Difference between revisions of "KY11-LB Programmer's Console"

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m (Cable connection: juice up section header)
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The '''KY11-LB Programmer's Console''' was an option for the [[PDP-11/04]] and the [[PDP-11/34]] which provided the functionality of a conventional 'lights and switches' front panel.
 
The '''KY11-LB Programmer's Console''' was an option for the [[PDP-11/04]] and the [[PDP-11/34]] which provided the functionality of a conventional 'lights and switches' front panel.
  
It consisted of a front panel, and an M7859 [[DEC card form factor|quad]] card which plugged into any available [[UNIBUS]] [[Small Peripheral Controller|SPC]] slot in the [[backplane]] holding the [[CPU]], and a 20-conductor flat cable which connected the two.
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It consisted of a front panel, and an M7859 [[DEC card form factor|quad]] card which plugged into any available [[UNIBUS]] [[Small Peripheral Controller|SPC]] slot in the [[backplane]] holding the [[CPU]], and a 20-conductor flat cable which connected the two. To enable the extended maintenance functions, other flat cables connect the card, and the PDP-11 CPU card(s).
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==Capabilities==
  
 
The front panel had an octal keypad, a 6-digit [[LED]] display which showed address and data information, several individual indicator LEDs, and the following function keys:
 
The front panel had an octal keypad, a 6-digit [[LED]] display which showed address and data information, several individual indicator LEDs, and the following function keys:
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* BOOT
 
* BOOT
  
In addition, several other functions were actuated by use of the 'Control' key along with various numeric keys.
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In addition, several other maintenance functions were actuated by use of the 'Control' key along with various numeric keys; in particular, the microcode of the PDP-11 processor can be single-stepped in maintenance mode.
  
 
The front panel also had six indicators:
 
The front panel also had six indicators:
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* BATT - Battery
 
* BATT - Battery
 
* DC ON
 
* DC ON
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==Internal Details and Versions==
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The main board of the Programmer's Console is organized around an [[Intel 8008]] 8-bit [[micro-processor]] (uCPU); 1 Kbyte of [[ROM]] provides an extensive array of capabilities.
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The ROM is contained in four 512x4-bit [[PROM]]s:
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* 23-345-A9 Code PROM 0
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* 23-346-A9 Code PROM 1
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* 23-347-A9 Code PROM 2
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* 23-348-A9 Code PROM 3
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There is one other smaller PROM (DEC part number 23-123-A1) which converts from uCPU cycle type (ROM read, RAM read/write, I/O cycles) to the control lines needed to implement all those functions.
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There are actually two versions of the card; in the later one, the four 8093 quad tri-state buffers between the UNIBUS data lines, and the internal bus, are replaced by 74173's. The [[PCB]] is slightly different, but the ROMs are all the same.
  
 
==Cable Connection and Documentation Error==
 
==Cable Connection and Documentation Error==

Revision as of 22:13, 5 April 2016

The KY11-LB Programmer's Console was an option for the PDP-11/04 and the PDP-11/34 which provided the functionality of a conventional 'lights and switches' front panel.

It consisted of a front panel, and an M7859 quad card which plugged into any available UNIBUS SPC slot in the backplane holding the CPU, and a 20-conductor flat cable which connected the two. To enable the extended maintenance functions, other flat cables connect the card, and the PDP-11 CPU card(s).

Capabilities

The front panel had an octal keypad, a 6-digit LED display which showed address and data information, several individual indicator LEDs, and the following function keys:

  • CLR - Clear
  • LAD - Load Address
  • DIS AD - Display Address
  • LSR - Load Switch Register
  • EXAM -Examine
  • DEP - Deposit
  • CNTRL - Control - Used to enable the following keys:
  • INIT - Initialize
  • HALT/SS - Halt/Single-Step (the latter without 'Control')
  • CONT - Continue
  • START
  • BOOT

In addition, several other maintenance functions were actuated by use of the 'Control' key along with various numeric keys; in particular, the microcode of the PDP-11 processor can be single-stepped in maintenance mode.

The front panel also had six indicators:

  • RUN
  • SR DISP - Switch Register Display
  • BUS ERR - Bus Error
  • MAINT - Maintenance
  • BATT - Battery
  • DC ON

Internal Details and Versions

The main board of the Programmer's Console is organized around an Intel 8008 8-bit micro-processor (uCPU); 1 Kbyte of ROM provides an extensive array of capabilities.

The ROM is contained in four 512x4-bit PROMs:

  • 23-345-A9 Code PROM 0
  • 23-346-A9 Code PROM 1
  • 23-347-A9 Code PROM 2
  • 23-348-A9 Code PROM 3

There is one other smaller PROM (DEC part number 23-123-A1) which converts from uCPU cycle type (ROM read, RAM read/write, I/O cycles) to the control lines needed to implement all those functions.

There are actually two versions of the card; in the later one, the four 8093 quad tri-state buffers between the UNIBUS data lines, and the internal bus, are replaced by 74173's. The PCB is slightly different, but the ROMs are all the same.

Cable Connection and Documentation Error

The KY11-LB maintenance manual contains a major error, in describing the configuration of the flat cable that connects the front panel and the UNIBUS interface module. This is covered in Chapter 9, "Installation", which includes two figures, Figures 9-4 and 9-5.

Those figures show the 20-conductor flat cable with the red edge stripe oriented toward the outer edge of the front panel PCB (correct), and also toward the outer edge of the M7859 (WRONG). On the M7859, the red stripe edge needs to be away from the outer edge of the board.

If it is plugged in as shown in these figures, the machine will not operate: the four 'RUN/SR DISP/BUS ERR/MAINT' lights will be on, but nothing else, and it will not respond to any keys. Fortunately, plugging the cable in reversed does not damage anything; simply reverse the cable.

References

  • EK-KY1LB-MM-001, KY11-LB programmer's console/interface module operation and maintenance manual