OTRONA ATTACHE User manual

Attache
. Portable Computer
Technical Manual
.Hardware
Theory of Operation
Software
Appendixes

OTRONA
Attache
Portable ca.puter
Technical Manual
Published by Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation
Copyright 1983 by Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation
Otrona Pub. No. 92051210 Version 1.1 July, 1983

CcmYright
Copyright (c) 1982 by Otrona Corporation. All rights reserved~ No part
of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored
in a retrieval system, or translated into aQY language or computer
language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic,
optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of Otrona Corporation, 4755 Walnut st., Boulder, Colorado
80301.
Disclaimer
Otrona Corporation makes no representations or warranties with respect to
the contents hereof and especially disclaims any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Otrona
Corporation reserves the right to revise this publication and to make
changes f rom time to time in the content without obliga tion of Otrona
Corporation to notify any person of such revisions or changes.
Trademarks
ATTACHE, Charton, and Valet are trademarks of Otrona Corporation, 4755
Walnut st., Boulder, Colorado. References are made throughout this
document to the WordStar word processing system and to the Control
Program for Microcompute~s, commonly Known as CP/M. WordStar is a
registered trademark of MicroPro International Corporation of San Rafael,
California. CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research Inc. of Pacific
Grove, California.

PREFACE
Bow to Use This Manual
This manual is intended for readers with knowledge of electronics or
software who seek information about Attache's design or interface
capabilities.
The manual is divided into three sections. The first section is an
overview of Attache hardware, which contains a general description of the
five Attache modules: the processor board, the display, the diskette
drives, the keyboard, and the power supply.
The second section is the theory of operations, which contains a
description of system logic flow and the theory of operations for each of
the seven logic sections on the processor board.
The
logic sections are clearly marked on the board with white borders.
Each section corresponds to a schematic page in Appendix A. The logic of
the modules is also described.
The third section of the manual concerns Attache software. This chapter
describes BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), ROM (Read-Only Memory)
software, and memory locations.
Common programming functions are included with the appropriate software
topic, and are also listed as illustrati.ons on page viii for quick
referencing.
Appendix A contains Attache schematics.
Appendix B is a list' of referenced publications.
Appendix C is a list of acronymns.
Appendix D
is the glossary.
Appendix E is the index.
i

Contents
I. Hardware
Hardware Overview ......................................
Attache System .........................................
........................................
Processor Board
Processor
Memory
..................................
..........................................
·..........................................
I/O RTC
Floppy Disk .......................................
"",.: ,.,.. ....... , .......
.LI.J.O ,t'..LQ.,y ·..........................' ................
..........................................
Graphics
Serial
............................................
Expansion O~ion
..................................
Display
~ ...............................................
Alphanumeric Display
..............................
Graphic Display
·..................................
Diskette Drives ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Standard Format ·
.................................. .
Keyboard ...............................................
Multi-function Keys .......................... .
..
la-Key Mode
.......................................
Power Supply •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Setting the Voltage
............................
II. 'l'beory of Operations
ii
Introduction
·..........................................
System Block Diagram ·...................................
Logic Overview .........................................
Processor
..............................................
Central Processing unit
...........................
Pin Functions
·....................................
Direct Memory Access Controller
.................
Pin Functions
·.................................
DMA Operation
· .................................... .
· .................................... .
I/O Selection
Expansion Connector
...............................
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-3
1-4
1-4
1-4
, A
J.-~
1-4
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-6
1-6
1-6
1-7
1-7
1-7
1-8
1-8
2-1
2-2
2-4
2-6
2-7
2-7
2-8
2-8
2-9
2-10
2-10

Memory •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Addressing RAM •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Writing or Reading Data •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Generating RAS/CAS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Memory Mapping ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory ••••••••••••
.................................................
Serial
Clock
Reset
.............................................
.............................................
Serial Input/Output Controller ••••••••••••••••••••
Pin Functions •••• ~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
SIO Operation
·....................................
.......................................
The Ports
Jumpers ..........................................
Counter Timer Circuit
·............................
·....................................
Pin Functions
Interrupts
·.......................................
Display
................................................
I/O
................ -..................
Cathode Ray Tube
CRT Controller
Pin Functions
....................................
·....................................
Timing ............................................
Reading or Writing to the Screen ••••••••••••••••••
Selecting the Address !
·............................
Writing the Data on the Screen •••••••••••••••••••••
Attributes
Graphics
·.......................................
..........................................
RTC
.................................................
Parallel Input/Output Controller ••••••••••••••••••
Pin Functions
·....................................
Sound Effects Generator
...........................
CMOS Random Access Memory •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Control Latch
·....................................
·..................................
Real Time Clock
Keyboard
Interface
................................
Floppy
..................................................
Basic Mechanism ·..................................
Read/Write
·.......................................
Writing Data on the Diskette ••••••••••••••••••••••
MFM and FM
·.......................... .
......... .
Reading Data From the Diskette ••••••••••••••••••••
·..................................
Diskette F'ormat
Diskette Track Format ·............................
2-11
2-12
2-14
2-15
2-16
2-17
2-18
2-19
2-19
2-20
2-20
2-21
2-21
2-23
2-26
2-26
2-27
2-29
2-31
2-32
2-32
2-33
2-36
2-36
2-38
2-39
2-40
2-42
2-43
2-43
2-44
2-44
2-45
2-45
2-46
2-47
2-48
2-49
2-49
2-50
2-52
2-54
2-55
Graphics •••••••••••• _ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2-56
iii

Power .Supply •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Introduction ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
AC Power Module ·..................................
...........................
Control Power Regulator
Pulse Width Modulator
.............................
PWM Dead Time .....................................
Over-current and Soft start •••••••••••••••••••••••
High Voltage Driver Board •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Flyback Transformer
...............................
Output Supply Rectifiers and Filters ••••••••••••••
.................................
Power Okay Sensor
Voltage Monitor
·..................................
Fan Driver
Connectors
·........................................
·.......................................
Keyboard ............................................
Introduction •••••••••••
........................
..............................
Basic Keyboard Logic
Additional Circuitry FunctionS
....................
Keyboard Layout
·...................................
ASCII Character Codes .............................
.........................................
·.......................................
Display Module
Horizontal
Vertical
Video
..........................................
.............................................
CRT
...............................................
Diskette Drive •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Head Movement ............................
.....
Sensors
Writing
Reading
Turning
·...........................................
·............................; ..............
·..........................................
the Diskette
..............................
2-57
2-58
2-58
2-60
2-60
2-61
2-62
2-63
2-64
2-64
2-65
2-66
2-66
2-66
2-67
2-68
2-69
2-70
2-70
2-71
2-72
2-73
2-74
2-74
2-75
2-76
2-78
2-78
2-79
2-81
2-82
III.Software
Software Introduction
..................................
3-1
CP/M Introduction •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3-2
CP/M Memory Locations
...................................
3-3
Low Memory Map ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3-4
IOBYTE
.................................................
3-6
iv

ROM Software ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Terminal Emulation ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Monitor Mode - Diagnostics ••••••••••••••••••••••••
Generate Display Pattern ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Display RAM Test ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Input Test ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Jump ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
.....................................
........................................
Keyboard Test
Loop Tests
Map Test
Output Test
..........................................
.......................................
Format Diskette Test
·.............................
CMOS RAM Test •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Main RAM Test
.....................................
Select Output Ports
Real-Time Clock Test
·..............................
·.............................
United Tests ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Read a Sector From a Disk
Write a Sector to a Disk .........................
..........................
.................................
I/O Port Transmit
I/O Port Receive
Automatic Disk
Test
..................................
·..............................
BIOS Introduction .......................................
Boot Loader
Cboot
............................................
.............................................
Disk
............................................
Driver
Blocking/Deblocking
Physical Read/Write ·..............................
· ............................. .
Input/Output Driver ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Additional Functions
·.............................
Z80 SIO Initialization ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Progranuning the SIO Baud Rate ••••• ' ••••••••••••••••
I/O Ports
.........................................
Display Driver
.........................................
Accessing the Display Driver ••••••••••••••••••••••
Character Transmission ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Attribute Transmission ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Display Control Parameters Transmission •••••••••••
Graphic Data Transmission •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Attache Escape Commands
................................
Graphic Escape Commands •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Cursor Control Escape Commands ••••••••••••••••••••
Clear and Delete Escape Commands ••••••••••••••••••
Insertion Escape Commands •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Screen Parameter Escape Commands ••••••••••••••••••
System Control Escape Commands ••••••••••••••••••••
Attache Control Character Codes
.........................
3-7
3-8
3-10
3-11
3-11
3-11
3-12
3-12
3-12
3-13
3-13
3-13
3-14
3-14
3-15
3-15
3-16
3-16
3-17
3-17
3-17
3-18
3-19
3-20
3-20
3-21
3-21
3-21
3-24
3-24
3-25
3-26
3-28
3-30
3-31
3-31
3-32
3-32
3-33
3-34
3-34
3-35
3-35
3-36
3-36
3-38
3-39
v

Screen Attribute Codes ·................................
·................................
Attache Character Sets
Character Size Selection
..........................
CMOS RAM, Clock, and Sound Generator •••••••••••••••••••
CMOS Memory Allocation
............................
Programming Sounds or Alanns ••••••••••••••••••••••
Attache Clock .....................................
·....................................
Interrupt Structure
Introduction
......................................
I/O Device Interrupts .............................
Floppy Interrupts •• ~ •••••••••••••••••••••••
60 Hz Interrupts •••••••••••• ::::: ••••••••••
.......
Generation of Keyboard Character Code ••••••••••••••••••
Physical Keyboard Layout ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ASCII Translation
·................................
Determining the Character Code ••••••••••••••••••••
Character Codes as Stored in BIOS •••••••••••••••••
Changing a Keycode in Memory ••••••••••••••••••••••
Valet
..................................................
Hexadecimal Conversion Chart
...........................
APPENDIXES
A.
Schematics
·..........................................
.........................................
Processor
Memory
· .......................................... .
Serial
·............................................
Display •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
...........................................
I/O RTC
Floppy
Graphics
Power Supply
·...........................................
·.........................................
......................................
·.........................................
Keyboard
Display Module ·...................................
Diskette Drives A •• - •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Diskette Drives B ·................................
B. Referenced Publications
.............................
c.
List of Acronyms ·...................................
3-40
3-42
3-43
3-44
3-44
3-45
3-47
3-48
3-48
3-49
3-51
3-53
3-53
3-53
3-55
3-57
3-58
3-59
3-59
A-I
A-I
A-2
A-3
A-4
A-5
A-6
A-7
A-8
A-9
A-IO
A-II
A-12
B--I
C-l
D. Glossary •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• D-l
E. Index
...............................................
E--J.
vi

LiQt ~ Illustrations
Hardware
1-1
1-2
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10
2-11
2-12
At
tache System •••.••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••
Processor Board ••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••••••••••
System Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Processor Block Diagram ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
DMA Timing ••••••••••••••••.•••••.•••••••••••••••••• ' ••••••
Memory Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Addressing Memory ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Reading Data from Memory •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
RAS/CAS Schematic ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Memory Mapping •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Serial Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Jumt:er Options •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Daisy Chained Interrupts .............................. ..
Display Block Diagram ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-13 CRT Screen •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-14
2-15
2-16 ........................................
Video Character
Display Timing
Addressing the Display
·........................................
.................................
2-17 Graphic Pixels
·........................................
2-18 Input/Output -Real Time Clock Block Diagram •••••••••••
2-19 Floppy Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-20 Write Precomt:ensation ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-21 Clock and Data Timing ..................................
2-22 Data Separator
2-23 Diskette Format·
........................................ .
........................................
2-24 Diskette Track Format .................'
................ .
2-25
2-26
2-27
2-28
2-29
2-30
2-31
Graphics Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Power Supply Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Power Cords ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Keyboard Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Keyboard Grid ••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Keyboard Layout •• .- •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ASCII Chart ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-32 Display Module Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-33a Drive Handle ..........................................
2-33b Drive Handle ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-34 Diskette Drive Block Diagram •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2-35 Write Timing ...........................................
2- 36 Head Diagr am •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2- 37 Read Signals •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2- 38 Se rvo System •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Page
1-2
1-3
2-2
2-6
2-9
2-11
2-13
2-14
2-15
2-16
2-18
2-22
2-28'
2-30
2-31
2-33
2-35
2-36
2-41
2-42
2-47
2-49
2-51
2-52
2-54
2-55
2-56
2-57
2-58
2-67
2-68
2-70
2-71
2-72
2-76
2-76
2-77
2-79
2-80
'2-81
2-82
vii

Liat ~ Illustrations
Software
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
CP/M Memory Map ••••••••••••• ~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Low Memory Maps ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
File Control Block .....................................
IOBYTE
..................................................
3-5 ADM-3A Control Codes •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-6 DEC VT52 Escape Codes ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-7 Changing Baud Rates in Terminal Emulation ••••••••••••••
3-8 Monitor Mode Diagnostics •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-9 Disk Read Operation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , ••••
3-10 Programming I/O Devices ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-11 Programming Baud Rates •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-12 Writing to the CTC •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-13 I/O Ports
.. ' ........................................... .
3-14
3-15
3-16
3-17
Writing to the Display ••••••••• ' ••••••••••••••••••••••••
Display Control Escape Commands ••••••••••••••••••••••••
System Control Escape Commands •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Control Character Codes
................................
3-18 Coding Screen Attributes •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-19
3-20
Character Sets •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CMOS Allocation Table ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-21 Baud Rates •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3-22
3-23
3-24,
3-25
3-26
3-27
3-28
viii
Key Sounds •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Progr amming Alarms •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Accessing the Clock ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Programming Interrupt Driven I/O •••••••••••••••••••••••
Generating Keyboard Character Codes ••••••••••••••••••••
Keyboard Character Codes in BIOS •••••••••••••••••••••••
Hexadecimal Conversion Chart •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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CONTENTS
Overvie\v ............... 1
The Attache System . . . . . .. 2
Processor Board. . . . . . . . .. 3
Display ................. 5
Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
Keyboard ............... 7
Power Supply . . . . . . . . . .... 8
Hardware
Hard\vare

Hardware
Hardware Oyerview
This section is an overview of Attache system hardware. Attache is
divided into five basic modules: the processor board, the display, the
diskette drives, the keyboard, and the "power supply.
Processor Board
Contains the system control and interface logic.
Display Screen
5.5" diagonal CRT with 24 lines of 80 characters
(or 24 lines of 40 double-size characters) and
320 x 240 dot array for graphics.
Diskette Drives
Two 5-1/4" double-sided, double-density 48 track
per inch diskette dr ives.
Keyboard
Full alphanumeric Selectric (IBMtm) style
arrangement with additional cursor direction,
delete, and multi-function keys.
Power Supply
switching style power supply that operates from
95 to 135 volts or 190 to 27b volts, 48 to 440
Hz.
The modules are interconnected with cables, so any module can be quickly
and easily disconnected from the system.
1-1

Hardware
Attache System
EJ
D
--
--
PRINl'ER
lllustration 1-1 Attache 5ysteII
Ports - Attache is designed with two full-function ports to attach
printers, modems, direct communication lines, and other peripheral
equipment. The IS-pin connectors are the standard RS-422/423 connectors,
but contain signal lines for asynchronous RS-232 connections as well.
Jumpers on the processor board are factory set for RS-232C operation but
may be easily changed for RS-422/423 connection.
In all of the local cable uses, Attache appears as a Data Communication
Equipment (DCE) device to the peripheral. The peripheral appears as a
Data
Terminal Equipment (DTE) to Attache.
Asynchronous transmission rates of 19200, 9600, 4800, 2400, 1800, 1200,
600, 150, 134.5, 110, or 75 baud may be independently selected for each
port via keyboard control.
Monitor - Attache connects easily with a larger display screen for
simultaneous display via the standard RCA-type pin plug at the back of
the unit., Any industry standard NTSC compatible monitor used with
microcomputers will function with Attache.
Expansion option - A plate can be removed from the rear panel to allow
insertion of a 5 x 11 inch option board. This expansion option allows a
variety of external devices to interface with Attache.
Physical Dimensions: Height - 5.75 inches
width -12 inches
Depth - 13.6 inches
Weight -18 pounds
1-2
(14.6 cm)
(30.5 cm)
(34.5 cm)
(8.1 kg)

Hardware
Processor Board
The
processor board is double-sided with components on one side. The
board is divided into seven logical sections which are clearly delineated
on the board. The sections are:
Processor
I/O RTC
Display
Serial
Memory
Floppy
Graphics
These logic sections are described in Chapter 2 of this manual, however a
brief discussion follows.
POCCESSOR
DISPLAY
lllustratioo 1-2 Processor Board
Processor
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a Zilog Z80A which operates at 4
MHz. A 95l7A (or compatible) Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller
operates in parallel with the CPU, and provides excellent response time
on Attache.
1-3
•

Hardware
Memory
The memory provides the user 64K (65,536) bytes. A 4K byte Read-Only
Memory chip (ROM) contains the Terminal EmUlation routine, the Monitor
Mode, diagnostic programs, and pointers to the CP/M load routines. The
ROM is mapped in and out of main memory, so the entire 64K bytes of
memory is user accessible.
I/O RTC (Real-Time Clock)
Input/Output is designed for maximum throughput with m~n~mum response
time. Attache uses a Z80 PIO for efficient interface between the system
and the keyboard, the RTC, the sound effects generator, and the CMOS
Random Access f.'lemory chip (RAM).
A battery powered OK! MSM5832 (or equivalent) RTC performs continuous
time of day and date functions.
The AY-3-89l2 Sound Chip is user programmable. The chip drives the
speaker which emits key click sounds, alarms and additional programmable
audio feeaback.
A 5101 CMOS RAM stores system parameters, such as keyboard volume, key
sounds, baud rates, etc., which may be programmed via the keyboard.
Floppy Disk
Attache uses a D765A Floppy Disk Controller chip. Data transfers are
handled by the Direct Memory Access controller. High reliability, a wide
range of capability, and maximum throughput are provided with this method
of disk control.
Display
A CRT 5027 controller chip provides control for the various display
attributes and capabilities which are generated in this section of
the processor board. The display section contains 4K bytes of
alphanumeric display Random Access Memory (RAM).
Gr:aphics
The graphics control and 10K bytes of graphics memory for the 320 dot
wide by 240 dot high screen are contained in this area.
1-4

Hardware
Serial
The Z80 Serial Input/Output controller (SID) handles two independent
full-duplex ports with separate control and status lines. These ports
may be used to attach printers or modems to the system.
By setting the jumpers within the system, Attache can be configured for
RS-232, -422, or -423.
Attache CP/M configures the SID software for commonly used asynchrorious
protocol. The system is delivered with jumpers installed for the popular •
RS-232C interface. This serial interface is used by virtually every
serial peripheral manufactured.
By changing the standard jumper settings, Attache's AM26LS30 drivers and
AMLS2632 receivers use RS-422 and -423 standards. These interfaces allow
transmissions at very high baud rates for long distances (up to 10,000
feet in some cases) with low-cost wiring.
Expansion OpCion
An internal connector will interface with the system bus. This allows a
variety of external devices to interface with Attache.
DisplAY
Attache contains a high-resolution display designed for personal viewing
distance.
Alphanumeric Display
The S.Sft diagonal display is 24 lines of 80 characters each. Attache's
display optimizes user efficiency with software selectable features, such
as double size characters and multiple character sets. The entire screen
can be updated in as little as 1/60thof a second.
Display attributes greatly enhance the display effectiveness. Attache
has all of the following standard capabilities:
Reverse image
Boldface
Underline
Strikethrough
Subscript
Superscript
Double size
Highlight
1-5

Hardware
Graphic Display -
Attache handles the requirements of- computer graphics with a very high-
resolution display. This is accomplished with a 320 dot wide by 240 dot
high display. Attache's resolution provides +/- .25% accuracy in the
vertical scale, with even greater accuracy horizontally. Text
information is easily presentee along with the graphics for a "complete"
display.
Diskette Drjyes
Attache contains two 5-1/4" mini-floppy diskette drives. The drives use
a direct drive motor for fast response, highly accurate data transfer,
and very high reliability.
The two drives are shock-mounted in the disk drive module assembly. The
,module has two separate cables and modular connectors; one for data
transfers and one for powering the drives.
Attache responds quickly to shut-down the drives after the data has been
transferred. This approach prolongs media life substantially, while
minimizing usage of the drives themselves. The drives are up-to-speed
and transferring data in less than .5 seconds.
Standard Format
The drives are formatted for CP/M usage on the Attache with 360K bytes of
user storage. The data is formatted with 512 bytes per sector, 10
sectors per track, 46 tracks on the top side, 50 tracks on the bottom.
Some data space is reserved for CP/M and directories, leaving 360K bytes
of storage.
1-6

Hardware
Keyboard
The Attache keyboard is a full alphanumeric key set laid out in the IBM
Selectric
tm
keyboard configuration. Additionally, cursor movement,
delete, and multi-function keys are located on the keyboard.
A 16 keystroke buffer handles the burst speed that can occur with short
words. The key stroke speed capability is calculated at approximately 60
key strokes per second, or 720 words per minute.
All keys will enter an auto-repeat mode if depressed for more than 1/2
second. This allows the user efficient data entry and system control
capability. The repeat speed during auto-repeat is easily adjusted, on
the rear of the keyboard, to the optimum needs of each user.
The audible feedback of the keys are adjustable via Set-up Mode's
"volume" and "click" options.
The keyboard's construction makes the keys virtually impervious to
contamination.
The keyboard is designed to connect to the system iri a modular fashion.
The connector on the system and the keyboard uses a telephone-style, 4-
wire modular connector. A standard phone coil cord can be used to
provide up to 10 feet of keyboard distance.
Multi-Function Keys
Keys on the top row of the keyboard are used to perform several functions
in addition to numeric and special character typewriter functions.
Multi-functions are activated by pressing two or more keys at the same
time, as instructed by the keyboard template.
The keys which activate the multi-functions are the CTRL key, SHIFT and
CTRL keys, and C'l'RL and ESC keys.
lO-Key Mode
The Attache keyboard may be used as a 10-Key pad for entering columns of
figures. Certain letter keys are converted to numbers when 10-Key Mode
is activated and the letter keys are used in lower case.
10-Key Mode is activated by pressing CTRL and CAPS LOCK simultaneously.
Press CAPS LOCK to return to upper case, or press CTRL and CAPS LOCK
simultaneously to return to lowercase.
.1-7
•

Hardware
Power
SuP1>ly
The power supply contains built-in self-checking circuitry and indicator
lights to verify proper operation.
A thermistor controlled, DC brushless motor fan is contained ~n the power
supply module to provide cooling for Attache. The fan runs quietly, and
causes no electronic noise that could interfere with system operation.
The constant internal temperature provides consistent trouble-free
operation as well as reducing component degradation.
The power supply operates from 95 to 135 volts or 190 to 270 volts with a
frequency range of 48 to 440 Hz.
Attache may be operated anywhere in the world by setting the voltage
selector card and with use of the correct power cord or international
adapter.
Setting the Voltage
1. Remove the fuse.
2. Remove the printed circuit board at the base of the fuse box.
3. Turn the card so the required voltage setting (100, 120, 220,
or 240) is facing you.
4. Reinstall the printed circuit board in the fuse box with the
desired setting facing you.
5.
Reinstall the fuse; use either Slo-Blo 2A l15V or Slo-BLo lA
230V, depending on your voltage selection.
Where conventional power is not available, the DC power option allows
instant operation from 10 to 16 volt automobile or marine batteries, 20
to 32 volt aircraft systems, or from portable battery packs.
1-8