M8063 Falcon SBC-11/21 Single-Board Computer User's Guide

This document is the M8063 Falcon SBC-11/21 Single-Board Computer User's Guide (Preliminary).

It serves as a comprehensive manual providing users with detailed information regarding the configuration, system architecture, and programming of the SBC-11/21 module.

Key aspects covered in the document include:

• Introduction and General Features: Describes the SBC-11/21 as a complete computer system on an 8.5 x 5.2-inch board that executes the PDP-11 instruction set. Highlights features like 4KB on-board RAM, sockets for up to 32KB PROM/RAM, two serial I/O lines (RS-232C, RS-423, programmable baud rates), one parallel I/O interface (bi-directional ports, control port), a real-time clock, and a complete LSI-11 bus interface.
• Physical and Power Specifications: Details the physical dimensions, weight, and power requirements, including battery backup options.
• Installation: Guides the user through selecting operational features via jumpers, choosing appropriate backplanes, power supplies, and external cables, and verifying module operation using diagnostic procedures.
• Options: Lists various Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) LSI-11 bus options that are supported or unsupported for use with the SBC-11/21, along with their functionalities.
• Macro-ODT (On-board Debugging Tool): Describes the optional PROM-resident Macro-ODT firmware, its commands for examining/depositing data, altering processor status word (PSW), program execution, bootstrapping, and running diagnostics. It also outlines how to enter Macro-ODT and provides programming hints.
• System Architecture: Explains the microprocessor architecture, including its registers (general purpose, Stack Pointer, Program Counter, PSW), hardware stack, interrupt system (multilevel, vectored, maskable/nonmaskable), Direct Memory Access (DMA) capabilities (supported externally, not on-board), memory organization (64KB address space, word/byte addressing), and power-up/power-down facilities.
• Programming Information: Details how to program the asynchronous serial line units and the parallel I/O interface, including register addresses, control bits, baud rates, and handshaking signals.
• Addressing Modes and Instruction Set: Provides an extensive overview of the PDP-11 instruction set supported by the SBC-11/21, categorizing instructions by their operation (single/double operand, program control, traps, miscellaneous) and explaining various addressing modes.
• Theory of Operation: Offers a deeper, logic-designer-oriented explanation of the hardware operation, covering microprocessor control signals, transaction types (Fetch/Read, Write, IAK, DMA, ASPI, NOP), mode register control, interrupt control logic, Ready logic, DC004 protocol, and memory organization.
• LSI-11 Bus Interface: Describes the LSI-11 bus structure, master/slave relationships, data transfer bus cycles, interrupt protocol (including device priority), and various control functions.

Appendices provide supplementary information such as instruction timing, a list of programming differences compared to other LSI-11 microprocessors, software development guidelines, a listing of the Macro-ODT ROM firmware, and electrical schematics.