GB1567598A

GB1567598A - Microcomputer teaching system

Info

Publication number: GB1567598A
Application number: GB48617/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
Current assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
Priority date: 1976-11-24
Filing date: 1977-11-22
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: DE2653426C3; CH626464A5; AT374601B; FR2372474B1; NL7712886A; DE2653426A1; SE7713065L; FR2372474A1; NO773921L; DE2653426B2; ATA838977A; DK509177A

Abstract

The learning device contains a microprocessor (1), a memory (7), a number of bistable switches (10, 11), a coding switch (12) and a display device (9). The coding switch is used for setting the desired learning program and a card provided with recesses for the switches and display is placed onto the operating panel of the learning device. The labelling on the card provides information on the respective function of the individual switches and significance of the individual display elements. The operation of the microcomputer is learnt step by step by selecting increasingly more complex learning programs. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) MICROCOMPUTER TEACHING SYSTEM (71) We, INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of 320 Park Avenue, New York 22, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state menu: The present invention relates to a microcomputer teaching system.

Microcomputer teaching systems have become known from the prospectus (AT 310S5.76) as published by the firm of Alfred Neye-Enatechnik GmbH, Quickborn, entitled "Schulungs- und Demonstrationsmodell fur 8080 Mikroprozessor, TSK 80, CPU 80". Using such a microcomputer teaching system it is possible to learn the mode of operation of a microcomputer, and to test its possibilities of practical application. However, one needs much previous knowledge, as a real microcomputer is already used to start with.

It is an object of the invention to enable users with no such previous knowledge, to learn the mode of operation of a microcomputer.

According to the present invention there is provided a microcomputer teaching system, including a microprocesser, at least one memory, a clock pulse generator, a data input/output circuit, a control panel and an indicating device, in which manually operable switches are provided for effecting the input of the data, in which a device is provided for selecting any one of a plurality of programmes, and in which to indicate the functions of the switches and of the indicating device which differ in dependence upon the selected programme, there is a number of cards which are geometrically alike but differently labelled, and in which each of said cards has cutouts so arranged that when a said card is placed on the control panel, the indicating device and the switches appropriate to the programme to, which the card relates are visible and may be operated.

With such an arrangement, depending on the teaching stage, parts of a microcomputer or microcomputers with different operating possibilities are simulated. Hence different requirements are placed on the operator, i.e. the learner is in a position to make himself acquainted in a step-bystep manner with the mode of operation of either parts of a microcomputer or with the microcomputer as a whole. It is also useful that the same input switches can be used for each teaching step, as the necessary alteration of the function of the individual switches is stated by cards capable of being placed on the control panel.

From the respective position of the bistable switches used for the input, it is possible for the user to recognize what binary value has been put in. Additional facilities for indicating this, are not required.

An embodiment of the invention, will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the microcomputer teaching system, and Fig.

2 shows cards indicating the respective function of the switches and of the indicating device on the control panel of the microcomputer teaching system.

The microcomputer, Fig. 1, contains a microprocessor 1 which receives its clock from a clock pulse generator 2, and is connected to a memory 7 via address, data and control lines 4, 5, 6. The memory 7 includes at least one read-only memory (ROM) and at least one random access memory (RAM). Programmes and data are stored in this memory 7. The input or output of the data is effected via an input/ output circuit 8, in which the input data are stored until fetched by the microprocessor.

The component parts described above, as well as their functions and their co-operation will not be explained in greater detail, as they are generally known, e.g. see the brochure (AT 3139-7.76) "Der Mikroprozessor, vom Bauteil zur Anwendung" (The microprocessor, from the Component to the Application as published by Alfred Neye-Enatechnik GmbH, Quickborn, Germany.

In addition to these conventional parts serving the data input, several bistable switches 10, 11 are provided. Some of these switches serving the input of control and clock signals, may be designed as chatter-proof switches by adding flipflops.

Moreover, there is a coding switch 12 by which the desired programme is selected.

This switch 12, which is on the control panel, is a sliding switch with a mechanical segment indication. Dependent on its position, a code number referring to the respective adjusted code becomes visible on the top side of the switch. The function of the switches 10, 11 which, dependent on the programme, differ, as well as the functions of the indicating device 9, are indicated by cards 21, Fig. 2, which can be placed on the control panel. These cards which are geometrically alike, but differently labelled, have several cutouts 22 shown in Fig. 2a.

Next, the individual control steps will be explained. First, the code for the desired programme is set using the code switch 12, and the associated card is placed on the control panel. This is so effected that the indicating device 9, and the switches 10, 11, 12 are accessible through the cutouts 22. After this, a reset key 3 is depressed, so that an instruction counter in the microprocessor 1 is set to zero. This initial condition of the instruction counter is associated with a certain address. Via the adress line 4, the programme as stored under this address in the memory 7 is selected by the microprocessor 1. Via the address and data lines 4, 5, the instructions are fetched one at a time in turn. The data line 5 permits a data transmission from the memory 7 to the microprocessor 1, as well as from the microprocessor 1 to the memory 7.

This is necessary, because data from the microprocessor 1 may also have to be stored in the memory 7.

For a user without any previous knowledge, it is difficult to understand the mode of operation of a complicated microcomputer. Hence, successively and by starting out from a portion of the microcomputer which can only perform additions and subtractions, and to enable a better understanding by the learner, either parts of the microcomputer or the microcomputer itself are simulated by becoming more complicated in a step-by-step manner, so that the pupil is gradually led to the maximum performance capacity of the microcomputer.

For this purpose, in addition to the control programmes needed for the normal operation of the microcomputer, several simulation programmes are stored in the memory 7. These can so control the microcomputer that for the learner there is each time simulated a certain portion (stage) of the microcomputer or microcomputers by a simulation programme selected via the code switch 12. That is, the microcomputer teaching system behaves like the portion of the microcomputer specified by the code.

A graduation of simulated microcomputers becoming increasingly more complicated, and which is of advantage from a didactical point of view, will be described hereinafter.

It is important to the learner that the data can be fed in in a simple and clearly understandable manner. Hence, bistable sliding switches 10 and 11 are provided whose positions can be easily recognized whether a logic "0" or "1" has just been fed. By the switches 10, 11, the data are fed into the data input/output circuit 8 containing buffer memories, and are fetched therefrom by the microprocessor 1, via the control bus 6, 6a as required.

Data transmission is effected via the data bus 5, 5a. Via the latter there are also transmitted the data or control signals to the data output respectively. The data (3 bit) containing the code as set by the code switch, are likewise transmitted via the data busses 5, 5a to the micropprocessor which then, according to the chosen code, sets the instruction counter accordingly.

It be assumed that in the switch position 0 of the code switch 12, a portion (stage) of the microcomputer is to be simulated, which can only do additions and subtractions. By the microprocessor 1, in the memory 7, and under the address associated with this code, there is requested a programme controlling the microcomputer, such that only additions and subtractions are possible. The programme, for example, runs in a loop, so that the switches can be requested cyclically, with the result being displayed continuously.

By the programmes, for example, the following parts of a microcomputer or of microcomputers can be simulated: Programme Simulated part of a micro computer or of microcom puters 0 8 - bit - parallel - adderlsub traction circuit 1 Arithmetic/logic unit (there are added AND, OR, and EX CLUSIVE-OR circuits) 2 accumulator which can pro cess 8-bit parallel with the aid of a clock pulse (there is added a register) 3 accumulator with a memory which, besides an operation code, must also receive addresses as instructions (there is added a memory and a data selector) 4 simple microcomputer en abling a continuous automatic mode of operation and an automatic function and ad dress selection (there are added one instruction counter and one instruction register).

5 complete microcomputer en abling programme jumps and branchings, and disposes of all essential kinds of addressing.

It differs from a real com puter by a strictly logic in struction structure by doing without certain instruction variants which real computers can dispose of if so required (there are added, amongst others, further registers).

6 When selecting this pro gramme, the real microcom puter is at the disposal of the user, with all possibilities of the built-in microprocessor.

Compared with the simulated microcomputer according to 5 above, further registers are available, and further vari ations of instructions are added. In this stage there is selected a monitor program mer which, for example, per mits the microcomputer to be operated via switches and indicating lamps. By this programme, the microcom puter is rendered "viable".

As already mentioned, various functions may be assigned to the switches 10, 11 and to the indicating device (display) 9 - e.g.

LED's - in dependence upon respective simulation, which functions are indicated by the cards capable of being placed on the microcomputer; for example, to the switch Co there may be assigned the functions "INC (+1) and "LOADADR".

The switches 10, 11, 12 and the indicating device (display) 9 of Fig. 1 are indicated by the dashlines in Fig. 2.

Instead of these cards it is also possible to provide templates which, in accordance with their position only expose that portion of a labelling on the control panel which is necessary for assigning respective functions to the swtches and the indicating device. The positional setting may also be controlled automatically by the code switch.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A microcomputer teaching system, including a microprocessor, at least one memory, a clock pulse generator, a data input! output circuit, a control panel and an indicating device, in which manually operable switches are provided for effecting the input of the data, in which a device is provided for selecting any one of a plurality of programmes, in which to indicate the functions of the switches and of the indicating device which differ in dependence upon the selected programme, there is a number of cards which are geometrically alike but differently labelled, and in which each of said cards has cutouts so arranged that when a said card is placed on the control panel, the indicating device and the switches appropriate to the programme to which the card relates are visible and may be operated.

2. A microcomputer teaching system according to claim 1, and in which the switches are bistable switches.

3. A microcomputer teaching system system according to claim 1, or 2, and in which the selecting device consists of a code switch by which the desired programme is selected in co-operation with the microprocessor.

4. A microcomputer teaching system according to claim 3, and in which the selected programme is indicated by the code switch.

5. A microcomputer teaching system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, and in which by the programmes there is simulated either part of a microcomputer or an entire microcomputer.

6. A microcomputer teaching system, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

1 Arithmetic/logic unit (there are added AND, OR, and EX CLUSIVE-OR circuits)

2 accumulator which can pro cess 8-bit parallel with the aid of a clock pulse (there is added a register)

3 accumulator with a memory which, besides an operation code, must also receive addresses as instructions (there is added a memory and a data selector)

4 simple microcomputer en abling a continuous automatic mode of operation and an automatic function and ad dress selection (there are added one instruction counter and one instruction register).

Compared with the simulated microcomputer according to

5 above, further registers are available, and further vari ations of instructions are added. In this stage there is selected a monitor program mer which, for example, per mits the microcomputer to be operated via switches and indicating lamps. By this programme, the microcom puter is rendered "viable".