The Acorn System 1, initially called the Acorn Microcomputer (Micro-Computer), was an early 8-bitmicrocomputer for hobbyists, based on the MOS 6502CPU, and produced by British company Acorn Computers from 1979.
The main parts of the system were designed by then-Cambridge-undergraduate student Sophie Wilson,[3] with a cassette interface designed by Steve Furber.[4] It was Acorn's first product, and was based on an automated cow feeder.[3][disputed – discuss]
It was a small machine built on two Eurocard-standard circuit boards and it could be purchased ready-built or in kit form.
the second card (the computer board - see below), which included the CPU, RAM/ROM memory, and support chips
the two boards were interconnected by a semi-flexible, multi-conductor cable, known by its commercial name 'Spectra Strip'
the whole assembly was held together by four 2.5mm × 20mm nylon screws and clear plastic spacing tubes for rigidity.
Acorn System 1 Rear (CPU) Board
Main Components (left to right)
Top Row: INS8154 RAMIO Integrated Circuit (for keyboard and display), 6502CPU, 2 × 2114 1024×4 RAM, 2 × 74S571 512×4 PROM, RAM/ROM expansion socket, second INS8154 for peripheral expansion (optional extra with the kit version).
Bottom row: 1 MHz clock crystal, 4 × TTL logic chips providing address decoding for the memory and I/O expansion, 5V regulator.
The smaller empty socket in the middle of the board was used to set the memory map of the RAM, ROM and I/O expansion by fitting or soldering wires between various positions according to the instructions in the Acorn System 1 Technical Manual.
The three semi-circular legends on the bottom left of the board marked positions for optional push switches to trigger the board's RESET, IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) and NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) lines.
Almost all CPU signals were accessible via the standard Eurocard connector on the right-hand side of the board. This connector was not fitted/supplied as standard with the kit version.
The System 1 front board was used as the control panel for the fictional computer Slave in the 1981 series of the BBC science-fiction series Blake's 7.
^Meyer, David (November 19, 2010). "Dead IT giants: A top 10 of the fallen". ZDNet. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
^"ACORN COMPUTERS. PRICE LIST MARCH 1979". Acorn Computers. March 1979. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
^ abGoodwins, Rupert (April 25, 2011). "Acorns land at Bletchley Park: PHOTO Acorn System 1". ZDNet. Retrieved November 23, 2011. Acorn's first product was the Acorn System 1, based on an automated cow feeder designed by Sophie (nee Roger) Wilson as part of her degree course at Cambridge in 1977.
Comprehensive information on the System 1, including an emulator – Provided by Mike Cowlishaw
Acorn System 1 manuals and schematics at ARCHIVE.ORG
January 01, 1970
acorn, system, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Acorn System 1 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message The Acorn System 1 initially called the Acorn Microcomputer Micro Computer was an early 8 bit microcomputer for hobbyists based on the MOS 6502 CPU and produced by British company Acorn Computers from 1979 Acorn MicrocomputerUpper board featuring keypad and LED displayDeveloperAcorn ComputersType8 bit semi professionalRelease dateMarch 1979 45 years ago 1979 03 1 Introductory price 65 kit 75 assembled 2 CPU6502 1MHzMemory1152 bytesStorageCUTS cassette tape interfaceDisplayLEDGraphics Sound Input25 key keypadController input ConnectivityINS8154 RAMIO Expansion chip optional CUTS cassette tape interface socket for optional additional ROM EPROMPower7 5V from external PSU through onboard 5V regulatorDimensions160 x 100mm two stacked boardsSuccessorAcorn System 2 Acorn Atom The main parts of the system were designed by then Cambridge undergraduate student Sophie Wilson 3 with a cassette interface designed by Steve Furber 4 It was Acorn s first product and was based on an automated cow feeder 3 disputed discuss It was a small machine built on two Eurocard standard circuit boards and it could be purchased ready built or in kit form one card shown right with the I O part of the computer a LED seven segment display a 25 key keypad hex function keys and a cassette CUTS interface the circuitry to the left of the keypad the second card the computer board see below which included the CPU RAM ROM memory and support chips the two boards were interconnected by a semi flexible multi conductor cable known by its commercial name Spectra Strip the whole assembly was held together by four 2 5mm 20mm nylon screws and clear plastic spacing tubes for rigidity Acorn System 1 Rear CPU Board Main Components left to right Top Row INS8154 RAMIO Integrated Circuit for keyboard and display 6502 CPU 2 2114 1024 4 RAM 2 74S571 512 4 PROM RAM ROM expansion socket second INS8154 for peripheral expansion optional extra with the kit version Bottom row 1 MHz clock crystal 4 TTL logic chips providing address decoding for the memory and I O expansion 5V regulator The smaller empty socket in the middle of the board was used to set the memory map of the RAM ROM and I O expansion by fitting or soldering wires between various positions according to the instructions in the Acorn System 1 Technical Manual The three semi circular legends on the bottom left of the board marked positions for optional push switches to trigger the board s RESET IRQ Interrupt ReQuest and NMI Non Maskable Interrupt lines Almost all CPU signals were accessible via the standard Eurocard connector on the right hand side of the board This connector was not fitted supplied as standard with the kit version The System 1 front board was used as the control panel for the fictional computer Slave in the 1981 series of the BBC science fiction series Blake s 7 See also editAcorn System 2 Acorn System 3 Acorn System 4 Acorn System 5 Acorn AtomReferences edit Meyer David November 19 2010 Dead IT giants A top 10 of the fallen ZDNet Retrieved March 7 2012 ACORN COMPUTERS PRICE LIST MARCH 1979 Acorn Computers March 1979 Retrieved March 7 2012 a b Goodwins Rupert April 25 2011 Acorns land at Bletchley Park PHOTO Acorn System 1 ZDNet Retrieved November 23 2011 Acorn s first product was the Acorn System 1 based on an automated cow feeder designed by Sophie nee Roger Wilson as part of her degree course at Cambridge in 1977 http www stairwaytohell com articles SG SophieWilson html Sophie Wilson 2007 Interview with Stuart GoodwinExternal links editComprehensive information on the System 1 including an emulator Provided by Mike Cowlishaw Acorn System 1 manuals and schematics at ARCHIVE ORG Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acorn System 1 amp oldid 1218827764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
