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RCA COSMAC VIP CDP18S711 Instruction Manual RCA Solid State Division, Somerville, N. J. 08876 Copyright 1978 by RCA Corporation (All rights reserved under Pan-American Copyright Convention) Printed in USA/2-78 VIP-311
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT COSMAC VIP has been created by Joe Weisbecker of the RCA Laboratories, Princeton, N.J. so that everyone can have fun and useful personal computer experiences. The elegant and simple hardware system design and the powerful video output together with the customized CHIP-8 language interpreter constitute a fresh and promising approach to personal computers. If questions arise regarding the VIP software or hardware, write to VIP RCA Solid State Division Box 3200 Somerville, N.J. 08876
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Contents I. Getting Started ...................................................................................................................5 What This Manual Covers .................................................................................................5 The Power Supply ..............................................................................................................6 What You See ..........................................................................................
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Contents (Continued) Appendix B - Operating System ................................................................................................. 33 Operating System Listing ................................................................................................. 33 Operating System Register Table .................................................................................... 34 Operating System Summary .............................................................................
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1 1. Getting Started COSMAC VIP (Video Interface Processor) With COSMAC VIP you can easily create pictures CDP18S711 is a complete computer on a single on the display screen and move them around. This printed-circuit card. It includes the following: feature is invaluable for video games and not usually available with computers costing several times as *RCA CDP1802 Microprocessor (91 instructions) much. The software you need to use your computer is *2048-byte RAM provided free instead of at added
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6 RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual CHIP-8 includes a real time clock, random number will facilitate setting up the cassette system and iden- generator, decimal conversion, and digit or graphic tifying hardware problems in the rare case where they display capability. It only uses 512 bytes of RAM leaving occur. Hex notation is used in this manual unless noted over 1024 bytes for programs in a 2048-byte system. otherwise. (One byte equals two hex digits.) (You can get an additional 2048 bytes of
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1. Getting Started 7 C pressed and the Q light should be on. When you release What You See key C the tone and Q light should both go off. (The tone You must now decide on the video display for your occurs whenever the Q light is on.) You should now see a computer. The video pad at the back right comer of the random pattern of small square spots on the display. Push COSMAC VIP card provides a video signal which you hex keys 8008 in sequence and you should see 8008 at can connect directly to the h
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9 11. COSMAC VIP Operation COSMAC VIP is operated with the RUN switch and KEY OPERATION hex keyboard. The PWR light shows that power is on. The Q light is activated by various programs. A tone is MW (Memory Write) 0 sounded whenever the Q light is on. The TAPE light MR (Memory Read) A glows when cassette input data is present. When using TW (Tape Write) TR F COSMAC VIP, always start with the RUN switch in the B (Tape Read) down (or reset) position. Flipping the RUN switch up initiates execution
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10 RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual contained in the last 256-byte page of the on-card RAM. TC-150. In general, better quality recorders provide If you have a 2048-byte RAM, you are seeing locations more reliable operation. 0700-7FF on the screen. Bit 7 of the byte at 0700 is in the upper left comer. Try storing a sequence of eight AA Your tape recorder must have an 8-ohm earphone or bytes followed by eight 55 bytes starting at location external speaker jack and a microphone input jack. 0700. K
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11. COSMAC VIP Operation 1 After recording and checking a program cassette, you can 01FF, then load the game program starting at 0200. break out the tabs at the top of the cassette to prevent Record a cassette from 0000 to the end of the game accidental erasure. In the event you wish to record on a program. When you load this tape, starting at 0000, you cassette after you have broken out the tabs, you can do so will be ready to play the game. simply by pasting tape over the tab holes. You can re
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III. CHIP-8 Language Programming instruction following the 2570. The subroutine itself CHIP-8 is an easy-to-learn programming language could use another 2MMM instruction to branch to (or that lets you write your own programs. To use the call) another subroutine. This technique is known as CHIP-8 language, you must first store the 512-byte subroutine nesting. Note that all subroutines called (or CHIP-8 language program at memory locations 0000 to branched to) by 2MMM instructions must end with 01
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14 RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual Table I - CHIP-8 Instructions Instruction Operation 1MMM Go to 0MMM BMMM Go to 0MMM + V0 2MMM Do subroutine at 0MMM (must end with 00EE) 00EE Return from subroutine 3XKK Skip next instruction if VX = KK 4XKK Skip next instruction if VX n.e. KK 5XY0 Skip next instruction if VX = VY 9XY0 Skip next instruction if VX n.e. VY EX9E Skip next instruction if VX = Hex key (LSD) EXAl Skip next instruction if VX n.e. Hex key (LSD) 6XKK Let VX = KK CXKK Let VX = Random B
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III. CHIP-8 Language Programming 15 Fig. 1 - Display screen coordinate structure. pattern for the digit "8" on the screen. First we make pattern will be shown on the screen in the upper left up a pattern of bits to form "8" as shown in Fig. 2. corner. You can write a program to show the "8" pattern on the screen as follows: 0200 A20A I=020A 0202 6100 V1=00 0204 6200 V2=00 0206 D125 SHOW 5MI@VlV2 0208 1208 GO 0208 020A F090 020C F090 020E F000 Fig. 2 - Patternof bitsjorming digit 8. The first col
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RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual 16 touched any part of a previously displayed pattern. This 0218 F229 I =V2 (LSDP) feature permits programming video games which require 021A D455 SHOW 5MI@V4V5 knowing if one moving pattern touches or hits another 021C 6603 V6=03 pattern. 021E F618 TONE=V6 0220 6620 V6=20 Because trying to display two I spots at the same 0222 F615 TIME=V6 position on the screen results in a 0 spot, you can use the 0224 F607 V6=TIME DXYN instruction to erase a previously display
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111. CHIP-8 Language Programming 17 lose the CHIP-8 interpreter and will have to reload it. 9. LUNAR LANDING - Program a graphic lunar You can insert stopping points in your program for landing game. debugging purposes. Suppose you want to stop and 10. COLLIDE - Try to maneuver a spot from one examine variables when your program reaches the edge of the screen to the other without hitting instruction at 0260. Just write a 1260 instruction at randomly moving obstacles. location 0260. Flip RUN down
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18 RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual The next section will discuss machine language 25. PROGRAMMED SPOT - Introduce children to programming. You can even combine machine language programming concepts by letting them subroutines with CHIP-8 programs if desired. preprogram the movements of a spot or object on the screen.
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19 IV. Machine Language Programming The latched Q line output performs several functions VIP Machine Coding in the COSMAC VIP system. When set, it holds the Q light on and generates a continuous speaker tone. Ile Q For a complete description of machine language line is also used for serial output data to a cassette instructions, refer to the User Manual for the CDP1802 recorder. You can use the Q output line as a control COSMAC Microprocessor MPM201A. Your signal in an expanded system if you avo
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20 RCA COSMAC VIP Instruction Manual The CHIP-8 language described in the previous While the video interface is turned on, you should not section, permits machine language subroutines to be use any of the 3-machine-cycle CDP1802 instructions called with a 0MMM instruction. A D4 machine (except those used for sync in the refresh interrupt language instruction at the end of the machine language routine itself). If you are not using the video interface, subroutine returns control to the CHIP-8 inst
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21 V. Logic Description operating system program which uses a 64 instruction to A complete set of logic diagrams is provided in Appendix E. Power requirements for a system with 2048 generate an N2 pulse. This-N2 pulse sets U6A so it no bytes of RAM is 5 V DC at 350 mA. If you wish to longer holds U6B in its set state. From this point on, the expand the system you can use your own higher current selection,of RAM or ROM locations is controlled by the power supply. most significant address bit latc
