builderpages:lynchaj:start

Table of Contents
Introduction
Overview
Additional Design Goals
Areas For Improvement
Image Gallery
File List

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Introduction

Overview

Additional Design Goals

Areas For Improvement

Image Gallery

File List

lynchaj project page for Z80 Multi Board Computer (aka Z80 Modular Backplane Computer)

Introduction

The purpose of this project is to revisit the design concepts behind original Z80 SBC (aka test prototype) which has evolved into the SBC V2-005 over several years. Attempt to introduce some new concepts to make the design more modular, flexible, and less expensive. Use low cost prototype PCBs (100x100mm) available for less than $20 including shipping from JLCPCB. Make simple single function boards to implement good program design concepts from Computer Science: high cohesion and low coupling. Maintain as much backward compatibility with latest SBC V2 as possible.

Board technical information is stored at a Github repo located here: https://github.com/lynchaj/nhyodyne

The new repo contains the KiCAD information, Gerber files, schematics, PCB layout, BOM, 3D rendering, and a brief description with jumper settings for each board. There is also a discussions forum in case anyone wants any specific help with their build or would like to discuss related topics such as future boards, changes to existing boards, etc. Discussions · lynchaj/nhyodyne (github.com)

Overview

The Z80 MBC consists of four core boards: Z80 backplane, Z80 processor, Z80 clock, and Z80 ROM. These are sufficient to build a working system of minimum capability. However even the core boards are designed in such a way that they can be individually redesigned and replaced with improved designs and/or customized to suit the builder. It achieves low coupling by implementing a simple bus using off-the-shelf 2×25 2.54mm spaced pin headers and socket strips. The backplane is a replication of a fully buffered Z80 CPU pin out in the same order with 10 spare pins reserved for customization. Each board has high cohesion by being limited to a single function consisting of only parts specifically related to to perform its task. This lowers builder cost by eliminating unnecessary parts and improves system reliability by having fewer parts to fail. Likewise, if a component or whole board fails it can be replaced without affecting the remaining boards.

Additional Design Goals

There are several additional design goals for the Z80 MBC.

First, is to ease constraints on the design to allow for some new configurations. Specifically capability to access memory over the bus and configurable memory map holes for external memory.

A second design goal is making all IO devices optional, fully configurable, and limiting IO port addresses to only the minimum necessary. Multiple IO devices can exist in the system simultaneously or not exist as the builder chooses. Lowers cost and improves system reliability by removing unneeded and/or unwanted capabilities.

The third design goal is allowing multiple memory modules with boot enable jumpers to specify boot devices present after CPU reset.

Fourth, adding simple debug features like user LEDs and a switch.

Fifth, implementing a fully buffered Z80 processor with configurable wait state capability and no internal IO or memory devices. Related is each board is also fully buffered to keep bus signals only on the bus with no raw bus signals intruding into the board past the buffers.

Sixth, maintain backwards compatibility to the extent possible (two exceptions so far) to reuse existing SBC software. Target software is current ROMWBW

Seventh, lower build cost by using inexpensive off-the-shelf components and PCBs. All parts come from Jameco or ordered off eBay (bus connectors). Use simple 9vdc 1A unregulated power supply. Keep part count on boards low so they are effectively disposable eliminating the need for sockets and further lowering builder costs. Make non-essential components optionally do-not-populate.

Areas For Improvement

Z80 backplane:

correct LED orientation on silkscreen

add component labels on silkscreen

add power switch or use in-line switch on power cable

orient power LED to vertical

allocate 10 spare bus pins to

GND

VCC

IEI#

IEO#

BAI#

BAO#

DREQ0#

TEND0#

i2c_TX

i2c_RX

add 16 pin extended bus lines connector to 8 of 16 slots. Include Z80180 signals such as 4 more address lines, DREQ1#/TEND1#, INT1#/INT2#, E, ST, PHI, another GND, and VCC plus 3 undefined spares

add screw terminal power block

add more slots (8 → 16)

Z80 processor: (fixed in V2)

~~correct LED and diode orientation on silkscreen~~

~~add component labels on silkscreen~~

~~add local oscillator for CPU clock and selector circuit to allow for use of local oscillator or clock signal from bus connector for CPU~~

~~add clock to bus jumper~~

~~add IM 2 external interrupt circuit~~

~~add mounting bracket holes and exclusion zones~~

Z80 clock: (fixed in V2)

~~correct LED and diode orientation on silkscreen~~

~~add component labels on silkscreen~~

~~selection jumper for battery back up~~

~~fix IO port address decoder logic~~

~~exchange USER0 and USER1 LEDs to be in more logical order for debugging; USER1 on the right and USER0 on the left~~

~~add clock to bus jumper~~

Z80 clock V2

add 10K ohm resistor in parallel with piezo speaker to fix low volume issue

Z80 ROM:

add component labels on silkscreen

Add mounting holes and exclusion zones

Move LEDs to top of board

Z80 serial: (fixed in V2)

~~move power LED to left most position and move chip select LED to the right one~~

~~reposition U3 label~~

~~add inverters to TX/RX LEDs (active high)~~

~~add user button on Ring Indicator on UART for ROMWBW recovery mode~~

~~rename UART oscillator clock P3 to a U* designator~~

~~add over-the-top external DMA connector~~

~~remove female 6 pin TTL serial header~~

~~add mounting bracket holes & exclusion zones~~

Z80 RAM (fixed in V2)

~~fix broken DS1210 circuitry, connect to RAM0 and RAM1 chip selects~~

~~add mounting holes and exclusion zones~~

Z80 serial V2 (fixed in V3 but V2 retained for legacy compatibility)

convert DIP-40 16C550 to PLCC format

Z80 DMA:

R12 pin 1 connected to ground instead of VCC causing power LED to not work. Fix is to disconnect R12, pin 1 and connect to pin immediately to its right (VCC)

Z80 Prototyping board:

socket footprints too close together causing interference preventing install. Work around is to directly solder in ICs in a couple of sockets to free up some room

Z80 RAM V2 (fixed in V3)

~~Add tolerance jumpers for DS1210s (5% or 10%)~~

Z80 processor V2 (fixed in V3)

~~redesign IM2 circuit~~

Z80 DUART

fix label on front silk screen to TL16C2552FN (not TL16C550CFN)

add 470 ohm pull down resistors on INTA and INTB

remove 1N5817 anti-latch up protection diodes (don't work)

Z80 backplane V2

add signal descriptions on front silkscreen

add connectors section on side (PS/2 keyboard & mouse, user, sys recovery, & reset buttons, IDE activity LED, serial ports, etc.)

add PTHs for external VCC power wires (front to back)

Image Gallery

Z80 backplane PCB partially assembled during testing

Z80 processor partially assembled during testing

Z80 processor and backplane during testing

Z80 clock during build and test

Z80 ROM board, initial build and test

First boot, running jploop. Run/Halt LED is green, CPU is running. Also ROM0 chip select LED lit

More testing, with halt ROM. Run/Halt LED is red. CPU is halted. ROM0 chip select lit

Z80 serial board build and test

Z80 serial board, running scream test ROM. This is major milestone when something goes from being a collection of parts to an actual computer. Not quite there yet but big steps towards it