I’m thinking about a new project, something a little unusual but still with a rich history of information upon which to base the build. On Tindie, I found the RC2014 project which is a build of a Z80 platform but based on some modern components. That got me thinking. My next project must be a Z80 based project.
Why the Z80? Well, it was at one stage the most used CPU in the world, which leads to the great depth of information and experience available for designs, hardware, and software. Technically, it is advanced enough to avoid the need for a large number of ancillary chips, multiple power supplies, and multi-phase clocking that the 8008, 8080, and other older chips needed, but still it is complex enough that in doing a project I’ll feel like I’m actually building a computer.
This year marks 40 years (yes 40 years, since launch in July 1976) of the Z80, and still as a design and platform it looks like it will continue to be relevant into the future. So rather than building yet-another-ARM project. It looks like I will be marking the 40th anniversary of the Z80 with a new build.
An early Z80, manufactured in June 1976.
What kind of project? The RC2014 project is an interesting starting point. It is quite simple, being a compact and robust implementation of Grant Searle’s 6 Chip Z80 Computer, but provides more resources than most of the 1980’s Z80 projects offer. After looking at some projects others have done, I think that I should aim to build something a little like a “Back to the Future” Z80 project, a DeLorean (which also appeared as a prototype in 1976) with a fusion reactor.
RC2014 Cylon
As an outcome I’d like the solution to be able to interact with modern interfaces such as I2C, Ethernet, SPI, and USB, with access to a large physical memory space, with great performance, and yet retain the ability to be a single-step-able experimental platform with LED bus indicators. Single stepping is something that you can’t do with an Arduino, and it is a real differentiation.
Whilst it would be attractive to design in some old-school interface devices, like the AM9511A FPU or a Super I/O device, in light of today’s environment the wouldn’t contribute very much to the outcome. So the focus will be squarely on modern I/O.
Also, there is a temptation to build a CP/M system with full disk management. But again there are plenty of CP/M systems around. I’d like to build something more of an embedded platform, that doesn’t require mass storage to run applications. It would be good if most of the basic interfaces could fit on one board, to avoid the need to build address and data bus extension. I think this will simplify the design significantly.
Design process
This is going to be an iterative process. The first step will be to build the RC2014 project, and test that I can program it.
RC2014 Cylon I/O
RC2014 Serial I/O & CPU
It will be important to learn a little about Z80 assembler. Later, I may modify the RC2014 project platform.
Then, I’ll lay out a through hole prototype with minimal functionality, to test some performance ideas. If they work on through hole, then they’ll work with SMD. Using through hole also allows me to quickly fix logic or wiring errors that would take a new spin with SMD.
Finally, I’ll build a SMD device that miniaturizes the solution, and makes it more robust.
Processor selection
The Z80 has been built continuously for 40 years, and in that time many manufacturers have produced silicon and several clones have been created. The Z80 range been continuously improved through the Hitachi 64180, to the Zilog Z180, and the Zilog Aclaim eZ80 devices. Each increment has integrated more accessory components, and improved the instruction throughput, as well as increased the clock rate.
Looking at the options available, the original Z80 requires logic to get started. So rather than building serial ports and timers, it looks like the Z180 might be the right place to start. So why not go all the way to the eZ80? Well the eZ80 is not dissimilar to an AVR ATmega device, with all of the system components integrated into the one device. Using an eZ80 CPU wouldn’t be like building a computer at all. It would be much more like building an Arduino, and I’ve been there already.
Out of the Z180 options, I would select the Z8S180 (at 33MHz) because it integrates sufficient material to get started (Timers, Interrupts, MMU, & USARTs), and leaves me the option to add complexity as I get going.
Memory selection
A little research on the processor and available memory provides me with some cornerstones for the design. I will use Flash memory for the program storage, and static RAM for the system memory. Historically, UV erasable PROM and dynamic RAM would have been used. One advantage of static RAM is that the solution is fully single-step-able. Meaning, I’ll be able to watch the address bus and data bus process each instruction as the Program Counter marches along.
The Z180 can address up to 1MB of physical address space, and it makes sense to provide the full physical memory possible. The price of 1MB of SRAM or of 256kB of Flash is almost nothing these days. As the Z80 logical address space is only 64kB, the Z180 has an inbuilt MMU to manage its physical memory to logical memory mapping.
Memory mapping
To keep things simple (in hardware), we can use the MMU available in the Z180 to map the physical memory locations on 20 address lines, into logical addresses that suit us. The MMU can map 4kB pages of physical memory into two relocatable logical locations in the Z80 logical address space. These are called the Banked and the Common 1 locations. The Common 0 memory location begins at physical address 0x00000, and continues to the beginning of Banked memory, which then continues to the Common 1 memory address space.
Therefore the hardware (or physical mapping) will show that the 256kB Flash is located from 0x00000 to 0x3FFFF, and the 1MB RAM from 0x00000 to 0xFFFFF but the lower quarter of the address space mostly masked by Flash. For programming we’ll have to move this around.
When the Z80 starts up it always begins from physical and logical address 0x0000. Therefore it is typical to put the program storage in the lower address range, and the RAM in the upper range. Given the use of the MMU available in the Z180 we initially can map the SRAM into the upper 32kB of logical address space, using the Common 1 bank and CBAR setting, leaving the first 32kB of Flash in the lower address range.
One difficulty is that there are only 3 memory spaces available, so if we want to have a C stack, global buffers and queues, and global data, then we need to put some SRAM in the Common 0 address space. Let’s uncover 8kB of 1MB SRAM and place this from 0x2000 to 0x3fff to provide this C stack and global variable data frame.
At some stage I assume I’ll want to use all of the additional Flash and SRAM available, so I’ll have to integrate programming for MMU bank switching, and RAM heap/stack switching when the need arises. At least initially there will be a statically programmable range of between 8kB Flash with 56kB SRAM to 56kB Flash with 8kB SRAM available within the logical address space, depending on the MMU initialisation settings.
To program the Z180 the physical memory addresses will need to be juggled around (glue logic) to disable the Flash and SRAM from appearing in the first 8kB Bytes of the address space. The USB programmer will provide program codes in the form of a remote boot-loader to load the contents of programs into the Flash, by moving the entire physical flash through a 4kB or 8kB Banked page. SRAM located in the lower 32kB address range will be loaded with a program to enable buffering and page writing of the desired programs.
| Physical Address Range |
Run Mode |
Programming Mode |
| $00000 – $01FFF |
Flash (8,192B of 256kB) |
USB (8,192B) |
| $02000 – $03FFF |
SRAM (8,192B of 1MB) |
SRAM (516,096B of 1MB) |
| $04000 – $3FFFF |
Flash (245,760B of 256kB) |
| $40000 – $7FFFF |
SRAM (768kB of 1MB) |
| $80000 – $BFFFF |
Flash (256kB of 256kB) |
| $C0000 – $FFFFF |
SRAM (256kB of 1MB) |
| Logical Address Range |
Run Mode |
Programming Mode |
| $0000 – $1FFF |
Flash (8,192B, Common 0) |
USB (8,192B) |
| $2000 – $3FFF |
SRAM (8,192B, Common 0) |
SRAM (24,576B, Common 0) |
| $4000 – $5FFF |
Flash (8,192B, Common 0) |
| $6000 – $7FFF |
Flash (8,192B, Banked) |
| $8000 – $FFFF |
SRAM (32,768B, Common 1) |
Flash (32,768B, Banked) |
The programming mode (address mapping) will be entered by either a button press, or by signalling from the USB – USART interface lines. The process is to invert the Address 19 line, shifting the physical address location of Flash, and mute Address 0-12 to prevent memory being read from these locations, which allows the USB – USART FIFO to provide program opcodes. Mute by disabling the CE on both Flash and SRAM when A13 through A19 are 0. Then configure the MMU to bring the Flash into Banked logical addresses, using the SRAM to buffer 4kB page writes to Flash memory.
Using the ATMEL WinCUPL tool, it is pretty straightforward to convert the above memory mapping and below logic mapping in CUPL language description to JEDEC format that can be handled by a MiniPro TL866 EEPROM & PLD Programming tool, and programmed into an ATF16V8B device.
Memory and IO Pin Definitions
Memory and IO Pin Logic
This memory and IO mapping needs to be augmented by a secondary logic mapping for managing programming, single step, and other functions, which will be programmed into a second ATF16V8B device. The logic mapping will allow automatic programming initiation via the FT245R USB interface.
Logic Pin Definitions
Logic Pin Logic
Using EEPLD devices will save significant PCB real estate, and will allow me to compensate for minor logic errors after the fact.
FCPU selection
The best flash we can get easily is 55ns timing. This is bettered by SRAM, with 45ns. Converting this timing to a bus frequency we can achieve 20MHz or slightly better, but allowing for some buffering or address logic delay it would be better to keep the system bus under 20MHz.
Using this system bus speed of approximately 20MHz then poses a question; which is the right speed? Some references point out that the Z180 is very poor at holding the correct USART rate when the CPU clock is not a magic multiple of the USART rate. This is the same issue that the AVR ATmega device faces when its USART is not driven by a magic frequency clock. Therefore, lets us set the CPU clock to 18.432MHz, being most appropriate magic frequency for the following design.
The Z180 crystal clock can generate either doubled, or halved system clocks from the base rate. Starting with 18.432MHZ CPU clock, the system bus clock can be halved, and operated at 9.216MHz as needed. This is slow enough to allow most peripherals to interact with the CPU. Internally, the clock can be doubled to operate the CPU at 36.864MHz. This rate is slightly overclocking the Z180, but that’s what we live for. We don’t build slow computers.
I/O Mapping
I have been thinking about the whole idea of system modularity. Actually, I don’t think the traditional method of building a backplane is such a good idea for what I want to achieve. Extending the address bus a long distance means that I’ll be investing in design and timing issues, that I’m not really sure I know how to solve. So, let’s focus on a smaller design, with on just one board for the time being.
As a computer always needs to be extended and interact with the real world, I think it would be good to add modern user interfaces to the solution. Use Address 15-13 to provide I/O selection options on the CPU Board, using the remaining output pins from the Memory ATF16V8B. This will allow flexibility to latch data into the Hex Display, or trigger breakpoints using #M1 and #Wait to allow Single Step execution from any code point.
| I/O Address Range |
Chip Select (A15,A14,A13) |
Device |
| $0000 – $1FFF |
DO NOT USE ($o, b000) |
Internal I/O
A7 – A0
Internal INT
$0000 – $00FF Registers |
| $2000 – $3FFF |
BREAK ($1, b001) |
Break Point
Toggle Single Step Mode |
| $4000 – $5FFF |
#DIO_CS ($2, b010) |
PIO 82C55
A1 – A0
$4000 – $4003 Registers |
| $6000 – $7FFF |
EXPANSION ($3, b011) |
Hold for Expansion |
| $8000 – $9FFF |
#I2C_CS2 ($4, b100) |
PCA9665
A1 – A0
#INT2
$8000 – $8003 Registers |
| $A000 – $BFFF |
#I2C_CS1 ($5, b101) |
PCA9665
A1 – A0
#INT1
$A000 – $A003 Registers |
| $C000 – $DFFF |
#FPU_CS ($6, b110) |
FPU_CS – Am9511A-1
A0 & #WAIT
#INT0
$C000 – $C001 Registers |
| $E000 – $FFFF |
EXPANSION ($7, b111) |
Hold for Expansion |
Included I/O features & BOM
CPU
SRAM
Flash
Single Step – The Z-80’s #M1 pin is useful for building logic to single-instruction step the machine. You do this using the memory ready signal on #M1 to clear a 7474 flip-flop, which is clocked by a Single Step signal, to produce a #WAIT signal for the CPU. That stops the machine on the opcode fetch cycle with the address showing on the address bus and the opcode byte showing on the data bus. To move the machine ahead, you clock the flip-flop which releases the #WAIT signal, until the next #M1 clears the 7474 again.
Reset
Memory & Addressing Logic Glue
- Programmable Logic PLD – Digikey ATF16V8B
USB – Flash programming interface
- USB-Parallel Bus FTDI245RQ
Note that the Write strobe is confusing, but assume ACTIVE LOW.
USB – USART interface
Hex 7 Segment Display – 5x Address Digits – 2x Data Digits
General Digital Input / Output – Being able to read and write simple digital levels is an important thing. So let’s include the 82c55 PIO device.
- Intel CMOS 82C55 Programmable IO CP82C55A – Digikey CS82C55AZ-ND
I2C interface – This is the most important interface, which provides many extension options, and a plethora of Grove System sensors. Unfortunately the 5V nature of the system precludes using the newest really fast, deep buffer, devices with multiple bus I2C 1MHz bus interfaces, so provide 2x devices to support different applications (eg. video output and sensor acquisition on separate buses). Use the #INT1 & #INT2 interrupts.
Floating Point Processor – This lovely old chip is just too slow to contribute, but still we’ll build it in. Need to provide a 3MHz clock to drive it (FFPU = FCPU/6), and connect its #PAUSE to #WAIT. #END connected to #INT0. RESET is ACTIVE HIGH.
Am9551A-1 3MHz FPU
Bus interface
- Address & Control – Octal Buffer Driver sn74abt541b – Digikey 296-14668-1-ND
- Data – Octal Bus Transceiver sn74abth245 – Digikey 296-4140-1-ND
Power Supplies
Excluded I/O features & BOM
Ethernet – Wiznet W5300 Direct address mode requires 3FF of address space. Configure the #INT0 interrupt and implement the DMAC1 I/O to move packets quickly. Exclude this from the initial build, as it is quite a complicated 100 pin device, and it needs 3.3V supply.
USB & SPI interface – provide mass storage capability using either USB or SPI interface devices. The CH37x series is not very well documented, or readily available. There are other options for I2C-SPI bridging which can provide an SPI interface if needed.
ADC interface – Better, higher resolution, faster chips are available with I2C interfaces.
Video Interface – Can be done using an external I2C device.
Super I/O – Floppy Disk & IDE Controller – Too hard and doesn’t bring much value to the table. Floppy drives are hard to find, and there are already 2x USART ports available on the Z8S180.
Software & References
Z80 Info
z88dk Development Kit
Small Device C Compiler
SASM Softools – Z180 (MMU aware) C compiler. Commercial Licence.
Programming the Z80 by Rodnay Zaks
The Undocumented Z80
Logic Families
FreeRTOS 9.0.0 for eZ80
Hardware Design notes
Well quite a few iterations on my aspirations and thoughts have resulted in a YAZ180_v1 schematic, that I think is now basically frozen. Some of my design decisions follow.
After deciding not to use the TIL311 LED display devices because they are not easily obtainable, I found the alternative solution using the DM9368 display driver chip and LED display devices was very consuming of space on the board. Since the board had to be no greater than a maximum of 10cm by 16cm I decided to buy some TIL311 devices in advance, and then with the comfort of stock in hand I could use them for the design. Also, they add significantly to the retro-chique.
I would have loved to add the Wiznet W5300 device to the design to provide high speed Ethernet capability, but with a 100 pin VLSI it was just too complicated for the initial design. Next time.
I added a 82c55 interface chip. Knowing that it is very slow, requiring wait states to drive it, is one thing. But the advantage of having multiple latchable input and output ports, off one fairly compact integrated device made up for that problem. As it is a 1970s device it is also retro-chique accretive.
Designing using CUPL and the Atmel PLDs is in my opinion much simpler than tracing schematics and thinking through 7400 series NOR, NAND gates to get the desired addressing logic. Writing the logic in “c” like syntax is much less taxing on the brain.
After deciding to implement no bus drivers, and then building a solution adding drivers and termination to every address and data line, I have rationalised down to bus drivers on data, lower address, and control lines. These are the few lines that appear on all memory and I/O devices, and are taken to every point on the board. The upper address lines only appear on the PLD, SRAM, and Flash, which are very low load modern devices, so there is no point to buffer them. Using ABT logic limits the differential delay on the address lines to 2 ns, and since the read and write select lines are also buffered, there is no issue timing issue created.
And here is the first schematic, in pdf YAZ180_V1. Errors and omissions are possible.
Hardware Layout notes
With the first major layout session behind me, I have the following notes.
Address & Data to SRAM and FLASH
Change the SN74ABT244 for the SN74ABT541. The only difference is the pin ordering, with the 244 being optimal for counter-flowing signals, and the 541 being optimal for unidirectional signals (physically). This will help layout.
Getting 20 address lines and 8 data lines to appear on the SMD SRAM memory is challenging. I will probably reassign the address lines to suit the Z8S180 pin-out, rather than spending hours untangling the lines. It won’t be too easy to do this with the Flash device, but as it is in a PLCC through-hole socket it comes inherently with “vias” making reaching it half as hard as SMD.
Input pin and I/O pins on Z8S180 include weak latch circuits to prevent excessive current draw by the receiver, if the pin is not externally driven. External pull-up or pull-down resistors should not be less than 15 kOhms to ensure that the resistors can control the state of the latch when power is supplied.
All Address and Data lines routed.
A few more air-wires remain, that will need thought.
Following about 10 hours of juggling, just two wires remain together with a plan to resolve them tomorrow.
Just two air-wires remain.
Finished, except for the detailed checking, which usually results in some changes. But, it is done.
The screen grabs below show with the Vcc Layer in Grey, and GND Layer in Green. I have added some basic traces on those layers to close off the routing, which are misleading. The layers are actually completely filled, normally.
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Bill of Materials
Well, building this retro-computing machine is not quite as cheap as an ATMEL micro-controller board. But then again, it is not quite in the same league, with 1MB of RAM, and 256kB of Flash storage, together with a FPU and 9 digits of LED display.
I have ordered all of the components, except the Am9511A-1 FPU and the TIL311 LED display devices, from Digikey. The BOM is detailed in this link. To add to BOM, this there are the Am9511A-1 and the TIL311 devices which can be found on eBay or other auction sites.
Materials
And, the PCB looks great!
The build and bringing up of the board will be on the next story, once I get the new SMD oven sorted out.
