The Compact Computer 40 (CC40)

[mrvan]

Yesterday appeared to be a disaster. My two puppy miniature schnauzers got into the living room where my CC-40, HEXTIr and RPI were setup and running. It seems they ran around the table and caught the power cord and all but the CC-40 fell to the floor. I found it later in the day. Sadly the HEXTIr failed over and over with I/O errors after this incident. I could see the riser pins seemed a bit bent as were the HEXBUS connector pins. Ooff. I spent the morning removing the riser pins and replaced all with wires between the two boards. It worked, thankfully. I've been considering moving the HEXTIr into a HEXBUS modem enclosure, so perhaps this was a "helpful" accident as I would probably have never gotten to such a project. 

 

I've been writing the hangman game with ANSI graphics via the HEXTIr and it's working now with just a few more improvements to go. The program file is 2970 bytes now. My CC-40 has 18 KB RAM so no big deal, but this is also just hangman.

[mrvan]

My CC-40 has 18 KB RAM. If I install the memory cartridge (Retro Innovations - CC-40 512 MB memory board), will the 32 KB RAM visible at any given time be able to be used as program space, where I have 18 KB + 32 KB = 48 KB? The two address ranges are contiguous.

[mrvan]

This hangman game demonstrates the value of an external display for the CC40. 

 

The game uses two methods for display, one by sending each of the text attributes (color, boldness, etc.), setting positions, etc. as separate print statements. The second uses printing of pre-generated strings. The former is demonstrated by the title screen and the latter is demonstrated by drawing the stick figure and tower. The latter is much quicker.

 

 

[+Vorticon]

That is very cool. I wish there was a way to somehow redirect system input/output to the serial port. That way one could use a serial console for programming. 

[mrvan]

On 4/1/2024 at 6:09 AM, Vorticon said:

That is very cool. I wish there was a way to somehow redirect system input/output to the serial port. That way one could use a serial console for programming. 

I've also been thinking about that. I'm pretty sure I/O is possible (input in particular) but kinda doubt the programming part, at least without a ROM upgrade. I like your thinking to make an external display truly a first class citizen.

[brain]

Anyone have any experience writing ASM for the cc-40 and might be able to lend me a hand with a bit of FLASH ROM code?

 

Jim

 

 

[+Vorticon]

I tried to do some assembly on the CC40 but unfortunately the EA cart is not completely functional. Not sure it's a ROM dump issue or an original bug. I think @acadiel was going to look into it, but that was a few months ago...

[brain]

Bummer.  @acadiel, any updates?

 

I found a cross platform assembler here:

 

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/looking-for-tms7000-assembler.1247808/

 

I was wondering if someone could help using this tool?

 

Edited June 28 by brain

[brain]

Sorry to bother folks, but I was continuing to clean up my library footprints for the cc40 items, and I realize I don't have good measurements of the edge connector length.  I have the width from various IT docs, but the length is not specified on their docs.  I'd like to ensure the length is as correct as can be.

 

Anyone have a spare cart to lend me or maybe a micrometer in hand to measure?

 

Jim

[mrvan]

I was thinking I could measure but then realized my CC-40 was either built or modified to have 18KB so have no cartridge. 
 

hopefully there’s some spare cartridges out there.

[mrvan]

On 8/5/2024 at 12:39 PM, brain said:

Sorry to bother folks, but I was continuing to clean up my library footprints for the cc40 items, and I realize I don't have good measurements of the edge connector length.  I have the width from various IT docs, but the length is not specified on their docs.  I'd like to ensure the length is as correct as can be.

 

Anyone have a spare cart to lend me or maybe a micrometer in hand to measure?

 

Jim

Was moving around boxes and found I do have the CC-40 Memo Processor cartridge. Measured with a micrometer and it is 1.0465 in.

[mrvan]

[mrvan]

If you still want to borrow the cortridge to prove overall fit, I'd be happy to send it to you.

[brain]

1 hour ago, mrvan said:

Thanks.  I have those measurements from the specs and earlier readings folks gave in this thread.  I'm actually looking for the length of a single edge connector "pad" and how far back the pad sits from the end of the cart edge.

[mrvan]

On 8/5/2024 at 12:39 PM, brain said:

Sorry to bother folks, but I was continuing to clean up my library footprints for the cc40 items, and I realize I don't have good measurements of the edge connector length.  I have the width from various IT docs, but the length is not specified on their docs.  I'd like to ensure the length is as correct as can be.

 

Anyone have a spare cart to lend me or maybe a micrometer in hand to measure?

 

Jim

I can send you my cartridge. Let me know.

[brain]

On 8/7/2024 at 11:56 AM, mrvan said:

If you still want to borrow the cortridge to prove overall fit, I'd be happy to send it to you.

If the offer is still open, I'd love to measure yours.  When it didn't look like anyone could help, I went ahead and bought one off eBay, and it just arrived.  But, it's got different dimensions from yours and I thought it might just be a smaller PCB, but it *JUST* fits in the case.  So, having the case for your PCB would be helpful as well.

 

Jim

[mrvan]

8 hours ago, brain said:

If the offer is still open, I'd love to measure yours.  When it didn't look like anyone could help, I went ahead and bought one off eBay, and it just arrived.  But, it's got different dimensions from yours and I thought it might just be a smaller PCB, but it *JUST* fits in the case.  So, having the case for your PCB would be helpful as well.

 

Jim

OK, will send it to you later today.

[brain]

Interestingly, @mrvan and I have two different PCBs, at least dimension wise.  I'll take pics and post, but his aligns more to the spec, while mine is shorter.

 

For the record, the edge connector pads appear to be 9mm long.

 

I find that surprising, since both are official TI carts.  His is MEMO PROCESSOR and mine is ADVANCED EE.

 

Jim

 

[brain]

Mine on left (AEE), @mrvan's on the right (note angled corners on his, straight on mine.  Mine is also shorter than spec.

Mine (bottom) has shorter edge connector width and length

Same overall width.

Mine has fatter edge pads (.030 versus .027 or so)

 

Here's the specs I measured, in case folks care later:

 

	Jim (AEE)		mrvan (MEMO PROC)		Spec
	Std	Metric	Std	Metric	Std	Metric
Total Height	1.83	46.380	1.89	48.010	1.89	48.006
Main PCB Height	1.45	36.820	1.45	36.810	1.45	36.830
Edge Height	0.38	9.560	0.44	11.200	0.44	11.176
Edge Pad Height	0.31	7.760	0.35	9.000	0.35	9.000
Width	1.70	43.220	1.70	43.160	1.70	43.180
Edge Width	1.05	26.660	1.04	26.480	1.05	26.670
Tab Width	1.80	45.700	1.80	45.700	1.79	45.560
Contact to Center	0.68	17.200	0.74	18.710	0.75	19.050
Top to Center	0.95	24.140	0.95	24.220	0.94	23.876
Calculated Height	1.83	46.380	1.89	48.010	1.89	48.006
Left to Center	0.77	19.660	0.78	19.690	0.77	19.558
Right to Center	0.73	18.520	0.72	18.390	0.73	18.542
Calculated Width	1.70	43.220	1.70	43.160	1.70	43.180
Drill size	0.20	5.040	0.20	5.080	0.20	5.080
Thickness	0.04	0.910	0.04	0.910	0.04	1.000
Height Delta	0.00	0.000	0.00	0.000
Width Delta	0.00	0.000	0.00	0.000

 

And, here's the updated sheet from everyone's previous measurements:

 

HeloCast (std) Lee # 1 (metric) Acadiel #1 (std) Lee #2 (std) Lee #2 (metric) Acadiel #2 (std) Acadiel #3 (std) Average Jim (AEE) mrvan (MEMO PROC) Spec   Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Std Metric Total Height 1.85 46.990 1.69 42.895 1.70 43.180 1.91 48.419 1.89 48.000 1.89 48.006 1.90 48.184 1.83 46.525 1.83 46.380 1.89 48.010 1.89 48.006 Main PCB Height 1.46 37.000                         1.46 37.000 1.45 36.820 1.45 36.810 1.45 36.830 Edge Height                                 0.38 9.560 0.44 11.200 0.44 11.176 Edge Pad Height                                 0.31 7.760 0.35 9.000 0.35 9.000 Width 1.70 43.180 1.49 37.895 1.70 43.180 1.72 43.656 1.73 44.000     1.70 43.193 1.67 42.517 1.70 43.220 1.70 43.160 1.70 43.180 Edge Width                         1.05 26.645 1.05 26.645 1.05 26.660 1.04 26.480 1.05 26.670 Tab Width                                 1.80 45.700 1.80 45.700 1.79 45.560 Contact to Center     0.73 18.447 0.75 19.050 0.75 19.050 0.75 19.000 0.75 19.050 0.75 19.037 0.75 18.939 0.68 17.200 0.74 18.710 0.75 19.050 Top to Center     0.96 24.447 0.95 24.130 0.97 24.606 0.98 25.000 0.95 24.130 0.95 24.143 0.96 24.409 0.95 24.140 0.95 24.220 0.94 23.876 Calculated Height     1.69 48.000 1.90 48.260 1.92 48.762 1.93 49.105 1.90 48.260 1.90 48.260 1.87 48.441 1.83 46.380 1.89 48.010 1.89 48.006 Left to Center     0.83 21.000 0.83 21.082             0.83 21.095 0.83 21.059 0.77 19.660 0.78 19.690 0.77 19.558 Right to Center     0.87 22.000 0.87 22.098             0.87 22.123 0.87 22.074 0.73 18.520 0.72 18.390 0.73 18.542 Calculated Width     1.69 43.000 1.70 43.180             1.70 43.218 1.70 43.133 1.70 43.220 1.70 43.160 1.70 43.180 Drill size     0.20 5.105 0.20 5.080 0.20 5.105 0.20 5.105 0.20 5.080 0.20 5.080 0.20 5.093 0.20 5.040 0.20 5.080 0.20 5.080 Thickness                         0.03 0.762 0.03 0.762 0.04 0.910 0.04 0.910 0.04 1.000                                               Height Delta 1.850 46.990 0.000 (5.105) (0.200) (5.080) (0.014) (0.343) (0.044) (1.105) (0.010) (0.254) (0.003) (0.076) (0.042) (1.916) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000     Width Delta 1.700 43.180 (0.201) (5.105) 0.000 0.000 1.719 43.656 1.732 44.000 0.000 0.000 (0.001) (0.025) (0.024) (0.615) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

 

I'm reluctant to call into question others' measurements, as there may be more variations yet.  It looks like @acadiel's measures similar to @mrvan's

 

 

[brain]

For those with an HP logic analyzer, or those wanting a place to connect some probes, while testing out a cartridge, I made this:

 

I need to buy a 20x2 connector for the end, and production units need some the pins labeled (I did on this one, but on the wrong layer, so they did not get printed)

 

Edited August 18 by brain