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Welcome to my Microcoded CPU Architecture project page. This project is being done as a third year directed studies course with guidance from Prof. George Townsend at Algoma University. You can also take a look at another project of mine that is currently in works: The Bongo Project, which was a challenge from Prof. Townsend to his students in his fourth year Computer Networks course.
Background
Students enrolled in the second year Machine Structures course here at Algoma University use the HT-3400 Heathkit emulator as a tool for learning microprocessors. Although it is an ancient processor, its simplicity provides a good environment in which the students can learn how a CPU works at the most in-depth lowest level. The real M6800 is a random logic machine, however the small instruction set and small number of registers provide a manageable environment in which the CPU is studied as a microcoded machine. The advantage of this approach is that only a minimal understanding of hardware is required to fully appreciate the operation of the CPU.
In the course, the CPU is not treated as a "black box" as it would have to be in courses focusing with more modern CPU's, but rather the student leaves the course with intimate knowledge about the inner workings of the hypothetical microcoded M6800 CPU. Such in-depth detailed covereage is not possible in a second year course with the Intel 8088 let alone the Pentium. Although those processors are studied in this course from a "black box" view, the central focus of the course is the detailed investigation of how instructions are fetched and executed at the lowest hardware level on the hypothetical model.
Despite the appropriateness of this using this simple technology in the machine structures course, the kits are admidtely past their prime. Over the last few years these Heathkits (or deamed by the students as “Those ugly blue boxes”) have been slowly dying out. Some are loosing transistors while others are being killed when students beat on their keypads out of sheer frustration.
As well as receiving academic credit for constructing a software emplementation of these kits, the Computer Science department will use the emulator as a replacement for the aging Heathkits.
While there are alreay M6800 emulators available out on the Internet (see -->download--> page), as well as the ET-3400 Heathkit emulators, this project takes an alternative approach from the norm.
Instead of using macro emulation, this project will be based on a microcoded version. It will go one step further than others available, and show the basic circuitry of the Motorola M6800 processor and show the signal propogation along the wires.
The final product is expected to be completed by early April 2002. Meanwhile, check out some specs and diagrams.
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