Microvoice Corporation Formula-1 User manual

PORTABLE COMPUTER
USER’S MANUAL
, ‘.
9 ‘:‘: Comrjuter System En) heering
liliC=1Qvo;cZ CbXRACiOIl
Shinei Bldg, 8-5 Nishishinjuku 3-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160 JAPAN
Telephone: [phone]: ’ Telex: 2325279 MVOICE J
.

Table of Contents
[ 1 1 General Description -------------------------------------------
[ 2 1 System Architecture -------------------------------------------
[ 3 1 System Features ---------------------------------------------
[ 4 1 Physical Characteristics ---------------I------------------------
[ 5 1 Hardware Specifications ----------------------------------------
IX-1 CPU -------------------------------------------------
m-2 Memory ----------------------------------------------
M-3 DMA -------------------------------------------------
PI-4
CTC (Counter & Timer) -------------------------------
[51-S
Floppy Disk Drive -----------------------------------
.
Dl-6
Video Display ---------------------------------------
[U-7
Thermal Printer -------------------------------------
PI-8
EP-ROM Programmer -----------------------------------
PI-9 Keyboard -------------------------------------------- .
ES]-10 Serial I/O Ports ------------------------------------
[S]-11 Parallel I/O Ports’----------------------------------
[ 6 1 Expansion fnterface Specifications LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
w-1
5.25” Expansion Floppy Disk Drives (FD-5) ---m--m----
W-2 8” Expansion Floppy Disk Drives (FD-8) --------------
Nl-3
Centronics Standard Printer Interface (FP-80) -m-w---
RI-4 RS-232-C Interface ----------------------------------
[U-5
Bigger CRT Interface (FM-g)
-------------------------
1
2
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
8 .
11
12
13
14
15
17
22
22

t71
Expansion Device Connection
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww-www---
26
VI-1
FM-9 Bigger CRT Connection wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww- 26
m-2
FD-5 & FD-8 Floppy Disk Drives Connection 27
wwwwwwwwwww
VI-3
FP-80 External Printer Connection ------------------- 31
fQ1
Baud-Rate Setting wwwwww-wwwwwwww--
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
34
[loI
Initial Start
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
35
[lo]-1 Memory Allocation and Boot-Strap ROM ---------------- 35
[PO)-2 System Start
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
37
t 111
Software Specifications
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww-wwwww-
[111-l Operating System
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww--w---
[ll]-2 CP/M-80 System Functions
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
[ll]-3 Device Allocation
wwwwwwwwwwwwLwwwwwwwwwwwww~wwwwwwww
[ll)-4 Expansion Floppy Disk Drives ------------------------
[111-5 BIOS
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww---w-w-
[ll]-6 File Format
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
[111-6-l 5.25”
Two-Sided Double Density Diskette
-wwwwwww
[HI-6-2 8” Two-Sided Double Density Diskette -----------
39
39
41
43
44
45
45
46
46
[ll]-7 I/O Program Specifications
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww~w
47
[111-7-l Procedure for I/O Program Calling -------------- 48
[ll]-7-2 IPL (Initial Program Load)---------------------- 51
(111-7-3 FDC (Floppy Disk Control)
wwwwwwwwwwwww~wwwwwwww 51
[ll]-7-4 CRT (System's CRT Control)---------------------- 56
[ll]-7-5 PRINT (System's Printer Control) --h------------ 61
[ll]-7-6 KB (System's Keyboard Control)
w-w-----w----w--- 63
[Ill-7-7 KBSTS (System’s Keyboard Status Check) -------- 63
[ll]-7-8 LPRINT (Centronics Standard Printer Control) --- 74
[II]-7-9 UCRT (RS-232-C Channel-B Data Output)
wwwwwwwwww
74
[11]-7-10 UKD (RS-232-C Channel-B Data Input)
-wwwwwwwwwww
75
[ll]-7-11 USIOTN (RS-232-C Channel-A Data Input)
wwwwwwwww
75
[11]-7-12 USIOOUT (RS-232-C Channel-A Data Output) ------- 75
[ll]-7-13 .LPRNSTS (Centronics Printer Status Check)
wwwwww
76
[ll]-7-14 UCRTSTS (RS-232-C Channel-B Output Status Check) 76
[ll]-7-15 DKBSTS (RS-232-C Channel-B Input Status Check) - 76
[ll]-7-16 USIOISTS (RS-232-C Channel-A Input Status Check) 77
[Ill-7-17 USI(IOSTS (N-232-C Channel-A Output Status Check) 77
[HI-7-18 CRTINIT (System's CRT Initialize)
wwwwwwwwwwww-w
77
[Ill-8 System Utility Programs
-w-w-wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
78
[11)-8-l FORMAT
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
78
[ll]-8-2 FSYSGEN
ww----wwwwwwwwwwwwLwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
82
[ll]-8-3 SYSTEM
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
85
[ll]-8-4 PROMW
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
88
[111-8-S FUNC
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
100
WI
Insideofthe Formula-I
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
106
[123-l General Specifications of Z80A Family Chips --------- 106
[121-1-l Serial I/O (280A SIO)
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
106
[121-l-2 Parallel I/O (ZBOA PIO)
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww 108
[12]-l-3 Counter & Timer (280A CTC) --------------------- 108
[121-l-4 Direct Memory Access (ZSOA DMA) ---------------- 109
[121-l-5 Interrupt
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww-w--w-wwww-wwwwwww
109
[12]-2 I/O Map
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww-wwwwwwwwwwwwww
110
-ii-
-iii-

.
l .*
;i. *
t131 Bundled Software Packages
---------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
158
[131-l Installation o-
f Bundled Software Packages ----------- 119
[13)-Z Function-Keys Assignment for WordStar
--------------d 120
[13]-3 Option Commands for WordStar & InfoStar SYSTEM ------
121
[l3]-4 Procedure of File Copy
---------------------~~~~~~~~~
122
[131-S Procedure of Assigning External Printer ------------- 123
Note :
CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research.
WordStar,
CalcStar and InfoStar are registered trademarks of
MicroPro.
Other program name, system name, etc. are their original
trademarks of the each company.
Z80A is a registered trademark of Zilog Inc.
[ 1 I; General Description
The Formula-l, all-in-one portable computer, is developed
for anyone who needs a complete business computer system at a
reasonable price, is miniaturized and lightened to be portable.
This computer is a high-performance and multi-purpose micro-
computer system, consist of 2 disk drives of 5.25” two-sided
double density (approximate recording capacity is 716K bytes
after Format), 5.5” CRT, Keyboard, Thermal Printer,
EP-ROM Programmer as well as Serial & Parallel I/O Interface,
all packed in one case.
Further., it is possible to write-in
& read-out EP-ROMs,
and use for personal computing easily. It is available as a
powerful software development tool and a complete business
computer system, if a line printer,
are being externally connected.
8” floppy disk drive, etc.
The Formula-l cses the CP/M-80 Version 2.2 as an
Operating System, therefore the software developed by other
computer systems of different architecture can keep mutual-
transferability, as long as they are based on the
CP/M-80
Operating System. The CPU of this computer is
280A, which
enables high speed processing.
The memory of the Formula-l being equipped with RAM 64K
bytes along with Boot-Strap ROM 4K bytes. RAM is 64K bits x 8
dynamic RAM and all of the 64K bytes memory spaces are used for
user-programmable area.
Boot-Strap. ROM is 4K bytes EP-ROM, used only for
At the state of Boot-Strap the system program will
be loaded from the 5.23” floppy diskette into the main memory.
The user can access directly, due to the I/O control
program, which has been allocated in the fixed area.
Expansion floppy disk drive can be expanded to 2 units, either
by 5.25" or by
8”
floppy disk drives. These devices can be
used as an external memory with a maximum capacity of 2M bytes
by connecting two 8” floppy disk drives
Df two-sided double
density.
The EP-ROM Programmeron the Formula-l can be operated in
conversational style with CRT and keyboard. You can write-in
and read-out 4 kinds of EP-ROMs, which are as follows:-
2716 (Intel) / 2516 (TI), 2732 (Intel), 2532 (TI) and
. 2764 (Intel).
Besides the 2 Serial I/O Ports of RS-232-C, 2 Parallel I/O
Ports of 8-bits,
Bigger CRT Interface are equipped in standard.
RS-232-C can use either Synchronous or Asynchronous mode (Start
e
Stop Synchronous).
Synchronous mode. In standard, both ports are Start Stop
The Parallel I/O Ports are programmable and.
-
can designate I/O by bit-unit according to the program.
Usually, this port is used for an external printer. You can
only connect directly,
Interface. external printer with Centronics
Stani-
being drivenYou can also connect an external bigger CRT
whit
by composite video signal.
-iV-
-t-

[ 21 System Architecture
Following shows the block diagram of the Formula-l.
r
CPU
Z80A
i
1
BOOT-STRAP , MEMORY
ROM 4 K/B
RAM 64 K/B
,
1
t
,
DMAC
’ KEY BOARD
2808 DMA ’ CONTROLLER
CTC -
Z80A CTC
.
80 COLUMNS
ml+
,
5” THERMAL
PRINTER
PRINTER CONTROLLER
271612516,
l
I
I I
2732,2532,
2764
[ 3 J System Features
1.
2.
The Z80A CPU operating at 4 MHz being used in the Formula-l.
The main memory consist of 64K bits x 8 dynamic RAM, and
the memory capacity for the user’s programmable area being
64K bytes.
3. This system is very reliable due we are using many kinds
of LSI and multi-layered PCB.
4.
5.
6.
As a result of using DMA, the data transfer is in high
speed.,
and the burden of the software being decreased.
The system’s CRT has semi-graphic function.
Loaded with EP-ROM Programmer enables you to write-in and
read-out 4 kinds of EP-ROMs (2716/2516, 2732, 2532 and
2764) on the CP/M-80 basis.
7. All the necessary devices are packed in one case,
miniaturized and lightened to be portable sufficient
for data processing purposes.
8. The CP/M-80 is used as an Operating System of the Formula-l.
9. Various kinds of application software packages are available
on the CP/M-80 basis.
[ 4 ] Physical Characteristics
Dimensions 424(W) x 555(D) x 212(H) mm
Weight 15 kgs
Power Supply
ACllOVilOX, SO/BOHz or AC230V*lOX, 50/60Hz
’
Power Consumption Maximum
2OOW
Fuse :
ACllOV-2At G230V-1A
Environment Operating temperarare is from
5’ C to 40' C.
Preservation temperature is from -10’ C to
55” c.
(But a diskette is from 10” C to SO0 C.)
Relative humidity (no dewdrops) is from 10%
to 90%.
("1 or *2 :
Expansion Floppy Disk Drives)
Fig. 1: Formula-l Hardware Block
Diagram

p . **.
f5j -4
CTC(Counter & Timer)
Device
Channels
Clock
Mode
Channel #O
Channel #1
Channel #2
Channel #3
Interruption
[ 5 ]
Hardware Specifications
Z80A CTC
4 Channels (Channel #O - Channel #3)
4 MHz at Timer Mode
Counter & Timer Mode
8 bits Programmable Timer
Baud-Rate setting of Serial I/O Channel-A
Baud-Rate setting of Serial I/O Channel-B
8 bits Programmable Counter & Timer
Break-out of Interruption Vector according
to demand of each channel
* Zero Count
* Time Out
[q-r CPU
Device
Word Size
Processing Method
Commands
'.
i
.
.':
1. -
I' '
Z80A CPU (Clock: 4 MHz)
8 bits/byte
8 bits parallel binary
1-4 bytes/command, commands-158
[q-2 Memory
Device
Use
ROM: EP- ROM
RAM: Dyn amic
4K bytes
RAM 64K bytes (64K bits x 8)
ROM: Initial Program Loader (IPL & X/O
Control Program)
RAM: Main Memory o
f 64K bytes used for
user's progra
mmab
le area.
Memory to Memory, Memory to I/O
DMA Transfer
[d-5 Floppy Disk Drive
5.25" two-sided double density x 2 units
358K bytes/disk drive
128 bytes/sector(FM),256 bytes/sector(MFM)
18 sectors/track
Type of Disk Drive
Capacity
Data Bytes/Sector
Sectors/Track
($3 DMA
Device
Mode
Functions
Z80A DMA
Byte (cycle steal) & Burst Mode
Data transfer between 2 Ports (I/O or
Memory),
Search of 8 bits data
Cylinders/Disk Drive 40 cylinders/disk drive
Tracks/Disk Drive
Recording Method
Recording Density
80 tracks/disk drive
FMIMFM (Track 0, Side 0 -. FM method)
2938 BP1 (FM), 5876
BP1 (MFM)
co mbin
ation of data transfer and data .
se
arch between 2 Ports.
Channels
1 channel (2 Ports)
Use
Floppy disk drive
Serial I/O Port
Parallel I/O Port
Memory
. Track Density
48 TPI
Rotational Speed
300 RPM
Data Transfer Rate
12SK bits/set (FK), 250K bits/sec(MFM)
Break-Out of Interruption Vector according
to conditions
Interruption
Transfer Method DMA Transfer
DMA'demand Average of Access Time 100
mS
End of data transfer
Average of Seek Time
93 mS
Matching at data searching
-4-

.
.
Thermal
(51-7 Thermal Printer
Method
Characters
Seek Time
Settling Time
Head Load Time
Motor Start Time
6 mS
15 mS
50 mS
400 mS
!.
80 columns/lines (maximum)
English/Figures,
Small Letters of
English, Marks - Total 96
Reserved capacity : 64
[5j-6 Video Display
CRT Size Semi-graphic patterns - Total 96
5.5" (Green, non-glare coating),
95(H) x 70(V) mm
Format
5 x 7 dot matrix : character mode
7 x 7 dot matrix
: semi-graphic mode
80 columns/line x 24 lines
Characters Line Spacing 4.5 mm
English/Figures, Small Letters of
English, Marks - Total 96 Direction
. From left to right
Character Generator
2K bytes, EP-ROE
Reserved capacity : 64
Character Code
ASCII
Semi-graphic patterns - Total 96
Printing Width
103 mm
6 x 7 dot matrix : character mode
8 x 8 dot matrix : semi-graphic mode
Format
Paper
127(W) x 65(Dia.) mm roll paper
No. TP-5OCA127 by Jujo Seishi
Underline blinking (16 frames interval)
Cursor
Mode
Method
Video RAM Capacity
Character Generator
Character Code
Interface
Non-interlace mode
Video RAM method (I/O map)
[5] -8 EP-ROM Programmer
2K bytes,
static RAM EP-ROM
* 2716 (Intel) / 2516 (TI)
* 2732 (Intel)
* 2532 (TI)
* 2764 (Intel)
f
2K bytes EP-ROM
ASCII
However, programming voltage for
271612516, 2732 is 25V and 2764 is 21V.
TTL level (active logic), separate type
Programming Pulse 50 mS (Hardware Timer)
* Video Signal
* Horizontal Synchronous Signal
* Vertical Synchronous Signal Selection of EP-ROM Programmable
When using EP-ROM, you should adjust
the slide switch on the right of EP-ROM
socket UP or DOWN, according to specific
EP-ROM, you intend to use.
Composite video signal for bigger
CRT, l.SV P-P (Video: l.OV)
Expansion Interface
23 dB
Gain
Video Frequency
Horizontal Frequency
Vertical Frequency
16 MHz
60 Hz (free run oscillator)
15.77 KHz (free run oscillator)
-7-
-60

Special-Keys
+ RESET
: System-Reset key.
The system is set at initial state by
holding <CTRL> key down and press <RESET>
key at the same time.
[q-Q Keyboard
Arrangement Full-Keys (Conformed to ASCII format)
+ Numeric-Keys + Function-Keys
+ FEED : Roll Paper Feed Key.
Roll paper is fed by hitting this key.
Code ASCII Code
Shift Mode Shift code of Full-Keys being output by
holding <SHIFT> key down and press Data-Keys
at the same time.
* CAP LOCK
: Capstan Lock Key.
By locking this key, alphabet is changed
from lower case to upper case.
Control Mode Control code
01(H)-lA(H) being output by
holding <CTRL> key down and press Data-Keys
at the same time.
= SHIFT LOCK :
Shift Lock Key.
By locking this key, full keys are changed
to shift mode.
Function-Keys
* Fl , FZ , F3 , F4 e FS ) F6 s F7 ) F8 B F9
I
These key codes are assigned 8 bytes by
‘FUNC’ command of System Utility Program.
* HOME , - , - ,
t # 1
Scanning Method Hardware Scanning
Inter Lock N-Key roll over
Character Generator 2K bytes, EP-ROM
These cursor control key codes are assigned
2 bytes by ‘FUNC’ command of System Utility
Program.
At the first time these key codes are
initialized as follows.
Switches Momentary
& Alternate, Mechanical contact
Chattering Less than 5
mS
Key Top Step sculpture type
<ES0 ‘H’
Letters With legend
(doubl#e:-shot molding)
<ESC> ‘C’
I
<ESC> ‘D’
Numbers of Key 91 keys
t
<ESC> ‘A’
I
5
<ESC> ‘B’ The Keyboard layout is on the following page.
Numeric-Keys These keys can be programmed as Function-
/
Keys if you do not intend to use for numeric
i
entry. The codes are assigned 2 bytes by
/
‘FUNC’ command of System Utility Program. 1
t
-g- ’
-8-

f5J -10
Serial I/O Ports
Device
Z8OA SIO
* Asynchronous (Start Stop Synchronous)
* Synchronous
* HDLC/SDLC
Channels 2 Channels (Channel-A, Channel-B)
Baud-Rate Clock CTC (Programmable)
Baud-Rate .
* Asynchronous mode
150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600,
19200 BPS
* Synchronous mode
300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200,
38400 BPS
Set by DIP-Switches, each channel
independently.
Interface
DMA
* Channel-A : RS-232-C
+ Channel-B :
RS-232-C or 20mA Current-Loop
When Transmitting/Receiving buffer is at
state of readiness. It
fs possible to
input to CPU, DMA transfer request by
specific program.
Break-Out of Interrur+tion Vector by the
following condition,an are only possible with
specific program.
Interruption
* Transmitting buffer is empty.
* Receiving character is valid.
+ Change of status
* Break-out errors (Parity, Over Run,
Framing, End of Frame)

[5l-11 Parallel l/O Ports
Device
Port
Handshake Line
Interface
DMA
.
*
Interruption
280A PI0
* Byte output mode
* Byte input mode
* Byte bi-directional mode (only Port-A)
*r Bit mode
8 bits x 2 ports (Port-A, Port-B)
2 lines each port (Ready, Strobe)
TTL level (Using Centronics Standard
Interface as our standard.)
The DMA transfer requests Break-Out by the in
coming ‘DMAREQ
signal from outside the
system unit. Therefore, it is possible to
input to CPU, DMA transfer requests by
specific program.
Break-Out of Interruption Vector by the
following conditions are only possible with
specific program.
* Receiving strobe signal from the external
devices at the byte output mode.
* Receiving strobe signal from the external
devices at the byte input mode.
* Receiving strobe signal (for input or
output) from the external devices at the
byte bi-directional mode.
* When the conditions are true at the state
of bit mode.
[ 6 ] Expansion Interface Specifications
The Formula-l’s Expansion Interface Specifications are
as follows.
* 5.25” floppy disk drives (FD-5)
* 8” floppy disk drives (FD-8)
* Centronics Standard Interface Printer (FP-80)
* RS-232-C Serial Interface
* 20mA Current-Loop Serial Interface
* Bigger CRT which is driven by composite video signal. (FM-g)
By using connectors on the rear side, expansion devices
can be connected directly. Further, Baud-Rate of Serial Ports
and Jumper can be set respectively.
The layout of the rear view is as follows.
0
0
RS-2320C(CH-8)
Connector'
Parallel I/O
AC Connector
Connector
8” Floppy Disk
J
J
Drive Connector
5.25” Floppy Dis
Drive Connector
\Fuse
Power Switch
FIR. 3
: Rear View of the Formula-l
-120
-t3-