Smith Machine Works, Inc.

Version 1.0a, 4 February 2003

M68HC908QT/QY NITRON EXPRESS Rapid Development PCB

FEATURES – 

• An improved MON08 interface based on Figure 9-3 of the Motorola “Data Sheet” (MC68HC908QY4/D, Rev 0). Connects to a host PC with a simple, serial cable; No expensive interface boards are required.

• Fully Functional and Improved DTR controlled POR Interface. Jumper selectable external oscillator and Vtst supply available to allow entry into Vtst Monitor Mode as well as Forced Monitor modes. Circuit improvements resolve issues with Vtst rise-time and fully remove Vtst from the target MCU during the POR cycle. The external oscillator may be disabled for testing with the internal oscillator only. A MANUAL POR mode is also available for debuggers/programmers that do not support DTR driven POR cycles.

• Dual power supplies isolate the target MCU and Monitor interface from external interface circuits.

• Supports both QT and QY MCUs. While designed primarily for the Nitron QY (16 pin) family of devices, the target MCU socket can be easily converted (with the simple installation of four Wire Wrap jumpers) to be compatible with the QT (8 pin) MCUs.

• A generously sized and serious prototyping area. Three columns of 3-hole pads with heavy duty ground and power buses accept all popular width Wire-Wrap Dip sockets from 0.3” to 0.7” wide. Each of the three columns has 70, 3-hole pads (enough for four 16-Pin sockets with 0.1” spacing between each socket).  Wide, 0.6” Dip sockets (such as needed by 32 Pin memory chips) can be intermixed with standard 0.3” Dip sockets. The power and ground busses are heavily bypassed with both bulk and high frequency capacitors.

• STATUS LEDs. Dedicated status LEDs monitor board power and status of the DTR controlled POR circuit. Two additional LEDs are available to indicate user program status.

• TEST POINTS. All target MCU pins are connected to convenient Wire Wrap test points ready to attach to prototype area circuits or for the easy attachment of scope probes or clip leads. Five dedicated ground test points are conveniently located for the attachment of scope ground clips or multi-meter common leads.

• External interface connectors. Mounting pads are provided to accept three, ten pin flat ribbon cable connectors to interface the prototype PCB to external circuits.

• SIZE – The overall board size is 6.0” by 4.0”.

SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY –

The NITRON EXPRESS Rapid Prototyping PCB was designed especially with the cost and time conscious embedded systems designer in mind. It was designed expressly to be used with the NoICE Debugger and the IMAGEcraft ICC08 C and Assembler cross-development platform and IDE. While neither of these products is “Free”, a “Free” product that consumes substantial resources and requires a very steep “learning curve” is not “free” either.

For more information

For the NoICE Debugger, see http://www.noicedebugger.com

For IMAGEcraft C, see http://www.imagecraft.com

PRODUCT STATUS –

The NITRON EXPRESS Rapid Prototyping PCB is currently available limited quantities.

Its current status is “production ramp-up”. I have an initial run of production boards on hand that will be built to order and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE -

This product is intended only for use in development laboratories.  It is not intended for use in end products subject to inspections or regulatory control in the U.S.A. or any other jurisdiction.  It is up to the user to determine his requirements for local compliance.  This product should not be selected as a component item for any equipment which may be subject to agency inspections or control.

PRODUCT PRICING –

Pre-production pricing is set at $90.00 each, assembled and tested with documentation.

Final pricing will be established after production quantities are determined.

Initial sales will be in the U.S.A. only. I am not prepared to deal with export issues at this time.

Credit card capability is being investigated and may be available in the future. Until then, payment terms will be check or cash only.

For orders and inquiries, contact the factory at mailto:bobsmith5@earthlink.net

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