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SPECTRUM ALU Ferranti 6C001

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Droky

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May 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/30/00
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Hi,
Somebody can give me information about ALU Ferranti 6C001 or 5C112?
I'm making a new spectrum release ( 48 K just at the moment ) and i don't
have any datashet from this component or any similar, because i think that
it isn't available in this moment.
I accept other ideas to replace this component for other same.

Help me please :)

apr...@jazzfree.com


Andrew Owen

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May 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/30/00
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I'm looking at replacing the ULA in my own design (see the sig). AFAIK these
custom chips are not in production any more. But there are alternatives.
Many of the east european clone makers did not have access to the chip so
came up with their own solutions some of which are detailed on the net
although I can't remember precisely where. Let me know if you have any luck
(especially with CPUs which is what I'm looking for at the moment).

--
Andrew Owen
ZX Spectrum SE Technical Reference: http://www.brandnewco.org/se/


Andrew Owen

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May 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/30/00
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Actually, forget my last answer.

According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at

http://www.stocknsource.com/

-Andrew


Ignacio Burgueño

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May 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/30/00
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Have you read about e-Z80? The people here talked about it some time
ago. There is some info available on Zilog's site.


Andrew Owen <ao...@brandnewco.org> escribió en el mensaje de noticias
B559B645.15AB%ao...@brandnewco.org...

Geoff Winkless

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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"Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...

But don't you then have to program it?

Geoff

Andrew Owen

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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I wasn't aware of the ULA being programmable. I have no idea if this is the
case.

-Andrew


Richard halford

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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On Wed, 31 May 2000 10:46:31 +0100, "Geoff Winkless"
<geoff-at-far...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>"Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
>news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...
>> Actually, forget my last answer.
>>
>> According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
>> Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at
>>
>> http://www.stocknsource.com/
>
>But don't you then have to program it?
>

Thats what I thought as its called an Uncomitted Logic Array.
IIRC is a bit like a PROM, but you just set the sequence in which
the logic gates are connected.
Regards,
Rich (richard.ha...@nospamrdel.co.uk)
Remove nospam to reply.

Geoff Winkless

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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"Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
news:B55AA764.1757%ao...@brandnewco.org...

> on 31/5/00 10:46 am, Geoff Winkless wrote:
>
> > "Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
> > news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...
> >> Actually, forget my last answer.
> >>
> >> According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
> >> Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at
> >>
> >> http://www.stocknsource.com/
> >
> > But don't you then have to program it?
>
> I wasn't aware of the ULA being programmable. I have no idea if this is
the
> case.

Hmm. Maybe I'm confusing ULA with PLA *sigh*

Sorry, ignore me.

Geoff

Andrew Owen

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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on 31/5/00 11:23 am, Richard halford wrote:

> On Wed, 31 May 2000 10:46:31 +0100, "Geoff Winkless"

> <geoff-at-far...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
>> "Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
>> news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...
>>> Actually, forget my last answer.
>>>
>>> According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
>>> Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at
>>>
>>> http://www.stocknsource.com/
>>
>> But don't you then have to program it?
>>

> Thats what I thought as its called an Uncomitted Logic Array.
> IIRC is a bit like a PROM, but you just set the sequence in which
> the logic gates are connected.

I thought the 'U' was uninterruptable.

Suzanne Archibald

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
to
In article <8h2qml$41a$1...@soap.pipex.net>, Geoff Winkless
<geoff-at-far...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> "Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message

> news:B55AA764.1757%ao...@brandnewco.org...


> > on 31/5/00 10:46 am, Geoff Winkless wrote:
> >
> > > "Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message
> > > news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...
> > >> Actually, forget my last answer.
> > >>
> > >> According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
> > >> Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at
> > >>
> > >> http://www.stocknsource.com/
> > >
> > > But don't you then have to program it?
> >

> > I wasn't aware of the ULA being programmable. I have no idea if this is
> the
> > case.
>
> Hmm. Maybe I'm confusing ULA with PLA *sigh*
>
> Sorry, ignore me.
>
> Geoff

No, you're right, the ULA was sort of programmable, however, its
possible that the exact part number is pre-programmed. The deal with
the ULA was that sinclair would program a prototype, then Ferranti
would mass produce it pre-programmed - sort of like how PROM's became
ROM's.

However, its also possible that THAT part number is the base part of
the sinclair ULA, and simply contains the same 'uncommitted' array, and
isn't programmed. I don't think it would be possible to program such a
device without sinclair's gate list and the programming soft/hardware
combination.

If you had the software and hardware, you could make a clone, but it
would be unlikely to be exact, the ULA was a very primitive 'PLA' (or
PAL, GAL, whatever acronym that relates to the same time of device you
want to use) by today's standard, as such, its unlikely that there is
enough cell overhead to implement a clone exactly without following the
exact cell list that sinclair used.

Its also unlikely that you can extract the fuse-map from a working
sinclair ULA.

Richard Atkinson

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
to
On Wed, 31 May 2000, Suzanne Archibald wrote:

> No, you're right, the ULA was sort of programmable, however, its
> possible that the exact part number is pre-programmed. The deal with
> the ULA was that sinclair would program a prototype, then Ferranti
> would mass produce it pre-programmed - sort of like how PROM's became
> ROM's.

The one in the 48K Spectrum certainly is...

> However, its also possible that THAT part number is the base part of
> the sinclair ULA, and simply contains the same 'uncommitted' array, and
> isn't programmed. I don't think it would be possible to program such a
> device without sinclair's gate list and the programming soft/hardware
> combination.

You can see which part is the 'program' name by comparing an Issue 1
Spectrum with an Issue 2 or 3. I can't remember the exact figures, but it
was a number somewhere in the 110s and the Issue 2 version was one greater
than the Issue 1.


Richard


Andrew Owen

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
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on 31/5/00 3:43 pm, Suzanne Archibald wrote:

>>To recap, the Ferranti ULA6C001E7 is available at http://www.stocknsource.com/
>> but we weren't sure if you had to program it or not.

> No, you're right, the ULA was sort of programmable, however, its
> possible that the exact part number is pre-programmed. The deal with
> the ULA was that sinclair would program a prototype, then Ferranti
> would mass produce it pre-programmed - sort of like how PROM's became
> ROM's.
>

> However, its also possible that THAT part number is the base part of
> the sinclair ULA, and simply contains the same 'uncommitted' array, and
> isn't programmed. I don't think it would be possible to program such a
> device without sinclair's gate list and the programming soft/hardware
> combination.
>

> If you had the software and hardware, you could make a clone, but it
> would be unlikely to be exact, the ULA was a very primitive 'PLA' (or
> PAL, GAL, whatever acronym that relates to the same time of device you
> want to use) by today's standard, as such, its unlikely that there is
> enough cell overhead to implement a clone exactly without following the
> exact cell list that sinclair used.
>
> Its also unlikely that you can extract the fuse-map from a working
> sinclair ULA.

So you're only chance is to order one, plug it in, and see if it works then?

Suzanne Archibald

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
to
In article
<Pine.LNX.4.21.000531...@luveno.eng.cam.ac.uk>,
Richard Atkinson <rg...@hermes.cam.ac.uk> wrote:

> On Wed, 31 May 2000, Suzanne Archibald wrote:
>

> > No, you're right, the ULA was sort of programmable, however, its
> > possible that the exact part number is pre-programmed. The deal with
> > the ULA was that sinclair would program a prototype, then Ferranti
> > would mass produce it pre-programmed - sort of like how PROM's became
> > ROM's.
>

> The one in the 48K Spectrum certainly is...
>

> > However, its also possible that THAT part number is the base part of
> > the sinclair ULA, and simply contains the same 'uncommitted' array, and
> > isn't programmed. I don't think it would be possible to program such a
> > device without sinclair's gate list and the programming soft/hardware
> > combination.
>

> You can see which part is the 'program' name by comparing an Issue 1
> Spectrum with an Issue 2 or 3. I can't remember the exact figures, but it
> was a number somewhere in the 110s and the Issue 2 version was one greater
> than the Issue 1.

This doesn't nessecarily mean that the part number is the program
number though. It could be that sinclair used different ferranti core's
for each issue, though I'd be tempted to agree with you that the
program number is part of the part number - (I can see the core needing
to be changed between Issue 1 and 2/3, but a ULA core change between
Issues, say, 3 and 6 wouldn't be so understandable really)

In 1988 I went to a electronics convention at the NEC, and spent a
great deal of time being lectured on their ULA technology by Ferranti
people, but, unfortunatly, I don't remember much of it at all 12 years
on...

Alvin Ronald Albrecht

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May 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/31/00
to

On Wed, 31 May 2000, Andrew Owen wrote:

> So you're only chance is to order one, plug it in, and see if it works then?

Well, an uncommitted logic array means you have an
array of regular logic structures, perhaps as small
as a NAND gate and as large as you want. The customer
provides one or more mask layers that defines the
interconnect between the structures, defining the
function of the device. Ordering one of these will
get you a useless chip. What Ferranti probably
wants is someone to provide the mask(s) before ordering
so that they can customize the last few steps in
the fabrication process. That will probably set you
back a fair chunk of change + a small unit cost :-).

What someone might be able to do is remove the
top of an existing ULA and look at the die
through a microscope. You might be able to
generate the original mask as defined by
Sinclair and figure out the exact logic
used in the ULA. You could then reproduce
the ULA functions exactly and inexpensively
with an FPGA replacement.

Most of the ULA functions are straightforward
and the video generation logic is available in
the ts2068 technical manual and in the Sinclair
patents. Even without peeking inside an original
ULA it shouldn't be too hard for someone to do
a good job on a replacement / enhanced substitute.
If they have some time on their hands, that is.

Of course, I haven't looked at Ferranti's site
yet so I could be off the mark here :-). I have
it in my head that uncommitted logic array =
sea of gates design.


Alvin

Majik

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Jun 1, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/1/00
to
There are circuit diagrams on NVG (links below) that pretty much show
what the ULA does,
you should be able to figure a workable solution out of this, even if
you have to resort
to building one from stock ICs.

ftp://ftp.nvg.ntnu.no/pub/sinclair/pics/circuit-diagrams/ula1.gif
ftp://ftp.nvg.ntnu.no/pub/sinclair/pics/circuit-diagrams/ula2.gif
ftp://ftp.nvg.ntnu.no/pub/sinclair/pics/circuit-diagrams/speccy_schematic.gif
(for connections to speccy board)

M.

Richard halford

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Jun 1, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/1/00
to
On Wed, 31 May 2000 12:10:57 +0100, Andrew Owen <ao...@brandnewco.org>
wrote:

>on 31/5/00 11:23 am, Richard halford wrote:
>

>> On Wed, 31 May 2000 10:46:31 +0100, "Geoff Winkless"


>> <geoff-at-far...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>>
>>> "Andrew Owen" <ao...@brandnewco.org> wrote in message

>>> news:B559C914.15CF%ao...@brandnewco.org...
>>>> Actually, forget my last answer.
>>>>
>>>> According to the inside of my machine, the component you want is the
>>>> Ferranti ULA6C001E7. They have quite a few in stock at
>>>>
>>>> http://www.stocknsource.com/
>>>
>>> But don't you then have to program it?
>>>

>> Thats what I thought as its called an Uncomitted Logic Array.
>> IIRC is a bit like a PROM, but you just set the sequence in which
>> the logic gates are connected.
>
>I thought the 'U' was uninterruptable.

I'm sure its uncomitted as in the Logic gates connections are not
predetermined and require configuration, but I could be wrong. They do
have to be programmed at some stage, if think there was a
big problem with supply of early spectrums becuase of getting
programmed ULAs
in volume.

Frank

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Jun 1, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/1/00
to

Andrew Owen <ao...@brandnewco.org> schreef in berichtnieuws
B559B645.15AB%ao...@brandnewco.org...

> (especially with CPUs which is what I'm looking for at the moment).

http://www.vautomation.com/vz80/vz80.html

How about his?

Andrew Owen

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Jun 1, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/1/00
to

> How about this?

Yeah, I've thought about it but I don't know anything about ASIC or FPGA
programming and I'm not sure I could afford whatever vAutomation are asking
either.

Frank Meurer

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Jun 7, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/7/00
to

On Tue, 30 May 2000, Droky wrote:

> Hi,
> Somebody can give me information about ALU Ferranti 6C001 or 5C112?
> I'm making a new spectrum release ( 48 K just at the moment ) and i don't
> have any datashet from this component or any similar, because i think that
> it isn't available in this moment.
> I accept other ideas to replace this component for other same.
>
> Help me please :)

Please look at:
http://www-fs.nt.fh-koeln.de/zx

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Niall Tracey

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Jun 8, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/8/00
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Frank Meurer (fr...@mats.gmd.STOP-UCE.de) wrote:

: Please look at:
: http://www-fs.nt.fh-koeln.de/zx

Das ist einen replacement ULA, jah? Nicht understanded deutch...

What's all the the "Farbgrafikadapter für K1520-Systeme" about? And
"Verbindungsliste für ScooterPCB (Atari/Win)"?

--
Niall 'Titch' Tracey, Harp-man
Revelation Edinburgh - http://www.ed.ac.uk/~reved
Revelation National - http://www.rev.org.uk
Edinburgh CD featuring the sounds of Titch Tracey coming soon.

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