MCB-Specific Documentation
March 2010 Thanks to Michael Simon and Douglas Goodall, original documentation for the Space-Time Productions Master Controller Board.
These are in PDF format for your enjoyment.
 This file is 21.5 MBytes. |
MCB Documentation # 1
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This file is 16.2 MBytes. |
MCB Documentation # 2
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There are actually 4 original documents. I'm providing only 2 of them because 2 of the others contain the exact same information in different order.
Hardware Resource Literature
There are a good number of valuable books for use alongside your Space-Time Computer, here's a few I recommend.
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The MCS-80 User's Manual cover takes several forms, here is an early one. You can usually find this one on Ebay or Amazon. It's focus is on the 8080-8085 processors, but there is a wealth of technical data sheets inside including the 2114 static ram, various proms, 8212 I/O port, a very in-depth data set on the 8255 PIO, 8251 UART and lots of good background info on RS-232, 8253 PIT, and 8279 Keyboard/Display controller just to name a few.
I strongly recommend reading the descriptions of how each 8080 instruction works. Intel first set the bar for this standard, and it is exactingly perfect. |
 Click on the book for the link. |
Build Your Own Z80 Computer by Steve Ciarcia is a great book for designing and building your own Z80 machine from scratch. The first portion is an excellent short course in designing DC power supplies with voltages common to many computer systems. As you look through the decoding methods and other various topics covered in this book, you'll see some things that are strikingly similar to the Space-Time Productions MCB design. Good news, this book is also available for free download. You'll have to sign up for a free account, but after that, the book is free to use. |
Software Resource Literature
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Z80 Assembly Language Subroutines This is the book I wish I had started with when I was first learning assembly language! Not only does this book have subroutine listings that are very well commented and put forth, but also a great description of how the routines work and what you are trying to accomplish with them, well laid out and detailed. For people entering the realm of Z80 programming, I'd have to say this book is a must. Wish I'd forked over the money for it in college, I'd have blasted right through the classes with complete understanding. If you've been looking over the original monitor and its various routines, you will see a lot of similarities between the subroutines you will find in this book and routines you will find in the monitor. A super-educational book for the Z80 user, you won't be disappointed. The book's Table of Contents breaks down as follows:
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How to Program the Z80 by Rodnay Zaks is a great resource for learning Z-80 Assembly/Machine Code, teaches a lot about the fundamentals and concepts of programming, a good instruction code breakdown (there are a few errors in the book, but easy enough to locate and correct), how to handle data in tables, binary math and a lot about the workings of the Z-80 signals. Also has execution times for each instruction based on a 2MHz clock (same as the default Space-Time board clock). Very handy! ISBN: 0895880695
The Z-80 book by Rodnay Zaks can be downloaded free in PDF format. |
AMD AM9511 Arithmetic Processor IC
AMD AM9511 IC Datashet [PDF format] [598kBytes].
Am9511A/Am9512 Floating Point Processor Manual [PDF Format] [4.31MBytes].
Contains discussion of FP arithmetic, flow charts, programs in BASIC for converting ASCII Hex reps of values used by the AM9511 to/from ASCII decimal, interfacing hardware details for various 8-bit processors, comparison of execution times with LLLBASIC, and FPAL.LIB, plus discussion of transcendental functions plus FP math error charts.
Algorithm Details for the AM9511 Arithmetic Processing Unit [PDF Format] [1.63MBytes].
This manual contains the detailed instruction set and execution cycle times.
AMD AM9513 System Timing Controller IC
AMD 9513 System Timing Controller, Datasheet:
AMD 9513 [PDF format] [6.189 MBytes].
I have not done anything with this chip as of yet, however beyond its 5 each 16-bit programmable counters, there is also an XTAL input and a pre-scaler for generating baud rates for SIO without dedicating one of the other counters to the function. The MCB monitor software uses the Intel p8253 as the baud rate generator for RS-232 serial communications SIO chip.
