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NBN PRODUCTS

edited byProf. D. A. MichalopoulosCalifornia State University, Fullerton

A 12-inch ruler helps to illustrate thefull-size, 136-column printout capabilityof the Execuport 4000.

SIR portable terminal has 136-column printout capability

A microprocessor-controlled send/re-ceive portable computer terminal withfull 136-column printout has been intro-duced by Computer Transceiver Systems.Weighing only 16 lbs., the New Execu-

port 4000 terminal provides ASCII, APL,or IBM PTTC/EBCD codes with oper-ating speeds up to 30 cps. The 4000series comes with bit-paired or typewriter-paired key boards. Features include trueupper and lower case printing, tabbing,built-in testing, print position display,buffered carriage return, and parity errordetection. Black, rather than blue, print-out is provided by a 5 x 7 dot matrixthermal printer.The 4000 provides switch selectable

half or full duplex operation. It has anew built-in coupler/modem design withincreased sensitivity and sound isolationpreviously unavailable in portable ter-minals, according to the manufacturer.An impact-resistant carrying case cover

is an integral part of the terminal. It issimply rolled under the terminal whennot being used to transport the terminal.

Reader Service Number 7

Versatec's vector-to-rasterconverter helps minisplot faster, wider

With the new Versatec vector-to-rasterconverter, small or overloaded minicom-puters can drive Versatec electrostaticplotters of any plotting width or reso-lution at full rated speed.The dedicated VRC processor uses 56-

bit microcode, 100-bit wide memory, and275 nsec instruction cycle speed to con-vert vectors to rasters at data ratesof 1M byte/sec. The 100-bit data pathprovides microprocessor access to a com-plete vector in one instruction cycle.The 56-bit microcode allows processing ofup to eight parallel arithmetic, logic,shift, rotate, branch, and repeat functionsin a single 275-nsec cycle. Effective singleinstruction cycle time is as short as35 nsec, according to Versatec.Upon receiving an initializing command,

the VRC rasterizes input vector data

GE's TermiNet diskette storageterminal has single or dual drives

General Electric's TermiNet diskettestorage terminal is available in single ordual disk drives. The DST is configuredas an independent unit with two RS-232ports, one for various computer periph-erals including CRTs and printers andthe second for a data set. The unit iscompatible with the Bell 212A and otherdata sets.The storage medium is an IBM-com-

patible soft-sectored, single-sided flexible,maghetic diskette, which has a usable stor-age capacity of 231,800 characters in asingle unit to half a million charactersin a dual unit. Each diskette can accom-modate files which may be of variablelength and easily edited, added to, sorted,searched, and otherwise manipulated inan average access time of 463 msec.ASCII coded data is transmitted and

received in serial asynchronous form at

and sends rasters to the printer/plotter.Any print or raster data is passedthrough to the Versatec printer/plotter.During normal operation, manual inter-vention is not required. If the host systemcancels vector output during plottingand sends print data, reset is automatic.Offloading vector to raster conversion

typically reduces minicomputer processingtime by a factor of 8 to 1, accordingto Versatec. Storage in vector formreduces disk space and I/O time by afactor of up to 20 to 1.The standard vector-to-raster convert-

er is priced at $3900.


various baud rates. The system can oper-ate in half or full duplex mode.The single drive DST lists for $2500,

user quantity one, and leases for $95 amonth including maintenance on a one-year rental plan.


78 COMPUTER

Control Logic's MEE-888 is a general-purpose interface bus which meets therequirements of IEEE Standard 488."Talker," "Listener," and "Controller"functions may all be accomplished usingthis interface with the appropriate con-trolling software. The MEE-888, on asingle 3.5 x 4-inch card, is compatible withthe Control Logic M-Series microcomputersystem and may be added to anyexisting system as it is installed in amemory board location.


New member added toPCC's XL line

The XL20 distributed processing sys-tem, newest member of Pertec's XLfamily is a smaUer-scale version of thecompany's XL40 system.Multimicroprocessor-based, the XL20

provides processing intelligence and datastorage for data capture, report genera-tion, file inquiry, and data communica-tions in a single unit the size of a two-drawer file cabinet.Up to four video display input/inquiry

terminals can be served by the system,which will accomodate up to four disk-ette drives totaling 4.8M bytes for pro-gram/file storage and as input/outputmedia.The diskettes are available with single-

sided, single-density IBM basic dataexchange format or double-sided, double-density XL extended format. Memory isexpandable in 16K-byte increments from80K bytes to 128K bytes. Memory cycletime is 600 nsec.XL20 input/inquiry terminals have

either 480- or 2000-character video dis-plays, while hard copy output is providedby a variety of system printers withspeeds from 170 to 900 1pm. A 160-cpsbidirectional printer handles lower-speedapplication requirements up to 110 1pm.Optional card readers are available ateither 300 or 600 cards per minute.An XL20 system configured with 80K

bytes of memory, two diskettes (2.4Mbytes each), data communications, a 480-character video display input/inquiry ter-minal, and a 160-cps bidirectional printeris priced at $20,560 and is available onthree-year lease at $555 per month.


First emission tomographicsystem introduced

Union Carbide demonstrated its radio-nuclide body function imager at theannual meeting of the Society of NuclearMedicine held in Anaheim in June. Theinstrument not only uses a minicomputerto reconstruct the images of a series ofbody slices, using tomographic computa-tion principles, but also uses the computerfor a number of display features.The computational technique is similar

to that of the x-ray CT scanners intro-duced in 1972 (see May Computer, pp.

70-73), but the instrument's principle ofoperation and field of application are

different.Whereas the x-ray scanner transmits

x-rays through the body, the new imagercounts single photons emitted from a

radionuclide of a type that tends to con-

centrate in the organ to be studied.Radiopharmaceuticals have been in use

for a number of years in hospitals andare a common diagnostic tool. Only theimager is new, and it provides a more

sensitive and powerful way for nuclearphysicians to look at living, functioningprocesses within the body. In contrast,the x-ray scanners reveal structure.The minicomputer is a Data General

S/230 Series Eclipse with 128K bytes ofmemory and 10M bytes of disk. Twodiskette drives each provide 600K bytesper drive.After the emission data has been acquir-

ed and reconstructed as axial slices, twooptions enable the user to manipulate thedata to enhance its usefulness. One pro-

gram, called "Option," further processes

the conventional transaxial slices, whilethe other, LAT, recomputes the basicdata from up to eight axial slices intolateral slices specified by the user-i.e.,slices parallel to the body's head-to-toeaxis.One feature of Option is the addition

or subtraction of slices in various ways.

For example, variable weights may beassigned to pixel-by-pixel addition or sub-traction. A number of adjoining slicesmay be added to emphasize the featuresin that part of the organ. In effect, thissoftware provides a degree of image en-

hancement on line.Another is zooming. The user selects

a pixel from the console keypad, and a

quarter of the slice centered on this pixelis expanded by four. By repeated appli-cation of zooming, the user can expand a

tiny detail of a slice up to the resolutionlimit of the data.For more information the user can

single out any horizontal or vertical linein the slice array and command a his-togram to be displayed of the photonemission counts along that line. Similarcount data can be obtained for any smallregion of a slice for which the physicianwould like to have all available detail.The system price-approximately

$275,000-translates into a patient price

August 1978

Union Carbide's radionuclide body func-tion imager provides 128 x 128 pixelcomputed-tomographic reconstructions ofslices of the body organ under study bya nuclear physician. In practice a radio-pharmaceutical specific to the organ tobe scanned is injected, and the patient,on the gantry bed, is moved through theimager. Scanning takes from two to fiveminutes per slice.

of about $65 per study, assuming a usagerate of five studies per day.Unfortunately for US residents, how-

ever, this improved diagnostic tool is notlikely to be widely available in thiscountry in the near future. A prototypesystem has been used in studies of myo-cardial perfusion at New England Dea-coness Hospital, Boston, in cooperationwith faculty members of the HarvardMedical School. The first commercialunit will be installed at the NationalInstitutes of Health in Bethesda, Mary-land, for clinical trials. The next twounits are earmarked for hospitals inEngland.The reason for the restricted US mar-

keting plans, according to Robert W.King, president of Union Carbide's Medi-cal Products Division, is "the confusingand varied regulations encompassed incertificate of need legislation, which tendsto vary from state to state." While UnionCarbide supports the objective of reduc-ing medical costs, says King, the effectof the "regulatory morass" has been toslow down the introduction of new tech-nology, even when its utility is clearlyevident to the medical profession.The result in the case of the body func-

tion imager is that Union Carbide is"regretfully" concentrating its initial mar-keting in Europe "until some order isbrought about on this issue in the US."


79

Microcomputer-based controller IBM increases Systeml34with Basic introduced disk capacity, offersby Dynabyte diskette magazine facility

A single-board programmable micro-computer system for control applicationshas been developed by Dynabyte, Inc.,a Palo Alto manufacturer of S-100 busmicrocomputer components and systems.According to Dynabyte, the Basic Con-

troller allows the user to operate thecomputer and the external devices witha Basic language, called ZIBL, writtenspecifically for control applications. Dyna-byte divides the control world into sixcategories: sense inputs, flag outputs,lites, relays, analog to digital, and digitalto analog. ZIBL implements 64 channelsof each.

File structures allow multiple pro-grams written in ZIBL to reside con-currently in RAM. Each program maybe individually loaded, renamed, or run.Any program may access another pro-gram as though it were a subroutine,while still retaining its own line numbersand variables. Listing, printing, and in-puting may be done to or from any serialor parallel I/O channel or the self-con-tained CRT I/O.The controller, assembled, tested, and

warranted one year, retails for $750.


Wang combats"non-expandable" computers

An almost five-fold increase in maxi-mum disk capacity and a diskette mag-azine facility for its System/34 have beenannounced by IBM.Disk enhancements provide either 63.9

or 128.4M bytes of storage, comparedwith the previous maximum of 27.1Mbytes. The new diskette magazine driveis supported as a sequential save/restoredevice. Both are offered with all System/34 main storage configurations.New disk storage capacities include

single-spindle models of 63.9M bytes anddual-spindle models of 128.4M bytes.Average access time for each spindle is27 msec-11 msec faster than previousmodels. The maximum data transfer rateis 1.031M bytes per second, comparedwith 889,000 bytes per second on pre-vious models.The new diskette facility has five slots,

two for magazines holding up to 10diskettes each and three for individualdiskettes.The diskette magazine facility is offered

in lieu of the previously announced Disk-ette 1 or Diskette 2D drives. Accordingto IBM, advantages of the new magazinefacility include reduced operator inter-vention, increased throughput for save/restore, and improved operational con-venience.System/34 models offering 63.9M bytes

of disk storage will have purchase prices

The diskette magazine drive on new IBMSystem/34 models has five slots: twohold magazines containing 10 disketteseach, and three accommodate individualdiskettes. Typically, processing beginswith the first diskette in Magazine No. 1and proceeds, diskette by diskette, througheach magazine. In a "save" operation,both magazines-up to 24M bytes-canbe processed without operator intervention.

ranging form $36,900 to $51,180. Monthlylease charges range from $1028 to $1398.The 128.4M-byte models will range in

purchase price from $45,470 to $59,750with monthly lease charges from $1283to $1653.

Deliveries will begin in January 1979.


The 2200VS-B virtual memory computercan grow from a $40,000 to a $500,000system without replacing any hardwareand without changing a single line ofapplication code, according to its manu-facturer, Wang Laboratories, Inc. Sim-ilarly, this general-purpose business com-puter system can grow from a two-work-station, lOM-byte storage configurationto a 19 workstation, 2.3-billion-byte stor-age configuration without hardware re-placement or reprogramming. The netresult, Wang claims, is that investmentin hardware and software is totally pro-tected.

Priced at $38,000 (Domestic US price),the 2200VS-B starts with 64K of memory,expandable to 192K; a single diskettedrive; lOM bytes of on-line disk storage,expandable to 150M bytes; a 120-cpsimpact printer; a virtual operating system;a wide range of utilities; an assemblerlanguage; and a choice of Basic, Cobolor RPG-II. The system comes with onework station but will support ten more.A variety of peripherals can be supported,including seven different printers, 30 cpsto 600 Ipm; 120K bytes-per-second 9-track tape drives; and telecommunicationsto 9600 Baud.


Sperry Univac adds to Series 90 computer family

A new medium-level entry point to itsSeries 90 family of computers has beenannounced by Sperry Univac.The new 90/40 computer has a cycle

time of 500 nsec for central storageaccess and main storage access (twobytes). This speed and a new instructionaccess method gives the 90/40 systemnearly a 30 percent improvement inprocessor speed compared to the company's90/30.

The 90/40 uses the same OS/3 operatingsystem as the 90/25 and 90/30 systems.OS/3 provides for multiprogramming ofup to seven jobs concurrently, full input/output spooling, automatic job scheduling,and a comprehensive data managementsystem.

Using the information managementsystem available with the 90/40, userscan input data into the system via ter-minals for immediate processing withoutwaiting for it to be batched with otherinput.

The data base management systemallows data to be consolidated into asingle coherent system that organizes the

information and makes it easy to beaccessed and used.Another software program, the infor-

mation collection system, presents theuser with a preformatted display for a"fill-in-the-blanks" approach.Main storage for the 90/40 system starts

at 524,288 bytes of MOS semiconductormemory and can grow to a total of1,048,576 bytes in modules of 131,072bytes.The minimum disk storage is 200 million

bytes on two drives of the company's8430 disk subsystem. Disk storage capacitycan be increased to a maximum of morethan three billion bytes.Up to 24 communication lines with

transmission speeds of up to 56,000 bitsper second can be configured with the90/40 system.The purchase price for an entry level

90/40 processor complex with 524,288bytes of main storage, disk control, anda communications adapter is $304,272.The monthly rentaL including maintenance,for the same configuration on a five yearlease is $7089.


80 COMPUTER

HP 1000 computer systems feature new processors,faster 16K RAMs, new operating system

Hewlett-Packard's new 1000 F-Seriescomputer systems offer improved oper-ating speed by using a hardware-executedscientific instruction set that performstechnical calculations with greater speed,a new hardware processor for fasterfloating-point operations, and new 350-nsec 16K RAMs.The memory-based Model 25 is aimed

mainly at dedicated applications. TheModel 45, aimed at more-generalizedengineering and scientific applications,also features a new disk-based operatingsystem with the ability, in Fortran, tohandle main-memory data arrays as largeas 2M bytes. Model 45 includes newgraphics software that can produce pro-grams useful without change on threedifferent types of HP display peripherals.

The scientific instruction set is a groupof new hardware-executed instructionsthat calculate trigonometric and logarith-mic functions of floating-point numbersat high speeds. Taking the sine of anumber, for example, is done in 47.6 lisec.According to HP, this speed can beachieved because the instructions use theF-Series' new hardware-executed floating-point instruction set as a computingresource.The fast Fortran processor, standard

in all F-Series processors, acceleratesseveral commonly-used Fortran opera-tions, such as parameter passing betweensubroutines, GO TO's, and array addresscalculations.US list prices of HP 1000 Model 25

systems, with memory-based RTE-Moperating system, F-Series computer(64K-byte parity memory), and HP 2645 F-Series computerconsole terminal, in desk configuration, new HP 1000 F-Sbegin at $27,500. available separati

List prices of the Model 45, combining only in the numlRTE-IV, F-Series computer (128K-byte and powered I/O Ihigh-performance memory), HP 2648A The 2111F, 311 ngraphics console terminal, and graphics can house up to eplotting software, begin at $46,500. With and I/O boards. T1M byte of high-performance fault-con- inches) high, will btrol memory, this system is $85,000. and 14 I/O boardsCurrent delivery estimates on all models able for either meare 16 weeks. 2M bytes of fault.

I/O boards. PriciReader Service Number 18 to $54,500.

Honeywell adds to Level 6 minicomputer family

!s, key elements in theeries systems, are alsoLly. Two models differber of memory boardsboards they can house.nm (121/ inches) high,512K bytes of memoryhe 2117F, 438 mm (171/4told 1M byte of memory. Extender boxes, avail-odel, allow expansion to-control memory and 46es range from $12,250

CalComp's new interactive graphics sys-tem, IGS 500, allows a full range ofgraphics functions to be performed simul-taneously. Multiple workstations canoperate concurrently with no significantdegradation in average response time. Atthe same time, according to CalComp,the system's peripherals can operate infull background mode without interrupt-ing input or editing. The system shownincludes a 64K-byte minicomputer, 50M-byte disk drive, magnetic tape unit, 960plotter, operator's console, and user work-station with 64K-byte picture processor,separate alphanumeric and graphic CRTscreens, keyboard, graphics tablet, andjoystick picture controller. Prices beginat $71,700.


August 1978

Honeywell has expanded its Level 6minicomputer family with new entry-leveland top-of-the-line systems. The Level 6line-Models 23, 33, 43, 47, 53, and 57-now includes minicomputers in the per-formance range of 200,000 instructions/second with the Model 23 to over 700,000instructions/second basic central proces-sor speed with the Models 53 and 57.The new entry-level Model 23 is initially

a diskette-based, communications-orientedsystem. It.is designed both for the volumeOEM and system-builder markets andfor distributed processing applicationslinked either individually, or joined to-gether with Honeywell Series 60, Series200(0) or competitive mainframes usingIBM protocols.Maximum memory is 64K words and

the peripherals supported include disk-ettes, serial printer (30, 120, 160 cps), lineprinters (300, 600, 900 1pm), and com-munications to 9600 baud.A typical system, composed a central

processor with 32K-word main memory,dual diskette, two workstations, a 160-cpsprinter and one synchronous line, togetherwith the basic MOD 200 software, ispriced at $21,500.

The new top-of-the-line Model 57 isdesigned to extend Honeywell's distrib-uted systems environment approach tothe market. This approach is built arounda hierarchy of minicomputers all able tolink into Series 60 mainframes in a flexibleand cooperative manner.The Model 57 has two processors-one

that executes the standard Level 6 in-struction set and a second that executesan additional set of Cobol instructions.Along with this instruction capability,the Model 57 also offers a 4K cachememory and a memory management unit.Systems are based on the Level 6

Megabus architecture common to allmodels from Model 33 upwards. TheMegabus accommodates all system ele-ments such as processor, memories, com-munications, and peripheral controllers.- A typical Model 57, including a centralprocessor with 192K-word main memory,4K cache memory, 512M bytes of diskstorage, tape drive, printer, card reader,console, 16 asynchronous lines, and asynchronous line, together with theMOD 600 executive and advanced For-tran, is priced at $217,000.


81

National announces add-onmemory for IBM 303X computers

National Semiconductor has announcedthat it will supply 16K RAM add-onmemory for the IBM 3031, 3032, and3033 mainframes. The 833X family pro-vides up to 16M bytes of main memory.in 1M-byte increments for the 3031 and3032, and 2M-byte increments for the3033.Modular in design, each logical storage

unit has a terminator/display board whichgives error information. Detailed failureinformation can be captured while thesystem is running. With single-bit errorsautomatically corrected by the system,early detection and replacement reducesuncorrectible double bit errors.The power modules are switching reg-

ulated. They run for 50 msec with in-put power.

Initial 303X customer shipments willbegin during the fourth quarter of 1978.


Racal-Milgo introducesintelligent clusteredterminal system

An intelligent, clustered terminal systemfor small-cluster users has been intro-duced by Racal-Milgo. System 4000 iscompletely programmable, emulates avariety of communications protocols, andperforms on-site processing within acluster using local disk storage.

Built-in emulators allow the system tofunction in IBM 3270 and 2260, UnivacUTS 400, and Honeywell 7700 terminalmodes, cutting line costs for users ofthose terminals by concentrating data.Because System 4000 is a modular sys-tem, users can buy a system designedfor straight terminal emulation now, andgradually add on distributed processingfunctions as software packages are devel-oped, Racal-Milgo states.Each System 4000 cluster may consist

of a cluster controller/processor, com-munications controller, floppy disk stor-age with up to 1M-byte capacity, key-board/display stations, and high- andlow-speed line and character printers.The system can support as many as eightkeystations and four printers simulta-neously. The cluster controller includesa microprocessor, up to 32K bytes ofRAM storage, and function- and task-oriented microprocessor modules. Com-munications controllers provide indepen-dent data link protocol and control atdata rates to 9600 bps.A typical System 4000 consisting of a

controller/processor, four keystations,and a line printer is priced at approxi-mately $20,000. Deliveries in limitedquantities will be available in late Sep-tember.


NewUtreare

Modulation techniques. A new book,Digital Modulation Techniques in anInterference Environment, by KamiloFeher, is available at $25.00 from DonWhite Consultants, Inc., 656 Quince Or-chard Rd., Suite 410, Gaithersburg, MD20760; (301) 840-0300.

Optoelectronics. Infrared emitters anddetectors, LEDs, opto couplers, and otherTI optoelectronic devices are describedin a 56-page catalog available free fromTexas Instruments, Inquiry AnsweringService, PO Box 5012, M/S 308 (Attn:CL-346), Dallas, TX 75222.

Educational software. DEC's Index andDescription of Educational ApplicationSoftware lists 270 PDP-8 and PDP-11packages for teachers and administrators.Write for brochure EK-09358 from Com-munication Services, NR2/M15, DigitalEquipment Corp., 444 Whitney St., North-boro, MA 01532.

Beckman components. Free 224-pageElectronic Components Catalog lists re-sistor networks, hybrid microcircuits,planar gas discharge displays, LCDs, andother products. Send request to BeckmanInstruments, Technical Information Sec-tion, 2500 Harbor Blvd., PO Box 3100,Fullerton, CA 92634.

DEC offers disk cleaner forRK06, RK07 cartridges

A new disk cleaning device for main-tenance of RK06 and RK07 magneticdisk cartridges has been announced byDigital Equipment Corporation. Themodel RK07K-AA disk cartridge cleaner,for 115-volt installations, and the modelRK07K-AB, for 230-volt installations,are designed to handle Digital's top-loading twin-platter disk cartridges.The cartridge cleaner removes contami-

nants-oxide redeposits, dust, smokeor oil particles, paper bits, fingerprintsmudges, etc.-from the magnetic re-

cording surfaces of the disks. The devicefeatures an automatic cleaning cycleand contains an interlock system thatprevents damage to the disk and ensures

correct installation.Special cleaning pads with a fluoro-

carbon-based cleaning compound are theonly components that contact the disksurface. A microscopic filter system keepscontaminants out of the system.

TI calculator programs. Programmer'sAid Pakette provides listings and docu-mentation for six TI Programmable-59programs including EBCDIC and ASCIIcode converters and TMS 9900 and Intel8080 disassemblers. The 64-page bookletis available for $10.00 (plus $1.50 handlingand applicable sales tax) from TexasInstruments, Service Facility, PO Box 53,Lubbock, TX 79408.

Analog Devices catalog. Free 32-pageguide describes line of more than 400products for measurement and controlsuch as D/A, A/D converters, op amps,and analog I/O subsystems for micro-computers. Ask for the Short Form Guidefrom Analog Devices, Route One Indus-trial Park, PO Box 280, Norwood, MA02062; (617) 329-4700.

Industrial control programming. Bro-chure shows how the Centech Elan systemreduces programming errors and the timenecessary to prepare tapes for numericalcontrol machining programs. Write Cen-tech, 10385 N. Dearlove Rd., Glenview,IL 60025; or phone (312) 299-6788.

Infotech State of the Art Reports. Newreports focus on structured design method-ology and system reliability techniques.For further information on each 2-volumereport contact Auerbach Publishers,6560 N. Park Dr., Pennsauken, NJ 08109.

Machine controllers. Vega IIIG computernumerical controllers can be used in appli-cations such as milling, boring, woodrouting, grinding, and planing. For tech-nical brochure write Vega Servo-Control,2611 Elliott, Troy, MI 48084.

The RK07K disk cleaner weighs 23pounds and measures 23 x 23 x 9 inches.It is supplied with a cleaning kit con-taining three bottles of cleaning fluidand 50 pairs of pads-enough to clean 25cartridges.


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