Category Archives: Hardware

System hardware and extensions

TE-1507 : The memory module for developers !

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Hello !

The TE-1507 memory module is now in my PC-1500 !
This module offers a very wide memory space for developers.

It was initially planned to have RAM and EEProm but due to a bad EEProm lot… it’s now full RAM.

Standard memory for Basic/ML :
– from &0000 to &3FFF
– 2 x 16KB switchable by PV or PU (jumper to select active signal)
– read only by removing a jumper
– disabled by removing a jumper

EEProm memory (here it’s RAM) for ML only as system/peripheral ROM extension:
– from &8000 to &BFFF
– 2 x 16KB switchable by PU (as in the CE-158 interface)
– set by jumper if it’s in the PV=0 (like CE-150) or PV=1 (like CE-158 or CE-162E) memory space
– read only by removing a jumper
– disabled by removing a jumper

The two memory addresses can be inverted by placing the enable jumpers on the switch positions (90° move)

Here are the pictures :
TE-1507_H_014TE-1507_H_013

TE-1507_H_015TE-1507_H_017

TE-1507_H_023TE-1507_H_022

TE-1507_H_021TE-1507_H_020

TE-1507_H_019

This module will be a very good investment to expand your PC-1500(A) !
The Team1560 member CGH is working on a ROM builder to add Basic keywords from a wide library. Cool, isn’t it ?

The price for this special module is $75 without shipping costs.

New in the family : PC-1500 RP !

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Do you remember the PC-1500 RP2 found in Brazil ?
This new one is the RP and it’s the same for the printer.

PC-1500_RP_015

This is a full set with all accessories and manuals. The instruction manual is only a bad copy.
PC-1500_RP_016PC-1500_RP_002
The case is very clean ! And all accessories are present : power adapter, pens, paper, cables…
PC-1500_RP_003PC-1500_RP_006
And the papers too : connector cover for the printer, sticker for name.
PC-1500_RP_009PC-1500_RP_007
And the big surprise is the PC-1500RP 8K memory module. Uh, all seems to be named PC-1500RP…
PC-1500_RP_008
The case is like the one the the PC-1500RP2 but with two rivets on each side. This makes it stronger.
PC-1500_RP_001PC-1500_RP_005
PC-1500_RP_004PC-1500_RP_014
Differences between the RP and RP2 ? None !
PC-1500_RP_010
Each time the serials are same for the pocket computer and the printer.
PC-1500_RP_013
PC-1500_RP_011
PC-1500_RP_012

Manuals BRLink
PC-1500_RP_INSTR(Not original cover)
Download
PC-1500_RP_PROGDownload

In conclusion i think the RP version is the PC-1500 without memory module (or with 8K) and the RP2 is provided with the 16KB module (Remember the PTA-4000 and PTA-4000+16).
Not much differences but we can consider the two versions.
Now we have 11 PC-1500 versions !

New hardware coming soon : TE-1504B, a backplane for the PC-1500

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I wasn’t very present here these weeks… but was designing new hardware for our pocket computer !

TE-1504 : A simple connector converter HD60 –> simple card connector (horizontal)
TE-1504S : Same as previous but with bus drivers (horizontal)

The all time the missing extension :
TE-1504B : A backplane for the PC-1500 with bus drivers and 5 card connectors (vertical)
Each connector respect the same pin role as on the PC-1500.

TE-1504B_Docu
TE-1504B_Pict01
TE-1504B_Pict02

And there will be two prototype boards :
TE-1504PS : Short version 80×100
TE-1504L : Long version 150×80

Do you have some board ideas for the system ?

Like Status Quo, in the army now, oh-oo-oh…

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Do you know that the Sharp PC-1500 was used in the army ?

In this picture we can confirm with a big surprise : it was in the Chinese army !
Who can believe this ? A Japan pocket computer in the Chinese army… but maybe was it the Nanfeng version…
I don know much about it’s use but it’s in a rugged box with a waterproof keyboard mask.
The logo seems to be Chinese Air Force or Airborne.

I would be please if one of my Chinese readers could tell us the item’s story and send us more pictures.
Can someone help me to get one ? I really like it !!!
Do you know similar use in your country ?

PC-1500__ARMY

PC-1500 : the full SHARP system

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Here is my full SHARP system “in box”.

– PC-1500 small box
– PC-1500 big box with manuals
– PC-1500A big box with manuals
– CE-150 printer and tape interface
– CE-151 4KB memory module
– CE-152 tape recorder
– CE-153 Soft ware board
– CE-154 Briefcase
– CE-155 8KB memory module
– CE-156 Katakana software tape
– CE-157 Katakana ROM module
– CE-158 RS-232C and parallel interface
– CE-159 8KB memory module with write protection
– CE-160 7,8KB Read only memory module
– CE-161 16KB memory module
– CE-162E Tape and parallel interface

The CE-163 2x16KB memory module is missing.
Impossible to find the box. Do you have one ?

PC-1500_FULL_003
PC-1500_FULL_001
Sharp_CE-154_Closed
PC-1500_FULL_002

PC-1600 : The family

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Hi, it’s time to write something about another Sharp pocket computer using the LH5801 microprocessor. In fact it’s the LH5803 specially designed to work in the PC-1600.

Here is the family :
– PC-1605K Japan version for embedded applications
– PC-1600 V1 with the memory and ROM ICs on a separate board
– PC-1600 V2 with all memory and ROM ICs on the main board with a place for a special ROM IC
– PC-1600K Japan V2 with the ROM IC for special chars. (Here it’s a rebadged version)

SHARP_PC-1600_006
SHARP_PC-1600_005
SHARP_PC-1600_004

TE-1508 : Internal 512KB RAMDisk !

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Ok, my tests are OK on the prototype board.

TE-1508_RAMDisk

Here are the module features :
– Reference TE-1508
– 512KB of static RAM
– 16 pages of 32KB located in the ME1 zone
– Software selection of the page
– Software Activation/Desactivation (for example the IWS video interface uses same zone in ME1)
– Optional CR-2032 backup battery
– Optional write protection by jumper.

The page selection uses a very special feature of the LH5801 processor which was never being used before… because Sharp never routed this pin !
The data bus can work as a multiplexed bus like the Intel 8052 from the MCS51 family. It means that at one time data are on the bus and another time it’s something else. And this is f… good feature ! I don’t have to use many logical cells. Page 42 of the Technical Reference Manual describe it as the ATP instruction. It pushes the accumulator value on the data bus and provides all signals to store it in a latch. And here we just have to plug an octal latch.

Manual routing is done !
Installing it in your Sharp PC-1500(A) will need some wrapping wires…
TE-1508_Reduce

I need some tests with the final board and i will tell you the price…

Is it enough to store your programs ? 😀

TEAM1560 : Testing a new module… TE-1508

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I’m testing a new hardware to take place inside the PC-1500(A).
The schematics is OK, the circuit board is manually routed.
And i’m testing it with some classic DIP components.

This new module will be the TE-1508, a 512KB RAMDrive.
It’s like 25x the maximum user RAM area.
All this memory is organized in 16x32KB pages with a write protect jumper and a CR2032 battery.
It’s in the first half of the ME1 zone and can be disabled by software. (Remember that the IWS video interface uses the same ME1 zone.)
But installing it inside the PC-1500 will be a big job.

Stay tuned…

TEAM1560 : TE-1507 memory module designed to extend Basic

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The TE-1506 could be too much complicated for most of the users.
Those who don’t need to replace system ROM but want a permanent Basic extension will be interested by this new module !
It’s like a CE-161 but with 2x16KB RAM and 2x16KB EEPROM for Basic extension.

Here is the schematics :
TE-1507

If a least 10 or more readers are interested i can produce it as a kit or mounted.
But only after having released the TE-1506 module.
If you have suggestions or see an error then please contact me.