Transcript of conversation on core processor, 3/22/05:
Quote:
Ultimate Dev'r: I have a lot of processors to choose from.
KermMartian: this is true
KermMartian: probably more powerful than the z80
KermMartian: but if we piggyback
Ultimate Dev'r: Now, before we begin, we need to decide how powerful it needs to be.
KermMartian: on the current hw,
KermMartian: we won't need to rewrite
KermMartian: the OS yet
KermMartian: OK, here's what we need:
KermMartian: 1. ability to interface RAM up to 128k
KermMartian: 2. ability to interface ROM up to 16 MB
KermMartian: 3. Ability to interface at least 8 different haardware devices
KermMartian: 4. Fast ram shadowing
KermMartian: (for color screen)
KermMartian: 5. data buffering
KermMartian: (for link port communications and internet access)
KermMartian: 6. low power consumption
KermMartian: anything else?
Ultimate Dev'r: Yes; I have a whole list of things to add. Just give me a sec to get out the list.
Ultimate Dev'r: Okay.
Ultimate Dev'r: Serial ROM
Ultimate Dev'r: Color Screen
Ultimate Dev'r: Audio
Ultimate Dev'r: Wireless Comms
Ultimate Dev'r: Mem Card Slot
Ultimate Dev'r: External interface port
Ultimate Dev'r: USB
Ultimate Dev'r: IR Keyboard
Ultimate Dev'r: RAM
Ultimate Dev'r: Power
Ultimate Dev'r: So, the question now is whether or not we should build a new calc.
KermMartian: not
KermMartian: yet
KermMartian: so the stuff you wrote means we need this:
KermMartian: an 8-bit chip bus for external stuff
Ultimate Dev'r: Okay, then I know of a few key low-power PICs we can use.
KermMartian: maybe 64 MHz minimum
KermMartian: is that OK?
Ultimate Dev'r: That sounds a little high, since the linkport can only be toggled at around 4 MHz max.
KermMartian: right
KermMartian: but we can delay the PIC
KermMartian: so that it can handle
KermMartian: all of the I/O devices
KermMartian: without bogging down to below 4 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Ah; slow it down for Calc transmissions, then speed it up for everything elese.
KermMartian: exactly
KermMartian: because in between link port pulses
KermMartian: it might need to
KermMartian: update the color screen
KermMartian: work on a TCP/IP
KermMartian: connection, and
KermMartian: verify that the wireless network is still intact
KermMartian: see?
Ultimate Dev'r: Hmm...I get you.
Ultimate Dev'r: Do you think that we should get a microcontroller with onboard USB Host? For like USB Keydrives and stuff.
Ultimate Dev'r: Or is that overkill?
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see...The fastest PIC you can get now is 40 MHz, Ubicom SX processors are looking good, Atmel's ARM processors are what powers GBA's, and Xilinx's Spartan processors power video cards. I'm thinking we either go after the SX or AVR processors.
Ultimate Dev'r: Ohhh...ATmega6490
KermMartian: overkill usb
KermMartian: ARM isn't a bad idea
Ultimate Dev'r: Now ARM is overkill.
Ultimate Dev'r: We don't need a 32 bit processor.
Ultimate Dev'r: Or a bazillion pin IC.
Ultimate Dev'r:
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: no 16 bit is fine
Ultimate Dev'r: How about making the calc be able to hook up to a computer through USB, much like how the TI84+SE does.
KermMartian: what cfan we get that's 15 bit maybe 24 MHz and 8 bit bus
Ultimate Dev'r: Well, that ATMega that I put up is 64-Kbyte self-programming Flash Program Memory, 4-Kbyte SRAM, 2-KByte EEPROM, 8 Channel 10-bit A/D-converter. JTAG interface for on-chip-debug. 4 X 40 Segment LCD Driver. Up to 16 MIPS throughput at 16 MHz. 1.8 - 5.5 Volt Operation.
KermMartian: hmm
KermMartian: that sounds good
KermMartian: we could use the lcd driver outputs as the output bus
KermMartian: but what about an input bus?
KermMartian: or is there one with a 2-way bus?
Ultimate Dev'r: It has 68 I/O pins
Ultimate Dev'r: Or a 52 pin SX controller that runs at 70 MHz, 40 I/O pins, 4MB onboard flash.
Ultimate Dev'r: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/2552S.pdf
Ultimate Dev'r: http://www.ubicom.com/pdfs/SX-DDS-SX4852BD-15.pdf
Ultimate Dev'r: That smily should be X - D
Ultimate Dev'r: No spaces between X and D
KermMartian: I don't see a smiley
KermMartian: now THAT is overkill
KermMartian: let's go w/ the first one
KermMartian: how much?
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see...
Ultimate Dev'r: I found two places in my area that sell components !
Ultimate Dev'r: Um, the fisrt one only goes to 16 MHZ
Ultimate Dev'r: I'm thinking we should go with the first one; smaller, less pins, and faster.
KermMartian: you mean the second one
KermMartian: I like the first better
KermMartian: in 16 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Whichever one's the SX controller.
KermMartian: The MIPS value is good enough that it can keep up
KermMartian: as long as it's not a silver
KermMartian: even so it's OK
Ultimate Dev'r: Well, I couldn't find anyone who sells the first one; looking for the second one as we speak.
Ultimate Dev'r: $7
KermMartian:
KermMartian: that's crazy cheap
KermMartian: out of curiosity, what do z80s come in?
KermMartian: we could make a dual z80 system
Ultimate Dev'r: What do you mean what do they come in? As in their package type?
KermMartian: as in speeds
KermMartian: I know they're mostly SMICs
Ultimate Dev'r: Slow and Slower LOL
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see, there's eZ80, Z80, and Z180.
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: MHz? MIPS?
Ultimate Dev'r: eZ80 - 50 MHz
KermMartian: z80 is... only 6 MHz and 15 MHz?
Ultimate Dev'r: Z80 - 4 to 20 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Z180 - you don't wanna know..
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: lemme guess 1-4 MHZ?
Ultimate Dev'r: 4 - 12 MHz
KermMartian: how about a 20 MHz z80 interfaced to the core processor to act as an external I/O system?
KermMartian: Then you don't need to mod the OS at all
Ultimate Dev'r: But where would you interface the second processor to? The linkport?
Ultimate Dev'r: Just found Atmel processors on EBay...not too cheap...$20 each.
KermMartian: not the linkport
KermMartian: too slow
KermMartian: hmm
KermMartian: I have to go, but I'll post this conversation on the RE/BE forum
KermMartian: this is true
KermMartian: probably more powerful than the z80
KermMartian: but if we piggyback
Ultimate Dev'r: Now, before we begin, we need to decide how powerful it needs to be.
KermMartian: on the current hw,
KermMartian: we won't need to rewrite
KermMartian: the OS yet
KermMartian: OK, here's what we need:
KermMartian: 1. ability to interface RAM up to 128k
KermMartian: 2. ability to interface ROM up to 16 MB
KermMartian: 3. Ability to interface at least 8 different haardware devices
KermMartian: 4. Fast ram shadowing
KermMartian: (for color screen)
KermMartian: 5. data buffering
KermMartian: (for link port communications and internet access)
KermMartian: 6. low power consumption
KermMartian: anything else?
Ultimate Dev'r: Yes; I have a whole list of things to add. Just give me a sec to get out the list.
Ultimate Dev'r: Okay.
Ultimate Dev'r: Serial ROM
Ultimate Dev'r: Color Screen
Ultimate Dev'r: Audio
Ultimate Dev'r: Wireless Comms
Ultimate Dev'r: Mem Card Slot
Ultimate Dev'r: External interface port
Ultimate Dev'r: USB
Ultimate Dev'r: IR Keyboard
Ultimate Dev'r: RAM
Ultimate Dev'r: Power
Ultimate Dev'r: So, the question now is whether or not we should build a new calc.
KermMartian: not
KermMartian: yet
KermMartian: so the stuff you wrote means we need this:
KermMartian: an 8-bit chip bus for external stuff
Ultimate Dev'r: Okay, then I know of a few key low-power PICs we can use.
KermMartian: maybe 64 MHz minimum
KermMartian: is that OK?
Ultimate Dev'r: That sounds a little high, since the linkport can only be toggled at around 4 MHz max.
KermMartian: right
KermMartian: but we can delay the PIC
KermMartian: so that it can handle
KermMartian: all of the I/O devices
KermMartian: without bogging down to below 4 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Ah; slow it down for Calc transmissions, then speed it up for everything elese.
KermMartian: exactly
KermMartian: because in between link port pulses
KermMartian: it might need to
KermMartian: update the color screen
KermMartian: work on a TCP/IP
KermMartian: connection, and
KermMartian: verify that the wireless network is still intact
KermMartian: see?
Ultimate Dev'r: Hmm...I get you.
Ultimate Dev'r: Do you think that we should get a microcontroller with onboard USB Host? For like USB Keydrives and stuff.
Ultimate Dev'r: Or is that overkill?
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see...The fastest PIC you can get now is 40 MHz, Ubicom SX processors are looking good, Atmel's ARM processors are what powers GBA's, and Xilinx's Spartan processors power video cards. I'm thinking we either go after the SX or AVR processors.
Ultimate Dev'r: Ohhh...ATmega6490
KermMartian: overkill usb
KermMartian: ARM isn't a bad idea
Ultimate Dev'r: Now ARM is overkill.
Ultimate Dev'r: We don't need a 32 bit processor.
Ultimate Dev'r: Or a bazillion pin IC.
Ultimate Dev'r:
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: no 16 bit is fine
Ultimate Dev'r: How about making the calc be able to hook up to a computer through USB, much like how the TI84+SE does.
KermMartian: what cfan we get that's 15 bit maybe 24 MHz and 8 bit bus
Ultimate Dev'r: Well, that ATMega that I put up is 64-Kbyte self-programming Flash Program Memory, 4-Kbyte SRAM, 2-KByte EEPROM, 8 Channel 10-bit A/D-converter. JTAG interface for on-chip-debug. 4 X 40 Segment LCD Driver. Up to 16 MIPS throughput at 16 MHz. 1.8 - 5.5 Volt Operation.
KermMartian: hmm
KermMartian: that sounds good
KermMartian: we could use the lcd driver outputs as the output bus
KermMartian: but what about an input bus?
KermMartian: or is there one with a 2-way bus?
Ultimate Dev'r: It has 68 I/O pins
Ultimate Dev'r: Or a 52 pin SX controller that runs at 70 MHz, 40 I/O pins, 4MB onboard flash.
Ultimate Dev'r: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/2552S.pdf
Ultimate Dev'r: http://www.ubicom.com/pdfs/SX-DDS-SX4852BD-15.pdf
Ultimate Dev'r: That smily should be X - D
Ultimate Dev'r: No spaces between X and D
KermMartian: I don't see a smiley
KermMartian: now THAT is overkill
KermMartian: let's go w/ the first one
KermMartian: how much?
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see...
Ultimate Dev'r: I found two places in my area that sell components !
Ultimate Dev'r: Um, the fisrt one only goes to 16 MHZ
Ultimate Dev'r: I'm thinking we should go with the first one; smaller, less pins, and faster.
KermMartian: you mean the second one
KermMartian: I like the first better
KermMartian: in 16 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Whichever one's the SX controller.
KermMartian: The MIPS value is good enough that it can keep up
KermMartian: as long as it's not a silver
KermMartian: even so it's OK
Ultimate Dev'r: Well, I couldn't find anyone who sells the first one; looking for the second one as we speak.
Ultimate Dev'r: $7
KermMartian:
KermMartian: that's crazy cheap
KermMartian: out of curiosity, what do z80s come in?
KermMartian: we could make a dual z80 system
Ultimate Dev'r: What do you mean what do they come in? As in their package type?
KermMartian: as in speeds
KermMartian: I know they're mostly SMICs
Ultimate Dev'r: Slow and Slower LOL
Ultimate Dev'r: Let's see, there's eZ80, Z80, and Z180.
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: MHz? MIPS?
Ultimate Dev'r: eZ80 - 50 MHz
KermMartian: z80 is... only 6 MHz and 15 MHz?
Ultimate Dev'r: Z80 - 4 to 20 MHz
Ultimate Dev'r: Z180 - you don't wanna know..
KermMartian: lol
KermMartian: lemme guess 1-4 MHZ?
Ultimate Dev'r: 4 - 12 MHz
KermMartian: how about a 20 MHz z80 interfaced to the core processor to act as an external I/O system?
KermMartian: Then you don't need to mod the OS at all
Ultimate Dev'r: But where would you interface the second processor to? The linkport?
Ultimate Dev'r: Just found Atmel processors on EBay...not too cheap...$20 each.
KermMartian: not the linkport
KermMartian: too slow
KermMartian: hmm
KermMartian: I have to go, but I'll post this conversation on the RE/BE forum