Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Surfing in te web i found this:

N° Part 65/11E          6500/11 emulator
http://www.cpu-world.com/info/id/Rockwell-identification.html
Can i use this dip to emulate de functions of 6500/11?

 
Daeron...


________________________________
 De: jammie <jammie.emma@...>
Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
Enviado: Jueves, 6 de septiembre, 2012 13:50:20
Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
 

  
 
i can get new vfd displays made with controler 
chips built in 
 
which would do away with all the interface chips 
but would need the cpu scanner for control
 
on the asr and eps series they use non masked rom 
chip[s
 
there 2 fip control chips made by nec 1 does row 
and one does column
 
they have logic 5v inputs that can be switches via 
push switches and have outputs for leds
 
ensoniq where good for reusing tech on thewre 
synths as they were already set up with the parts
 
it was not until nec stop production on the eps/asr 
fip vfd panel that they went to lcd
----- Original Message ----- 
>From: Christian Brunschen 
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 7:39  PM
>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix  VFX-SD no work!
>
>  
>I would be interested in the contents of the ROM part of the 6500/11 as  well – so that the display processor can be properly emulated. I'm also more  than willing to pitch in for a donation to make this happen! 
>
>
>Best wishes,
>
>
>// Christian
>
>
>On 6 Sep 2012, at 19:34, jammie wrote:
>
> 
>>
>>
>>i have sent a message to the guru
>> 
>>to see with a donation and a chip if they  could
>> 
>>decap our mask rom and read the code into a bin  files for us so we can write new 6500 chips with eproms which are still  available to buy making it possible to extend the life of these
>>instruments
>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: jammie
>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>Sent: Thursday,  September 06, 2012 7:15 PM
>>>Subject: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>thats a neat way of doing it
>>> 
>>>i have some spare broken chips
>>> 
>>>you can get ones with  flash rom socket  on that you install a rom on
>>> 
>>>these were use for debugging your code before  you commited to mask
>>> 
>>>you can still get these chips
>>> 
>>>so being able to read the code data would  give us a bin file to write new chips
>>> 
>>>finding some one todo it for use is the  thing
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: Christian Brunschen
>>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>>Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012  6:47 PM
>>>>Subject: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>
>>>>  
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On Sep 6, 2012, at 6:14 PM, "jammie" <jammie.emma@...>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>you cant as there masked you cant read  them
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Not directly, no - but the decapping is all about exposing the chip  itself, and directly reading the masked data, optically. That's what's  described at the link that I included, and is used specifically for  chips such as the 6500/11 where there's non-directly-readable ROM  attached to a microcontroller or similar.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Best wishes,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>// Christian
>>>>
>>>>already tried that
>>>>> 
>>>>>ensoniq were good at keeping there stuff  secret
>>>>> 
>>>>>as emu use the same chips in the emax 1/2  and e3
>>>>> 
>>>>>but epr can still get the chips with the  correct code burned into them
>>>>> 
>>>>>same cpu chip but different prom  code
>>>>>-----  Original Message -----
>>>>>>From: Christian Brunschen
>>>>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>>>>Sent: Thursday, September 06,  2012 5:40 PM
>>>>>>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD]  Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Have you considered trying to get the ROM contents of the 6500/11  through decapping – carefully removing the casing of the chip and  taking high-resolution pictures of the ROM and read it that  way? http://guru.mameworld.info/decap/index.html 
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Best wishes,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>// Christian
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>On Sep 6, 2012, at 5:34 PM, "jammie" <jammie.emma@...>  wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>you could change many parts to find  out its not that that was broken
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>you need a logic anyliser to see  whats wrong with cpu and logic chips and the data sheet so you can  see
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>what cycles and voltages and timmings  are supposed to happen
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>and getting the data sheet for the  6500 which has a prom on it with ensoniq specific code for the job  it performs so you would also need this data
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>and the problem is its not  available
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>we have had to do it the brut force  method with a logic anyliser and recording all the  functions
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>and then copying them onto a  fpga logic circuit
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>its alot of work and we are still in  the design phase of the project with this new interface  chip
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>as it is needed to keep alive lots of  ensoniq synths
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>as in the past i have had to put to  pastures several metal case esq1 becuase of this chip
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>you are better of buying that vfd  board for the vfx from syntuar and then you will hve spare  parts
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>as you could be changing lots of  parts for nothing and it might still not work
>>>>>>>-----  Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>From: Daeron
>>>>>>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>>>>>>Sent: Thursday, September 06,  2012 2:48 PM
>>>>>>>>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD]  Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Yes!  i change the power supply thinking that  was the problem  the but it  was not! 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>Daeron...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>________________________________
>>>>>>>> De: Christian Brunschen  <cb@...>
>>>>>>>>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>>>>>>>>Enviado: Jueves, 6 de  septiembre, 2012 8:37:01
>>>>>>>>Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD]  Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>On Sep 6, 2012, at 2:34 PM, Daeron <daeron_elf@...>  wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Dear  Christian!
>>>>>>>>>thanks for you support! it's a very complete 
                  information, i will try to check every chip 
                  separately!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Hi Daeron,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>from the video you showed, there's a brief flash of  something on the display before it all goes blank; that's not  really the kind of problem that I think has to do with any one  of the driver chips being bad, alas. I think that as has been  said elsewhere in this thread, it may be the microcontroller.  Possibly, though, it might be a power-related issue?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Daeron...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>// Christian
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>________________________________
>>>>>>>>> De: Christian  Brunschen <cb@...>
>>>>>>>>>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>>>>>>>>>Enviado: Jueves,  6 de septiembre, 2012 7:10:19
>>>>>>>>>Asunto: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 9:00 PM, Daeron <daeron_elf@yahoo.com.mx>  wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Oh!  thanks a lot for your support! somebody know the part number  of the controller chip? i found this: Display driver integrated circuit chip, TL4810BN on  syntaur!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Actually, the display board on the VFX-series of boards  uses two different driver chips to drive the VFD (Vacuum  Fluorescent Display). In that respect it is similar to the  ESQ1 - whose display board schematic is here: http://memi.de/~buchty/ensoniq/schematics/esq1/esq1-display.jpg
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>As on the VFX / VFX--SD / SD-1, there are two different  chips, both with similar function:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>4 * TL4810A to drive the choice of segments; and
>>>>>>>>>2 * TL5812 to drive the columns.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Basically, the VFD works by lighting up those segments  that are addressed by the combination of the selected column  (40 columns, one pin for each column => 40 pins) and the  selected set of segments (2 rows of characters with 14  segments per character => 28 pins).
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>The driving chips are shift registers, into which data  are written sequentially, and then presented in parallel. The  TL4810A chips are 10-bit shift registers, and the TL5812 chips  are 20-bit shift registers.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>The two TL5812:s are arranged sequentially to comprise  effectively a single, 40-bit shift register, their 40 outputs  each connected to one of the 40 'column' pins on the VFD; the  4 TL4810A:s are separate, each connected to separate input  pins from the 6500 processor, and each having 7 of its outputs  connected to 7 of the 'segment' driving pins on the VFD.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>In order to draw a complete screenful, I believe the  display board does the following.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>The display board iterates through each column on the  board. It does this by shifting a single '1' into  the  40-bit shift register comprised of the 2 TL5812:s. At the  beginning of displaying a screenful, we thus have a single '1'  and 39 '0's present on the column-driving pins of the VFD,  thus effectively selecting column 0.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>At the same time, it shifts 4 sets of 7 bits, one into  each of the TL4810A:s, thus specifying which 4*7 = 28 segments  should be lit in the 0:th column of the display. 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>This means that the display will light up precisely those  selected segments in column 0.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Then a '0' is shifted into the 'column' shift register,  advancing the '1' to select column 1; and a new set of 7 bits  per register are shifted into the 4 TL4810A:s, to specify the  set of segments lit in that column, and so on.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Troubleshooting-wise, this basically means that if you  have symptoms where the left or right half of the display is  messed up but the other (right / left) half is OK, it's likely  a problem with one of the TL5812 chips. If you have problems  with some of the segments in all characters in one row, that  indicates an issue with one (or more) of the TL4810A  chips.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Intriguingly enough, I've found both TL5812:s and  TL4810:s  on eBay:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120922031767
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110886748416
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>(the TL4810BN is an improved version of the  TL4810A).
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Best wishes,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>// Christian Brunschen
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> please sorry for my bad english is not my native  language!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Daeron...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> De: jammie  <jammie.emma@...>
>>>>>>>>>>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>>>>>>>>>>Enviado: Domingo,  2 de septiembre, 2012 14:52:01
>>>>>>>>>>Asunto: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no 
work!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>the fip controller chips are  fualty
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>its a common problem on the  asr10
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>and the esq1 sq80
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>so its no suprize that the vfx  has the same fualt as the esq1 and sq80 vfx sd and the ts10  all use the same display
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>and you cant get the chips any  more i know i have tried as i fix these all the  time
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>we are working on an fpga  design to replace but still in the designing and testing  phase
>>>>>>>>>>-----  Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>>>>From: STEPHEN  PRATT
>>>>>>>>>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>>>>>>>>>Sent: Sunday,  September 02, 2012 8:21 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>Subject: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>How old is the backup battery?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 2:58 PM, Daeron wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>Hi! some body help me! my  vfx-sd don't work any more, i change the power supply  but nothing! i push the power on and just a little flash  on the display!
>>>>>>>>>>>>like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNBW3DluHj0&feature=plcp
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
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