafter, addresses can vary without affecting the data cycle in progress.
The manufacturer suggests that a bipolar p/RoM be used for CE decoding. Conventional TTL decoders and jumper packs may be used, but use of a p/ROM as a programmable decoding logic array offers several additional advantages. It facilitates storage density upgrades by allowing programmers to reassign device addresses without requiring wiring changes; and, since no wiring changes are needed, it reduces costs and problems of manufacturing and inventory control.
Circle 350 on Inq uiry Card
Low Co$t, 30·MHz Video ADC Performs Typical Conversions in 33 ns
A monolithic video analog-to-digital converter, said to be the industry's first, is a fully parallel 8-bit device that can perform conversions in 33 ns. It costs $485 in quantities of 100-

172

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

THE MAXI VALUE FOR YOUR MINI-COMPUTER GRAPHICS.

Gould offers the most cost effective and reliable electrostatic printer/plotters to use with PDP-11, Nova/ Eclipse and HP 2100/21 MX mini-computers.
That's because they offer outstanding features that add up to value. High speed. High resolution. Outstanding contrast. Patented closed loop toner system. Timed-phase imaging system. And high density staggered imaging head, to name a few.
All hardware interfaces utilize direct memory access to reduce CPU overhead and are connected directly to a standard 1/0 bus or Unibus. A multiplexing capability allows you to share one Gould printer/plotter with two CPU's, or one CPU and a Tektronix 4010 Series graphic terminal hardcopy interface, supporting up to four terminals.
Gould's in-house software engineering staff developed device drivers and plot packages which
~o®~\ UL 478 LI STED EDP EQUIPMENT ® NFPA·TYPE 11

o=-

00 . - .:. .

·/· · ·/·. ·/· . . 0

- - 88Ei888Ei888888888

· CD -

~'? - ===== l·l·l·l·l ·l ·l·J.l-1-11· 1·1·1·1·1·1·1 §:EEO l3

)

1~=n ~J~· -~· DD D1111111D111111

·A .6.·6 · · A · A · .6. · 4 · 4
&m~SS--·
CIRCLE 83 ON INQUIRY CARD

operate with the popular operating systems. In addition, Gould maintains a full technical support staff for assistance in the users system integration.
Plot packages offer plotting routines and calling sequences that are upward compatible with the basic Calcomp Pen · plotter graphics package. The addition of an optional hardware character generator allows the plotter to be used as a high speed non-impact line printer (up to 1625 lpm).
Regardless of your application, the printer/plotter's ability to function as a high-speed graphic plotter, line printer or Tektronix CRT hardcopy unit makes Gould your maxi value. Contact us today for more information. Gould, Instruments Division, 3631 Perkins Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114. Phone (216) 361-3315.
For brochure call toll free (800) 325-6400, ext. 1'1. In Missouri: (800) 342-6600.
·) GOULD
173

I I ARCUNC THE IC LDCP

CONVERT
o,
R
LATCH
R 02-a
255 TO 8 7 ENCODER

Video ADC contains 255 differential comparators to compare input anal og signal V,N to reference voltages, producing 8-bit digital output. It is capable of digitizing analog signal at rates up to 30M samples / s

less than half the cost of existing modular converters.
TDC1007J is a single chip containing 20,000 closely matched bipolar components and providing 255 comparators with combining logic. It features a 1-deg differential phase, 1% differential gain, binary or 2's complement output, and 2-W power dissipation, and is available as a 64-pin
DIP.
Absolute maximum ratings include: supply voltage of 0 to ±7.0 V; input voltages of -0.5 to 5.5 V (digital), 0.5 to -2.5 V (analog); and output

voltage of -0.5 to 7.0 V. Nominal recommended operating conditions are: 5 V for supply voltage Vee and
-6 v for supply voltage v··; 0 v for reference input vrt and -2 v
for reference VRB; and a 25 °C operating temperature.
The device is available from TRW LSI Products, PO Box 1125, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. A fully tested, printed circuit board to enable potential users to evaluate the converter also is available.
Circle 351 on Inquiry Card

Intelligent Display Controllers Replace Multiple MSI ICs
A controller consisting of a pair of complementary MOS integrated circuits has been designed to serve as the interface element between a processor and an LED or gas discharge alphanumeric display. There is sufficient digit dead time to multiplex gas discharge displays, although this depends on the model of the display.
This intelligent display controller is available as a 130 x 130 mil, 28-pin package in two versions: MM74C911, which will multiplex four digits, using eight bits of input information; and MM74C912, which will multiplex six digits, using a 16 x 7-bit onchip ROM addressed by four data bits. The -11 version has both digit and segment expansion capability; the -12 has digit expansion capability, with the decimal point input going directly to the output.
Both display controllers are produced by National Semiconductor Corp, 2900 Semiconductor Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95051. They are designed for easy interfacing to microprocessor and bus-oriented systems. Each of the devices has a write enable and a chip enable pin, and can be randomly accessed on input. They are designed to replace as many as five to ten discrete transistors and medium scale integrated circuits.
As shown in the diagram (input waveform to display controller) , data are written into the internal registers by first bringing chip enable (CE) low. Address information is not latched by CE, and therefore can change before or after CE is low. Address information must be stable t8a ns before write enable, WE, goes low, where t8a is address setup time. Data are written into the addressed register when both CE and WE are low. Data should he stable tsd ns before the rising edge of WE, where tsd is data setup time. Chip enable and """WE may simultaneously return high.
In order to drive display segments, display controllers were designed to drive 40 mA minimum. This was achieved using a buffered guard band CMOS process in which the segment outputs make use of a parasitic npn emitter follower bipolar transistor structure inherent in the CMOS process and an n-channel sink transistor. Segment outputs can be tri-stated by the use of an output enable pin. In

174

COMP UTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

CIRCLE 84 ON INQUIRY CA·RD

175

I I AROUND THE IC LOOP

ADDRESS

STABLE ADDRESS
------iwc-- - - --

STA8lE ADDRESS

ISA

DATA IN

DATA CAN CHANGE

DATA STABLE

DATA CAN CHANGE

DATA STABLE.

DATA CAN CHANGE

CE: chip enable
WE: write enable

Address setup time: t sA ;:::: 200 ns Data setup time : t so ;:::: 400 ns
+ Write cycle: two = lsA tso

Input waveforms to National Semiconductor display controller. Chip enable (CE) low writes data into internal registers. Since address information is not latched by CE, it can change before or after CE i > low. Data are written into addressed register when both CE and WE are low

situations where power has failed, this can be used to turn off the segments of the display being driven, to save power.
Display controllers provide a random access to the master portion of an onchip register selected by an ad-

dress operation. Normally, an onchip oscillator will sequentially address the slave portion of the internal registers. However, it is also possible to randomly access the slave portion of the registers via the digit lines by the use of a digit 1 / 0 control pin.

A third version of the controller, not yet available, is designated MM74C913. It will be identical to the MM74C912 except that the decimal point input and output and the digit and segment Tri-State controller will be omitted.

Fully Static 32k ROM
Is TTL Compatible
A 32k MOS mask ROM, the 2632 is designed for memory applications where high performance, large bit storage, and simple interfacing are important design objectives. Maximum supply current is 80 mA and, while 450-ns access time is guaranteed, typical access time is 375 ns. The unit features two programmable chip select inputs as well as OR-tie compatibility on the outputs to facilitate memory expansion.
Produced by Signetics, 811 E Arques Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, the fully static device is in an industry-standard 24-pin package. It is

completely TTL compatible and operates from a single 5-V supply. Organized as 4096 x 8 bits, the device is pin compatible with the 2607 lk x 8 static ROM, the 2616 2R 6 x 8 static ROM, and both 2708 and 2716 EPROMS.
Circle 352 on Inquiry Card
USART Chip Programmable For Maximum Flexibility
A programmable universal synchronous I asynchronous receiver I transmitter (USART) chip, the TR 1953, is

contained in a standard 28-pin DIP. Its functional configuration is programmed by system software for maximum flexibility, allowing the system to receive and transmit virtually any serial data communication signal presently in use (including IBM BiSync).
This device is available from Western Digital Corp, 3128 Red Hill Ave, PO Box 2180, Newport Beach, CA 92663. Its synchronous mode features internal or external character synchronization, automatic sync insertion, and baud rates from de to 65k. Its asynchronous mode features line break detection and generation, bit
detection and generation ( 1, rn, or
2 stop), false start bit detection, baud

176

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

DESIGN a voice
command system with

the Siliconix
CODEC

Enter the Siliconix CODEC Design Contest and win an Apple II - the world's best-selling personal computer
- or another great prize. All you have to do is use Siliconix' CODEC to design a microprocessor- based system which responds to your spoken words (or talks back to you). Our CODEC is a two-chip set the DF331
coder is a high-speed serial output AID converter - a
complete subsystem-on-a-chip; the DF332 decoder converts high-speed digital bit streams into analog signals. The system you design must be capable of understanding
or speaking at least 16 words.

&WIN
anAppler

Here's what you can win
1st prize: Apple II personal computer (retail value
$1,445). A completely self-contained computer system with high resolution color graphics in 15 colors (with color TV); BASIC in ROM, 16K bytes of RAM, built-in video interface, cassette I/O, four
AID inputs with two game paddles
supplied, eight peripheral slots, three TTL inputs and four TTL outputs. Apple II plugs into any standard TV using a modulator.
2nd prize: Siliconix LCD Stopwatch-In-A-Wristwatch
Features time, day, date, plus split timing stopwatch functions.
3rd prize: Siliconix LED Stopwatch. Includes split
timing function
4th prize: SiliconixTelephone Timer Includes start/
stop and timeout
5th prize: Siliconix LED Stopwatch Features
a digital start/stop timer.
All entries must be accompanied by our official entry blank. Get yours, along with complete contest rules, data sheets and other information, by filling out the
coupon belowflJBiliconix

r------------ - - - ------------ - ------------,

Mail to.

CD 6/78

Siliconix CODEC Design Contest

2201 Laurelwood Road

rs+

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Yes, I want to know more about the Siliconix CODEC

Design Contest Please send me details and the official

entry blank.

Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Title _ _ _ _ _ __

'li~. .; : : : : : : ; ; ; .. . . . . . . .r!rJ

Company _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _(Op_II_·o_na_l)

Address

Mail Station _ _ __

City

State

Zip _ _

L - ----- - ------------------------------ - - - ~

CIRCLE 85 ON INQUIRY CARD

177

·c I I AROUND THE LCCP

RQM,

CLOCK GENERATOR
& DRIVER

~l & -2 ClDCKS CONTROL SIGNALS
!RESET & READ'(j
SYNC

c:;-n I TTL) WAITSY~?~~-
{OMA REQ)

MICROPROCESSOR

CSIOGNNATLSR O [ IWR,OBIN,

Jo,-oo

JwAo

STSTS SU SEN

& HlDA)

ro:JJ~E~fi

SYSTEM L.:>ECOOEA:Sj

-n- ONTll:OLLEll:

:eIT~r

11 DATA BUS{B)

CONTROL{51

RAMo

..!WA
DllVfl

USMr

t-t- ~ 1-- SEllAL

1--1

DllTA OUT

ii5 l

w= IWI.

tt
lc:ifl..

..-m ~

~ t

SERIAL DATA

j_
~~ J!l

MODEM
CONTROL FUN COONS

PARALLEL
110 INTERFACE

EXTENOEO CAPABILITY

Western Digital USART as interface to microcomputer. When input signals to chip go low, chip select (CS) enables communication between USART and micr:QQ_rocessor, read (RD) allows microprQcessor to read data or status information, and write (WR) allows microprocessor to write data or control words into USART. Control / data input signal (C / D) is used to determine overall device operation

rates from de to 9.6k, and three selectable clock rates ( 1, 16, or 64 times the baud rate).
Both modes provide transmission error detection (using parity, overrun, or framing) and double buffering of data. The device is TIT. compatible, using a single TTL clock for either synchronous or asynchronous operation. Characters are specified by a 5- to 8-bit code.
Absolute maximum ratings include ambient temperature under bias of 0 to 70 °C, storage temperature of -65 to 150 °C, voltage on any pin with respect to ground of -0.5 to 7 V, and 1-W power dissipation. De electrical characteristics include maximums of 0.8 V for input low voltage and 0.45 V for output low voltage, and minimums of 2.0 V for output high voltage and 2.4 V for output high voltage. Maximum input leakage is 10 µA. Typical power supply

current is 45 µA with a maximum of 80 µA.
Circle 353 on Inquiry Card
Single Chip Display/ Keyboard Controller Has All Drive Functions
A general purpose, programmable alphanumeric display /keyboard controller that interfaces directly with most 8-bit microprocessors contains virtually all display control functions on a single chip. The device has a built-in 32 x 8 RAM, as well as ASCII character generators for 7-, 14-, and 16-segment displays. It internally generates all timing and refresh signals for both display and keyboard functions and, in addition, includes an intelligent controller and bus interface.

All timing and refresh signals to drive between 1 and 32 characters are on the display portion. The chip will refresh LED, gas discharge, incandescent, and other displays. A dual scan mode . permits driving long displays at half the refresh rate and half the peak current of the conventional single scan mode, while maintaining flicker-free condition.
A 22-word instruction set includes such commands as clear display, shift display left/right, blank cursor, read/ write display, and self/test. Display and keyboard parameters (the number of characters in the display, refresh frequency, and the number of keys, are fully programmable.
MTX-Bl, produced by Matrox Electronic Systems, 'PO Box 56, Ahuntsic Sta, Montreal, Quebec H3L 3N5, Canada, requires a single 5-V ±10% power supply (60 mA). All display and keyboard 1/ 0 pins are TTL com-

178

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

This PDP-II*
atible
~ter

Motorola's MMS1117 is an easy, inexpensive way to add-in highdensity, high-speed storage with parity option features for your PDP-11 system. Now it's more than 20% faster than ever before. Speeds for all three MMS1117 speed options are significantly faster, with typical system Read Access Time of the fastest version reduced from 370 ns to 290 ns.
The MMS1117 provides total electrical and mechanical compatibility with 10 different UNIBUS* PDP-11 processors: not only the 11 /04 and 11 /34, but the new 11/60 plus the 11/05, 11/10, 11/35, 11/40, 11/45, 11/50 and 11/55. It just plugs into any new Hex SPC slot (DD11 B, DD11 C, DD11D, DD11 P).
Each speed option of the MMS1117 is available in your choice of 32, 64, 96, or 128 kilobytes. Each offers parity plus on-board parity generation and checking logic. There's no need for an external parity control module. The system imposes one UNIBUS load regardless of memory size and parity.
MMS1117 power requirements are low despite its speed and density. A fully populated 128 kilobyte system with parity and controller operates at the following rates: 5 V ±5%@ 3.0 A (typ), +15 V@ 0.2 A standby or 0.7 A continuous maximum access, and -15 V@ 0.03 A.

t28 Kilobyte MMS ttt7

Speed Option
Fastest Faster Fast

Read Access Time (typical)
290 ns 360 ns 390 ns

Price 1-5
$4 ,305 $3 ,920 $3 ,530

More Motorola Memory systems

System Organization Description

MMS1110 MMS1110-1 MMS1110-2 MMS1110-3

16K x 16 12K x 16
BK x 16 4K x 16

MMS111BL

16K x 1B

MMS111B MMS111B-1 MMS111B-2
MMS3400

16K x 1B 12K x 1B
BK x 1B
32K x 1B or
64K x 9

MMS68102 MMS68102-1 MMS6B102A MMS6B102A- 1

16K x B BK x B
16K x 9 BK x 9

MMS68103 MMS68103-1 MMS68103A MMS68103A-1
MMS68104

16K x B BK x B 16K x 9 BK x 9
16K x B

MMSBOB10 MMSBOB10-1

32K x B 16K x B

t Trademark of Motorola Inc.

Add-in for LSl-11 systems
Add-in for POP-11 /05 , 11 / 10, 11 / 35 and 11 / 40 systems with the MF11-L backplane Add-in for PDP-11 / 04, 11 / 34 systems
For 3400N systems
Battery backup for M6BOO and other synchronous systems; pin-compatible with EXORcisert micromodule
Hidden refresh for M6BOO-based systems
ForMEK6BOOD2 Kit For BOBOA-based systems; pin-compatible with SBC B0/ 10 120

Get fast delivery, proven ~liability.
Our standard memory line also includes systems for the SBC 80/10 and 80/20, LSl-11 , 3400N, and a variety of M6800-based systems. Motorola also has excellent custom capability for the design and manufacturing of memory systems to your exact specifications.
Regardless of your requirements, you can expect fast delivery, leadership pricing, and the high level of reliability for which Motorola products are known .
Assistance is available from your Motorola sales office. Request a copy of the MMS1117 data sheet by writing Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc., P.O. Box 20912, Phoenix, AZ 85036.
'Trademark of Digital Equipment Corportion .
aeepaeep!
MOTOROLA
Semiconductor Group

CIRCLE 86 ON INQUIRY CARD

179

I I AROUND THE IC LDDP

.uP BUS

5 · 7 LED DISPLAY (UP TO 32 CHAR)

nal controllers; and monitoring the address bus for security checking in a data processing system. Other applications include a binary-to-BCD coderI decoder, hex keyboard scanner, 8080 or Z80 control logic, 6-bit shift register, and accumulator ALU.
Circl e 355 on Inq uiry C ard

CPU
KEYBOARD (UP TO 64 KEYS)
Typical application of MTZ-81 alphanumeric programmable interface device: Display portion of chip provides signals to drive up to 32 displays of 7 to 16 segments. Keyboard po rti on provides all scanning signals and debounces and decodes any keyboard with up to 64 keys

patible, and the chip can be interfaced to any TTL, CMOS, or NMOS microprocessor through an I/o port or bus. It is available in a 40-pin standard plastic DIP.
Absolute maximum ratings include: 0 to 70 °C ambient temperature
under bias; -65 to 150 ·c stor-
age temperature; 0.5 to 7 V on any pin with respect to ground; and

5-W power dissipation. De operating characteristics call for maximum voltages of 0.8 V (input low voltage) and 0.45 V (output low voltage), and minimum voltages of 2.0 V (input high voltage) and 2.4 V (output high voltage); maximum leakage current is ±10 µA for input and -10 µA for output.
Ci rcle 354 on Inquiry Card

LSI Circuits Allow User To Program Chip Logic
A family of bipolar circuits called PAL (programmable array logic) promise to replace up to 90% of standard TTL and to reduce random logic chip count by a 4-to-l factor. Unit cost is said to be lower than that of microprocessors, custom logic, or FPLAS. Typical propagation/ delay is 25 ns.
Monolithic Memories Inc, 1165 E Arques Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 is currently sampling the devices and plans to start high volume production by mid-year. Full production of 15 models is expected by year-end.
With these LSI circuits, users can program their own logic on a chipfrom random gates to arithmetic functions-by inserting appropriate personality cards into a standard p/ROM programmer. In this way, fusible-link

programming eliminates hardwired breadboarding required by conventional logic. A '1ast link" fuse, when blown, prevents verification, thus providing security for a user's proprietary algorithm.
To facilitate programming the company has developed a software program called PALASM (Pal Assembler), written in FORTRAN IV. When the user inputs his design specifications, he gets a fuse pattern and p/RoM programmer format output.
Among typical applications are programming to decode hexadecimal input signals and directly drive LED displays, with only one device per 7segment display stage; using one device plus six octal interface devices to interconnect any S-100 bus computer and external peripheral equipment; programming to interface between any microprocessor and exter-

Voltage-To-Frequency Converter Guarantees Temperature Drift
A second generation voltage-to-frequency converter, offering a linearity capability of ±0.05% maximum, high noise rejection, and compatibility with all logic forms (DTL, TTL, CMOS)' features a bandwidth of greater than 100 kHz. The RC4152, developed by Raytheon Semiconductor, 350 Ellis St, Mountain View, CA 94040, is pin-for-pin compatible with the RC4151, and is available from stock in ceramic or plastic DIL or metal can packages.
This converter offers guaranteed temperature drift. Both current source and voltage reference have guaranteed maximum temperature coefficients of ±100 ppm / °C; one-shot stability is rated at ±50 ppm / ·C maximum.
The device consists of comparator, one-shot, precise gated current source output, internal voltage reference, and open-collector output. The elements, when combined with external pin connections, perform a variety of circuit functions. A few of the applications include precision v-F and F-V converters, isolation amplifiers, pulsewidth modulators, programmable pulse generators, frequency scaling, and motor speed control.
C ircle 356 on Inquiry Card
Analog Input Module Compatible With Most Microprocessors
A self-contained analog input device consisting of 12-bit CMOS A-D converter, instrumentation amplifier, input multiplexer, address decoder, and control logic is available in an 80-pin quad-in-line package. The MP22, produced by Burr-Brown, International Airport Industrial Pk, PO Box 11400, Tucson, AZ 85734, interfaces to most microprocessors without requiring ad-

180

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

You can use our complete
NRZI Magnetic Tape System with your
PDP·tl or Nova for under $5250.*
or,you can pay 20-100°10 more to other independent peripheral suppliers like Pertee wangco, Kennedy... and even to DEC and Data Oeneral.
J11e1t try toJustify It.

Unless your firm likes giving money away, Digi-Data is the only recommendation that makes sense.

And whether you need com~atibility with PDP-11 or NOVA, Eclipse or even HP21 MX, ies not just our price advantage that gives you the edge.

· It's the product reliability that results from our ultra-simplistic design. Thousands of field installations have verified that reliability.

· It's the confidence that our 16-year record of corporate stability assures.

· It's our 30-day ARO delivery for most standard configuratiohs.

· It's our long-term record of responsible service.

· And it's the performance, serviceability and economy realized by using common designs for the many different configurations available in our Minidek, Mididek and Maxidek tape transport models.

And after all what really counts is the overall value that Digi-Data provides. Whether you need stand-alone tape drives, formatted systems or minicomputer mag tape systems, Digi-Data is First in Value. Call or write today for details.
*Single quantity price. Substantial volume discounts available.

I··I· ®...OIGl-DATA

·~ ~~~~e?R~n~l~~e~up, MD 20794

(301) 498-0200

First In Value

CIRCLE 87 ON INQUIRY CARD

I I AROUND THE IC LDDP

pP ADDRESS
BUS

ADDRESS DECODER

LATCH

,p CONTROL BUS

GAIN , - - - - u ADJUST

pP DATA BUS
Block diagram of Burr-Brown MP22 analog input module. Device is compatible to most microprocessors with little or no modification

ditional external components. It interfaces directly with 8080A, 8048, Z80, and sc/MP microprocessors, and with

minimal external logic is compatible with 6800, 650X, F8, and 8085 microprocessors as well as PDP-8, PDP-

11, Nova, and Eclipse minicomputers.
Interrupt, halt, and DMA request signals are generated by internal logic. The device accepts 16 single-ended or 8 differential analog signals and can digitize low or high level inputs.
The A-D converter is a successive approximation device offering 35-µ.s conversion time and 3-state outputs. Laser-trimmed, thin-film networks are used to maintain linearity and stability over wide temperature ranges. Twelve address lines can select up to 4096 memory locations. A time delay between channel selection and start of conversion allows the analog multiplexer and amplifier to settle before conversion starts. This delay, 15 µ.s, is sufficient for gains from unity to 50.
Characteristics of the low drift instrumentation amplifier include high speed at gains above unity and gain programming with an external resistor allowing input ranges as low as ±5 mV. Gain may be selected from unity to 54 dB.
The module's control logic generates signals to halt or interrupt the CPU while conversion takes place. It also signals the CPU to indicate when data can be read.
Circle 357 on Inquiry Card

MOSFET and Bipolar Combine in Dual Supply Volta9e Comparators
BiMos voltage comparators with a MOSFET .input and a bipolar output on a single chip are available in either single or dual versions. Use of MOS transistors in the input stage provides the user with very high impedance

(""" 1.7 To), common mode rejection for input signals at potentials below that of the negative supply rail, and retention of the in-phase relationship of the input and output for input signals below the negative rail.
Output of the device is the open collector of an npn transistor, a feature providing flexibility in a broad range of comparator applications.

Vo
92CS-30043
Circuit diagram of RCA CA3290 comparator. Device combines bipolar and MOS technologies on single chip. It features 1.7-TO input impedance and 3.5-pA in put current

Output-oRing function can be implemented by parallel connection of open collectors. Output pullup resistor can be connected to a power supply having a voltage range within the rating of the device in use; the magnitude of this voltage may be set at a value independent of that applied
to the V+ terminal.
CA3290 series devices include the 3290, 3290A, and 3290B. Their manufacturer (RCA/Solid State Div, Rt 202, Somerville, NJ 08876) notes that these are the first multiple technology dual voltage comparators available from the semiconductor industry.
The input circuit permits a wide excursion of input voltages without need for level-shifting components. These devices are well suited for applications in long time delay circuits, square-wave generators, A-D converters, and high source impedance voltage comparators.
Other specifications include low input current (3.5 pA typ at 5 V), high speed performance (a response time of 1.2 µ.s on the rising edge and 200 ns on the falling edge), and a de supply voltage ranging from 4 to 36 V (4 to 44 V for the CA3290B) . Devices are available in 8-lead DIP, 14-lead DIP, 8-lead T0-5, and 8-lead T0-5 with DILCAN.
Circle 358 on Inquiry Card

182

I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

Laakta
fMoremory.

price and

Mostek Memory Systems provides a complete line of super-dense memory boards with performance and reliability to match our industry-standard dynamic RAMs. Each board undergoes extensive burn-in and testing prior to shipment and comes with a full oneyear warranty. In addition , you get highly competitive prices, OEM discounts, and immediate availability.
PD~ll" nTuhme bMeorsotef kc8a0p0a1cithyaospations
that include 16K , 32K, or 64K words by 18 bits on a single hex board. And it's fully hardware and software compatible with Digital Equip-

Q 1m1em/or7 y m1od1 ule: .The Mostek 8601

memory system

in a 7-inch chassis

provides up to 1 megabyte of storage with ECC and

logging. It's the most compact 11170 add-on memory

available , making possible upgrades from 128K bytes to

4 megabytes of total storage.

LSI II* The Mostek 8002 is a totally

hardware and software compatible

card for LSl-11 / PDP-11 / 03.

This add-in memory system ranges in capacity from

BK to 32K words x 16 bits on a quad card allowing

you to place the maximum capacity on a single card .

Call now for the complete story. Either the

Eastern office 201 / 842-5100, Western office

408 / 287-5081 , or Memory Systems Marketing at

214 / 242-0444, extension 2552. Mostek Corporation ,

1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton , Texas 75006.

In Europe, contact Mostek GmbH , West Germany;

telephone (0711 ) 701096.

"°' Trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation · 1978 Mostek Corporation
CIRCLE 88 ON IN(j)UIRY CARD

183

I I ARCUNP THE IC LOOP

PLL Offers Improved Temperature Stability
A precision phase-locked loop circuit ( PLL) with ultra stable characteristics and designed for a wide range of inputs is well suited for frequency synthesis, detection, and tracking filter application. The XR-2212 PLL is directly compatible with MOS, DTL, and

TTL families and microprocessor peripheral systems.
This circuit features the following broad input capabilities: frequency range from 0.01 Hz to 300 kHz; voltage range from 4.5 to 20 V (Fig 1); and dynamic range from 2 mV to 3 V rms. It is stable over a wide temperature range, with a stability of 20 ppm/ °C (Fig 2), and features quad-

1.02 .---.---,...--..---..---.....--...--.....--....---.---.

1 2 1 kHz
0

R :;,, 10 Ro

1.01

z>u
w

a::>
wa:

1.00

Q
w
"'::; 0.99

<t ::i;
a:
0z 0.98

CURVE
1 2 3

Ro
SK 10K · 30K

lOOK

300K

0 .97

10 12

14 i6

22 24

V+ (VOLTS)

Fig 1 Typical fo vs power supply characteristics, as function of timing resistance , Ro, for PLL. Frequency varies by only few percent over 20-V input range, and is flat over wide range for higher values of R

rature vco outputs and an adjustable tracking range (±1 to ±80%). Introduced by Exar Integrated Systems, Inc, 750 Palomar Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, the 16-pin device has absolute maximum ratings of 18-V power supply and a 3-V rms input signal level.
The circuit consists of an input preamplifier, a phase detector, a stable voltage-controlled oscillator, and a high gtiin differential amplifier. vco is brought out externally so that the circuit can operate as a frequency synthesizer. A differential amplifier section can be used as a high speed comparator for FSK demodulation. Center frequency, bandwidth, and tracking range of the PLL are controlled independently by the choice of external components.
Circle 359 on Inquiry Card
CMOS Latch Meets JEDEC B Specs
An 8-bit addressable latch with parallel output storage register, the SCL 4099B is usable as a l-of-8 demultiplexer, multiline decoder, or A-D converter. Addressing a particular bit with write disable low stores data in that bit. When write disable goes high, data entry is inhibited. Whatever the state of write disable, latching of previous data is not affected, and all eight outputs are continuously available. A master reset input resets all latches to a low level.
Supplied irt a 16-lead package by Solid State Scientific 1nc, Montgomeryville, PA 18936, this CMOS device is available with standard or MIL-STD-883B processing. It is a direct replacement for the CD4099B and fully complies with the JEDEC B speciRcation.
Circle 360 on Inqu iry Card

-0.5 Ro = 1 Mil

- 1.d

-50

- 25

V+ = 12V
R1 = 10R0
t0 = 1 kHz

TEMPERATURE ( ' Cl

100

125

Fig 2 Typical center frequency drift vs temperature as function of timing resistance Ro. Frequency varies by less than 1% over wide temperature range

184

BIFET Op Amp Features Low Input Offset Voltage
Low input offset voltage (0.5 mV max) is featured in a BIFET op amp that also features internal frequency compensation and high slew rate of 13 VI,_,,s. The device has an input bias current of 0.2 nA, input offset current of 3 nA, and offset voltage temperature coefficient of 10 µVI °C.
The TL087C is produced by Texas Instruments Inc, PO Box 5012, Dallas, TX 75222. It is available in either an 8-pin plastic (P suffix) or ceramic (JG) dual-in-line package and operates over a 0 to 70 °C temperature range.
Circle 361 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

In order to build up a customer base of more than 40,000 units in three yearsJOU have to have a superior printer. And no matter how you look at it, the Teletype* model 40 printer has a lot going for it.
Look at cost. Nowhere does anyone offer as much in a 300 LPM printer for as little as the model 40 costs. At the OEM price of under $2000, it even compares favorably against low-speed printer costs.
Look at reliability. The model 40's unique design utilizes a minimum of moving parts for a maximum of on-line time. Plus proven LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuitry handles many functions formerly performed mechanically. This reduces hardware requirements and increases printer life.
Look at features. The unit is completely operational to give you everything necessary to go on-line. You also get 32 switch-selectable no-cost options to choose from, easily changeable character sets, and self-diagnostics.
Finally, look at product support. Not only do we offer nationwide service, we'll maintain your printer for as little as $23 per month-and that includes labor and material.
With all that going for the model 40, how could we make it even better? Two ways.
First, we gave it a new, simplified OEM interface. Simply command the motor on, watch for the next character command, and send data.
Next, ribbon life has been significantly extended with our new re-inker mechanism that's available as a low-cost option.
No wonder we're getting a reputation as the OEM printer people.
' H ' ._........®
THE OEM PRINTER PEOPLE
*Teletype is a trademark and service mark of the Teletype Corporation.
CIRCLE 68 ON INQUIRY CARD

I I AROUND THE IC LOOP

ICs Provide Tones for DTMF Telephone Dialing
Integrated tone dialers provide eight diHerent audio sinusoidal frequencies that are mixed to provide tones usable for dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) telephone dialing. Both MK 5087 and MK 5089, available from Mostek Corp, 1215 W Crosby Rd, Carrollton, TX 75006, use an inexpensive 3.579545-MHz television color burst

crystal as a frequency reference. The user can build tone dialing circuits without trimming or expensive frequency adjustment.
The MK 5087 was designed for integrated tone-dialer applications that require wide supply operation with regulated output, opposite-polarity logic outputs (one with pushpull output and one with open emitter output), single contact static keyboard inputs, single tone inhibit option, operation down to 3.5 V, and

the U.S. standard 2500-type hybrid network. The MK 5089 was designed for integrated tone-dialer applications that require wide supply operation, negative-true keyboard input, chip disable input, stable-output tone level, an "any key down" output that is open circuit when no keyboard buttons are pushed and pulls to the Vsupply when a button is pushed, and operation down to 3 V, with low distortion.
Circle 362 on Inquiry Card

ADC Available for High Speed Industrial Data Acquisition Applications
Features of a 12-bit A-D converter include 8-µS conversion time, optional input buffer amplifier, and five userselectable input ranges. Both internal and external clock options are available to the user. MNADC85 is guaranteed to have no missing codes over an operating range from - 25 to 85 °C. Its manufacturer, Micro Networks

Corp, 324 Clark St, Worcester, MA 01606, states that it meets or exceeds published specifications of BurrBrown's ADC85, offering a 2 µS faster conversion time and a significantly lower power consumption.
Both serial and parallel data outputs are included. The device provides a status output for interfacing in microprocessor-based applications.
Applications include biomedical equipment, industrial controls, and

data acquisition systems. For data acquisition, the ADC can be used with the MN7130 multiplexed sample/hold amplifier to configure a complete 16channel data acquisition system in two dual-in-line packages.
Specifications call for analog input ranges of ±2.5, ±5, or ±10 V (bipolar) and 0 to 5 or 0 to 10 V (unipolar). Maximum digital input pulse width is 50 ns. The device is packaged in a small, hermetic, 32-pin DIP.

186

EXTERNAL C LOC K ------- · -: ---- - -. ,--- - - - 1

'·-'

l_ _ o

I r-----1 1------1 ,------, ,------1 1-- -- -1 1··--· - 1 r··---1 1· · · ···1 ,------1 c·----

o_.I

1· ·1

1.J

1__1

1_ _ 1

1__1

l__t

l_ _ I

1· ·1

Timing diagram for Micro Networks high speed ADC. Output code shown is for digital word 0101 0110 0010, corresponding to analog input of 6.633 V on 0- to 10-V input range . Start command must be at least 50 ns wide and must remain low during conversion. Data will be valid 30 ns after end-of-conversion signal (EOC) goes low and will remain valid until start of next conversion cycle. For external clock, serial and parallel outputs will be synchronous with falling edge of clock

Circle 363 on Inquiry Card' 'D
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

minal. Designed to be redesigned.

Chances are, the intelligent terminal you really need doesn't exist yet.
That's why we build the Conrac 480, The Soft Terminal. It's designed to be redesigned by your software to fit your system like a glove.
Flexible hardware to start you off.
Most CRT terminals are bu ilt around one large circuit board , which doesn 't leave you much flexibility.
The Conrac 480, on the other hand , offers you the benefits of a clean bus architecture. Plug in four cards, and get a basic working terminal. Plug in up to twelve additional cards , and get some real power. Cards like RAM up to 48K bytes, PROM up to 16K bytes, and interfaces to floppy disk drives, printers and other peripherals.
Software to make it happen.
Do you need a special keyboard , character set, or set of terminal attributes? No problem. Just plug in a special PROM .
With the proper MPU software, the Conrac 480 can be configured as a polling terminal or as a powerful microcomputer. Or as anything in between . This software can reside in

PROM, or can be downloaded into RAM from a host computer or from disk.
Many software modules are available off-the-shelf, like a basic editing package , and protocol handlers for IBM, Burroughs, and Univac . More are on the way. To make microprogramming easy, you can use the AMI 6800 Microcomputer Development Center software, which runs perfectly on our terminal. That's power!
Attractive outside as well as Inside.
Any way you look at it, the Conrac 480 is attractive. The basic version is only 20" deep and fits where space is limited . Its understated
modern styl ing blends into virtually any decor. And you can have your own color and texture.
Operators love the feel of our long-life capacitive keyboard with sculptured keys. And our sharp and stable CRT display. As a matter of fact. we're known worldwide as the manufacturer of professional video monitors.
Write to us or give us a call for more facts . We 'll send you a comprehensive 12-page brochure on Th e Soft Terminal. And we promise not to use "hard sell."

···C······O··········N······R········A··········C·····

NORTH AMERI CAN SALES Conrac Division, 600 N. Rimsdale Ave., Covina, California 91722 Telephone (2 13) 966-35 11 , Telex 670437
EUROPEAN SALES Conrac GmbH, lndustriestrasse 18, 0 -6992 Weikersheim , W. Germany Telephone (07934 ) 675, Telex 74250

CIRCLE 90 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

187

PRODUCT FEATURE

Office Environment, 300-Line/Min Printer
Maintains Self Diagnosis

Dual microprocessors that commimicate through interrupts and command words share control of the T3300, a 300-line/ min printer based on a patented comb matrix mechanism. One 8085 microprocessor con· trols print functions via a print bus; another controls 1/ 0, status, and diagnostic functions along an 1/ 0 bus. Interconnection between buses is by data and status lines.
Offered in both freestanding and desktop versions, this first of an expected series of printers from Tally Corp is designed for the office environment, with emphasis on human engineering requisites. Yet it mixes service related diagnostic aids with operator convenience features.
Functional Description
Main memory associated with the print control microprocessor (CPU) is preprogrammed to perform all basic printing functions. However, flexibility is achieved through programmable read-only memory (p/ ROM) associated with the 1/ 0 control microprocessor. The print control CPU handles paper advance and ribbon motors as well as dot row and column, character generator, and counter/ timer functions. Variations in character generation, vertical for-

mat unit (vFu) control, interface control, control of options, and diagnostic functions are handled by the 1/ 0 CPU, chiefly through use of "snap-in" modules or p/ ROMs that enable the printer to be tailored to any application.
The character control p/ROM can be programmed to allow any ASCII character to be interpreted as any
other; eg, an "A" input could be
interpreted under p/ ROM instructions to be an order to perform a line feed. More normal variables, such as print on paper motion, are defined by an option p/ ROM. Unique applications
Close-up view of T-3300 controls

when required can be bandied by adding two patch program p/ ROMs.
Special driver circuits, termina· tions, and similar provisions can be added through a custom printed cir· cuit board. One such board, for ex· ample, contains long line driver circuits for use with parallel interfaces.
Diagnostic procedures handled by the 1/ 0 CPU begin with a self-test to verify hardware, RAM, and software for both CPUs. If each CPU proves to be performing properly, the 1/ 0 CPU is used to troubleshoot the remainder of the printer. However, if a CPU is found to be defective, the relevant CPU board is replaced or repaired before further tests are performed.
A 2-digit status display on the printer front panel (see closeup photograph) distinguishes between OP· erator correctable faults and those that require service. It also displays the response to many maintenance routines for quick fault isolation. Six operator-correctable and 23 servicecorrectable indications are programmed.
In addition, the self-test procedure checks operation of indicators, switches, and motors. It will also access all 1/ 0 lines and print out the contents of the option p/ ROM. Seven separate patterns can be printed, allowing precise examination

188

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Micro-min electronics in low power , complex digital circuitry is increasing rapidly in EDP mainframes and peripherals .
But, acrylics, wools , silks and moving nylons in a computer room can yield a good combination for serious problems ... increased susceptibility to static charges. A few steps and a spark from body to computer cabinet is all it takes to produce a charge as high as 30 ,000 volts. And , if the cabinet and/or components are poorly grounded, the cha rge can be transmitted to components causing overloading and circuit malfunction.
Metex Shielding Provides Ideal Protection from Low Signal IC Overload
Metex shielding products such as Combo Strip® Gasketing, XecoteTM Conductive Coating and Xecon® · Conductive Elastomer protect your
© Metex Corporation 1978. All rights reserved .

equipment by shielding it from this predatory energy... keeping it away from digital IC 's and other vulnerable components.
Metex Products Protect Against Unwanted EMl/RFI Too
Viewing screens , air vents, cabinet slots and any other enclosure openings are access points for EMl/RFI energy. Easily picked up by sensitive components by induction, EMl/RFI radiation can cause distortion of low power signals and overloading of subsequent circuits. This may lead to IC degradation, or catastrophic failure .
Metex provides Shield-Vu® Shielded Windows of any size or shape, constructed of finely knitted wire fused between panes of acrylic or glass, that offer effective attenuation with over 90 % visibility. We also make air intake and exhau st vents
CIRCLE 91 ON INQUIRY CARD

that permit free airflow but are almost totally opaque to EMl/RFI.
Available in configurations to meet your needs, Metex shielding products are produced to the most exacting demands, including France 's CISPR, the German VOE and U.S. IEEE.
Protect your digital IC circuitry. Our staff of applications engineers will assist you now in finding solutions to your present and potential shielding problems . In the East call 201 -287-0800, west of the Rockies call 21 3-320-8910. To write : 97{) New Durham Road , Edison, N.J. 08817 or 20437 S. Western Avenue, Torrance , CA 90501
A1..t:T..t:'lC
ELECTRONIC SHIELDING GROUP
Unit of Metex Corporation

Push Pull
Pus h-Pull
d.c.
Solenoids .
Canon
Presents a new Ii ne of d.c. solenoids with a continuous duty rating of from 1.7 to 14.5 watts, 6 to 100 volts.

20 Standard Models
force ratings to 15 lbs.
Plus specials to spec

"U" and " D" Frames

Call or write for detailed engineering bulletin which

r
CanonT
·· -
···· - · ,, -

includes power
curves for various L

force/stroke con-

ditions up to 10 times rated power

for intermittent duty and complete

installation data on each model.

C anon® U.S.A., Inc:
Electronics Components Division 10 Nevada Drive/ Lake Success, L.I., N.Y. 11040 516/488-6700 /Telex No. 96-1333 Cable-Canon USA LAKS

of print registration, character quality, and overall system operation.
Ribbon system power supply, CPU board, and print mechanism are individual modules that can be easily removed and replaced. Quick-disconnect cables also permit various VFU modules to be readily interchanged.
The print mechanism has only two moving parts: a paper advance assembly that controls paper motion, and a single-piece oscillating comb, with a hammer for each of 132 print positions, that prints one horizontal row of dots at a time. Characters are formed with an overlapping dot pattern.
There are no lubric'ation points, eiectronic timing, or hammer flight time adjustments and, therefore, no preventive maintenance. High failure rate parts such as clutches, belts, brakes, and chains have been eliminated.
The matrix scanning technique uses a flexure conversion in which rotary stepping motor motion is transformed into a linear horizontal scan motion. A flexible steel band clamped to the motor shaft oscillates over a 15-deg arc, causing the attached print com'b to mogate (oscillate) horizontally. Total horizontal travel is limited to the width of a single character.
Specifications
Standard ASCII characters (96-char set) are formed over 132 columns by a 7 x 7 dot matrix at 10-char/ in (4/ cm) horizontal spacing with selectable 6- or 8-line/ in (2.4 or 3.4/ cm) spacing. Character size is 0.062 x 0.096" (1.6 x 2.4 mm) with a nonaccumulative vertical and horizontal print registration of ±0.005" (0.127 mm). A 7 x 9 matrix (for descenders), underlines, and custom character sets and sizes are available options. Single line advances (no print cycle) require a maximum of 35 ms; slew speed is 10 in (4 cm) / s.
Forms from 4 to 15.8" {10.2 to 40.l cm) wide having standard business machine pinfeed are handled by adjustable pinfeed tractors with a minimum of five feedholes engaged at all times. As many as five copies plus original can be made on forms up to 0.024" (0.61 mm) thick. Paper advance speed is 12 in (30.5 cm) / s minimum (60 lines/s).
Vertical format is controlled by a forms length selector switch, 8- or

12-channel VFU loop, or direct access electronic VFU loaded through the
1/0. Fine adjustment to the paper
position is made electronically, one dot row at a time, using a control panel switch. Although an audio alarm sounds when the printer reaches 3" (7.6 cm) from the bottom of the form, printing can continue to the last line position on the forms, at which point printing is inhibited.
A reel-to-reel ribbon system is used, with a self-threading leader. The reusable fabric rih'bon has a minimum life expectancy of 20 x 106 characters.
Centronics, Dataproducts, Data Printer, and serial interfaces are available in addition to a standard Tally parallel interface. Interface electrical levels are: logic 0 {low) , 0 to 0.8 Vdc at 1.6-mA sink; logic 1 (high), 3.0 to 5.0 Vdc at 400-µ.A source.
Field-selectable input voltages are 100 V ±10%, 117 V ±10%, and 220 V ±10% -15%, all at factory. set optional 50 or 60 Hz ±2 % ; and 240 V ±10% at 50 Hz ±2%. Power requirements are 800 W nominal, 1450 W maximum.
Operating temperature range is 40 to 100 °F (5 to 37 °C)' 10 to 95 % relative humidity, noncondensing. Storage range is 0 to 145 °F ( -17 to 62 °C). The unit can he operated at altitudes up to 10,000 ft (3 km). Acoustic noise generated by the printer does not exceed 65 dB (A} , and is below the NC 55 curve, while printing a 64-char ASCII pattern on single-part paper [measurements taken at 5 ft (LS m) above the floor and 3.3 ft (1 m ) from the equipment].
Unit dimensions are 32 x 20 x 43" (81 x 51 x 109 cm) for the freestanding unit and 32 x 26 x 13" (81 x 66 x 33 cm} for the desktop version. Weight is approximately 170 lb (77 kg).
Price and Delivery
T-3300 printers with Dataproducts or Centronics interface, complete self-diagnostics, 96-char ASCII set, and 12-channel direct access vertical format unit are priced at $6100 for the end user. OEM discounts are available. Delivery is 90 days ARO. Tally Corp, 8301 S 180th St, Kent, WA 98031. Tel: 206/ 251-5500. For additional information circle 199 on inquiry card.

190 CIRCLE 92 ON IN(j>UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

You won't believe our

BallisticTM see

oPnrien·1tenrpur·ninttil.

you

Ancl in person.

Unless you've been in hiding, you've probably heard about LSI's family of Ballistic Printers. Built with the same proven dependability of the Dumb Terminal and hiS Smarter Brothers.
Our latest matrix printer, the 200A, comes with standard features like a Space and Blank Character Compression Buffer. Tabbing over Blank Spaces ability Half Duplex or Full Duplex Operation. And a fully buffered input, optionally expandable to 1024 characters. Not to mention its microprocessor versatility, and firmware fleXibility
Tu top it off, you can choose from options like Serial, RS232, Parallel, and Current Loop interfaces. Polling. X-ON, X-OFF And elongated character capability with a choice of either 10, 12 or 16.5 Pitch.
The Printer's reliability lies in the simplicity of its patented BalliStic head. Which balliStically propels the matrix wires to assure longer head life. Eliminating tube clogging with inks, dust,

and paper fibers. Even wire tip wear iS substantially reduced.
The BalliStic Printer uses a five-start lead screw and servo to print bi-directionally at 180 cps. Direct, simple, positive. And very accurate.
But, seeing iS believing. So, ifyou'd like to be amazed by our BalliStic Printer in person, write or call us toll free (800) 854-3805. Just ask for Tom Hudspeth.
Ifyou haven't seen the Ballistic Printer in action, you haven't seen balliStic printing.
Ballistic Printer.
Tougher in the long run.
LEAR SIEGLER, INC. ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION DIVISION DATA PRODUCTS

Le8J' Siegler, Inc./E.I.D. , Data Products, 714 Brookhurst SL., Anaheim, CA 92803; (800) 854-3805. In California (714) 774-1010.

CIRCLE 93 ON INQUIRY CARD

191

I PRODUCTS

Computer Controls Digitizer Functions to Receive Continuous Tone Image of Real World Events
Creating a 32 x 32 element picture that is accepted by most computer systems, the type 511 optical image digitizer permits the computer to perceive events and artifacts in the real world. The host computer controls all functions of the digitizer. Integration time variations permit electronic adjustment of sensitivity by the host. Repetitive scans of the scene at different exposures generate a series of images that produce continuous tone images when combined. Housed In an aluminum case, the 8.2- x 4.0- x 2.5-cm unit (excluding lens and connector) has an integral %-20 thread for mounting. The fast (f1.9/13-mm) lens focuses from 0.2 m to infinity for use in robotics and process control. Sensitivity is equivalent to ASA 200 emulsion . Periphicon, PO Box 324, Beaverton, OR 97005. Circle 200 on Inquiry Card

Matrix Impact Printers in Interactive and Line Printer Versions Operate at up to 1200 Baud
The self-contained TermiNetTM 200 teleprinter series consists of an interactive KSR unit mated with an RO configuration that can be modified into a line printer. Serial asynchronous transmission is at 110, 200, 300, and 1200 baud , full or half duplex. The unit prints a line of up to 136 char, 10 char/in (4/crn) , with 3 other print compressions as well. The 6-pin tractor impact print mechanism with straight wires, ballistic firing, and laminated core has a 7 x 9 matrix for single and multiform usage. Features include servo control of carriage and paper advance, 20-in (51-cm)/s slew rate, 1k buffer, selectable vertical spacing , bid irectional printing (line printer only), vernier tractor adjustment, handling of 2 to 16.5" (5 to 42 cm) paper widths, and the company's Mobius loop ribbon cartridge. General Electric Co, Data Communication Products Business Dept, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

Circle 201 on Inquiry Card

Raster Scan Graphics and Imaging System Doubles Speed of Random Image Updating
System 3400 video image processor features 750-ns/pixel random updating that is twice as fast as other raster scan systems. Suited to dynamic imaging and graphics applications, the tool has such functions as high speed blinking between 2 or more images, side-by-side display of up to 20 64 x 64 images, zoom , 4-directional scrolling, or inverting the displayed intensity. Single-chassis unit with selfcontained power supply and cooling can be configured as a 320 x 256 pixel display by up to 16 bits of memory/pixel. A company-designed 80-ns cycle time 12-bit microprocessor works with a memory controller. Up to 8 CRT outputs are generated by 1 system. B/W, gray scale, or color output Is available, with 3 lookup table options. It interfaces to any 8-, 16-, or 32-bit host computer over OMA, command 1/0, or RS-232 links. Lexidata Corp, 215 Middlesex Tpk, Burlington, MA 01803.
192

Circle 202 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Here is absolutely the best PC connector catalog you can get your hands on.
There's no point in being modest about the thing.This is the clearest, most straight forward, easy-to-use PC connector catalog in the business.
It helps that it is also your guide to one of the broadest lines of PC connectors offered by a single manufacturer: We have more basic designs in more depth, with more options than anyone.
But our line is only as good as your ability to get to it. And so we've spent time and effort to make sure our catalog lets you do just that.
It's logically organized - first by contact centers and then by type of terminations.
Everything on each connector series is shown on a single spread. No flipping back and forth.
You spend your time solving your design problem instead of trying to solve our catalog.
Use the coupon and get your free copy.
Quick delivery of connectors Our distributors keep a
large inventory of standard Viking connectors. If you need connectors in a hurry, chances are they're only a phone call away.

II ~~,:_°' II ~-------, carotog D lhe name of yo<ueae· "'P.!d$1bulo<

NAME :

TITLE: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ,

COMPANY: _ _ _ _ _ _ _PHONE :_ __ _ EXT: _ _

ADDRESS : CITY : _ _ _ _ _ _ STATE:_ _ _ _ _ ZIP:_ __

I I

-t!-.-~!-~-~-~1-31~1~-/~91-~4~2·~:

CIRCLE 94 ON INQUIRY CARD

193

PRODUCTS
PERMANENT MAGNET STEPPING MOTORS

GET THE CONNECTION?

To oonnect wires directly_ to PC boards, BUCHANAN® PCB connectors are by far the best way. No soldering - only a screwdriver needed. Boards plug directly into connectors. Wire leads - solid or stranded, without terminal lugs - are solidly anchored in high· pressure tubular-clamp contacts.
In your equipment, these patented* connectors eliminate
many 1/0 interfaces, for up to 5 less connections per circuit
You save $7 - $30 per PC board - hundreds of dollars per cabinet - in material and labor costs by eliminating unnecessary connec· tors, mounting hardware, cabling, installation, inspection, and debugging.
In production, BUCHANAN
1/0 Connectors save even more -
particularly if much wiring is done after mechanical assembly. Experts agree - such operations should be a acrewdriver job neat, quick, and efficient, minus dangling leads, twisted cables, and awkward soldering or wire· wrapping locations.

In the field, BUCHANAN PCB Connectors provide for better performance and higher reliability. They eliminate many possible sources of costly electrical and mechanical problems, so you save significantly on maintenance and service calls.
In your designs, BUCHANAN PCB Connectors satisfy virtually any requirement: UL Recognition, type of mounting, card guides and keys, horizontal or vertical positioning, and many more.
In your Engineering Data Files,
you need the BUCHANAN 1/0
data file. To get it, use the reader service card, or call your nearest Regional Information Center (listed below).
·u.s. Patent No. 3,930,706.
Other patents pending.

Amerace CorQPration, Control Products Division, Union, NJ 07083 U.S.A. BUCHANAN® Terminal Blocks, Barrier Strips, & 1/0 Connectors. AGASTAT®Tim&-Dalay Relays, Control Relays, & Programmable Switches. Regional Information Centers: Santa Fe Springs, CA, (213) 863·5753; Elk Grow Village, IL, (312) 437-8354; Manhasset, NY, (516) 627-8809; Atlanta, GA, (404) 261-1224.

194

CIRCLE 134 ON INtj)UIRY CARD

High quality permanent magnet motors are available in stepping angles of 7.5, 9, 11 .25, and 15°. Desig n featu res include choice of std dual self-aligning sleeve bearings or optional du al ball bearings. Construction assures pe rformance in applications where extremes in duty cycles, temp ranges, or mechanical shock loads must be met. Torque ratings range from 0.6 to 21 ozin based on motor size and step angle desired. Stepp ing rates up to 2000 steps/s are possible. Berger-Lahr Corp, Peterborough Rd , Jaffrey, NH 03452.
Circle 203 on Inqu iry Card
OMA LINE PRINTER CONTROLLER 1200 series controller interfaces Data General Nova and Eclipse CPU s to Dataproducts 2200 series printers a nd Data Printer Chaintrain printers. Transparent to existing software, controller is contained on a single 15 x 15" (38.1 x 38.1-cm) PC board, and occupies 1 110 slot in computer. It incorporates all circuitry needed to effect full-word data transfers via high speed data channel on a cycle stealing basis. Digltal Associates Corp, 1039 E Main St, Sta mford , CT 06902.
Circle 204 on Inquiry Card
FIBER-OPTIC DIGITAL TRANSMITTERS/RECEIVERS
FIBERCOMTM FDT and FDR series feature ·immunity to electrical interference, broad bandwidth over great dista nces, and elimination of ground loops. RS· .232, 422, and 423, and MIL-STD-188 line rece ivers and drivers are bu ilt-in options. With an IR LED wavelength of 880 nm std (820 nm optional) , 4 receivers and 1 transmitter cover in 4 bandwidths from de to 1OM bits/ s RZ or de to 20M bits/s NAZ over dista nces to several kilometers with bit error rates <10-12· Radiation Devices Co, Inc, PO Box 8450, Baltimore, MD 21234.
Circle 205 on Inqu iry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ J UNE 1978

FUNDING SYST.E;,\f5 CORPORATION
(ffl) "-'...10

Dear Reader:

~ith Our Leasing Oivision has recently completed a
S2o million tax oriented leased equipment Program the '··sing subsidiary of one of the "°<1d·s largest abcutsiionnesws asanvderOyffsiicmepmlea.chine manufacturers. >he trans-

1. >he manufactuier·s '··sing company transferred legal title to the equiPment to Funding Systems.

ecFoqumnupdiainnpygmlSeoynost~,emo7fs

P·id the manufacturer·s leasing Ytheearrse. venues generated by the

3, cFoumnpdainyg $S1ysmteimllsioPn·i~ d th- e manufacturer's leasing

~ith Funding Systems Corporation is a Public co"Pany

traded in the over the counter market

interests

in the energy field, heavy equipment manufacturing ·nd

inv~oillvilni~otenchno1ogy chemicals. It has, through its leasing division, during
the Past one and one-half Years, consu,,.,,ated in excess

of tax orieqnuteipdmleenat,sing transactions

ftrreaensoaInEct8iYo0on0u-2ia4nr5ve_o6liSvn4itn4e.greYstoeudr cionmdpaisncyu, sPsilneagsea csai1m1ilmaer to11

SBs:crs

Sincerely,
~~~ Stanley B. Scheinman

CIRCLE 95 ON IN9UIRy CARD

195

PAD DUCTS
COLOR GRAPHICS DISPLAY SYSTEM

Model 5217 single-channel display generator, including dual RS-232 interfaces, p/ROM programmed microprocessor, and power supply, is contained within the operator's keyboard. Any RS-170 compatible monochrome or color CRT monitor may be used with this unit. It features 8 colors; 256 char and symbols; individual char control of color, blink, intensity, size, normal or reverse video, and protect; and full edit caipability. Display format is 80 char/line x 48 lines/page. Aydin Controls, 414 Commerce Dr, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Circle 206 on Inquiry Card

MECHANISMS/CONTROLS FOR IMPACT COLUMN PRINTERS
A family of elements to provide inexpensive column printing ircludes series PR15 and PR21 impact printing mechanisms for 15 and 21 col, respectively ; a Mostek 3870-based interface/controller model 4-621-9210; F8-based interface/ controller model 4-621-9205; system power supply model CP242 ; and separate programmed 3870 chips. The resultant system accepts ASCII , RS232-C, or BCD data formats, and prints at 1.5 (alphanumeric) or 3 lines/s (numeric). Sodeco, div of Landis & Gyr, Inc, Elmsford, NY 10523. Circle 207 on Inquiry Card

SINGLE-AXIS POSITION SENSOR
PIN-LSC/39D is a Schottky barrier diode with an active area of 1.22 cm·. As a light spot moves across this area, electrical currents are generated which are proportional to distance from contact point to light spot, providing linear real-time analog information on both location and movement in a single axis. Sensor provides continuous pos it ion signal with accuracy independent of light spot size. Spectral range is 350 to 1100 nm. Responsivity is 0.55 A / W at 850 nm (pk) . United Detector Technology, Inc, 2644 30th St, Santa Mon ica , CA 90405. Circle 208 on Inquiry Card

Now, MOS memories and µP's design problems we've set the sta
ADC80Z models that cover the .z.11.4 tc ;-1
Everything else stays the same:
±12V DACSO: 12-bit resolution, t-1/2 LSB max llneartty..A~Mii gain drift and 300 nsec settling time to +0.01% FSA. Prlce;('fOO'
±12V ADC80: 1Oand 12 bits, 25 µsec max conversion time, ±1/2 LSB nonlinearity, internal reference, clock and comparator. Price: {100's) $49.50.
Call-write for specs on a full line of data conversion products, including 8to 16- bit hybrid DAC's. BURR-BROWN, P.O . Box 11400, International Airport Indu strial Park , Tucson , Arizona 85734, Phone: (602) 746-1111 .
BURR-BROWN
I EIEl l
putting Technology To Work For You

196

CIRCLE 96 ON IN9UIRY CARD

32k SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY FOR PDP-11
Single-card Add-ln-11 memory system that plugs directly into a single card slot of DEC PDP-11/04 and 11 / 34 minicomputers provides 32k x 18 bits of dynamic MOS memory. It allows memory expansion in 32k-word increments to the computer's limits. Fully hardware and software compatible with the 11 /04 and /34 modified Un ibus, the unit has onboard parity generation and checking circuits, and control status register, which holds any detected parity error. Fabrl-Tek, Inc, 5901 S County Rd 18, Minneapolis, MN 55436. Circle 209 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN / JUNE 1978

PRINT SPEED ASCII/ EBCDIC SCREEN SPLITS · MANY OTHERS

I · ~ MENU

READ

CANCE~ .WRITE

MULTI-CHARACTER FUNCTION KEYS permit one key to display or send a string of multiple characters or codes

U.K. Subsidiary: DELTA DATA SYSTEMS LTD. Welwyn Garden 33833
Service in over 150 locations in the U.S. and 14 European countries and Canada.

CIRCLE 97 ON INQUIRY CARD

PRODUCTS
DUAL DRIVE FLOPPY DISC SYSTEM
Direct from Tokyo
12''CRT DISPL
MONIT

Hardware for DMAF1, a single-density, double-sided 8" (20.3-cm) disc system, consists of SS-50 bus compatible OMA controller capable of handling up to 4 drives and 2 143M double-density rated disc drives. System is housed in a 5.375 x 17.125 x 20.5" (13.653 x 43.498 x 52.1-cm) aluminum chassis with regulated power supply, drive motor control board, cooling fan, diskette, and interfacing cables. Software includes microcomputer disc operating system, and an Bk BASIC interpreter. Southwest Technical Products Corp, 219 W Rhapsody, San Antonio, TX 78216.
Circle 210 on Inquiry Card

PLASMA PANEL DIS·PLAYS
Two series of 16- and 14-char alphanumeric plasma displays with 0.400" (1-cm) and 0.500" (1.3-cm) char heights, respectively, operate at a typ peak current of 630 µA/segment and at a temp range of 0 to 55 °C. Typ light output is 50 ft-Land viewing angle is 130 deg. Type PD-14A050 and -16A040 utilize a long-life cold cathode, neon gas discharge display panel design. Char segments are bused together internally for multiplexed operations. Dale Electronics, Inc, Display Dept, Box 609, Columbus, NE 68601. Circle 211 on Inquiry Card

INTERACTIVE DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
lnfotrieveT>< and lnformatTM facilitate maintenance and management of large or small Nova-based data bases. When used in conjunction with lrisT" operating system, lnfotrieve, a CRT-oriented query system, operates on formatted, contiguous, and indexed random files. It requires no memorization of grammatical formats or protocols. Informal is a general-purpose ,report writer which utilizes selection facilities of lnfotrieve and extends its report writing facilities. Educational Data Systems, Inc, 1682 Langley Ave, Irvine, CA 92714.
Circle 212 on Inquiry Card

DATA TRANSMISSION TERMINAL

FEATURES · Uniform High Resolution · Integrated PC Board · Dependable Construction · Squareness of Picture
~ C. ITOH ELECTRONICS, INC.
5301 Beethoven Street Los Angeles , Calif . 90066 Telephone : (213) 390-7778 Telex : (WU) 65-2451
280 Pano: Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: (212) 682-0420 Telex (WU) 12-5059

Error-protected BiSync or SDLC formats incorporated in the digital mag tape system enable increased throughput efficiencies at rates to 56.2k bits/s. Standalone model 7300 transmits IBM format data via DOD, WATS, leased , or private line links. Database protection ranges from simple char parity to selected repeat ARO. Error checking is provided ·On char or block basis. Unit also contains a single-chip LSI microprocessor and self-test capability. Quad Systems, Inc, 11900 Parklaw.n Dr, Rockville, MD 20852.
Circle 213 on Inquiry Card

198

CIRCLE 98 ON INQUIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

Buying intelligent terminals ... think Ontel!

We've planned and engineered our family

of intelligent terminal systems to meet

maximum OEM user needs. With the recent

introduction of the Ontel OP-1 /R, the first

truly user-programmable intelligent ter-

For

minal in its price range, we've broadened our product family. We now offer powerful cluster systems. Master terminals coupled with intelligent slaves provide unique distributive processing capabilities.

Intelligent Ontel terminals are more than just welldesigned, flexible and reliable . .. they're low-cost total systems all engineered to complete your systems family.

Family Buying Intelligent Terminals? Think Ontel! Supplying the software you ne~d is a must. We offer 3 high level languages, forms generation, word processing, text editing,
Planning extensive utilities and diagnostics ... all running under Ontel's Disk or Diskette Operating System. Ontel software enables our users to reduce their development costs for a multitude of different applications.
A few more facts . Ontel terminals have a modular structure with up to 64K of memory and are designed for field upgrade. They're easily programmed and have a full range of controllers including com-
ThinkOntel munications, mass storage and printer interfaces.
Contact Us Today For the Intelligent Answer

Edward J. Heinze National Sales Manager

Ontel Corporation 250 Crossways Park Dr. Woodbury, NY 11797 (516) 364-2121

C IRCLE 99 ON INQUIRY CARD

199

PRODUCTS
DIGITAL SYNTHESIS WAVEFORM GENERATOR
..

Model 350 precision low frequency generator uses a crystal-controlled clock and digital synthesis techniques to generate sine, square, triangle, ramp, haversine, haversquare, havertriangle, and inverted waveforms. 9 frequency ranges with 3-digit resolution provide an overall frequency range of 1O nHz to 999 Hz. When operating in ramp or triangle mode, min step amplitude is 50 µV/step at max signal amplitude of 20 V pk-pk. In sine mode, min step phase angle resolution is 0.00045° (1.62" of arc). Exact Electronics, Inc, 455 SE 2nd Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97123.
Circle 214 on Inquiry Card

FIBER-OPTIC COMMUNICATION DATA CABLE
With 0.204-mm fiber core and 0.48-mm numerical aperture, 3000-LC cable yields superior coupling efficiency to commercially available std connectors, and is suited for optical data links operational to 330 m. Single fiber, step index optical communication cables are available in 4 std jacket configurations. High temp strengthened cables and hybrid configurations combining electrical wire and fiber optics are also available. Galileo Electro-Optics Corp, Galileo Pk, Sturbridge, MA 01518. Circle 215 on Inquiry Card

f;...TAPE"bRIVE
o£L6so PROVIDES:
30 IPS Read/Write, 90 IPS Rewind/Search · 48,000 Bits/Sec Transfer Rate
· 2.5 + Megabytes per cartridge
· Small Size-Rugged Design
TAPE STORAGE SYSTEMS
·Model 2200-1 or 2 Tape Drives in 5" package · Model 2400-Up to 8 Tape Drives in 911 package · Model 2710-Portable Recording System with up
to 2 Drives · Model 86008 Formatter-Used in all Tape Storage
Systems. Complete ANSI compatibility with powerful data handling features.
INTERFACES
All tape systems are available with the following controllers: PDP-11/LSl-11/NOVA, ROLM/ INTERDATA/ ALTAIR/8080/RS232/NTDS.
For more information, call us toda y.
Qdntex DMS,ON NORTH ATLANTIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
200 TERMINAL OR ., PLAINVIEW, NEW YORK 11803 · 516-681-8350 · TWX: 510-221-1879
See us at NCC-Booth 1213-1215

200

CIRCLE 100 ON IN9UIRY CARD

300-BAUD PAPER TAPE TERMINAL DLC 3000 can be connected to 300-baud printers, visual display units, and other equipment via an RS-232-C interface to provide ASA capability; it can also stand alone to send and receive data, and to punch and duplicate tape. Punch/reader mechanism is available separately to OEMs. Terminal's floorstanding pedestal package utilizes < 1 ft2 (0.09 m2) of floor space. Std switch settings include half or full duplex, and 11 O or 300 baud . Drillick La Manna Corp, 280 Midland Ave, Saddle Brook, NJ 07662.
Circle 21 b on Inquiry Card
POWER REGULATORS
Portable, plug-in micro/minicomputer regulators exceed i;ierformance ratings of ultra-isolation transformers and add voltage regulation, overvoltage protection, and short-circuit current limiting. Units guard against most ac power problems except total blackout. Transverse-mode noise attenuation is 60 dB ; common-mode noise attenuation is 120 dB. Expanded line features 2 60-Hz models with 140- and 250-VA load ratings. Sola Electric Co, 1717 Busse Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. Circle 217 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

···is to energy saving switchers.
300 watt . quad output MGQ 300: 75% energy efficient.

Switching power supplies are more efficient than Ii nears. To produce a 200 watt output, a linear supply needs
400 watts coming in. A Gould switcher needs only 270 . The switcher saves the 130 watts that the linear throws off in the form of heat.
Since the switcher dissipates less heat, your system operates at a lower temperature. This improves overall reliability and can reduce the need for external cooling .
But energy efficiency isn't the only advantage switchers offer. They're 1/ 3 the size and 1I4 the weight of Ii nears. And they offer far better holdup and brownout protection .
Gould offers single and multiple output switchers with power levels from 8 to 2,250 watts . And custom designs can be provided to meet your exact specifications. You 'll be backed by a high volume production capability and worldwide service network that only a $1 .5 billion company like Gould could offer.
For more information contact Gould Inc., Electronic Components Division , 4601 North Arden Dr ., El Monte, CA 91731 . Phone (213) 442-7755 .
Gould. The power in switching power supplies.
·} GOULD

C IRCLE 101 ON INQUIRY CARD

201

PRODUCTS
FRONTEND PROCESSOR INTERFACE

LSl-X.25 microprocessor-based units interface computers and their peripherals to packet switching networks supporting CCITT approved X.25 protocol. Frontend processor Implements packet switching support for DEC's PDP-11 systems. Microprocessor contains X.25 network software as well as interactive terminal interface for RSTS and RSX operating systems. Unit connects to communications network through synchronous channel at speeds up to 9600 bits/ s. OMA performs transfer to PDP11. Cableshare Ltd, 393 Rectory St, London, Ontario N5W 3W2, Canada.
Circle 218 on Inquiry Card

Anew
lllilF
-"'::F!u!;.l;lliS~lze.n,--...m. iniature
6PDrr Toggle A Switch -.-----
2 millian cycles
for computers, minicomputer and main frame formating, data communications equipment, medical, industrial instrumenfation, and stop-start test switching

DATA LINK ANALYZER WITH CASSETTE UNIT OPTION
The 803A uFoxT" Is a diagnostic tool for data communications facilities. For online testing, it monitors the data stream in various codes, checking text, control, and protocol characters. Offline, it simulates a CPU, terminal, or modem to isolate problems. Microprocessor control and a conversational language make operation easy for nonprogramming personnel. An optional cassette unit supplements internal program memory and allows events of interest to be recorded. Halcyon, Inc, 1 Halcyon Plaza, 2121 Zanker Rd, San Jose, CA 95131. Circle 219 on Inquiry Card
COMMUNICATIONS CONTROLLER WITH DOUBLE DISC UNIT A disc unit added to the Smarts controller provides expanded storage and file capacity, and additional work space for editing large files. Operating as a single, integrated system, the disc can store over 540k char on 2 diskettes in up to 120 operator-named files . Disc space is dynamically allocated. Upon operator command, the controller's file directory lists all files on both diskettes. Operators can randomly access any message by file name. Western Union Data Services, 70 McKee Dr, Mahwah, NJ 07430.
Circle 220 on Inquiry Card

DIGITAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS

T-BAR Series 202 SPOT Mini-Paddle Lever Switches are designed for "must operate" applications. T-BAR Edge-to-DomeTM bifurcated contacts provide the SltStlllTM reliability that protects the integrity and stability of millions of circuits during continuous UH or even long periods of inoperation. The 202 retains Its lnltlal characteristics through 2-million operations. Call for appllcatlon help.

SWITCHING COMPONENTS DIVISION 141 Danbury Road Wilton, CT 08897 Telephone: 2031762-8351 TWX: 710/478-3211

202

CIRCLE 102 ON ·IN9UIRY CARD

The DPS high speed, high accuracy shaft positioning system allows the user to select any of 1500 variations and options from a small number of stock modules. Fitting the needs of small and large quantity users, the plug-in systems are preadjusted, assembled, and tested. The company designs and manufactures all of the basic systemmotor, position feedback transducer, and control electronics. Features include speeds of 5 to 5000 r/min and power up to 1.8 hp. Electro-Craft Corp, 1600 Second St S, Hopkins, MN 55343. Circle 221 on Inquiry Card
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

-·

. ~ ... .... =- 7 -.

1 -

·-

".:%:

When it comes to flexibility, the lnfoton 400 Data Display terminal can hand you all you need.
Designed around the Z-80 microprocessor, it offers complete control of all Blocking and Editing functions through software settable modes. One thing that's especially easy to handle about the 1-400 is its cost; at $1,095 in quantities of 100 or more, it's the most versatile terminal for the price you can get your hands on.
More information on the 1-400 is quickly within your grasp. Call lnfoton toll-free at (800) 225-3337 or 225-3338. Ask for Barbara Worth. Or write Barbara Worth at lnfoton, Second Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803.
Prepared by Chickeri ng/How ell, Los An ge les.
CIRCLE 103 ON IN9 UIRY CARD

@ lnfoton 400

ADlt4NCED TECHNI01

Course 412 - Four days
Digital Signal Processing
HOUSTON
July 18-21
NEW YORK
Aug.1-4
CHICAGO
Aug.15-18
SAN DIEGO
Sept. 26-29
WASHINGTON D.C.
Oct. 10-13

The objective of this course is to present the necessary fundamen tals of digital signal processing in a clear and comprehensible man ner, to develop an understanding of new processing techniques , to survey the state of the art of hardware and software available, and t apply this information to a range of concrete design examples . The course is of benefit both fo r those who wish to achieve a basic understanding of this exciting area, and for those whose interest is in advanced techniques and the implementation of practical systems .

· An Overview of Appllcatlons · Design Techniques

· Digi.tal vs. Analog Signals

· Computer Aided Design

· Operations on Digital Signals · Statistical Approaches

· Recursive Filters

· Spectral Estimation

· Nonrecursive Filters

· Application Case Study

HOUSTON
July25-28
CHICAGO
Aug. 8-11
NEW YORK

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to distributed processing and computer network design techniques . It covers the individual elements of a distributed processing system and how these elements are synthesized to form a system which best meets application specific objectives . Throughout the course, application examples provide concrete examples of the concepts presented , with emphasis on the factors affecting key planning , design and implementation decisions .

· What is to be Distributed?

· Database Structures

· Data Communication Concepts · Database Requirements

· The Computation Continuum · Security Considerations

· Computer Networks

· Evaluation and Selection

· Network Protocols

· Management and Control

n MICROPROC·ESSORS &MICROCOMPUTERS
I!.! FIVE-DAY COURSE SERIES

Course 111 : One day - Monday
MICROPROCESSOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT From design through manufacture, QA and field service
Course 102s: One day - Tuesday
MICROPROCESSORS AND MICROCOMPUTERS: A Comprehensive Technical Introduction and Survey
Course 130: Three days -Wed ., Thurs., Fri.
HANDS-ON MICROCOMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND INTERFACING WORKSHOP EACH student receives a complete 8080 microcomputer and interfacing system for his personal use throughout the course.

SEATTLE
July 10- 14
DALLAS
July 24-28
WASHINGTON D.C.
Aug . 14- 18
MINNEAPOLIS
Aug . 21 -25
LOS ANGELES
Sept. 18-22
NEW YORK
Sept. 25-29

204

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

EDU01TION

Course 365 - Four days
Computer Graphics
State of the Art Techniques and Applications
BOSTON
July 18-21
SAN FRANCISCO
July 25-28
NEW YORK
Aug. 8-11
HOUSTON
Sept. 12-15
WASHINGTON D.C.
Oct. 10-13

Hardware elements of computer graphics systems are presented at the level required for detailed system specification, selection and acquisition. Software techniques for computer graphic systems are developed from the elementary level of line generation and continue through advanced approaches to animated three-dimensional color displays with hidden surface removal. Off-the-shelf, commercially available software packages are analyzed and evaluated. Emphasis is placed on hardware/software tradeoffs, cost effectiveness and the advantages and limitations of alternative approaches.

· Display Hardware

· Software Structures

· Color Display Techniques · The Hidden Line Problem

· Two Dimenslonal Graphics · The Hidden Surface Problem

· Three Dimensional Graphics · Software 'Build or Buy'

· Transformations

· Selection Methodology

Course 440 - Four days
Fiber Optic Communication Systems
WASHINGTON D.C.
July25-28
CHICAGO
Aug. 22-25
HOUSTON
Sept. 19-22
SAN DIEGO
Oct. 3-6

This course is designed for engineers, scientists and managers involved in the planning , design and implementation of all types of communication systems. The course covers the fundamental principles of fiber optic based systems, and the state of the art in system components including light sources, optical fibers, single and multifiber cabling, fiber coupling , photodetectors, receiver and repeater technology, and fiber optic networks. Commercially available components will be surveyed to illustrate design techniques for the cost effective , practical application of this important new technology.

· Advantages of Fiber Optics · Optical Fiber TransmlHion · Cabling Technology · Light Sources · Detection Technology

· Receiver/Transmitter Technology
· Modulation Techniques · Digital Communications · Data Bus Design · System Design and Analysis

r.-------- - ------ - ------------------·

I I

FREE BROCHURES

I For additional course details, information about group discounts and course series discounts for 111, 102s and
I 130, and information about special hardware options for I course 130, please fill out and return this coupon or call the
ICS ENROLLMENT SECRETARY, (213) 450-2060

I COURSE FEES:

Course 111 or 102s: $195 (U.S.)

Course 130: $495 (U.S.)

Course 350, 365, 412 or440: $595 (U.S.)

\'!( Plea· Enroll Me In Course Number:

:l~ t

D 350 D 365 D 412 D 440

D 111 D 102s D 130

I City & Date ______________
I

O TOENROLL
Please fill out, detach and return this cou pon. A Confirmation Letter with complete det&ils will be forwarded to you . Mail to :
Enrollment Secretary Integrated Computer Systems, Inc. 3304 Pico Blvd., P.O. Box 5339 Santa Monica, CA 90405
For Immediate Confirmation , Call : (213) 450-2060
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Job Title_ __ _ _ __
Company _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ MailStop _ _ __
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CitY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - State _ _ _ _ Zip _ _ _ _ _ Telephone _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __
D Please send additional information

CIRCLE 104 ON IN9UIRY CARD

205

PRODUCTS
FLOPPY DISC DRIVE POWER SUPPLIES Model CP-249, originally designed for Shugart SA400 MinifloppyT" system, is dedicated to 5.25" {13.34-cm) format. Supply provides dual outputs of 5 V at 0.7 A, and 12 V at 1.1 A steady state with 1.7 A pk. Std features include 115/230-Vac . ±10% input capabilities, ±0.05% line and load regulation, and full protection against short-circuit and

overload. Max ripple is 3.0 mV pk-pk while transient response is 30 µs for a 50% load change. Power-One Inc, Power One Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010. Circle 222 on Inquiry Card

128k x 22 SEMICONDUCTOR
MEMORY CARD
Oncard options offered by the MICRORAM 3500 single-card memory system include ECG {single-bit error correction and multiple-bit error detection) and word or byte parity generation and checking. Card also has page mode, byte mode, error stop, and a fault location LED display which operates in conjunction with the ECC option. Provisions have been made for battery backup. System can be plugged into Micromemory 3000 chassis or used independently. EMM Commercial Memory Products, a div of Electronic Memories & Magnetics Corp, 12621 Chadron Ave, Hawthorne, CA 91250.
Circle 223 on Inquiry Card

1250-MHz FREQUENCY COUNTER
Designed for IEEE-488 bus applications, model 6043A is a thin line shape, measuring 1.75" (4.44 cm) in panel height. It automatically measures frequencies from 20 Hz to 1250 MHz, displaying them on an 8-digit LED readout. Interface to IEEE-488 bus is available at a rear panel connector. LED indicators on the front panel display programmable mode of the counter. Front panel pushbuttons offer selection of resolution from 0.1 to 1000 Hz in decade steps; X1, X10 , and X100 input attenuation for inputs to 100 MHz; and reset and hold controls. Systron-Donner Corp, Instrument Div, 10 Systron Dr, Concord, CA 94518. Circle 224 on Inquiry Card

NC MACHINE TOOL PROGRAMMING SYSTEM

Nowyoucan
mass terminate
twisted pair cables.
Spectra-Strip's Twist 'N' Flat Cable is great when you need reduced crosstalk and fast. low-cost. mass termination. In applications like high speed computer and communication equipment using digital techniques.
Our standard Twist 'N' Flat comes with 26 solid or 28 stranded AWG wire.The twisted section is 18" and parallel section is 2· with conductors on .050" centers. Custom configurations are available that vary the wire gauge. pitch and length of the twisted and parallel sections.You also get the same crosstalk characteristics of our Twisted Pair Cable.
Twist 'N' Flat.Another unique idea patented by Spectra-Strip.

206

CIRCl.E 105 ON INQUIRY CARD

Model 9800 combines buffer memory and video display, allowing all program preparation and editing to be done at the console without the need to manually write the program, generate a tape, or initiate a program printout. The program is held in memory and displayed on the monitor where it can be verified or changed; a char, word, or line can be typed on the keyboard and automatically inserted. Features include a 24-line capacity, impact printer, and programming terminal unit. Numeridex, Inc, 241 Holbrook Dr, Wheeling , IL 60090. Circle 225 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

THE FIRST TV CAMERA DESIGNED FOR COMPUTER INTERFACE

SUPERB RESOLUTION-
Observe minute detail with resolution ove r 1000 TV lines.
VIRTUALLY DISTORTION-FREE-
1mage is accurate, linear from center of screen to outer edge with less than 0.2% distortion .
STABLE-
Less than 0.05% drift per 24 hours, less than 0.2% from 10 ° C to 40 ° C.
PLUS ALL LINES NEEDED FOR DIGITAL AND ANALOG COMPUTER INTERFACE
THIS UNIT IS "INSTRUMENT QUALITY" -NOT A VIDEO SYSTEM FOR ENTERTAINMENT VIEWING

APPLICATIONS:
MEDICAL Tissue analysis Blood analysis Neurological- X-Y movement analysis Optical Instrument data analysis Other analysis of visual data
INDUSTRIAL Aerial photography analysis-crop areas,
insect infestation IR Analysis- detect forest fires , direct robot
fire fighters Bottle inspecti on-using polarized light Dimension analysis and control, area
measurement, displacement measurement Printed pattern analysis and control Missile tracking
UNIVERSITY Analysis of any visual information that can be
measured through variation in light intensity Medical resea rch Physics research Laser technology

HAMAMATSU
HAMAMATSU CORP. · 120 WOOD AVENUE · MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY 08846 · (201 ) 469-6640

CIRCLE 106 ON INQUIRY CARD

207

PRODUCTS
FIBER-OPTIC FLEXIBLE LIGHT GUIDES Designed for data processing, scanning, programming, mark sensing, and medical instrumentation and recording, PVC-sheathed light guides operate in temps from -40 to 220 °F. Easily installed guides use 0.002" (0.0051-cm) glass fibers and transmit a beam of intense bright cold light. Std designs include single, bifurcated, and trifur-

cated branch tips to match link-up needs, with 600- to 700-dB/km attenuation, and 68 ° acceptance angles. Vallee Corp, Fiberoptics Div, West Boylston, MA 01583.
Circle 226 on Inquiry Card

DIAGNOSTIC CONTROLLED MODEM
The 2400-bit/s synchronous modem's diagnostic features, contained in the master and remote site modems, function as the controller fo r the entire communications network. They provide a secondary channel with command mode procedures. Test and control of remote site modems are performed over this secondary channel. Test pattern generator and detector, EIA std RS-232 interface, and onl ine compatibility with Bell System 201B and 201C data sets are std. Penril Corp, 5520 Randolph Rd, Rockville, MD 20852. Circle 227 on Inquiry Card

The world's cheapest
S·Bit, 16-MHZ
VIDEOA/D
· It's complete ... · It's self-contained ...
· It's proven ... · 1OOO's are in operation
and now it's only
$479!*

EDGE CONNECTORS
1
A 22/22-contact connector for singleor double-sided PC boards, model CON-1 features 0.025" (0.63-mm) square 3-level wirewrapping contacts on 0.156" (4.0-mm) centers. Contacts are nickel-silver over beryllium-copper, and feature reliable bifurcated/ bellows design. Connector body is molded of UL and MIL approved VALQXT" , an insulating material of superior dielectric, thermal, and chemical characteristics. OK Machine and Tool Corp, 3455 Conner St, Bronx, NY 10475. Circle 228 on Inquiry Card
PORTABLE DUAL-TRACE 15-MHz OSCILLOSCOPE

COMPUTER
- ~Ek - LABS
COMPUTER LABS, INCORPORATED 505 EDWARDIA DR. e GREENSBORO, N. C. 27409
919/292-6427 e TWX 510-922-7954
*In quantity of 100.

208

CIRCLE 107 ON INQUIRY CARD

Bandwidth of model 1432 triggered sweep scope covering 0.5 µ,s to 1.5 s is rated at 15 MHz with a vertical sensitivity rating of 2 mV/div; usable response extends beyond 30 MHz. Optional battery pack mounts and is recharged inside the case. A built-in universal power supply provides operation on 117 Vac, 234 Vac, or 12 Vdc. Display modes are chopped or alternate. Algebraic addition and subtraction of channel B and A input signals as well as automatic stability control, are included. B&KPrecision, Dynascan Corp, 6460 W Cortland Ave, Chicago, IL 60635. Circle 229 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PRODUCTS
INTELLIGENT TERMINAL SYSTEM
OP-1 /R is user-programmable and will run std OP-1 programs (including those written in high level languages), utilities , and communications packages. Terminal is configured to be used in clustered or online systems. Features include multiple microprocessors sharing 4k, Bk, 16k, or 32k RAM , plus up to Bk of ROM or p/ ROM. Set of 12B char, 7 x 9 dot matrix, and line drawing capabilities are characteristic of its display. Communications capabilities are asynchronous from 11 O to 19.2k baud. Oniel Corp, 250 Crossways Park Dr, Woodbury, NY 11797. Circle 230 on Inquiry Card

LETTER QUALITY IMPACT PRINTER
For use with PTS-100T"' programmable terminal systems, 45-char/s model 340B printer is microprocessor-controlled and provides typewriter-like output quality. Featuring a servo-controlled daisy wheel with Courier or pica font, the un it produces sharp fully formed char on from 1- to 6-part forms. Features include switch-selectable form feed In increments from 1 line to 14" (35.6 cm) , full ASCII char set, and a 132char/line x 6-line/in (2/cm) format. Raytheon Data Systems Co, Communications Dept, 1415 Boston-Providence Tpk, Norwood, MA 02062. Circle 231 on Inquiry Card
DUAL KEYBOARD TERMINAL SYSTEM
TC BOO terminal ~ystem combines reliability of individual intelligent terminals with economy of a controller-based system. Online terminal system can be configured as a 2-workstation standa· lone unit or satellite system in a clustered master/satellite terminal environment. 3 self-contained and free-moving video display units are available, with screen capacities of 260, 4BO, and 1920 char. Each terminal has 16 1/0 channels. Olivetti Corp of America, 500 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022. Circle 232 on Inquiry Card

DATA ACQUISITION MODULE
ADAM 100, a 12-bit A-D with 100-kHz throughput and full scale accuracy of ±0.025%, is contained in a 3 x 4.6 x 0.375" (7.6 x 11 .7 x 0.953-cm) metal can that provides 6-sided electrostatic and electromagnetic shielding. Unit contains a high speed sample and hold, and 16 channels of single-ended pseudodifferential or B fully differential multiplexer inputs, all jumper selectable at pinouts. Module also includes 3state outputs for data transfer to bus oriented systems. Adac Corp, 15 Cummings Pk, Woburn, MA 01B01 . Circle 23'3 on Inquiry Card
LOG/ANTI LOG AMPLIFIERS
Featuring 200-kHz bandwidth at signal current of 1 µA, log/antilog amps provide 1% conformance accuracy to ideal log operation over 4 decades of current logging (20 nA to 200 µA). 2% accuracy is also guaranteed over 5 decades of operation , 10 nA to 1 mA. Models 759N/P are housed in 1.125 x 1.125 x 0.4" (2.B5B x 2.B5B x 1.02-cm) package that features a complete de logarithmic amp. No external components are required to select scale factor or reference current; they may be externally adjusted by the user. Analog Devices, Inc, PO Box 2BO, Rt 1 Industrial Pk, Norwood, MA 02062. Circle 234 on Inquiry Card

TWo lightweight contenders for your

triple power n

In this corner, the AED101 , a highly efficient power supply designed speclfically to provide the DC power range required by floppy disk subsystems operating one to four drives. Extremely lightweight and
compact, the 101 provides triple-output power! + sv @ 12 amps, - 12v @ .7 amps, + 24V @ 3.5 ampsl for up to 4 drives plus drive electronics, formatter and Interface circuitry. It also offers OVP, foldback current limiting,
sv switching regulator, and is UL recognized.
In the other corner, the AED201, 4y, lbs. lighter and designed to meet the special DC power requirements for one to two
floppy disk drives I + sv @ s amps; - sv @ .7 amps, + 24V @ 2.a ampsl. The 201 provides foldback limiting on + sv, superior power efficiency, and is designed to meet
UL478 Standards. Both models are field proven, and they are available r ight now.
*Prices shown are for 100-249 per year.

IDEAL POWER FOR SHUGART PERTEC, MEMOREX AND OTHER FLOPPY DRIVES

ADVANCED LECTRONICS DESIGN, INC.
Power Systems Division, 440 Potrero Avenue Sunnyvale, California 94086. PhOne 408-733-3555

210

CIRCLE 109 ON INCj)UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PRODUCTS
600-UNE/MIN RASTER MATRIX IMPACT PRINTER
Printer offers advantages· of raster matrix impact printing, and enables full spectrum of medium speed printer requirements to be met at low cast. Advantages Include multicopy print quality; high reliability, made possible by simple printing mechanism with up to 50% fewer parts than drum, chain, belt, or band printers; full 96-char ASCII set expandable to 160 chars without speed degradation; and an inherent computer graphics/plotting capability. Prlntronix Inc, 17421 Derian Ave, Irvine, CA 92714. Circle 235 on Inquiry Card

PRECISION FIBER-OPTIC CABLES
In lengths to 1 km, optical cables are available in 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-fiber versions. Designed-in strength features help alleviate problems of fiber elongation, microbends, and changes in attenuation. Testing method gives users precise information about optical cables, particularly rating their stress limits. Cables are appropriate for duct and interior installations. Attenuation levels are 6 dB in premium and 10 dB in std grade. Siecor Optical Cables, Inc, 631 Miracle Mile, Horseheads, NY 14845. Circle 236 on Inquiry Card
PROGRAMMASLE ASYNCHRONOUS ADAPTER
Dual line adapter, geared for Interdata minicomputer users, provides 2 PASLA compatible RS-232-C channels on a half board, maintaining software and hardware compatibility with host products. Flexibility is increased through use of Independent 10-blt addresses, data set staius disable , duplex mode, and a 50 to 19.2k baud rate. Low power Schottky construction reduces power consumption of 2 channels from 3.2 to 0.75 A at 5 V. Adapter Is used for data set and local terminal communication. RDV Engineering, 319 Dolores Cir, Placentia, CA 92670. Circle 237 on Inquiry Card

CORE MEMORY REPLACEMENT FOR FIXED DISC SYSTEM
Buscomm DS-11 replaces DEC's RF-11 I RS-11 fixed disc system . Having no rotational latency, memory system contains a memory controller and modules, display card, power supply, and chassis . Chassis holds 8 memory modules providing max storage capacity of 1M words or 2M bytes. Unit is software transparent to all operating systems and diagnostics that support RF-11 I RS-11 disc systems, and features on/ offline switch, built-in sel f-test, selectable transfer rates to 1M words/ s, and selectable block transfer mode. Standard Memories/Trendata, 3400 W Segerstrom Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704.
Circle 238 on Inquiry Card
8-BIT VIDEO A-D CONVERTER
VADC-820 samples at a 20-MHz rate and is compatible with NTSC and PAL stds. Module is designed for digitizing TV and radar signals for storage, measurement, and transmission. Flexibility is provided by 4 pin-programmable input voltage ranges whose end points can be screwdriver adjusted up to ±10% by internal gain trim. Binary coded ranges are 0 to 1 V and 0 to 2 V; offset binary ranges are ±0.5 and ±1.0 V. ILC Data Device Corp, Airport International Plaza, Bohemia, NY 11716. Circle 23'9 on Inquiry Card

DATA ACQUISITION
SYSTEMS

Tustin manufactures a wide variety of off-the-shelf Data Acquisition Systems utilizing a building block approach. Possibly one of our standard systems will fulfill your requirements. If not, because bf the flexibility of our systems, we should be able to provide you with a non-standard unit with minimal engineering costs. We have provided systems with a combination of the following features:

· ± 10.0 MV to ± 10.0 Volts Full Scale
· 8 - 16 Bit Analog-to-Digital Converters · ±0.01 % Full Scale Accuracy · Scan Rates of 1O Hz/Ch to 1.0 MHz/Ch. · 1 to 1024 Channels
· Instrumentation Amplifier per Channel width @ 140 DB CMRR
· Active Filters - 2 to 12 poles
· Simultaneous Sample & Hold Amplifiers · Digital-to-Analog Converters · Signal Conditioning

100 KHz Band-

Tustin has established a solid reputation based on:
· Reliability · Specifications · Flexibility · Delivery
Contact us before you buy your next Data Acquisition System.
TIJ5TIN
ELECTl'IONICS COMPANY
1431 E. St. Andrews Place Santa Ana, California 92705
(714) 549-0391

212

CIRCLE 111 ON INQUIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PRODUCTS
PRECISION TIMER FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL

MILlTARY COMPLIANT SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY
800 series power supplies, available for 1- and 3-phase operation, function without degrading environmentally from
-55 to 71 °c. Using JAN TX material,
MTBF ratings surpass MIL-E-5400 and MIL-T-21200 requirements. Available for cold plate, forced air, or convection cooling, supplies eliminate risk factor associated with custom designs. Also available · for commercial applications, units operate at 5 V, 60 or 120 A, and 28 V, 25 A. Trio Laboratories, Inc, 80 Dupont St, Plainview, NY 11803. Circle 241 on Inquiry Card

CIRCUIT VERIFIERS
High speed electrical inspection tools for bare boards, backplanes, flex circuits, and harness or cable assemblies, series 50 verifiers can check 4095 test points for opens and shorts in 1.6 s. Test time is 400 µs/point regardless of network pattern or number of points. System allows rapid go/no-go inspection. With optional cassette recorder and printer, it can provide permanent program storage and complete error record. Programming is done from known-good board in 2 min typ at max capacity. Everett/Charles, Inc, 2806 Metropolitan Pl , Pomona, CA 91767.
Circle 243 on Inquiry Card

Used where automatic and precise time control is required, series 7667 is highly readable and accurate, and replaces analog/ dial timers that cannot control long time intervals. Setting of timer is bidirectional, with an accuracy of -2 to 4 s from any setting. Timer displays and controls up to 99 min and 55 s. Left wheels display minutes, while right wheel displays seconds by increments of 5 with 1-s graduations between figures. Timer counts down to 0:00 as soon as interval is set and 115-Vac, 60-Hz power is applied. Veeder-Root, 70 Sargeant St, Hartford, CT 06102. Circle 240 on Inquiry Card

SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES
Featuring ac and de inputs, brownout protection, tight regulation, and a MTBF of 100k hours, 20 SA series models operate over an input range of 115 Vac 1Oo/o, -20% or 92 V to 127 Vac, or from a 120- to 165-Vdc input. Input frequency can be 47 to 440 Hz. Line regulation is <0.1 o/o for input range, 0.3% for 25-W model; load regulation is < 0.1 o/o for no load to full load, 0.2% for 25#1 model. Noise and ripple are 50 mV pk-pk for 5-V unit, and 100 mV pk-pk for 9- to 24-V units. KEC Electronics Inc, 21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance', CA 90503.
Circle 242 on Inquiry Card

LINE PRINTER MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLER
Primary function of the Motorola 68BOOL-based MAGNUM-300 controller for the Printronlx model 300 line printer is to allow a host computer or terminal to create varying size block letters from 0.1 to >12" (0.25 to 30.5 cm) in height. Transparent mode permits operation as a std line printer or block char printer. Added features include intermixed char sizes, over .printing, horizontal and vertical tabbing, .and automatic paper slewing . Quality Micro Systems, Inc, PO Box 1644, Mobile, AL 36601 . Circle 244 on Inquiry Card

New
Super Fast/Super Quiet CflJMPLIZST® Digital Plotter

The lntecolor 8080 Development System Gives You Total In-House Control. You probably already realize that an in-house development system would give you a lot more control, flexibility and efficiency.
You may not realize that now you can afford one. Our new low-cost 8080 development system features a 19-inch, 8-color data entry terminal with an Intel 8080 micro computer. A 110 CPS bidirectional desk top printer. A dual mini disk drive and our 2708/ 2716 PROM programmer. It also includes a sophisticated ROM-based Text Editor
I.I and Assembler.And as an option, a FORTRAN
compiler with double precision by Microsoft.O Call today 800/ 241-9888
toll-free fora demonstration.
Color Communicates Better
Intelligent Systems Corp.*
5965 Peachtree Comers East/Norcross, Georgia 30071 Telephone 800/241-9888 'f\l./X: 810-766-1581

214

CIRCLE 113 ON IN9UIRY CARD

· US Domestic Price Only
· Pen races at speeds up to 4000 steps/sec · Unique "Micro Drive" introduces
super quiet to digital plotting · 4 step sizes in English or Metric

· Bi-directional paper movement · Z-fold chart paper for 81/2" x 11" or
11" x 17" charts
· Plots online, offline, time share or remote batch

· A reg1s1ered trademark
h a u s t : a n I ol Hous1on·rnu<0menl
i n s t r u m e n t OIVISOON OF BAUSCH & LOMB ~

ONE HOUSTON SQUARE

AUSTIN , TEXAS 78753

1512) 837- 2820

TWX 910-874-2022

.. EUROPEAN HEAOOUARTERS ~~=;,'J~ ~:1~8:,,91~;"399

"the recorder company"

C I RCLE 114 ON INtj)UIRY CARD

Summagraphics, the world's leading manufac- has made Summagraphics and Bendix the leaders

turer of Data Tablet/Digitizers has added to its

in graphic digitizers.

lead. We've added the Bendix computer graphics

We have Datagrid II®, the interactive drafting

line of products; renowned for high accuracy and system and ID, the Intelligent Digitizer with built-in

resolution.

microprocessor controls. We even have Bit PadrM,

We now offer the largest, most complete

the low cost digitizer for personal computing and

product line of digitizers for all your graphics

small computer systems.

applications. Whether your application is in draft-

What was once a choice in digitizer manufac-

ing, cartography, circuit design, geophysics, land turers is now a decision. Summagraphics, the

management, medical research, molecular model- decision thousands of satisfied customers have

ing or other applications, we make the high quality made.

digitizer for all your computer graphics needs.

Digitizers with ultra-high accuracy and resolution.

Digitizers with back-lit capability. Digitizers built

corporation

with the reputation for quality and experience that ·

35 Brentwood Ave , Box 781 , Fairfield, CT 06430 Phone(203) 384-1344. TELEX 96-4348

CIRCLE 115 ON INQUIRY CARD

215

PRODUCTS'
ASYNCHRONOUS SERIAL CHANNEL INTERFACE A DL-11 A, B, C, D, E compatible Interface for PDP-11, CDL-11 is a universal link between Unibus and any asynchronous serial interface. Only 1 jumper is used for selecting required DL-11 compatible version. Register addresses, vectored interrupts, and 16 available baud rates are selected via DIP switches. The link is fully compatible

with DEC software. Computer Interface Technology, 2080 S Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Circle 245 on Inquiry Card

MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED DIGITIZER SYSTEMS
Second generation DATATAB II digitizing systems contain user-oriented functions that are controlled from the 16button cursor. Dual function keys permit presetting, scaling, rotation, or·ientation, and area and line length calculations; 9 buttons initiate data recording and have operator assignable flags up to 20 char each. Other functions include point or rate recording, event count, and output device control. A 20char alphanumeric display provides X,Y coordinate location and prompting. Altek Corp, 2150 Industrial Pkwy, Silver Spring, MD 20904. Circle 246 on Inquiry Card

BUFFERED CASSETTE TERMINAL

as ... Head Position Velocity Control Capstan Control Servo Control Stepping Motor Control Optical Tachometry Carriage Position

Model 2500 incorporates 4508 tape drive, which allows record ing on both sides of tape, to provide 350k-char capacity. ANSI compatible, terminal is available with Tl or NCR compatibility, selectable rates up to 2400 baud, and a binary mode. TIY and RS-232-C interfaces are also std. This microprocessor-based system increases storage capacity of present models. MFE Corp, Keewaydin Dr, Salem, NH 03079. Circle 247 on Inquiry Card
SWITCHING DC POWER SUPPLIES

Rated at 750 W, SWS 750 units provide 5, 12, 15, 24, or 28 Vdc, from 28 to 150 A. Design features include over temp protection, low input shutdown protection, and full load burn-in. Units have 80% efficiency rating, low emi-rfi (suppressed at source with line filters), paralleling capability, and brownout capability (to -15% of input line). Full load operation is maintained for 30 ms after loss of input line. All models meet UL 478. Standard Power, Inc, 1400 S Village Way, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Circle 248 on Inquiry Card
~CIRCLE 116 ON INQUIRY CARD

CRT TEST SET POWER SUPPLY
Including 3 regulated power supplies assembled in 1 unit, model CRT-30 supplies high voltages for CRT test set. Anode output adjustment from O to 30 kV at 2 mA, focus output from O to 8 kV at 1 mA, and grid output of O to 1 kV at 1 mA are provided by 3 10-turn dials. Ripple and regulation specs of 0.01 % max allow precision testing of CRTs. High speed dynamic focus control and remote digital or analog programming and monitoring are added features . Bertan Associates, Inc, 3 Aerial Way, Syosset, NY 11791. Circle 249 on Inquiry Card
TELEPRINTER TERMINALS Models 1001 , 1002, 1003, and 1005 make up family of 30- and 120-char/s teleprinters for use with series 60 computers. Terminals are available as send/ receive devices or receive-only printers, and incorporate dot matrix impact printing and microprocessor-based electronics. 1001 and 1002 models are basic asynchronous terminals operating in full-duplex mode at 300 and 1200 bits/s, respectively. 1003 operates at selectable rates of 110, 200, or 300 bits/ s; while 1005 communicates at 1200 bits/ s. Honeywell Information Systems, 200 Smith St, Waltham , MA 02154.
Circle 250 on Inquiry Card

PROCESS CONTROL INTERFACE MODULES
PCM1 can be connected to most de motor speed controls, allowing motor speed to be increased or decreased with an inc rease in signal current. Connection allows speed control to retain its normal operating characteristics. Module accepts std inputs of 1 to 4 mA, 5 to 10 mA, and 10 to 50 mA by selection of proper shunting resistors. Master power supply, which enables multiple control of 2 to 10 modules, is adjustable between approx 1 to 4 mA. Minarik Electric Co, 232 E Fourth St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Circle 252 on Inquiry Card
SLANTED CHARACTER DIGITAL DISPLAY
Incandescent digital displays with 0.625" (1.588-cm) slanted char and 120 ° viewing angle provide 9000-ftL brightness for readability in direct sunlight. Model GL 1050S is available with builtin, directly viewed decimal point. Displays can be filtered to any color, and may be dimmed for night viewing . Ceramic case, DIP terminals, and low profile design allow space saving in panel insta llations. Displays are TTLcompatible. Refac Electronics Corp, PO Box 809, Winsted, CT 06098. Circle 253 on Inquiry Card

1.5-µs ACCESS TIME STORAGE SYSTEM
Solid-state MaxiRAM system provides access ti me of 1.5 µ,s with a transfer rate of 625k words/s, assures O latency, and offers total transparency to the host computer with a built-in controller. Modular capacity ranges from 0.524M to 8.388M bytes. Each 19" (48-cm) chassis accepts up to 8 pluggable modules of 524k bytes each; a second chassis may be interconnected, providing up to 8.388M bytes through 1 controller. Imperial Technology, Inc, 821 S Douglas St, Suite 102, El Segundo, CA 90245. Circle 254 on Inquiry Card
OPTICAL ABSOLUTE SHAFT ENCODER
Available in negative or positive logic, GC 30 series encoders have output format of continuous parallel gray code. "Whole word" output assures an exact reading when absolute position must be known after power has been interrupted and then reinstated. All electronics are integral and output is directly compatible with most ICs. Resolutions of up to 1O bits (2°) are available with accuracy of ±3.0' of arc. Std input power is 5 Vdc ±5% at 300 mA max. Disc Instruments, Inc, 102 E Baker St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Circle 255 on Inquiry Card

MODULE HOLDER AND CASE Module PC or user created breadboards can be located in several positions in the holder and case of ruggedly constructed aluminum extrusion with a 0.06" (0.16-cm) wall. Logic modules can be interchanged in the low profile holder, which contains slots to mount on equipment walls for test or prototype use without repackaging. Combined with case and end plates, it can be used to package test circuits, demo units, or small quantity production. Ecsand Labs, 39165 Johnnycake Ridge, Willoughby, OH 44094.
Circle 251 on Inquiry Card

OUR SWITCHING

POWER SUPPLIES

GIVE YOU 10,000

FREE HOURS.

Ruggedized. modular construction plus high quality parts selection

mean longer life! 40,000 hour MTBF, that's 10,000 more than
almost anyone gives you. 56 standard ALMOND .Jl

models, 375 or 750 watts output over

1111111111l:::H:::ll111i11

-10° c to +60° c without derating. INSTRUMENTS ~.,-

Fast delivery too. Call us.

COMPANY, INC. 'lf'

1330 Ea st Cypress Street. Covina. Ca . 91724 Phone (213) 967-9521/ TWX 910-584-1320

CIRCLE 117 ON INQUIRY CARD

217

I WIRE DCABLE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION - Some U. L. Approved ELECTRODE WIRES - Silver, Platinum,
Stainless, Palladium
MINIATURE ULTRA FLEX WIRES - various
conductors & insulation
MINIATURE ULTRA FLEX CABLES - various conductors,
insulation & jackets
BRAIDS - large range of sizes - Copper,
Stainless, Silver, Gold
MAGNETIC HEAD CABLES - over 70 specifications MAGNET WIRE - all sizes - temp. Ranges-
Bondable-Bifilar-Trifilar
LITZ WIRE & CABLE - types 1 thru VIII INSULATED AIR SPACED U.L. APPROVED GROUND CABLES
- very flexible
HI TEMPERATURE 800°F, 1500°F, 2000°F LO NOISE CABLES - made for specific applications
COONER WIRE COMPANY
9186 INDEPENDENCE AVE., CHATSWORTH, CA.91311 213-882-8311

PRODUCTS
SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES S-line supplies deliver 30 W of de power at 50 °C with available voltages of 5, 9, 12, 15, and 24 Vdc, all adjustable at 10 and -30%. Unit measures 5.125 x 1.125 x 5.75" (13.018 x 2.858 x 14.61 cm) and weighs 1.4 lbs (0.63 kg). It features remote error sensing, adjustable overcurrent, remote on/off control, built-in overvoltage protection, and a surge limiting input circuit. Builtin emi filtering and fully enclosed 1piece aluminum case minimize radiated interference. Kepco, Inc, 131-38 Sanford Ave, Flushing, NY 11352.
Circle 256 on Inquiry Card
16k-CHARACTER DATA BUFFER With std features including search and edit routines, auto answer, transparency mode, and self-contained diagnostics, microprocessor-controlled solid-state data buffer stores up to 16k char. Unit interconnects between asynchronous RS-232 or TTY compatible terminals and a modem/CPU for store and forward appfoations. Dual UARTs provide for online baud rate conversion with speeds selectable from 110 to 19.2k baud. Columbia Data Products, Inc, 6655 Amberton Dr, Baltimore, MD 21227.
Circle 257 on Inquiry Card
INTELLIGENT PRINTING SYSTEM

The new GN 6 is the smallest, ·simplest, most reliable,
lowest-priced tape punch available.

· Less than $375 each in quantity · Modular construction - only 4 major parts
ra· Choice of speeds: 50 and 75 els · User can set and reset tape widths (5, 6, 8 hole)
See us at the NCC Show Booth #2652

· 1 Year parts warranty · Punches paper and
all kinds of Mylar ®tapes
· 165 x 165 x 110 mm

dmGNT AUTOMATIC INC.

440 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02154 (617) 890-3305 Telex: 923318

218

CIRCLE 119 ON IN9UIRY CARD

IPS-7300 handles data logging, factory data collection, and label printing . Consisting of 120-char/s keyboard sendreceive printer with moveable keyboard/ display station, and 8-bit programmable microcomputer, system operates in a standalone environment, or in a local or remote mode within an online system. Data input station consists of a gas discharge display and 64-char, ASCII compatible keyboard . Basic configuration includes microcomputer with 8 I/ 0 registers and 1Ok bytes of semiconductor memory; 32char display and keyboard, and RS232-C asynchronous communications interface. Dataroyal, Inc, 235 Main Dunstable Rd, N·ashua, NH 03060. Circle 258 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

LIMITED DISTANCE MODEM
Model 7300 provides data communications over unloaded private cable systems or telephone company supplied local exchange loops. Analog and digital loopback, command loopback, and test pattern generator diagnostic capabilities support system and self tests. Full- or half-duplex operation over 4wire lines or simplex operation over 2-wire lines occurs at 8 data rates from 19.2k to 1800 bits/s. The modem meets power vs frequency specs of Bell Systems PUB 43401. Tele-Dynamics Div of Ambac Industries, Inc, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Circle 259 on Inquiry Card
DIGITAL TIME DELAY RELAY WITH THUMBWHEEL SWITCHES
A compact, low power, solid-state reray set by direct reading thumbwheel switches, series 280 Digilay operates from an input voltage of 12 Vdc ±10%, and is capable of timing from 1 ms to 9999 s in on or off delay modes. Accuracy and repeatability is ±0.5% . Max power turn-on time is 30 ms and min power recycle time is 10 ms. Spdt relay and spdt reed relay switch options provide switching times ranging from 1 ms to 10 µS. International Microtronics Corp, 4016 E Tennessee St, Tucson , AZ 85714. Circle 260 on Inquiry Card

SELF-ALIGNING FIBER-OPTIC CONNECTOR
Accommodating duplex fiber-optic cables with 0.013 to 0.017" (0.33 to 0.43 mm) dia fibers, overlapping style connector aligns mating fibers along their center axis. Elastomeric support members surrounding both fiber pairs conform under pressure to the exact fiber diameters, centering each on the axis of its mating fiber. Fiber-bearing inserts are hermaphroditic. When mating matched diameters, insertion losses are < 1 dB; with 0.004" (0.1-mm) dia mismatch, max insertion loss is < 3 dB. AMP Inc, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Circle 263 on Inquiry Card
DISC CONTROLLER FOR NOVA/ECLIPSE MINICOMPUTERS
Single-board, CPU resident disc controller allows minicomputers to access up to 1.2G bytes of online storage.

MSC-1300, a bipolar microprocessorbased controller, implements burst error detection and correction, IBM-like 1/0 channel communication techniques, data transfer rate throttling, overlap seek, and built-in microdiagnostics which automatically isolate faults within disc subsystem. Microcomputer Systems Corp, 440 Oakmead Pkwy, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Circle 264 on Inquiry Card
UNIVERSAL TIMER/COUNTER
9500 series 100-MHz universal timer/ counters with frequency period, period average, time interval and average, totalize, and ratio measurement feature patented auto trigger, which aids in measuring signal parameters. Synchronous window permits operator to isolate a pulse or section of time. Selective gate control allows user to measure period of single or train of pulses or events. Model 9514 is microprocessor controlled unit; 9510 is without control. Racal-Dana Instruments Inc, 18912 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92715. Circle 265 on Inquiry Card

WIREWRAP BOARDS FOR SERIES/1
Up to 72 20-pin or 64 16-pin IC positions are available on MB1-49-WW72 and WW64 wirewrap boards. Series/1 boards accommodate any 0.300, 0.400, or 0.600" (0.76, 1.02, or 1.52-cm) center DIPs, 2 40~pin rib·bon-cable edge connectors are provided. This board occupies a single chassis slot in IBM computer. All general-purpose interface boards are doubled-sided with plated through holes and are constructed of UL-approved FR-4 material. Power and ground are prewired to each std socket position. MOB Systems Inc, 1995 N Batavia St, Orange, CA 92665. Circle 261 on Inquiry Card

CABLE SOCKETS
Flat ribbon cable or twisted pair cable assembled to DIP IC sockets are used for display mounting, IC extenders, test probes, or board-to-board cable sockets. Std sizes are 8 through 40 contacts/conductor in single or double-end styles, or with a male plug on one end. Cable may exit from top or side of most socket sizes. Contacts are beryllium-copper, gold-plated. Connections are soldered and epoxy encapsulated; assemblies are tested for continuity and shorts. Samtec, Inc, 81 O Progress Blvd, New Albany, IN 47150. Circle 262 on Inquiry Card

PUT OUR POWER

TO THE TEST. FREE.

Prove our switchers yourself. Send us your spec and we'll bring you a

power supply to test for 10 days. Free. 375 or 750 watts of

output. 56 standard models. Modular, ruggedized construction. High effi-

ALMOND ...a.ILD. .

ciency over extreme input line voltage INSTRUMENTS ~.,-

variation. Brownout proof. Turn us on. COMPANY, INC. '11'

1330 East Cypress Street. Covina. Ca. 91724 / Phone (213) 967-9521 / TWX 910-584-1320

CIRCLE 120 ON INQUIRY CARD

219

PRODUCTS

SELF-PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC STATE ANALYZER

100-MHZ OSCILLOSCOPE
Model 1742A delta time oscilloscope allows measurements of time between 2 observed events to be made with 1% accuracy; dual channel delta time (time interval) is built in. An optional 3Y2-digit autoranging digital multimeter displays
time in seconds, milliseconds, or microseconds, and can be used to measure ac and de voltage and current as well as resistance. In delta time mode, the unit measures time between 2 events on either channel A or 8 , or between an event on channel and an event on the other. Continuous trigger view capability permits either external or internal trigger source to be simultaneously displayed with the 2 vertical channels. Vertical deflection factors range from 5 mV to 20 V/div over the full 100-MHz range. HewlettPackard Co, 1507 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto , CA 94304. Circle 266 on Inquiry Card
PLASMA DISPLAY GRAPHICS TERMINALS
A desktop configuration standalone graphics terminal incorporating a disc operating system with full size floppy disc drives, ORION-60 DOS includes an editor, 8080 assembler, dynamic debugger, and file handler. In addition, DOS will support both a FORTRAN IV compiler and a BASIC interpreter containing graphics subroutines and extensions as well as other high level languages. An optional random access 35-mm rear projection unit, which may be contained within the system enclosure, allows optical information to be projected onto the rear of the screen and combined with computer generated graphic displays. A touch panel option provides data entry from the screen by sensing the operator's finger. Magnavox Display Systems, 2131 S Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803. Circle 267 on Inquiry Card
INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION COMPUTER
Features of the MiniMizer 10 series control computers, aimed specifically at the industrial automation user, include analog and digital 1/0 subsystems with multiple differential outputs, self-scanning ADCs, programmable gains and ranges, current and voltage outputs, optically isolated digital 1/0, and power switching ac or de outputs. Series comes in 7- or 14-card heights, for rackmounting or in a cabinet for tabletop use. 16-bit multiple general register architecture is implemented on a single n-MOS chip. Add-on memory modules include RAMs, p/ROMs, and CMOS. Various serial communications options and other peripherals are supported. Powerful Executive program is resident in an over Bk-bit p/ROM. Programs are written in BTRAN n, a high level language combining best features of BASIC and FORTRAN. Stynetic Systems Inc, Flowerfield Ind Pk, St James, NY 11780. Circle 268 on Inquiry Card
220

The 32-channel model 532 intelligent · logic state. analyzer is capable of programming itself for automatic operation . Using auxiliary memory board which plugs directly into internal bus, analyzer can store 8 individual tests : 1 in RAM and 7 in UV p/ROMs. Analyzer is connected to a known good system and conditions for triggering are programmed in through the keyboard. With known good system operating and triggering conditions satisfied, a 32-bit x 250-word set of data is collecteq by main memory. A data compression algorithm operates on the data to compute a representative hexadecimal signature. This signature, the data set, and front panel settings may be transferred from main memory to an auxiliary memory element. Paratronics, Inc, 800 Charcot Ave, San Jose, CA 95131. Circle 269 on Inquiry Card

PROGRAMMABLE DISPLAY TERMINALS
7000 series term inals incorporate 16-bit microcomputers, and are offered in three versions depending upon programming configurations, memory size, and other considerations . All have 14" (35.6-cm) diag screens, 128-char set, expandable to 912, and split screen option that allows the screen to be div·ided into 8 independent di~play areas . Memory and programming features combined with operating features enable users to custom tailor a program from the keyboard. Operating features of models 7000, 7500, and 7300 include 7 x 9 dot matrix, character generation in a 1O x 12 field, extended character sets (up to three 224-char sets can be resident), 6 separate video attributes such as blink, underscore, and reverse, and special keyboards wi th up to 20 program function keys. Delta Data Systems Corp, Woodhaven Industrial Pk, Cornwells Heights, PA 19020. Circle 270 on Inquiry Card

MOVING FONT LINE

PRINTERS

Series 3000 models 3600, 3300, 3150,

and 3075 provide 600, 300 , 150, and

75 lines/min respectively and fea-

ture a single line advance time of

25 ms and a slew speed of 15 ih/s

(38.1 cm/s). Inking is via operator-

replaceable cassette using a Mob ius

endless loop, 0.56" wide x 66 yd long

(1.42 cm x 60 m), inked nylon rib-

bon. Units offer a std 64-char ASCII

set, with 48-, alternate 64-, 96-, and

128-char repertoires available as op-

tions. Character element is a lightweight single piece , opera:

tor interchangeable, type band . Microprocessor driven

printer is full-line buffered with selftest capability. Data

Printer Corp, 99 Middlesex Ave, Malden, MA 02148.

Circle 271 on Inquiry Card

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

AC-DC AND DC-DC SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES

Bfack Demon series PWM inverter type

supplies employ 1-switch transistor cir-

cuit, and achieve control by a single

de voltage, to offer a significant in-

crease in power density. Single-ended

transistor circuit, which is pulse width

modulated but feeds power forward by

normal transformer action method,

eliminates core saturation problems to

provide 70,000-h MTBF. Ratings of 5

Vdc at 1O A through 48 Vdc at 1.5 A

in 115- or 220-V nom ac input are

available with de inputs of 12, 28, or

nom. 48 V

Adtech Power, Inc, 1621 S

Sinclair St, Anaheim, CA 92806.

Circle 272 on Inquiry Card

EXTRA LENGTH DATA CARTRIDGE
Providing 50% more data capacity and 450' (137 m) of tape interchangeable with Scotch brand DC 300A data cartridge, DC 300XL is suitable for backup of disc data systems and in applications where extensive logging is involved. The tape was developed for the cartridge; an improved heat-stable hub provides additional reliability. The device operates with data processing and data handling systems; 2 sizes are DC 300 for std systems and DC 100 for minicomputers and terminal systems. 3M Co, PO Box 33600, St Paul, MN 55133. Circle 273 on Inquiry Card

CRT TERMINAL SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY
Low field leakage and optional synchronized input for minimal video disturbance are features of the SPU series switch regulated power supplies designed to match critical needs of CRT terminals. Multiple output voltage ranges are available. Model SPU-5-15/ 15 delivers 5, 15, and -15 Vdc at 200 W continuous duty. Short, overload, and overvoltage protection is provided . Series has ± 5% voltage adjustments on all outputs, switch selected 110- or 220-Vac inputs. Dynetic Systems Corp, 19128 Industrial Blvd, Elk River, MN 55330. Circle 276 on Inquiry Card
MULTITASKING EXECUTIVE FOR PDP-11
MTX-11, a multitasking executive for PDP-11 and LSl-11 computers, maximizes computer's throughput and efficiency using intertasking communications techniques. Software executes

multiple tasks on an interleaved basis with software priorities determining which task to execute if competition exists for CPU and system resources, providing rapid response times and high data throughput. Virtual Systems, Inc, 1500 Newell Ave, Suite 406, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Circle 277 on Inquiry Card
INTERFACE SIGNAL ALARM PANEL
Faulty or marginal circuits are identified by the AP-24, a data communications diagnostic tool that provides an alarm when an RS-232 signal from up t9 24 EIA interfaces is absent or lost for a specified time period. It may supplement the computer console printer, or provide an alert panel in the communications control center. Features ·include indiv·idual channel monitoring, with reset and disable switch, and adjustable time interval from 0.001 to 20 s. Spectron Corp, PO Box 620 , Moorestown, NJ 08057.
Circle 278 on Inquiry Card

HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE BREAKDOWN TEST SET
Shorts, opens, and miswires in connectorized cables can be identified quickly using front panel selectable test voltages of 28, 100, 250, and 500 Vdc on the hi pot test set. Models have 50 or 100 points. Test dwell time is programmable from 1O ms to 9.99 s. LED displays and indicators show type and location of faults. Insulation resistance threshold is adjustable from 5.3 kn at 28 V to 1000 Mn at 500 V; max test current is limited to 6 mA. Addison, Inc, div of Muirhead, 1101 Bristol Rd, Mountainside, NJ 07092. Circle 274 on Inquiry Card
IMAGE DIGITIZERS
IEEE-488 compatible interface and choice of a digital field or frame grabber can be coupled directly to computer. DS-12F with 256 x 256 pixel resolution and DS-20F with 512 x 512 pixel resolution allow modular memory expansion . Model DS-12F digitizes a field in 0.0167 s, while model DS-20F digitizes an entire frame in 0.033 s. Both units store information in RAM or pass it on to a CPU via IEEE-488 compatible interface bus. Quantex Corp, 252 N Wolfe Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Circle 275 on Inquiry Card

SWITCH

OUR SWITCHERS TO

SUIT YOURSELF.

Maybe one of our 56 standard products won't fit your application.

No problem. Because our modular design means you can switch

-,r- components to suit your requirements. 375 to 750 watts. .Jl.

ALMOND Single, dual, triple or quad output.5,12,

.a~

15, 18, 24 and 28 Vdc current~ from 2 to INSTRUMENTS

150 amperes. Put our rugged1zed con - r,oMnA '""INC

struction to the test. Call us.

\,,; rl"\I,,. '· .

1330 East Cypress Street, Covina. Ca. 91724 / Phone (213) 967 -9521 / TWX 910 -584 -1320

CIRCLE 121 ON INQUIRY CARD

221

-------- ------- I

--· I

SMB

IMB

Solid state electronic MICRO-BUZZER from CITIZEN: High reliability, competitively

I priced with immediate delivery.

A complete range: SMB 1.5, 6, 12, 24, voe RMB 3, 6, 12, 24, voe

IMB (lntermlllent) 6, 12, voe

CITIZEN I CITIZEN AMERICA Name

CORPORATION 1710- 22nd St.

Company

I I

Santa Monica, CA90404
Toll Free (800) 421-6516

Address City

I In Callf. (213) 829-3541 TWX : (910) 343-6450

Zip

State Phone

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

·-- ------------ -- - CIRCLE 122 ON IN9UIRY CARD

PRODUCTS
MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED LINE PRINTERS
Graphics capability, program controlled font selection , and a choice of plug compatible interfaces are offered by 300-, 250-, 160-, and 125-line/min printers. The 132-col 300- and 160-line/min models print 7 x 7 char; 250- and 125line/min units form 5 x 7 or 9 x 7 char. Users may change fonts on command , selecting from 12 different styles including true lower case, double height, and double width . Graphics capability is also offered. Microprocessor-based RS-232 and plug compatible ·interfaces are available for popular CRTs, minicomputers, and microprocessors. All include built-in diagnostics. Okidata Corp, 111 Gaither Dr, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054. C ircle 279 on Inquiry Card
IEEE-488 BUS INTERFACE FOR UNIBUS PDP-11 IB-11 , a bus interface conforming to the IEEE Std 488-1975 instrumentation bus , permits as many as 15 instruments to be connected to PDP-11s with Unibus architecture. Fieldinstallable, the interface can be integrated into standard laboratory systems, such as DEOl-AB 11 /34 and 11 /60. It is complemented with a set of FORTRAN-compatible subroutines, incorporating commands such as " call IBSEND" and " call IBGET" to allow full access to the bus functionality while reducing need for the user to manage protocol details. Mnemonic calls are designed for easy recognition, minimizing program development time. Digital Equipment Corp, Maynard , MA 01754.
Circle 280 on Inquiry Card

MULTICHANNEL WORD GENERATOR

MOTOROLA MPU POWER SUPPLIES
. .. the cooler-running, longer-lasting, lower cost, triple-output power supply:
· 50% to 100% more heat sink area · 25% lower transistor junction
temperatures · standard, state-of-the-art OVP · lowest-cost of any national
manufacturer** .. Based on latest published data.
' Trademark Motorola Inc.
Contact Motorola Subsystem Products, P.O. Box 20912, Phoenix, AZ 85006 or
® call (602) 244-3103. MOTOROLA INC.

222

CIRCLE 123 ON IN9UIRY CARD

Offering from 1- to 8-channel operation with 10-MHz data rates up to 512 total bits, the model RS-600 word generator features separate external clock and trigger inputs, separate sync and data clock output, and TTL compatible inputs and outputs , and offers easy front panel programming. Switchselectable output modes range from 1 channel x 512 bits to 2 channels x 256 bits/channel, 4 channels x 128 bits/ channel , or 8 channels x 64 bits/channel. Users define total number of bits to be output by setting the last address thumbwheel switch. Output word/bit period is set by internal period thumbwheel switches and ranges from 1 to 999 with 100 ns, 1 µ,S, or 1 ms resolution. Interface Technology, 852 N Cummings Rd, Covina, CA 91724. Circle 281 on Inquiry Card
I COMPUTER DESIGN JUNE 1978

7.SM-BYTE, 64-BIT SCIENnFIC COMPUTER

F6400, a 64-bit computer designed specifically for manipulation , storage, and retrieval of large volumes of data, allows users to place all working data and program information in memory rather than segmenting it onto d iscs. Architecture of the system enables each CPU to simultaneously read or write on up to 28 separate disc drives. Each computer can have up to 2G bytes of disc storage and multiple CPUs can be interconnected in a network. 1/0 throughput rate of up to 40M bytes/s allows each CPU to have up to 60 microprocessor controlled terminal ports in operation simultaneously. The system is designed to compile and execute PL/I and FORTRAN IV+. Functional Automation, 118 Northeastern Blvd, Nashua, NH 03060. Circle 282 on Inquiry Card

300-LINE/'MIN PRINTER

FAMILY

Offering both parallel and serial inter-

faces, 80-col (154), 132-col (202), and 72-

col forms access (250) printers are in-

cluded in the Innovator line of 300-line/

min printers. Forms access printer pro-

vides for immediate access to a printed

form , utilizing a tear bar to avoid waste

when printing forms such as airline tick-

ets. All models operate at 300 lines/min

and use tractor feed mechanism. Each

fully formed character is printed on

paper by a hammer for each column

within a rotating carrier belt. Up to 6

copies can be achieved. Type carriers are available with

OCR, gothic, and Katakana fonts. Print speeds up to 500

lines/min can be obtained using the optional IBM 1403

equivalent 48-char set. Innovative 'Electronics, Inc, 15200 NW

60th Ave , Miami Lakes, FL 33014.

Circle 283 on Inquiry Card

l FOR COMPUTER·CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ENCLOSURES
COMPUTERS· ELECTRONICS

McLEAN
AIR 5000-10,000BTU

CONDITIONERS J

For "closed loop enclosures". Recirculates and cools internal air. Constant clean air in contact with electronics. Highest quality refrigeration and electrical components. 20,000 hours continuous duty in ambients to 125°F. High velocity cooling for maximum heat removal. Std. cabinet mounting. Quick installation. Factory-installed gaskets seal against induction of ambient, contaminated, or polluted air. 115 or 230 volts.

SEND FOR CATALOG

McLEAN McLEAN

ENGINEERING LABORATORIES

ENGINEERING MIDWEST

Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

9560 Eighty-Fifth Ave. N.

609-799-0100 ·TWX 510-685-2543 Maple Grove, MN 50369 · 612-425-4747

CIRCLE 124 ON INQUIRY CARD

SYNCHRONOUS/ASYNCHRONOUS PORT SELECTORS
Timeline 450 -computer port selector accommodates synchronous and asynchronous inputs at mixed speeds to 9600 bits/s and allows up to 254 l.ines to contend for up to 32 ports. As many as 32 of the 254 lines may be synchronous and contend for up to 16 of the 32 ports. Port selectors handling all asynchronous traffic to 1200 bits/s will allow the 254 lines to contend for as many as 124 ports. An optional automatic computer select (ACS) feature allows 1 port selector to serve multiple CPUs. The user makes choice via terminal keyboard and the 450 makes connection to proper computer. Users with front ends having automatic speed recognition may also specify automatic baud recognition on port selector asynchronous inputs. lnfotron Systems Corp, Cherry Hill Industrial Ctr, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Circle 284 on Inquiry Card

No Frills Color. Just the ba sics. If you're a black and white
terminal manufacturer, the lntecolor 813 is all you need to upgrade your terminals to color.
It consi sts of an 8-color, 13"CRT. plus a special Analog Module System with all the circuitry necessary to p erform deflection and videc drive functions for the CRT. The completely selfcontained circuitry is on a single printed wiring board which also generates the low voltage. high voltage and CRT bias, mounted on a sturdy aluminum frame for heat sinking the power transistors needed for the circuitry.
With our Nine Sector Convergence System, perfect color . registration takes only three to five minutes. And this convenient control panel can be located anywhere for easy access.
Available in standard 262 Raster line or 400 Raster line high scan versions. If you're ready to upgrade to a color line. call

800/ 241-9888 toll -free for a

demonstration.

COior COmmunlcotes Better
Intelligent systems Corp.®

5965 Peachtree Comers East, Norcross, Georgia 30071 PH. 800/ 241-9888 TWX: 810-766-1581

CIRCLE 125 ON INQUIRY CARD

223

Programming? Get all these advantages with aSEALECTROBOARD® Matrix Board
The advantage is yours with a Sealectro board . .. Program without errors! Excellent readout, lets you see the program constantly! Programs changed quickly and easily with just a pin! Non volatile, no loss of memory! Designed to your space requirements! Long life! Reliable contacts! Send today for free catalog and Design Ideas Handbook.
.-----. ~ PROGRAM M ING DEVIC ES DIVISION
SEALEC TR O
CORPORAT I O N
MAMARONECK, N .V. 101543 PHO NE: 91 4' 698·5600 TW X: 710·566 ·111 0
14011 VUl·rl l t1d ,S11 t1 215,S~trman 01h,CI 91421,(213) 9901131 1901 Old M14dl·l11ld W1y , SuiU 19, Mount11n V11w, Cl 94(10 (415) 9U· l2 12 Sealutra Ltd , hrllmnl~. lllnt1 , En1!1nd Sulttln SA. Zant lndu1!r i1 lle Toulon ht 13017 Toulon tide~, frHct CIRCUIT COM PONENTS · RF COMPONENTS I PROGRAMMING DEVICES
CIRCLE 126 ON IN9UIRY CARD
H-P 21 00/21 MX USERS

Let Analytical Systems apply its expertise with H-P minicomputer hardware and software to your interface applications
INTERFACE SUBSYSTEMS NOW AVAILABLE
21101 - Asynchronous Serial Communications ... $550
· support of H-P and non H-P devices · signals conform to EIA-232C standards · attachment directly or via modems
21201 - Parallel Interface ............... .. ..... $975
· OMA/ DCPC driven 8-bit parallel output · controller configurable for many line
printer interfaces · one driver supports all configurations
21301 - Analog Data Acquisition ....... ... ... . $3675
· controller implemented data acquisition · control memory for acquisition
parameters · spooling of data directly to disc file
21XXX - Custom Subsystems .......... . ....... RPQ Product Support
· RTE driver(s), diagnostic · printed circuit assembly, interface
cables · full documentation
Analytical Systems Corporation P.O. Box533 ·Elgin, IL60120 · (312)888-4040

224

CIRCLE 135 ON IN9UIRY CARD

PRODUCTS
180-CHAR/s BIDIRECTIONAL PRINTER
Models 6073 and 6074 DasherTM LP2 printers offer high performance and functionality by incorporating mechanical assemblies with minimum parts count, 16-bit microNovaT" microprocessor, and firmware driven operation . Logic seeking bidirectional printing results from use of the microprocessor. Efficient use of central processor time is improved by use of RAM which is available to the microprocessor for buffering incoming data. Printhead uses a free-flight design in which small armatures propel printwires, substantially reducing tip wear and extending head life. Devices are RO with parallel interfacing for high speed output. Speeds range from 80 lines/min for 132-char lines to 300-lines/min for lines of 20 char. Data General Corp, Rte 9, Westboro, MA 01581. Circle 285 on Inquiry Card
MIL-SPEC PLASMA DISPLAY TERMINAL
Model PD 3000 offers a 20,000' (6.1-km) operating, 70,000' (21-km) nonoperating, high altitude capability and high resolut ion graphics with more than 4000 characters displayed. Op temp range is -32 to 55 °C. Weighing 53 lb (24 kg) and
measuring 13 x 14 x 12" (33 x 35 x 30 cm), compact unit has a flicker- and distortion-free flat panel display area of 8.5 x 8.5" (21.6 x 21.6 cm). An rfi-emi enclosure to meet MI L-E-5400R , MIL-STD 901C, and MILSTD-461 is std . Software includes a realtime macroinstruction set that provides subroutines for display control, alphanumeric display, and incremental and vector graphics. An internal 16-bit paral lel microprocessor with 330-ns execution time enables a worst case vector line to be written in 10 ms. Interstate Electronics Corp, 707 E Vermont Ave, Anaheim , CA 92803. Circle 286 on Inquiry Card
LED PCB PANEL LIGHT WITH VARIABLE HEIGHT MOUNTING
Allowing the viewing plane to be changed without repositioning PC board or panel , PC201 series LEDs incorpo rate from 1 to 3 0.125" (3.175-mm) extenders which fit directly on the basic LED and are constructed of black nylon . Each extender has 0.020" (0 .508-mm) standoffs on the bottom for flow soldering. At a drive current of 20 mA, the devices output 50 med (red), 32 med (amber) , and 24 med (green) typ with clear tinted encapsulation. Available with built-in resistors for various voltages ranging from 2.4 to 28 Vdc, units are also available for ac operation . BPS-1 sockets, available for mounting the devices in sockets instead of soldering , provide a tight secure mount. Data Display Products, 303 N Oak St, Inglewood , CA 90301. Circle 287 on Inquiry Card
COMPUTER DESIGN/ J UNE 1978

I I LITERATURE

Data Couplers
Data sheet, which covers data coupler option, describes interfacing digital clocks directly to communi cations port of a computer, CRT terminal, teleprinter, or other recording device. Chrono-Log Corp, Havertown, Pa. Circle 300 on Inquiry Card
Keyboards
Model R53 / LTT keyboard that incorporates a microprocessor and low profile, reed keyswitohes is explained in brochure including electrical and mechanical data. C. P. Clare & Co, Chicago, Ill. Circle 3'01 on Inquiry Card
Wires/Cables
·Catalog includes cable selector guide, crossreference tabl es, and glossary, thus serving as a comprehensive manu al to those who specify elec troni c and electrical wire and cable. Manhattan Electric Cable Corp, C-1-C Electronic Div, Rye, NY. Circle 302 on Inquiry Card
Color Graphics Computers
OG seri es of graphic and alphanumeric readout co mputers, consisting of 13, 15, and 19" (33, 38, and 48-cm) models, are covered in technical bulletin which sta tes video display specs and options. Chromatics, Inc, Atlanta, Ga. Circle 303 on Inquiry Card
Switching Power Supplies
Brochures outline specs of 500-W MG5100 and 25-W IMMG seri'es miniature power suppli es, including voltages, frequency range, and brownout margins, and present attributes, packaging techniques, and dimensional diagrams. Gould Inc, Electronic Components Div, El Monte, Calif. Circle 304 on Inquiry Card

µProcessor Compatible DACs
Bulletin ·presen~s specific features, block diagrams, tabulated performance specs, and logic diagrams rnustrating 12-bit series 7545 and 7546 CMOS converters. Beckman Instruments, Inc, Fullerton, Calif. Circle 305 on Inquiry Card
Multirate Wire Line Modem
Bulletin cites physical and electrical characteristics of a militarized wire line modem offering data rates in increments of 150, 300, 600, and 1200 bits/s in binary mode and 2400 1bits/s in duobinary mode. GTE Sylvania, Inc, Needham, Mass. Circle 306 on Inquiry Card
Permanent Magnet Motors
Cera mic, alnico, or rare earth permanent magnet motors, tachometer assemblies, and cube torqu e and stepper motors are featured in catalog containing schematics, performance curves, and drawings. Clifton Precision, Litton Systems, Inc, Clifton Heights, Pa. Circle 307 on Inquiry Card
Communication Equipment
Technical summari es, application information, and block diagrams are furnished in booklet enco mpassing line of am, FSK, and analog telemetering transmitters and receiver s, as well as encoders and decoders. RFL Industries, Inc, Boonton, NJ. Circle 308 on Inquiry Card
Test and Measuring Instruments
Catalog provides information, technical specs, and iJJustr.ations of tes t and measuring instrum ents such as oscilloscopes, recorders, multim eters, voltmeters, signal genera tors, and audio and video service equip-
ment. Philips Test & Measuring Instru-
ments, Inc, Mahwah , NJ. Circle 309 on Inquiry Card

Matrix Printhead
Ballisticr" printhead for matrix printers is descri·bed in 2-pg technical bulletin which discusses operating princi pies, full electrical and print specs, PC board connections, and physical dimensions. Lear Siegler, Inc/Electronic Instrumentation Div, Data Products, Anaheim, Calif. Circle 311 on Inquiry Card
Plug and Socket Connectors
Blade-type plug and socket conn ec tors for panel and cabl e mounting are exhibited in catalog whi oh in cludes specs, connector and panel mounting dimensions, and photos of all co nnector types. Vernitron Corp, Beau Products Div, Laconia, NH. Circle 312 on Inquiry Card
PDP-11 Enhancements
Literal ure packet includes data sheets, page of programming specs, and deck of pocket-sized card s with a photo and technical summary of PDP-11 enhancement models. Able Computer Technology, Inc, Irvine, Calif. Circle 313· on Inquiry C~rd
Single-Chip µComputer
Catalog gives overview of S2000 computeron-a-chip by pointing out architecture, special operating modes, specs, instruction set, and ·design support tools available. American Microsystems, Inc, Santa Clara, ·Calif. Circle 314 on Inquiry Card
Networking Distributed Computers
Brochure summarizes Phase II DECnet sd ftware produ cts, charts produ ct func-
tionality on communication and user I pro-
gram levels, and describes RAMP features. Digital Equipment Corp, Northiboro, Mass. Circle 315 on Inquiry Card

Computer Performance Techniques
Proven techniques for use with available hardware and software to detec t and prevent errors in automated data systems are detail ed in a report entitled Performance Assurance and Data Int egrity Practices. Price is $2.20, stock #003-003-01879. Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Solid-State Uninterruptible Power Systems
Illustrated brochure lists co mponents, std features, special options, and specs; and describes design and engineering direction of AccupowerR line of solid -state UPS. Emerson Electric Co, Industrial Controls Div, Santa Ana, Calif. Circle 310 on Inquiry Card

2400-Bit/s Modems
Illu strated sections in booklet ebborate on design and operation, indi cators and control s, test features and options, and specs of the 24 LSI Mark II and CS 24 LSI seri es modems. Racal-Milgo, Inc, Miami, Fla. Circle 316 on Inquiry Card

225

The billion-dollar connection.

This no-cost, no-nonsense folder from the National Minority Purchasing Council describes the best connection to minority suppliers a corporate purchasing manager could have.
It will give you access to a computerized directory of more than 10,000 minority vendorswhere they are and what they supply, along with data on plant size, service area, and sales volume; credit and customer references; plus a narrative description of product lines, special features and areas of concentration.
The National Minority Purchasing Council is a not-forprofit corporation formed to promote increased purchases from minority-owned firms. Chief executive officers of about a thousand major corporations are involved and actively support the Council's efforts, with predictably practical results.
Purchases by member corporations from minority suppliers are up from $86 million in 197 2 to $1 billion in 1977. And we've only just begun-all we need is more top-level connections.
Call (202) 466-7077, or write: National Minority Purchasing Council, Inc., 1925"K"street,N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

National Minority

Purdµsinc Council, Inc.

Our strongest recommendation is a business recommendation

ux.nCt A Public Service ·o!Thls Magazine ~\.~' & The Advertising Council

226

LITERATURE

Pushbuttons/Selectors/Lights
Over 20 basic models are listed in 12-pg catalog with details on control function options and color choices for line of miniature oil-tight pushbuttons, selectors, and pilot lights. Alco Electronic Products, Inc, North Andover, Mass. Circle 317 on Inquiry Card

Word Processing Keyboard
Brochure describes assignment coding matrix, 3-mode -operat-ional system, and key arrangement for A:SR 33 keyboard, and also contains electrical tlata specs and mechanical descriptions. Datanetics Corp, Fountain Valley, Calif. Circle 324 on Inquiry Card

Programming Language
Bulletin L-2589 comprises process flow diagrams, control tasks, and 1/0 specs for SPEAK EASY langµage whic:h programs the company's OOACT"' process controllers. Reliance Electric, Cleveland, Ohio. Circle 318 on Inquiry Card

CMOS Chips
Catalog describes variety of CMOS ICs including ~he 4-000 series of std .and timekeeping circuits, 1802 microprocessor and associated 1/0 circuits, and both ROM and RAM proqucts. Solid State Scientific, Inc, Montgomeryv-ille, Pa. Circle 325 on Inquiry Card

pP and Logic Analyzers Booklet introduces concepts of microprocessor and Jog-ic analyzers with photO'S, timing diagrams, data domains, and· map modes for both. Biomation, Santa Clara, Calif.
Circle 3"19 on Inquiry Card
Electronic Hardware Catalog contains detailed drawings, material and performance specs, photos, and application data for line of hardware including socket and terminal strips, IC sockets, adapters, plugs, and jacks. Samtec, Inc, New Albany, Ind.
Circle 320 on Inquiry Card
Computer-Aided System Brochure describes capabilities of computer·aided design, drafting, and manufacturing (DDM) to be used during entire design cycle to develop ideas and mechanical designs. Calma, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Circle 321 on Inquiry Card
Miniaturized Power Supplies Catalog outlines parameters and key operating specs of std submodule line of power supplies which feature from 1 to 10 outputs ranging from 0 to 300 Vde. Arnold Magnetics Corp, Culver City, CalH.
Circle 322 on Inquiry Card

A-D/D-A Peripheral Systems Broohure on SineTrac PDP series slide-in cards for UElC :ADP-11 minicomputers is composed of 'block dfagrams and details on mounting, channel expansion, and programming methods. Datel Systems, Inc, Canton, Mass.
Circle 326 on Inquiry Card
Multiplier Applications Examples of applications, theory, and a bibliography are included in guide whlch shows ideas on usin-g multi-pliers, dividers, squarers, anq square rooters to solve analog problems. Analog Devices, Inc, Norwood, Mass.
Circle 3"27 on Inquiry Card
Microcomputer Systems 52-pg, 4·color catalog details line of kit and fully assembled microcomputers, accessories, software packages, parts, and literature. Tandy Computers, a div of Tandy Corp, Fort Worth, Tex.
Circle 328 on Inquiry Card
Reed Relays Guide for electronic specifiers and buyers of reed relays contains mechanical and electrical characteristics, dimensional drawings, and device schematics. Hamlin, Inc, Lake Mills, Wis. Ci~cle 329 on Inquiry Card

Test Systems
Brochure provides information and specs on 203 semicontluctor memory test system with full description of three subs}"Stems and a review of system software. Siemens Corp, Measurement Systems Div, Cherry Hill, NJ. Circle 323 on Inquiry Card

DC-DC Power Supplies
"Design.A-Kit" form that simplifies special de-de supply specs and requirements serves as fundamental user's guide for requesting quotation from manufacturer. Stevens-Arnold, Inc, South Boston, Mass. Circle 330 on Inquiry Card

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

GUIDE TC PRODUCT INFDRMATICN

NOTE: The number associated with each item m this guide indicates the page on which the item appears-not the reader service number. Please do not circle the page number on the reader service card.

PAGE
MATERIALS
OPTICAL MATERIALS AND FORMS Fib~r Optic Cables
Galileo Electro-Optics ... ................. 75, 200 Siecor Optical Cables ............................212 Fiber Optic light Guides Valtec/Fiberoptics ......................................208
HARDWARE
CONNECTORS AND INTERCONNECTION SYSTEMS Connectors·
Control Products/Amerace ........................194 Viking Industries ........................................193 Fiber Optic Connectors AMP ............ .. ...... .. .. ..........................36, 37, 219 Edge Connectors OK Machine and Tool .. ..............................208
FANS AND BLOWERS Al r Conditioners
Mclean Engineering Laboratories .. ..........223
INDICATORS; READOUTS; DIGITAL DISPLAYS; LAMPS Character Dispiays
Monsanto Commercial Products ............142 Slanted Character Digital Display
Refac Electronics ............ .......................... .. 217 Plasma Panel Displays
Dale Electronics/Display ............ ............198
MOUNTING HARDWARE Card Rack
Ecsand Labs .................. .. ............................217
PACKAGING SYSTEMS Microcomputer Packaging Components
D/ L Logic ....................................................161
PANELS AND BACKPLANES Backpanels
Dynatech Data Systems .................... .. ......170 Wirewrap Panels
Hybricon ........................................................160 MOB Systems ........................................... .. ..219
PARTS Positioning Scales
Dynamics Research/Metrlgraphlcs ..........216
PROGRAMMING BOARDS AND MODULES Matrix Board
Sealectro/Programmlng Devices ............224
SHIELDING Shielding Components
Metex .. ... .........................................................189
SOCKETS Sockets
Robinson Nugent ...................... ..................131 Cable Socket Assemblies
Samtec ................ .. .. ........................ .. .. ..........219
WIRE AND CABLE Wire and Cable
Cooner Wire .. .. ... .. ... .. ..................................218 W i re
Berk-Tek ....................................................... . 7 Cable
Spectra-Strip ........................................ ........206

PAGE
COMPONENTS AND ASSEMBLIES
CAPACITIVE COMPONENTS Capacitors
Union Carbide/Electronics/Components 20
MOTORS; ROTATIVE COMPONENTS Motors
Pittman ................................. .. ................ .... .. ... 28 Stepper Motors
Berger-Lahr ....,.......... .. ..................... ............194
PHOTODEVICES; PHOTODEVICE ASSEMBLIES
LEDs Fairchild Optoelectronics .. .. .................... 29
LED PCB Panel light Data Display Products .......... ..................224
Optical Peripherals HEI ..................................... ..................... ........ 23
POWER SOU RCES, REGULATORS , AND PROTECTORS Power Supplies
Acopian ..........................................................160 Bertan Associates .. ................................ .... 217 Motorola Semiconductor Products .. .. ....222 Pioneer Magnetics ...................................... 43 Power-One ............................................158, 206 Switching Power Supplies acdc electronics ... .. .. .. .. .. ......................... .. 26 Adtech Power ............. .. .. .. ......................... ..221 Almond Instruments .. ..............217, 219, 221 Conver ............... ........ ..................................... 5 Dynetic Systems ........................................221 Gould/Electronic Components ................201 KEC Electron ics .... .. .. .. ..............................214 Kepco ......................... .. ................ .................218 Standard Power .. .................. .... .. ..........169, 216 Trio Laboratories .. .. .............. ......... .............214 Power Regulators Sola Electric ..............................................200
RELAYS Relays
Opto 22 .... ..... ...... .. .. ...................... .... ... .. .... .. 15
Time Delay Relay International Microtronlcs ........................219
ROTATING COMPONENTS AND ASSEMBLIES Digital Position ing Systems
Electro-Craft ................................................202
SENSORS; TRANSDUCERS Pos ition Sensor
United Detector Technology ........ ............196 Audio indicators
Citizen America ...... .. .......... ................ ........222
SWITCHES Toggle Switch
T-Bar/Switchlng Components ...... ............ ..202
OTHER CIRCUIT COMPONENTS Solenoids
Canon U.S.A./Electronics Components ....190
CIRCUITS
CIRCUIT CARDS AND MODULES Logic Modules
Able Computer Technology ........ ..............145 Log/ Anti log Amplifier Modules
Analog Devices ..........................................210

PAGE
DIGITAL AND INTERFACE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (See also Semiconductor Memories under Memory/Storage Equipment)
Digital ICs Harris Semiconductor Products .......... .... 90
LSI Circuits Monolithic Memories .. ..............................180
CMOS Latch Solid State Scientific ........ ........................ 184
Single-Chip Microcomputer Intel .. ............... ............................... .... .. ..........165
Microprocessors Fairchild Semiconductor Products 88, 89 National Semiconductor ................120, 121 NEC Microcomputers ................................ 1~4 Rockwell International/Microelectronic Devices .................... ..............................40, 41
Microprocessor Interface Motorola Semiconductor Products .... 52, 53
Display/Keyboard Controller IC Matrox Electronic System ........................178
Display Controller Chip Set National Semiconductor .......................... .. 174
USART IC Western Digital .. .................. .. ........ ............. 176
DRIVERS AND DECODERS
Power Drivers Fairchild Semiconductor Products ........102
LINEAR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Phase- Locked Loop ICs Exar Integrated System ............................184
BIFET Op Amp Texas Instrum ents/ Components .......... .. ..184
Tone Dialers Mostek .. .. ............ .. .......... .... .. ... ... .. ...............186
V-F Converter IC Raytheon Semiconductor ..........................180
Voltage Comparators RCA/Sol id State .......................... .. .. .. .. .. ......182
MEMORY/STORAGE EQUIPMENT
BUFFER MEMORIES
Data Buffer Columbia Data Products ......... ...............218
FLEXIBLE DISC UNITS
Flexible Disc Systems Advanc.ed Electronic Design ....................210 Mlcropolis .. ... ... .....................................:........171 Southwest Technical Products .. .. .. ...... .. ..198
MAGNETIC CORE MEMORIES
Core Memories Dataram ............................................ .............. 21 Electronic Memories and Magnetics/ Commercial Memory Products ............175 Imperial Technology ................................217 Plessey Peripheral Systems ........ ....158, 159 Standard Memories/Trendata ..................212
MAGNETIC DISC AND DRUM UNITS (See also Flex ible Disc Units)
Disc Drives Electronic Memories and Magnetics/ Peripheral Products ................................119 Shugart Associates ....................................129
Disc System Digilal Equipment/OEM Products ... ...12, 13 Ex-Cell-0/Remex ........................................ 35 International Memories ............ ............16, 17
Disc Controller Microcomputer Systems ............................ 219
Disc Controller Formatter XCOMP .................................................... .. ......146
MAGNETIC TAPE UNITS
Tape Transports Kennedy ...................... .. ........ .. .... .. ............... 1
Tape Drive Telex Computer Products .. .......... ............ 84

227

GUIDE TC PRCDUCT INFCRMATICN

Cartridge Tape Drives

PAGE

Qantex/North Atlantic Industries ..........200

Tape Systems Di9i-Data ........... .. ..................... .. ..... .. ............. 181

Tape Controllers Western Peripherals ........................Cover II

Buffered Cassette Terminal MFE .... ......... ............................ ... ....................216

Data Cartridge 3M ............ ... .............................. .. .... .. ... .... ... .. .. .221

SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORIES
RAMs lilectronlc Memories and Magnetics/ EU SEMI ................................................137

PAGE
Intel ... ... .. .. .. ..... .. .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ......8, 9, 76, 77
ROMs Intel ........ ............ .. ..........................................172
64k ROM Mostek ................... .......... .. ................. ... ...... .. . 38
32k ROM Signetics ..... .......................................... .. .. .....176
p/ROMs Advanced Micro Devices ....................48, 49
Semiconductor Memory Systems Chrislen Industries ................................4, 160 Electronic Memories and Magnetics/ Commercial Memory Products ....175, 206 Fabri-Tek ......................................................196

Now you can do
Zilog Z80 development on.your MDS-800

If you are a MOS-800 or Series II user, and you need high performance Zilog Z80 hardware and software development capability at a low price, read on . Only RELMS offers you the powerful In-circuit Emulator (ICE) and the Systems Adaptor Module (SAM) for hardware and software development.

Here's real price/ performance value. The complete Z80 package is priced at $3 ,890 (thousands of dollars under comparable systems). ICE and SAM are also totally transparent and compatible with your MOS-800 or Series II. The Z80 board replaces your Intel CPU board in the MOS . SAM supports all the Z80 features with a relbcatable disk macro-assembler and monitor for extensive software debugging. ICE features ful l speed emulation of the Z80A with 256 x 40 TRACE, memory mapping, hardware BREAKREGION~ selectable clock speed and RAM based control program . All come with complete documentation .

Learn more about ICE and

SAM . The

affordable Z80

development

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MOS.They

are available

separately or

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delivery. Call

or write today

for full details.

lilREAKREG ION TMis a trademark of RELM S

rfllrn~
Relational Memory Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 6719, San Jose, CA 95150, (408) 248-6356

PAGE
Monoilthlc Systems ..... .. .. .. ........... ............44, 45 Mostek ............ ........ ...................... ...... ............113 Plessey Peripheral Systems ............... ...157
INPUT/OUTPUT AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
COMPUTER PERIPHERALS
Computer Peripherals Control Data ................... ......... ........... .........112 Perkin-Elmer Data Systems ..............56, 57
DATA TERMINALS (See also Graphic Equipment}
CRT Display Terminals Ann Arbor Terminals .. .. .. ... .. ....... ... .. ... .. .... 4 Conrac .............................. ...................... ....187
Delta Data Systems ......... .. .................197, 220
EECO ........ .......................................... ... .. .......163 lnloton ................. .. .............. ...........................203 Lear Siegler/Electronic Instrumentation/
Data Products ... ............... .. .. ....................111 Ontel .... ................................................199, 210
Dual Keyboard Terminal System Olivetti .. ................... .................................. ...210
Teleprinters Honeywell Information Systems ............217
DISPLAY EQUIPMENT (See also Data Terminals and Graphic Equipment}
Displays Ball Electronic Display .. .. ...... .. ........ ........ 31 C. ltoh .. .. ........................................ .. .. ............1118
Color Display Subsystem Intelligent Systems ........................ .. ..........223
Display Controller Chip Set National Semiconductor ............ .. ..............174
GRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
Graphic Display Systems Aydin Controls ................. ... .. ......123, 125, 196 Grinnell Systems ........... ..... ........................ 72 Lexi data ....................... .. ..... ....... ......... ..........192
Color · Graphics Display System Ramtek ..................... ... .. ................. .... ............. 17
Graphic Display Terminal Hewlett-Packard .. .. ......... .............................139
Plasma Display Graphics Terminals Interstate Electronics ................ ............... .224 Magnavox Display Systems ....................220
Color Graphic Display Terminals Hitachi America ... ........... ..................Cover Ill Ramtek ............................ ................... ........... 54
Graphic Digitizers Summagraphlcs .. .. .. ...................... .............. ..215
Image Digitizers Perlph icon .............................. ......... ...............192 Qantex ..... ......................... .... .................... .. .. ..221
Digitizer Systems AItek .......... ...................... .... .................. ... .. ...216
INTERFACE EQUIPMENT; CONTROLLERS
Bus Interface Digital Equipment ....... ......................... ........222
Disc Controller Microcomputer Systems ................. ......... ....219
Disc Controller Formatter XCOMP .... .. .. ........................ .......... .. .. .... .. ......146
Tape Controllers Western Peripherals .. ......... ........... .. ..Cover II
Line Printer Controllers Digital Associates ................. .. ... .. ..............194 Quality Micro Systems .. .......... .... .. ..........214
Display/Keyboard Controller IC Matrox Electronic Systems ... .. ... .. ....... .. .....178
Display Controller Chip Set National Semiconductor .. ... .. ................. .. ..174
Dual Line Adapter A D V Engineering ..................... ...............212
Data Link Computer Interface Technology ............216
Synchronous/Asynchronous Port Selectors lnfotron Systems .................. ... .. .. .. ... .. ........223
KEYBOARD EQUIPMENT
Keyboards Micro Switch/Honeywell ............................ 62
Keyboard Switch Modules Grayhill ..... ... ....... .. ................. ...... ....................229
MARK SENSE EQUIPMENT
Optical Readers Chatsworth Data .. ...... ........ ........................160

228

CIRCLE 128 ON I NQUIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

PLOTTING EQUIPMENT

PAGE

Digi tal Plotter

Houston Instrument/ llausch & Lomb ....214

PRINTER/PLOTTERS
Pr inter/Plotters Printronix .... ... ............. .... ........... ............. .. .. .209
Electro static Printe r/Plotter Gould/l pstruments .......... .. .......................... ..173

l·!UNTING EQUIPMENT
Pr i nt e r s Axiom ....................... .. .. ............ .................... .. . 59 Centronlcs Data Computer .............. ..........133 C. ltoh ........ ...... .. ................................ .. .. ......230 Lear Siegler/Electronic Instrumentation/ Data Products .... ................... ................ ...191 NEC lnlormal!on Systems ..... .................... . 18 Teletype .. .............................. ... .. .. .... .............185
Line Printers Data 100 .......................... ................ .. .. .. .. ...... 47 Dat a Printer ........... ..................... .. .. .. ..........220 Innovat ive Electronics ............................223 Okidata ........................ .. .. ..............................222 Printronix ......................................................21 2 Tally .. ........ .......... ............ ..........................2, 188
Matrix Printers Gene ral Electric/Data Communications Produ cts Business ....................................192
Impact Printer Raytheon Data Systems/ Communications 210
Bidirecti onal Printer Data Gen eral ................ .. .. .. ........ .. .. .. ... .. .. ...224
Intelligent Printing System Dataroyal ..................................... ... ..............218
Line Printer Controllers Digital Associat es ........ ......... .. .. .. .................194 Quality Mi c ro Systems ................................214
Printer Mechanisms/ Controls Sodeco/Land is & Gyr ... .................... ... .... .. 196

PUNCHED TAPE EQUIPMENT
Tape Punch GNT Automatic ...................................... .. .. .. 218
Paper Tape Terminal Drillick LaManna ...................... ..................200

COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS
COMMUNICATIONS PRQCESSORS
Frontend Processor Cableshare Limited .... .. ... ........ .. . ...... ..... ....202
COMPUTER AUXILIARY UNITS
Array Processors CSP .......................... ........................................149 Floating Point Systems ......... .. .. ............. .. .. 65
CONTROL PROCESSORS
Industrial Automation Computer Stynetic Systems .......................................220
C!!'IAPHICS PROCESSORS
Graphics Processor Megatek ...................................... ............... ..... 51
MICROCOMPUTERS AND MICROPROCESSORS
Single-Ch i p Mi c rocomputer Intel ...................................... .. ... .. .......... .........165
Microco mputers BPI Electronics ................................... .. ... ....148 Data General ...... .. ...................... .. ..........66, 67 Infin ite .......... .. ....... ........:................................151 Lumbert Computer ... ... ......... ....... .. .. ..........161 Vector Graphic ........... ..................... ............160
Person al Compu ling Microcomputers Comptronlcs .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... ............................ .. .. 160 PolyMorphic Systems ................................146
Data Communic ations Microcomputers Control Logi c .... .. .. .... ................ ........ ......... .154 Micom Systems ........................... .................144
Microcomputer Systems ECO .... .. ... .......... .. .. ... .. .. .. ................................ 156 Tec hnical Design Labs ............................158
Microprocessors Fairchild Semiconductor Products ....88, 89 National Semiconductor ............... .....120, 121 NEC Microcomputers ....................... .. .... .... .134 Rockwell International/Microelectronic Devices ....................... .........................40, 41
Micro processor Fam i ly Motorola Semiconductor Products .............. .. ......................52, 53, 179
Microprocessor Card Pro-Log .... .... .. .. .. .. ....... ..... ................ ....Cover IV

Mi c roprocessor Analyzer

PAGE

AO Systems ........... ........ ...............................161

Microprocessor System Monitor Spectrogram ... .................................. .. .. .........148

Microprocessor Development Systems Tektronix .. .. ........................... .......140, 141 , 151 Zilog .................. ... ........................ ........ ... ......154

Microcomputer Development Systems Intelligent Systems ....... ... ..... .. ............. ......214 Motoro la Semiconductor Products ........151 MuPro Systems ............ .................... ............156
Software Development Board Relational Memory Systems ....................228
Microprocessor Software Wintek ... .. .. .. .. ....................... .. .. .. ....................160
Microprocessor Design Software Boston Systems Offi ce .. ........... .............. .152
Applicati ons Language Intel/Mi crocomput er Systems ................144
Microprocessor Standards Computer and Bus i ness Equipment Manufacturers ............... ....... ............ .. .. .. .. ..156

MINICOMPUTERS; SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SCALE COMpUTERS
Minicomputers Digital Equipment/OEM Products .. .. ....12, 13 Plessey Peripheral Systems ........ ... .... .. ...153 Sperry-Univac .. .. .. .. ............ ......................70, 71
Ruggedized Minicomputers Piessey Peripheral Systems ....................155
Ruggedized Computers Rolm .. .... .. ...... .................................. .............. 78
Medium-Scale Computer Systems Modular Computer Systems ....................150 Systems Engineering Laboratories ....82, 83
OTHER CLASSES OF DIGITAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Sci ent ific Computer Function al Automation ........ ............ .. .. .... 223

SIGNAL PROCESSORS
FFT Spectrum Analyzer Plessey Microsystems ............... .. .. ....... ...... 19

DATA COMMUNICATION-S EQUIPMENT
COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACES Communications Interface
Cableshare Limi te d ............... ........... .. ... ..... 202
Data Buffer Columbia Data Products ........ .. ............ .. ....218
Dual Line Adapter R D V Engineering .. ................... ........... ....212
Synchronous / Asynchronous Port Selectors Infotron Systems ... .. .. .. ........................... ....223
COMMUNICATIONS MONITOflS
Interface Signal Alarm Panel Spectron ................ .. .. .. .......... .... ....................221
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS Data Communications Microcomputers
Control Logic ........ ................... .. .. .. .. .. ...........154 Micom Systems .............. ..............................144 Communicati o n~ Controller Western Union Data Serv ices ........ ........202
COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS Data Transmission Term inal
Quad Systems .................................... ........198 Buffered Cassette Terminal
MFE ............ ....................................................216
Paper Tape Terminal Drillick LaManna ...................... .......... .. ... ...200
DATA COl\llMUNICATIONS TEST EQUIPMENT
Data Link Analyzer Halcyon ........................... ...............................202
DATA TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT Fiber Optic T ransmitters/R ecei vers
Radiation Devi ces .. .. .. .. .. .. ............. ..........194 Data Link
Computer Interf ace Tec hn ology ........ .. ..21 6
MODEMS; DATA SETS Data Modems
Penril ... ................................ .. ... .. ........... ..... .. ..208 Tele-Dynamics/ Amba c Industries .. .......... 219

DATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT
A-D AND D-A CONVERTERS

Graghill Switch Modules stack this wag
t
Customize your circuitry, legends and colors with the versatile "Mix and Match" Grayhill Series 82
Talk about versatility! These un ique , long-stroke, wiping contact switch modules are offered in horizontal or vertical legend formats , with 6, 3, 2, and single buttons, so you can strip them or stack them in the exact array you need , while maintaining constant center-to-center button spacing. More versatility! Standard circuitry is SPST thru 4PST-your choice under any button. Or, choose any code up to 7 bits, such as: BCD, BCD complement, octal , hexadecimal, 2 out of 7 or 2outof8. Appearance versatility, too! Choice of legend , button and housing colorshot stamped , molded-in, or slip-in legends-or any combination thereof. For detailed information, consult EEM or ask for data from Grayhill , Inc., 561 Hillgrove, La Grange , Illinois 60525 ;
phooe (312) 354-10~'1/f
CIRCLE 129 ON INCj>UIRY CARD 229

'3UIDE TD PRODUCT INFORMATION

PAGE
A-D Converter San Diego Instrument Laboratory ... .....152
A-D Converter ICs Micro Networks ........................................186 Slllconlx ........... ..............·............ ... ............. ..177 TRW LSI Products .............. ........ ......167, 172
A-D Converter Modules Burr-Brown .. ... ...............................................196 Computer Laba ............................................208
Video A-D Converter Module ILC Data Device ....................... ................. 212
ANGLE AND POSITION ENCODERS
Optical Shaft Encoder Disc Instruments .... ....................................217
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
Data Acquisition Systems Adac .......................... ... .. ... .. ..... ... ......... ...210, 226 Andromeda Systems ..... .............. .... ...........152 Neff Instruments .......................... ................147 Tustin Electronics .............. ... .......................212
A-D/D-A Data Acquisition System Daiei Systems ... ..... .. ..................................143

PAGE
DATA TRANSFER AND INTERFACE EQUIPMENT Bus Interface
Dig ital Equipment ........ ......... ..... .. ... ............ .222 Process-Minicomputer 110 Interface
Gould/Mod Icon ......................... ... ...... .. .... .. .. 81 1/0 Boards
Creative Micro Systems ............................160 Data Translation ........... .. ... ................101 , 146
Analog Input Board Burr-Brown ..................·............ ................... .. 180
DIGITIZERS Computer Interface TV Camera
Hamamatsu ........... ..... ....................................207
MONITORING AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT Industrial Automation Computer
Styneti c Systems ........................................220 Process Control Interlace Modules
Minarik Electric ............. ... ... ..... ... .................217
NC Machine Tool Programming System Numeridex ................ ... ............. ........ .. .. .... .. ..206

CITIZEN SERIESSOOO
PRINTERS
heavy-duty 132Columns 250-720LPM
ChainPrinter
Excellent Quality and Price

Mar;iufactured by CITIZEN WATCH CO. Tokyo, Japan

Exterior view of cabinet

If you are an OEM In the computer Industry, you know the crucial importance of gaining a competitive edge. We know it , too .

CITIZEN is the largest Independent line printer manufacturer In Japan. We are new In the U.S. market . A very tough market. And we are growing fast because we offer our cllen ts a very advantageous price / performance mix. The competit ive edge.

The Citizen Series 8000 Line Prin ters are available in two basic models , with the following m inimum speeds:

Model 8201

Model 8601

298 LPM - 48 characters - 720 LPM 250 LPM - 84 characters - 600 LPM 188 LPM - 96 characters - 444 LPM

Full details on the competitive edge offered by the Citizen Serles 8000 printers are yours for the asking . Call or write to :
Mike M. Fujiwara Marketing Manager, Line Printers C. ITOH ELECTRONICS , INC. 5301 Beethoven Street Los Angeles , Cal ifornia 90066 Telephone: 213 / 390-7778

Distributed by:
~ C. ITOH ELECTRONICS, INC.
Par t of C. ltoh & Co., Lt d., 1 Urm with 118 y·r· ol lnttm1tlon1J m1rk1tl11g operlenc1.

PAGE
TEST AND MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT; INSTRUMENTATION
COUNTERS; TIMERS Frequency Counter
Systron-Donner/ Instrumen t .. ......................206 Un i versal Timer/Counter
Racal/Dana Instruments .... ............ ... .... ... ..219 Automatic Control Timer
Veeder-Root ..................................................214 Timing Control Board
Digital Pathways .... ............ .. ...... ... .... .. .......161
DATA GENERATORS Multichannel Word Generator
Interface Technology ................................222
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT TESTERS Microprocessor Board Tester
Fluke/Trendar ............... ...........................32, 33 Microprocessor Analyzer
AO Systems .. .. ................................................161 Logic Analyzer/Data Generator
Moxon ... .. ............ .... .. ... .. .............. .... ...... .. ..10, 11 Logic Analyzers
EH International ........................................156 Hewlett-Packard .. ..................................60, 61 Paratronics ... .. .................... .... .............. .... .....220 Tektronix .............. ................ .. ... ... .. .. .............. 69 Data Link Analyzer Halcyon ................. .... ....... .. ... ... ....... .. .............202
INSTRUMENT GENERATORS Waveform Function Generator
Exact Electronics .. .... ................................200
OSCILLOSCOPES Osci lloscope
Hewlett-Packard ............................ .. .. ..........220 Digitizing Oscilloscope
Tektronix .. ................................. ....... ..........24, 25 Port&ble Oscilloscope
B&K Precision/Dynascan .... .. ............ ......208
OTHER TEST AND MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT Backplane Tester
Teradyne .. ........................................... .. ..... .. ..211 Cable Test Set
Addison/Muirhead .... .............. .. ....................22 1 Circuit Verifier
Everett/Charles ............................................21 4
OTHER PRODUCTS; SERVICES
EDUCATION Sem i nars
Integrated Computer Systemi ........204, 205
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Employment Opportunity
NCR/Engineering and Manufacturing .. ..231
EQUIPMENT BUYING, SELLING, AND LEASING Electronic Equipment Rentals
Funding Systems ........................................195
EXHIBITIONS Computer Conference
Invitational Computer Conference ........128
PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT Wirewrapping Tools
OK Machine & Tool ................ .. ..... ...........213
PUBLICATIONS Microprocessor Standards
Computer and Business Equipment Manufacturers ...... .. .. .. ... ... ............ .. .... ... .. .156
SOFTWARE Applications Language
Intel/ Microcomputer System s .... .. .......... 9 4 Microprocessor Software
Wintek ...................................................... ......160 Microprocessor Design Software
Boston Systems Office ..... .. ......... ............15 2
Microprocessor System Monitor Spectrogram .......................................... ........148
Minicomputer Software Analytical Systems ........ ............................224
Communications Software Educational Data Systems ................ ....161
Multitasking Executive Virtual Systems ... ............... .. ... .. .. ......·..........221
Interactive Data 'Base Management System Educational Data Systems ............. .. ... ..198

230

CtRCLE 130 ON INtj)UIRY CARD

COMPUTER DESIGN/ JUNE 1978

SALES OFFICES
NEW ENGLAND,
NEW YORK STATE Lindsay H. Caldwell 129 Cedar Hill Road East Dennis, MA 02641 phone: (617) 385-2533
MIDDLE AND SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES
Hajar Assoc., Inc. Emile H. Hajar Paul Hajar Silvio Mandino 521 5th Avenue New York, NY 10017 phone: (212) 682-5844
MIDWESTERN STATES
Hajar Assoc., Inc. Emile H. Hajar Paul Hajar Joan Donahue 664 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1010 Chicago, IL 60611 phone: (312) 337-8008
SOUTHWESTERN STATES
Lindsay H. Caldwell 129 Cedar Hill Road East Dennis, MA 02641 phone: (617) 385-2533
WEST COAST STATES
Buckley Boris Assoc. Terry Buckley-Tom Boris John Sabo 912 South Barrington Avenue Suite 202 Los Angeles, CA 90049 phone: (213) 826-4621

· ELECTRICAL DESIGN ENGINEERS · PROGRAMMERS/SYSTEMS ANALYSTS
Ubrk wit/J tbepeQp/e whohave revolutionized tbe bankingbusiness: NCR-Dayton.
EDP Terminals for Financial Institutions

NCR business computer systems have changed the financial picture so radically that yesterday' s bankers
and financiers wouldn't recognize their businesses
today. At NCR-Dayton, our part in that transformation is a lineup of financial terminals
of such versatility and performance, they have made
possible new banking and financial services which have motivated new marketing concepts for fi nan cial institutions. That, of course, opens up larger marketing potentials for us . And greater career potentials for you.
We're now designing new advances in EDP terminals with greater computing and communications power, to maintain NCR' s leadership position in business and financial systems. To accomplish our objectives, we're enlisting the best of the field of electrical design engineers and programmer / analysts. If you'd like to join one of the computer industry's Big Three, the one that has revolutionized the banking and retail businesses, we invite you to investigate these openings. We have opportunities at all levels . . . from trainees to project leaders in the areas listed below. BS in EE, CS, or related field is required, with or without experience. We'd like to hear from recent graduates.

Electrical Design Engineers
·Microprocessor Applications · Digital and Analog Circuits · Electrical Control Circuitry · Terminal Peripherals Familiarity with microprocessor programming helpful for all positions.

Programmers/Systems Analysts
· Microcomputers · Minicomputers · Operating Systems · Distributed Processing Systems · Communications Software Requires background with 8080 Assembly and COBOL language.

We offer an outstanding compensation and benefits package with a fine environment in which to work and live. Please forward your resume, indicating salary requirements, to:
Mrs. Judith E. Chorazewitz Engineering & Manufacturing-Dayton Employment Dept. CD-6 NCR Corporation, Dayton, Ohio 45479

An Equal Opportunity Employer

CIRCLE 131 ON IN9UIRY CARD

.231

ADVERTISERS· INPE X

Able Computer Technology, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------- 145 acdc electronics ------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------------- --- --- 26 Adac Electronics Corp. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- 226 Advanced Electronic Design -------- --------------------------------------------------- 210 Advanced Micro Devices ----------------------------------------- ----------------------.48, 49 Almond Instruments Co., Inc. ------------------------------------------217, 219, 221 AMP , Inc. ····-·-----···-------------------·-----------------------·--·--··---·----·--·-···--------- 36, 37 Analytical Systems Corp. ----·-·-------------------------------------·--- ---·-------·----- 224 Ann Arbor Terminals, Inc. ------··-----------·-·-------··----·-------------·-----···--·--- 4 Axiom ··-·--···-----------··----------·----- ------·--·--------·----·----·-------------·----------··--·---· 59 Aydin Controls Corp. ···-·--·------------··-----·---------··-------··-----·------···- 123, 125
Ball Electronic Display Div. -·----·-···---------·-----------------------------····-- ·····- 31 Berk·Tek __ ·······--·---·---······---------------------·--·--------·-----------·----------------------- 7 Burr-Brown Research Corp. ------··----····---------------------------------·- ··--·-····- 196
Canon USA, Inc. --·-·······-----··---- ·-··---------·-·----········-------·---------·······-- -··· 190 Centronics Data Computer Corp. --------------------------------------·--·-------- 133 Chrislen Industries --··----------·--···----------------------------------------------------··--·- 4 Citizen America Corp. ··--------·-----------------------------····-----------·-·--·- ··----·- 222 Computer Design Publishing C o rp. --·------·------------··-----------·------------i-iv* Computer Labs, Inc. ···-----·-······-----· ------------------------------------------·--···---- 20~ Conrac Corp. -·-----·------------·-----------------------·--·------·-·······---··---·····---------- 187 Control Data Corp. -·--·-------··· ·--·--------------------·--···--·----·-····---········----·-- 112 Co~trol Products,
Div. of Ame race Co rp. -----------·-·--·-··------------------·----------·-------------- 194 Conver Corp. ···---···--·----------·------------·----·-··-----------------------------------·------ 5 Cooner Wire Co. --·-----·-·-------------··----··---------···········--------·--·--------········ 218 CSP, Inc. ..:.. ···--·-··--·--···---- ···-------· ···-- -·---·-------·----------------------------·-·----·-- 149
Data General Corp. ·-------··-·····------------------·---------·---·--·-·--·------···--·---66, 67 Data I00 ····--·····---···----·---·--·-····---------·---------------------·----------··--------··------ 47 Dataram Corp. --------·······-----·-··------·--·--·--·-··---··--·····----·-----·-·--············-- 21 Data Translation Corp. ----·---··----------·------·····--------·······----··---·----------··- I0 I Delta Data Systems Corp. --------·---·-··----·------·-·····-----······----·-···--·········- 197 Digi-Data Corp. ·-----·-··--·······--------····----------·--------------------·-·-----·-····------ 181 Digital Equipment Corp.,
OE M Prod ucts Group ----············-------------··---·--- ·----·-·····--·-····---··- 12, 13 Dynamics Research Corp.,
Metrogra ph ics Div. -----------------·------·-----··---·---·----------- ·--------------·--·-- 216 Dynatech Data Systems ----·-·· ··---······-··········-----------------------------·-·-···---- 170
EECO -·-·-···-·-·------·-··-----------------·--------·--·----·-·----··---------------·------- ··----··---- 163 Electronic Memories & Magnetics Corp.,
Commercial Me mory Products ---------·------·------------------------------------ · 175 Pe riphera I Products ------·-··------··------------------------------·--------·--------·---- 119 EM M SEM I -··········--··---------····-----------------·----------------------------····------- · 137 Ex-Cell-O Corp., Rem ex Div. ··---·········--·················-----·--------------·-----·-··----·---··-····--··-··· 35
Fairchild, Semiconductor Ope ratio ns Div. ·---·-------···-----···---------29, 88, 89, 102
Floating Point Systems, Inc . -------------------···---·------·--·--------------·--·-------- 65 John Fluke Manufacturing Co., Inc. -------------------------------------------- 32, 33 Funding Systems Corp. -·--··--·--···------·------------·-· ----------------------·-·------- 195
Galileo Electro-Optics Corp. ······----------·-----------------------· --·-·----·······- 75 GNT Automatic, Inc. -----·----·-·--------- --------------····-----·-------------------------··- 218 Gould, Inc.,
Instruments Div. --··--·------·---·------------------·--------···---·--····-----····--·--·-··-- 173 El ectronic Compo nen ts Di v. --------·-----·---------------------------··---·-······- 20 I Mod icon Div. -···--··------·---------··-·--------··-·------·--·-----·---------·--·-·---····---- 81 Grayhill , Inc. -·-······· ·-----···----------··--·----· ·················------·---------------··-·-···-- 229 Grinnell Systems, Inc. ·······------· --···--------·---------··-·-·----·--···-----------········ 72
Hamamatsu C o rp. ---···----·--···----·--------·-------·------·---------·---·------------------- 207 Harris Corp.,
Semico nducto r Products Div. -------------·---·------------------··------·-····------ 90 H El , Inc . ·------···---····----··-----·-··--·---·----------···-···--------------·--·-----------·------·- 23 Hewlett-Packard Co. ------·--·--·---·-·--------------------------·-·······--·-··--60, 61, 139 Hitachi, Ltd . -···--·······---·----------·-------------···----·-·-····--···---····--· -·--·--Cover 111 Houston Instrument,
Div. of Bausc h & Lomb ····--·---·---------·------------------·-·--------····---- ---·--·- 214

Invitational Computer Conferenc!l --····-··-------------------·----·····---·····--·- 128 C. ltoh Electronics , Inc --------------------·--------------·-----·-·---·--·-·-··--···- 198, 230
Kennedy Co. -·-------·----·-------------------------·-···--·--····--·--------·--·--·-·--·--·-··-----
Lear Siegler, Inc. --···-------··----·-·---------·---------------------------------·····--- 111 , 191
Megatek Corp. -·---···--·------·--···----------- --------··--··-------------··-------------··----- 51 Metex Corp. ---·-·····--··---·---------------------------·-·--------------------·--·-------------- 189 Micropolis Corp. ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------------·-·--- 17 1 Micro Switch,
a div. of H oneywel l ··--------------··----------------·-----------·----·-------------·---- 62 Modular Computer Systems, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------- 150 Monolithic Systems Corp. ---------·-- ···--------------------------------·--------------44, 45 Monsanto Co. -·----------·-----------··--·-----·--------------··-----------···--··----------------- 142 Mostek ----------------------··----·--·----·---··--- ·········-------------------·--------------··38, 183 Motorola Inc.,
Semicond uctor Products Div. -·---·--·---------------·-------·---·-----52, 53, 179 Moxon, Inc. ----··--·-··--·-------------·----·----------------------- ·----·--------· ······-------·--' 0, I I Mclean Engineering Laboratories -----------------------------·---------------··---- 223
National Semiconduct or Corp. _________________:·-----------·-------·--·--··-·-- 120, 121 NCR Corp.,
Eng inee ring & Man ufactu ring Div. ---------·---···------· ·-·--··--·-------·-- ··-2 3' I
NEC Information Systems --------·--------------··--------··-----------········----·-·--- 13 NEC Microcomputers, Inc. ·····--·-----··-----------------------··--------------------·- 134 Neff Instruments Corp. ---------------------·-·--------------·---------------·----·--···---·- J47
OK Machine & Tool Corp. -------·--------------------·---·------·-···----··------·---- 213 Ontel Cor p. ··--··--··--····----·---------------------- ------------------ ------------------------·-- 199 Opto 22 ---------------····-------------··-----------------------·------·-·--·--·---·-·····--------· 15
Perkin-Elmer Data Sys+e,,.,s, Term in a Is Div. ----··-----------·----------·-···-----·--------------------------------------56, 57
Pioneer Magnetics Corp. -----·-----------------------------------------·--···------------- 43 Pittman Corp. --···--·-------------------------------------------·------------·-·----·-------------- 28 Plessey ,
Peri phe ra Is Div. ----------------···--·-······-- ·- -·-----··-- 153, 155, 157, 158, 159 M ic rosystems Div. -------------·------------------··------------------·-----------------··-- 19 Power-One, Inc. --------------------------------·--·------·-··--------------------·------·-·----- I58 Printonix , Inc. ·----·····--·-----------------------------------------·-·----------·------·----------- 209 Pro- Log Corp. -·--· ·--·-······--·--------·-··-----··--·--··---·-··-----·-·-------· ···---·-Cove r IV
Qantex, Div. of No rth Atlant ic Industries --·-····---------·-·--·-------··--·-----·-----·- 200
Ramtek Corp. --------------------·-------·----·--------·-·----------------·------···--·---··---54, 87 Relational Memories Systems, Inc. -·------------··---------- ·----·----·--·--·-·····- 22 8 Robinson-Nugent, Inc. ---···--····-------------------·······---·-·------·-··----·--··--·····-- 13 1 Rockwell International,
Microe lectronics Div. ------------- ·-----···----------··----·-··-----------------·-·--40, 41 Rolm Corp. -------···--····------·····----·-·····--------------··········---------·--·----·---·------ 78
Se alectro Corp. ---·----····------------··--------------------·-------··--···----·--···--·--·----- 2 24 Shugart Assoc . --------··--------·-----------------------·----·------------------·-·-·-··--------- · 129 Silicon ix ---------··-----··· ·-----·---------·----·--------·-·--··------· -·-- ··-----·----·------·----·---- 177 Spectra -Strip -------·--·----·----------··----------------------------------------------------------·- 206 Sperry Univac Mini-Computer Operations -----------------·--······--····70, 71 Standard Power, Inc. ------------------··--··------·-----------·-·-----·-------------------- 169 Sum magra phics Corp. -----------------------·------------------------·--···--·······----··- 2 15 Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc. ---·-----··----------------··········-82, 83
Tally Corp . -·-···---·--··------------------- ---------------····-------------------------------·------ 2 T-Ba r, Inc. ···---····--------·-··· ·---······-········----·-······------------------------···---··-·--·- 202 Tektronix, Inc. -----·------·------------·-···········--·--·-----------·--24, 25, 69, 140, 141 Teletype Corp. ---··--···--·-------·-··----···--------·-····--·----·---------------··--·-·---···--- I85 Telex Computer Products, Inc. ------------··------··--------·····--·-···--····--·····- 84 Tera dyne, Inc. ···-----····----------·-------------------------------·-·-····--·--·------------··--·- 211 TRW LSI Products -----------·----····--------·-------------··---·--·---·····---··--··------·-- 167 Tustin Electronics Co. ------·------·- ------------------··-------------------·····-·-----···-·- 212
Union Carbide Corp. ·----·---··----·--·-----·-·-····-···--·-··················--·---·-··---- 20

Infoton Corp. _·-----......... ----·- --------·-·· -·--------·---------···-------------. -----··· .... ___ 203 Integrated Computer Systems ····----------·····--------·-------------------- 204, 205
Intel Corp. ---·----------------------------------------------------------------8, 9, 76, 77, 165 International Memories, Inc. -------·---··--·-----·---·------------------------------ 16, 17 lntelligenl Systems Corp. -·--············----------------·--·--·--·------·--·-----·-·214, 223

Viking Industries ··········--·--··--------·------------------ ··--------------····--------·--·---- 193 Western Peripherals , Inc. -----------------------···----·--·-------·-····---- ·-·---·Cover 111 *Not appearing in subscribe rs' copies

232

C0}4PUTER DESIGN/ J UNE 1978

The H-7000 is good news for original equipment manufacturers. Its high resolution monitor (dot pitch 0.31 mm) and 8-bit micro-processor combine to provide a clear screen, bright color and flexible graphics with minimum host computer burden.
Versatile features include trend and bar graphing, superimposing of two pictures using dual refresh memory, two level intensity and other visual functions designed to present complex information in an easy to assimilate form.
Our patented "Dynamically

Writable" Symbol Conversion Memory offers the process engineer the most flexible graphic character set in the industry and enables him to freely define symbols at any time.
To suit all customer requirements, we offer three monitor screen sizes (13, 19 or 25 inches), and three basic models with 960, 1,920 or 4,032 characters/symbols per display.
Another unique feature of the H-7000 is a software tool called Display Generating Software (DGS). Using DGS, the process
CIRCLE 132 ON IN9UIRY CARD

engineer can construct or modify a display picture by interactive English language "conversation" through the CRT terminal.
Take a look at the H-7000. You'll see it's a winner at a glance.
Hitachi America, Ltd.
San Francisco Office 100 California Street San Francisco, California 94111 Tel : 415-981-7871
@HITACHI
Hitachi, Ltd. Tokyo Japan

Suppose someone With · . noaXetOgr nd · ·
designed Pr~ctical . one·card microproce~sor $JSle

Pro-Log sifts through manufacturer's claims, selects the best parts, and designs them into simple, reliable ;· systems ...
. .. systems flexible enough to use in a wide variefy of ·· · applications. Systems easy to build, easy to service. Systems ·in which every part-the microprocessor, ~ery semiconductor, every connector, every miscellaneous componentis or soon will be a second· sourced industry standard.

Our comparison guide helps you avoid the pitfalls of microprocessor design .
Send for your copy today. Pro-Log Corporation , 2411 Garden Road , Monterey, CA 93940. Phone (408) 372-4593.

Pro-Log builds 8080A, ·8085, Z-80, an d 6800 microprocessors into one-card systems.
We use standard 4Y2-inch by 6V2-ipch 56-pin edge-connected cards . We've refined each system to fewer than 100 parts. To make sure our systems work when you get them , we test each system before and after power-on burn-in . We supply

complete documentation with every card . Buy 250 of any one card and we give you free the plans for that card and nonexclusive manufacturing rights. You can build cards yourself and use us as a second-source. Need more capability later? Upgrade to one of our equally well-designed multiple card systems.

Microprocessors ot your fingertips.

... .·.

... . _\

. .. .... ........ . "'

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