KMC11-B General Purpose Microprocessor User Guide

This document is the User Guide for the KMC11-B General Purpose Microprocessor, published by Digital Equipment Corporation in 1983.

It provides technical information covering the microprocessor's description, specifications, installation, programming overview, and maintenance. The KMC11-B is detailed as a hex-height, multilayer auxiliary processor unit designed for UNIBUS-based PDP-11 systems. It operates in parallel with the main computer, specializing in data movement, character processing, I/O control, and communications protocols, driven by a volatile microprogram loaded by the PDP-11 operating system. The guide includes comprehensive specifications for its mechanical, environmental, electrical, and UNIBUS interface aspects, along with general operational parameters.

A significant portion of the guide is dedicated to site preparation and installation, offering detailed instructions and switch settings for installing different revision levels (C, D, and E) of the KMC11-B board into compatible backplanes.

For programming, the document introduces the KMC11-B's 16-bit instruction code (Move and Branch sets) but explicitly states that it serves as a guide to basic formats, directing users to a separate Programmer's Manual for in-depth programming.

Regarding maintenance, the guide emphasizes that field repair of the complex KMC11-B module is not recommended. It details the use of diagnostic software for both PDP-11 and VAX-11 systems and outlines preventive maintenance, primarily involving running diagnostics and checking voltage levels.

Finally, an appendix clarifies KMC11-B option designations, distinguishing between factory-installed configurations and field upgrades, and touching upon FCC compliance and electromagnetic interference (EMI) considerations.