DIY-Calculator Hardware:ROM Monitor Project

Project status (Jan, 26th 2007):

• added an option for starting user program automatically after boot (auto command)
• solved error: single step debug mode crashes at 'LDA [[addr], X]' instruction
• solved error: 'md' command shows only one byte when the address $FFFF is included

Download / view the updated assembler source in the Download section: monitor-0.9.zip

Project status (Dec, 11th 2006):

• the "reset" cmd does a hard reset

Project status (Nov, 11th 2006):

An updated version of the ROM Monitor. A few changes were necessary to enable smooth operation together with the Loader Application:

• added "rdump" command
• added [CTRL][A] shortcut for Single Step
• added [CTRL][B] shortcut for Run
• removed autoincrement from "md" command

Project status (Oct, 9th 2006):

Added access to the configuration flash ROM of the FPGA (see FPGA part).

There are three new commands for managing the flash:

• 'cpflash [address] [# of bytes]': copies # bytes from RAM to flash, starting ad address
• 'cpram [address] [# of bytes]': copies # bytes from flash to RAM, starting at address
• 'eflash': erases the flash

More information on flash usage:
The FPGA is based on a volatile storage technology (SRAM cells). Thus it has to be loaded (or configured) each time power is applied. This can be done using several different mechanisms, one of the easiest is using a serial (flash) PROM which contents is automatically loaded into the FPGA by some hard-wired logic inside the FPGA after power-on. The amount of memory needed inside the flash ROM is determined by the size of the FPGA. The FPGA chip we use on the DIY Calculator is a Lattice LFEC10E chip requiring about 3.1Mbit storage. It depends on the used flash memory how much free space remains. The free space can be used to store user data. The memory inside the flash is sectorized with 64KB each sector. We use the topmost sector for storing the user program that is intended to run on the DIY Calculator. During a hard reset all RAM is restored from flash. When erasing the flash only the topmost sector is erased, keeping FPGA configuration information. Likewise, when writing to the flash, the sector address is fixed - thus preventing overwriting vital FPGA config data.

Project status (Sep, 22nd 2006):

Single-Step and Run buttons work!
Clive (Maxfield) contributed the assembler code for it and after finding a basic obscurity inside the interrupt structure it worked out of the box with only a few minor flaws. Thank you, Max!

Thanks to that it is now possible to load a program and single-step debug it on the real hardware!

See the program listing and the terminal log (with remarks):

• simpled.lst
• simpled-debug.txt

To end a debug session press either 'Run' to run the program or you press 'Reset' for a hard reset or you press 'CTRL-C' on the terminal for a soft reset.

Project status (Sep, 19th 2006):

single step debug session (keycode program)

UART Rx interrupt now works reliable. First steps with Single-Step interrupt are promising - see screen shot

Project status (Sep, 15th 2006):

working on interrupt code - stay tuned!

Project status (Sep, 13th 2006):

support of the DIY Calculator native hex format (.ram files).

Project status (Sep, 12th 2006):

executing load and run command

First time that a program has been loaded and run to the DIY Calculator successfully! See terminal screen shot

I loaded this program:

• keycode.lst

which waits for a key press and then displays the key code.
Download the .ram file (keycode.ram) and load it into your virtual DIY Calculator. In the real world you press buttons on the PCB and the codes are displayed on the LCD:

ROM monitor startup

"keycode" program startup

after pressing button '7'

Additional screen shots:

overview of available commands

memory display at $4000 (keycode program loaded)

Project status (Sep, 6th 2006):

work started

Project status (Jul, 19th 2006):

basic conceptual design ready