sxnahm@ubvax.UUCP (Stephen Nahm) (11/07/84)
I just came across a blurb for a computer kit which sounds interesting. The "Cypher IV" is designed as a "MicroController." The blurb lists typical applications as home and building security system, furnace, hot water and heating control, etc. The main features are 24 flexible I/O lines (8255 control), small size (4.5" by 6.5" PC board), a complete system (RS232 and Centronics ports, "Control" BASIC in the CPU's ROM, clock, and even a EPROM programmer (requires Vpp voltage to be supplied)), and simplicity (5 volt supply @ 400ma, plus 13 chips: National INS8073 8 bit CPU, 8255, 2 PROMs (2716 or 2764), 2 RAM (up to 16K), MM58174 clock (optional), and 6 others). Um, the 'RS232' port sez: utilizes 3 lines, xmit data, rcv data, gnd; TTL compatible output with optional -5 volt connection (?). Has anybody had any experience with this kit? If so, I'd like to hear about it. This sounds like a fun toy for experimenting with computer control. It's cheap ($129.50 list), and the only other thing you really need is a terminal that can handle the sort-of RS232 port. Here's the summary paragraph for the kit: The Cypher IV Kit includes a screened and solder masked printed circuit board with plated through holes, plus all the components necessary to build a functional controller. Along with the Control BASIC unit, the kit includes 2K bytes of RAM, a built-in EPROM programmer, I/O interfaces for parallel and serial operation, a parallel printer port and a comprehensive Assembly/Operation manual. I picked up the blurb at Advanced Components Electronics, Santa Clara, (408)730-4660. -- Steve Nahm { decvax | ucbvax }!sun!megatest!ubvax!sxnahm or amd!cae780!ubvax!sxnahm
smh@mit-eddie.UUCP (Steven M. Haflich) (11/09/84)
Some information on the National Semiconductor INS8073 8-bit microprocessor with on-chip `Tiny Basic' can be found in Electronic Design, Nov 22 1980. The article has a strong hardware perspective, that is, it mentions next to nothing about the on-chip language, but gives sample circuit block diagrams. You might compare this unit with the Z8 design written up by Ciarcia in Byte Jul-Aug 1981, and probably still distributed by Micromint. The machines are somewhat similar, but there are interesting differences.