2010 Technologies for PC

Year 2010 or early 2011 will be interesting for PC buyers who are thinking to buy a new computer.  First of all, The USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) will be available on many PC motherboards late this year.  Another thing is a series of new microprocessors from Intel which intergrate GPU in their dice.

Embedded Systems Design Magazine

"Embedded Systems design" magazine ed. Feb 2010:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cmp/esd0110/index.php#/0

iPad, iSlate, Kindle or what?

Apple iPad was introduced by its CEO, Steve Jobs, last week.  Despite its slickness and coolness, it still runs LED LCD screen.  The new HP Tablet to-be-released will also be running LCD.  Kindle from Amazon is in different direction.  It uses a like-book screen from E Ink ( a spun off of MIT-lab company), but it only is black-and-white (though can display different grades of grey) and too slow for most of computing works today, except for reading e-books.

There is a new startup founded by Mary Lou Epsen (does OLPC [One Laptop Per Child] project click you?) that goes to a little bit different.  Their claim the new LCD screen they are producing is a marriage between both worlds: the fast-response and colorful of LCD with reflection-light and power-saving of E-ink.

Looking at their website (http://www.pixelqi.com/about_us), most of their executives and board members hold Ph.D, either in optics, electrical engineering or physics.  Quite impressive.  The product they're making is called "Pixel Qi".

I was wondering why iPad doesn't use their screen for iPad? too expensive? I am eager to see a computer company to use their product for a power-efficient next generation tablet PC (I am no fan of Netbook.  I agreed with Mr. Jobs in his presentation that Netbook is just a slow smaller-than-laptop PC running memory-hungry Windows XP or not-that-popular Linux).

I was thinking to get this iPad, but after reading an article about this Pixel-Qi on Popular Science magazine, I am thinking to just wait and see how people's responses surface later on and will decide later.

If you're in the market ready to throw some money for a new netbook, be patient and wait for the getting-hotter market of tablet computers to select the best of the breed.

How to Add HP-1020 on CUPS to Windows XP

This is the instruction to share a printer which is served by a Linux running CUPS server to Windows clients.

Assume the class name of the printer (as defined in CUPS) is HP_LaserJet_1020, and the Linux server's IP address is 192.168.0.11.

Add a network printer and in URI box, add: http://%3cip-address/ of cups server>/classes/<classname>

or, in this example:

http://192.168.0.11/classes/HP_LaserJet_1020

LOGVECT.C

/*    RESET AND INTERRUPT VECTORS
    Modified-version of COSMIC-France's vector.c

    (c) M. Lutfi Shahab

    First creation : 8-Jan-1995

    Modifications :
        - Bugs found in Whitesmiths's vector.c (vector 9 contains Division
          by Zero).
        - RESET: Whitesmith always defined zk and sk by zero, but in this
          file, user can modified it.
        - exception handler now can only be a near address (appropiate use
          for EVB under MCX16 kernel operation).
 */
#define _WSC_
#include "mcx16.h"

extern SYSTABLE SysTable;
extern @port void  _stext(void);      /* startup routine */
extern @port void SCITrmIsr(void);  /* SCI transmit interrupt handler */
extern @port void SCIRcvIsr(void);  /* SCI receive interrupt handler */
extern @port void _BerrIsr(void);
extern @port void DivZero(void);
extern @port void IllegalOpcode(void);
extern @port void _default(void);
static @port void _dummit(void);


const struct reset {
    @far @port void (*rst)(void);    /* reset + code extension */
    unsigned int isp;         /* initial stack pointer */
    unsigned int dpp;         /* direct page pointer */
    @port void (*vector[58])(void);     /* interrupt vectors */
} _reset = {
/*0000:*/  /*  vector 0: (ixksk) = $0110
                            bank 0, stack at $1xxxx
                            start address :
                            [15:12] = reserved
                            [11:8]  = initial ZK
                            [7:4]   = initial SK
                            [3:0]   = initial PK
                     */
/*0002: */   _stext,     /* vector 1, initial PC  */
/*0004: */   0x002E,     /* vector 2, Stack Pointer, [15:0]  = initial SP */
/*0006:*/    0x0000,     /* vector 3, direct page pointer,
                            initial IZ (Direct Page Pointer) */

           /* BEGIN VECTORS */
/*000A:*/    _dummit,    /* vector 5, Bus Error (BERR) */
/*0008:*/    _dummit,    /* vector 4, Breakpoint (BKPT) */
/*000C:*/    (@port void *)0x02FA,    /* vector 6, Software Interrupt (SWI) to call MCX16 services */
/*000E:*/    _default,    /* vector 7, Illegal Instruction */
/*0010:*/    _default,    /* vector 8, Divide by Zero */
/*0012:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 9, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*0014:*/    _dummit,     /* vector A, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*0016:*/    _dummit,     /* vector B, Unassigned, , Reserved */
/*0018:*/    _dummit,     /* vector C, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*001A:*/    _dummit,     /* vector D, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*001C:*/    _dummit,     /* vector E, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*001E:*/    _dummit,     /* vector F, Uninitialized Interrupt */
/*0020:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 10, Unassigned, Reserved */
/*0022:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 11, Level 1 Interrupt Autovector */
/*0024:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 12, Level 2 Interrupt Autovector */
/*0026:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 13, Level 3 Interrupt Autovector */
/*0028:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 14, Level 4 Interrupt Autovector */
/*002A:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 15, Level 5 Interrupt Autovector */
/*002C:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 16, Level 6 Interrupt Autovector */
/*002E:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 17, Level 7 Interrupt Autovector */
/*0030:*/    _dummit,     /* Vector 18, Spurious Interrupt */
/*0032:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 19 user-defined interrupt */
/*0034:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1A user-defined interrupt */
/*0036:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1B user-defined interrupt */
/*0038:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1C user-defined interrupt */
/*003A:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1E user-defined interrupt */
/*003C:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1E user-defined interrupt */
/*003E:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 1F user-defined interrupt */
/*0040:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 20 user-defined interrupt */
/*0042:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 21 user-defined interrupt */
/*0044:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 22 user-defined interrupt */
/*0046:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 23 user-defined interrupt */
/*0048:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 24 user-defined interrupt */
/*004A:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 25 user-defined interrupt */
/*004C:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 26 user-defined interrupt */
/*004E:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 27 user-defined interrupt */
/*0050:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 28 user-defined interrupt */
/*0052:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 29 user-defined interrupt */
/*0054:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2A user-defined interrupt */
/*0056:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2B user-defined interrupt */
/*0058:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2C user-defined interrupt */
/*005A:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2D user-defined interrupt */
/*005C:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2E user-defined interrupt */
/*005E:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 2F user-defined interrupt */
/*0060:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 30 user-defined interrupt */
/*0062:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 31 user-defined interrupt */
/*0064:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 32 user-defined interrupt */
/*0066:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 33 user-defined interrupt */
/*0068:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 34 user-defined interrupt */
/*006A:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 35 user-defined interrupt */
/*006C:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 36 user-defined interrupt */
/*006E:*/    _dummit,     /* vector 37 user-defined interrupt */
/*0070:*/    (@port void *)&SysTable,   /* vector 38 points to SysTable address */
/*0072:*/    (@port void *)0x81E,  /* vector 39 as a null task */
/*0074:*/    SCIIsr,      /* Vector 3A, Interrupt Service Routine SCI */
};


/* empty function to receive an undefined interrupt
 */
static @port void _dummit(void) /* just contains rti */
{
    /* enter background debug mode */
    _asm("BGND\n");
    _asm("nop\n");
}

ADCTASK.C

/******************************************************************************
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������͸
�                                                                             �
�                    ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTING TASK                        �
�                                                                             �
�                        Copyright (c) June, 1995                             �
�                           by Lutfi Shahab                                   �
�               Instrumentation and Controls Laboratory                       �
�                     Dept. of Engineering Physics                            �
�                   Faculty of Industrial Technology                          �
�                      Institut Teknologi Bandung                             �
�                                                                             �
�  Date:      20/11/94                                                        �
�                                                                             �
�  Platform : Motorola 68HC16 Microcontroller                                 �
�  Compiler : Whitesmith HC16 Compiler                                        �
�  Target   : EPROM-targeted binary code                                      �
�                                                                             �
�  Description: -Task and routines to access ADC-module of 68HC16             �
�                                                                             �
�  Functions:                                                                 �
�                                                                             �
�   Summary:                                                                  �
�   The ADC module is mapped into 32 words of address space. Five words are   �
�   control/status registers, one word is digital port data, and 24 words     �
�   provide access to the results of ADC conversion (eight addresses for each �
�   type of converted data). Two words are reserved for expansion.            �
�   The ADC module base address is determined by the value of the MODMAP bit  �
�   int the system integration module configuration register (SIMMCR).        �
�   The base address is normaly $FFF700 in the MC68HC16Z1.                    �
�       Internally, the ADC has both a differential data bus and a buffered   �
�   IMB data bus. Registers not directly associated with AD conversion        �
�   functions, such as the MCR, the MTR, and the PDR, reside on the bufferd   �
�   bus, while conversion registers and result registers reside on the        �
�   differential bus.                                                         �
�                                                                             �
�   Registers that must be set prior operation:                               �
�     ADMCR:                                                                  �
�       STOP = 0 (normal operation)                                           �
�       FRZ  = 0                                                              �
�       SUPV = 1 (supervisory mode)                                           �
�     ADCTL0:                                                                 �
�       PRS   = 1 (ADC clock = system clock/4 = 16.667 MHz/4)                 �
�       STS   = 0 (4 A/D clock periods in the sample time)                    �
�       RES10 = 1 (10-bit conversion)                                         �
�     ADCTL1:                                                                 �
�       SCAN  = 1 (continuous conversion)                                     �
�       MULT  = 1 (sequential conversion of four or eight channels            �
�                  selected by [CD:CA])                                       �
�       S8CM  = 1 (eight-conversion sequence)                                 �
�       CD    = 0 (measured data at each channel stored into his register)    �
�                                                                             �
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������;
******************************************************************************/
#define _FAR_

#include <wslxa.h>
#include "_adc.h"
#include "mcx16.h"
#include "sysdef.h"

#define CLICK_T     (16.256E-3) /* 1 clock tick = 16.256 mS */
#define TICK1       (1000/16) /* 1 second */
#define TICK2       (1000/16)

/*
    It's difficult to find out how time constant of thermocouple is,
    but for bare thermocouple, however, extensive reseach and testing
    have provided semi-empirical formulas that allow calculation of the time
    constant with fair accuracy. One such relation useful for temperatures
    from 160 - 1600 F, wire diameter 0.016 - 0.051 in, mass velocity 3 - 50
    lbm/(ft3.s), and static pressure of 1 atm is:

        t = (3500*rho*c*d^1.25 * pow(G, -15.8* sqrt(T)))/T, where

    rho = mass density of two thermocouple materials, lbm/ft3
    c   = average specific heat of two thermocouple materials, Btu/(lbm.F)
    d   = wire diameter (in)
    G   = flow mass velocity, lbm/(ft2.s)
    T   = stagnation temperature, R

    (adapted from Doebelin, MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS,...)
*/

/*********
    THIS JUST FOR CLARITY !
    ADC has been initialized by STARTUP.S
*******/
/*****
void ADC_init(void)
{
    admcr.reg = ADMCR_SUPV;
    admcr.reg = 0x0010;
    adctl0.reg = 0x0083;
    adctl1.reg = 0x0077;
}
******/


WORD adcdata[N_ADC_CHANNELS];

void ADC_Task(void)
{
   int i;

   _mcx_timer(TICK1, TICK2, SAMP_SEMA); /* install timer */
   FOREVER
   {
      /* wait until sample period begin */
      _mcx_wait(SAMP_SEMA);

      /* SCF is cleared when ADCTL1 is written and a conversion sequence begin */
       adctl1.reg = 0x0077;
      do {
      } while (adstat.w.ccf==0); /* all channels completely converted ? */

  /*******
    if last channel scanned
        send data to mailbox if polling has reached last channel.
        signalling other task with ADC_SEMA
    rescan ADC channels, starting from first channel
  *******/

      for(i=ADC_1; i<=N_ADC_CHANNELS; i++)
            adcdata[i] = ur_adc_rslt[i];
      _mcx_send_mbx(ADC_MBX, &adcdata, ADC_SEMA);
   }
}