Starting a “ColdFire”

Start to Finish: The Creation of an Entire Computer from Motorola’s

ColdFire Processor

Pyrotechnicians:Drew LarsonRandy JedlickaJosh Hudgins

Starting a “Fire” by using Smoldering Ashes

Time: Fall 2000• Implementation of a ColdFire System by

Thai Luong, John Chenault, Greg Steglich• The Protel Problem• Current Status

– Untested– Unevaluated– Unusable?

Objectives & Deliverables

• Develop working computer using the Motorola Coldfire Processor

• Evaluate the current status of the previously existing hardware designs

• Redesign (if necessary)• Complete PCB layout with Protel• Send designs off to have manufacturer

fabricate PCB

Objectives and Deliverables (cont.)

• Mount all components onto board

• Port VxWorks to Flash Rom

• Test Completed design with Dumb Terminal

• Rewrite Labs for CPSC 462

Historical Points of Interest

• Spring 1997 - Dr. Michel Lynch from the University of Florida

• Success spawns interest for Dr. Mahapatra of Texas A&M University

• Legendary “Group 5” desperately attempts recreation of Dr. Lynch’s system

• January 25th, 2001 - Up and coming Pyromaniacs latch onto Coldfire project.

Hardware Schmatics

Motorola’s

MCF5206FT

“Cold Fire” Processor

Block Diagram

Parts List - HardwareResistors4.7 kOhm4.7 kOhm Bussed, 10p33 Ohm Isolated, 8p1 kOhm

Capacitors0.1 uF

Connectors+5 Connection96p (JTAG)9p Serial26p BDM

Oscillators33 MHz14.745 MHz

Sockets72p DRAM40p Flash ROM160p Coldfire

ProcessorColdfire Processor

MiscM34064Push Button SwitchMAX232 (buffer)14p Not Gate

Approximate Cost of Prototype

• Hardware Components: $50 - $60

• PCB Fabrication estimation: $100

• Total Cost Estimate: $150 - $160

Software

•Protel

•Motorola Monitor Program

•Initialization Routines (Motorola Assembly)

•VxWorks Operating System

Weekly ScheduleWeek Date Description1 02/05/01 Proposal and Presentation2 02/12/01 Evaluate existing hardware designs, begin work on required assembly routines for

components3 02/19/01 Redesign existing hardware modules using Protel (if necessary) and add new design

for the Flash memory chosen4 02/26/01 Produce the final Printed Circuit Board layout, send off to be printed5 03/05/01 Continue work on required assembly routines for components6 03/12/01 **Spring Break**7 03/19/01 Mount hardware components onto board8 03/26/01 Load the monitor program, burn memory components with assembly routines9 04/02/01 Port VxWorks into Flash memory10 04/09/01 Continue OS port11 04/16/01 Compile labs for 462 use12 04/23/01 Preparing for the final report13 04/30/00 Final demo and presentation

Tentative Team Assignments

Team Member DescriptionAll Proposal and PresentationRandy, DrewJosh

Evaluate existing hardware designs,Begin work on required assembly routines for components

Drew, JoshRandy

Redesign existing hardware modules using Protel (if necessary)Add new design for the Flash memory chosen

All Produce the final Printed Circuit Board layout, send off to be printedAll (while boardis at factory)

Continue work on required assembly routines for components

**Spring Break**Randy Mount hardware components onto boardJosh, Drew Load the monitor program, burn memory components with assembly routinesAll Port VxWorks into Flash memoryRandy, Drew Continue OS portJosh Compile labs for 462 useAll Preparing for the final reportAll Final demo and presentation

Final Words

• Completion of lab determines:– CPSC462 Curriculum– A&M Reputation– Personal Grade Distribution