- Email: [email protected]
S100 Microcomputer
Multitasking executive from Intel A multitasking executive for iAPX 88 and 86 microcomputers, iRMX 88, has been introduced by Intel. It provides support for real-time applications with priority-based task scheduling; concurrently monitors and controls multiple events; provides real-time clock control; monitors interrupts; and dispatches tasks. This executive is modular and is a 16-bit version of an upgraded 8-bit iRMX 80 executive. Most of the modules are the same, with proven interfaces written for iRMX 80 tasks available in iRMX 88. Thus the new executive can provide an upgrade for existing iRMX 80 users needing higher performance or extra memory capacity. This is the second 16-bit executive
from Intel and complements the iRMX 86 operating system introduced last year. (See Microprocessors c~ Microsystems, Vol 4 No 7 (September 1980) for details of this.) While iRMX 86 is an object-oriented architecture, good for small business or transaction processing, the iRMX 88 executive is aimed more at controller applications- industrial automation, laboratory, computation and specialized data acquisition. The iRMX 88 package supports single board applications by allowing users to store all executive and task program modules in PROM. The software takes the form of a nucleus containing the basic system software required - task scheduling, allocation of processing resources and
intertask communication - and optional modules, which include a memory free-space manager, disc file ~ystem, analogue handlers and a terminal handler (containing a command-line interpreter). Also included in the iRMX 88 system is an interactive configuration utility program, which allows application systems generated on an Intellec development system to be tailored by the user for minimum memory space. Delivery of the real-time multitasking executive package should begin this month, at a licence fee of $2000. For derivative units, the fees are $200 for 1-24, $150 for 25-49 and $85 thereafter. The package is supplied on single or double density floppies. (Intel Corporation, Rue du Moulin A Papier, 51, Boite I, B-1160, Brussels, Belgium. Tel: (322) 660 30 zo)
$100 Microcomputer The SMB-80A is a S-100 bus compatible single board microcomputer. It includes a floppydisc controller formatter, two RS232C serial ports, an 8-bit parallel port and a PROM programmer. Based on the 4 MHz Z80A microprocessor, it has 1 kbyte of RAM and a monitor program in a • 2 k ROM. The maximum data storage is 256 kbyte (on 5-in discs) and 102 kbyte (on 8-in discs). Data recovery is by an onboard phase locked loop. The software routines to control the disc interface are included in the monitor ROM and can be accessed by the user's software. The serial ports operate, asynchronously or synchronously under interrupt control, between 75 baud and 9600 baud. The 8-bit parallel port has four handshake lines and may be user-configured under software control. The S-100 bus allows A/D and D/A converters to be added, allowing operation as a cheap control system if desired. (D A MacDonald Microprocessor Systems, 3 Holmes/and Drive, Botley, Hants, UK. Tel: (04892)
I TT Semiconductors have introduced a MOS single chip speech generator, the UAA 1103, in N~channel silicon~late technology. The device uses a 5-bit binary code and is suitable for control by microprocessors. It is mask-programmable for different languages and vocabularies, with storage and processing of the speech elements completely digitized. By combining a variety of methods of data reduction and removing redundancy, it has become possible to accommodate the required memory capacity for a vocabulary of 32 words as well as control, decoding and D/A converting functions on the one chip. Ira sentence has to be 'spo!~en', each word must be addressed consecutively. (ITT Semiconductors, Maidstone Road, Footscray, 5idcup, Kent, UK. Tel: 01-300 3333. Telex: 21836)
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from Intel and complements the iRMX 86 operating system introduced last year. (See Microprocessors c~ Microsystems, Vol 4 No 7 (September 1980) for details of this.) While iRMX 86 is an object-oriented architecture, good for small business or transaction processing, the iRMX 88 executive is aimed more at controller applications- industrial automation, laboratory, computation and specialized data acquisition. The iRMX 88 package supports single board applications by allowing users to store all executive and task program modules in PROM. The software takes the form of a nucleus containing the basic system software required - task scheduling, allocation of processing resources and
intertask communication - and optional modules, which include a memory free-space manager, disc file ~ystem, analogue handlers and a terminal handler (containing a command-line interpreter). Also included in the iRMX 88 system is an interactive configuration utility program, which allows application systems generated on an Intellec development system to be tailored by the user for minimum memory space. Delivery of the real-time multitasking executive package should begin this month, at a licence fee of $2000. For derivative units, the fees are $200 for 1-24, $150 for 25-49 and $85 thereafter. The package is supplied on single or double density floppies. (Intel Corporation, Rue du Moulin A Papier, 51, Boite I, B-1160, Brussels, Belgium. Tel: (322) 660 30 zo)
$100 Microcomputer The SMB-80A is a S-100 bus compatible single board microcomputer. It includes a floppydisc controller formatter, two RS232C serial ports, an 8-bit parallel port and a PROM programmer. Based on the 4 MHz Z80A microprocessor, it has 1 kbyte of RAM and a monitor program in a • 2 k ROM. The maximum data storage is 256 kbyte (on 5-in discs) and 102 kbyte (on 8-in discs). Data recovery is by an onboard phase locked loop. The software routines to control the disc interface are included in the monitor ROM and can be accessed by the user's software. The serial ports operate, asynchronously or synchronously under interrupt control, between 75 baud and 9600 baud. The 8-bit parallel port has four handshake lines and may be user-configured under software control. The S-100 bus allows A/D and D/A converters to be added, allowing operation as a cheap control system if desired. (D A MacDonald Microprocessor Systems, 3 Holmes/and Drive, Botley, Hants, UK. Tel: (04892)
I TT Semiconductors have introduced a MOS single chip speech generator, the UAA 1103, in N~channel silicon~late technology. The device uses a 5-bit binary code and is suitable for control by microprocessors. It is mask-programmable for different languages and vocabularies, with storage and processing of the speech elements completely digitized. By combining a variety of methods of data reduction and removing redundancy, it has become possible to accommodate the required memory capacity for a vocabulary of 32 words as well as control, decoding and D/A converting functions on the one chip. Ira sentence has to be 'spo!~en', each word must be addressed consecutively. (ITT Semiconductors, Maidstone Road, Footscray, 5idcup, Kent, UK. Tel: 01-300 3333. Telex: 21836)
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vol 5 no 4may 1981
163