On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 1:25 AM, Philip Pemberton
<classiccmp at philpem.me.uk> wrote:
In my long-running tradition of obscure requests...
Does anyone know if a copy of the Qudos Ltd "MINICHIP" gate array design
tool still exists anywhere?
This was a CAD tool designed for the BBC Micro (with 6502 Second
Processor) which allowed the machine to be used for the design of
Ferranti ULA gate arrays.
There was also a similar tool called "Quickchip" for the Acorn
Archimedes ("A440 only" according to page 22 of this:
http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP155_HardwareExpan…
)
There's some mention of MINICHIP here:
http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/inf/literature/newsletters//ecn01-20/p0…
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GzPpAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA85&ots=sR_gUY…
I'm also interested in a copy of any documentation on Ferranti ULAs -
databooks, details on the logic cells (specifically the ULA9C series but
ULA5C may also be useful), design software (or documentation thereof)
and so on. Examples:
Qudos Ltd. - Qudos Logic Array Design Software Manual QED2 (pub. 1986)
Ferranti - Ferranti ULA Design Manual A/F002 (pub. 1981)
I have a Ferranti quick reference guide circa 1986
in it they refer to the ULAs as DS, R, P or G series (ASIC1)
also the VAX software supporting is was called ULACAD
Also has a section on the Monochip (ASIC44) an array of transistors and
diodes and resistors for custom linear devices
Some of the cell layouts are pictured in the databook
http://www.collection.archivist.info/searchv13.php?searchstr=db+ferranti
Dave Caroline
ps now almost catalogued all the databooks I have, up to 445 and a few
still to do