KXJ11-CA Single-Board Computer User's Guide

This document is the User's Guide for the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) KXJ11-CA Single-Board Computer (SBC), first published in 1987. It serves as a comprehensive reference for installing, configuring, operating, and programming the KXJ11-CA module.

The KXJ11-CA is an I/O processor built around the J-11 (DCJ11-AC) 16-bit microprocessor. It executes the extended PDP-11 instruction set, includes a memory management unit with three levels of protection and 4 MB addressing, and operates at 14 MHz. The board can function either as a standalone computer or as a peripheral processor within a Q-Bus system.

Key features and functionalities detailed in the guide include:

• Hardware Overview: Descriptions of the J-11 microprocessor, 512 KB of dynamic RAM, and support for up to 64 KB of PROM (16 KB allocated for native firmware).
• Operating Modes: Explains standalone and peripheral processor modes, and how to configure them using the on-board ID switch.
• Installation: Provides detailed instructions on selecting operating features via jumper settings (e.g., Q-Bus size and base address, DMA requests, HALT options, PROM addressing, SLU baud rates), power supply considerations, and physical installation into a backplane, including connector pin assignments and cabling.
• Architecture: Covers the internal block diagram, the Two Port Register (TPR) file for communication, various Control/Status Registers (KXJCSRA-J), the CPU ID switch, DMA Controller, and Wake-Up Circuit.
• Memory Management: Explains the architecture, including Page Address Registers (PARs), Page Descriptor Registers (PDRs), and Memory Management Registers (MMRs), with specifics on shared memory configuration and access.

• I/O Controllers:

  • DMA Transfer Controller (DTC): Describes its registers, programming for various transfer types (local-to-local, local-to-Q-Bus, Q-Bus-to-local, Q-Bus-to-Q-Bus), and termination options.
  • Parallel I/O (PIO) Controller: Details its registers, four handshake modes, pattern recognition logic, and three independent 16-bit counter/timers.
  • Serial Line Units (SLUs): Includes the console asynchronous serial line (SLU1) and a multiprotocol serial controller (SLU2) with primary and secondary synchronous/asynchronous channels, supporting various baud rates and modem control.

• Interrupts and Resets: Explains how interrupts are handled (from Q-Bus to KXJ11-CA, from KXJ11-CA to Q-Bus, and local interrupts from on-board devices), including special interrupt handling by firmware. It also defines software and hardware resets and their effects on the board's components.

• Diagnostics: Describes error detection and reporting using on-board LEDs and diagnostic testing with XXDP+.
• User PROM Programming: Provides guidelines for installing user applications in PROM, including transferring native firmware to larger PROMs and calculating checksums.

The document serves as a comprehensive technical guide for integrating and utilizing the KXJ11-CA single-board computer within its intended system environments.