From: DJ Vollkasko (DJ_Vollkasko_at_gmx.net)
Date: Mon Mar 08 2004 - 04:15:01 PST
For all who wondered during the pin-compatible CPU-thread a couple days ago
about what Voyager does:
"In both Newton-based products [eMate and MP 2000], the Voyager
four-chipset provides all of the digital subsystem control, the analog
peripheral control functions, PCMCIA control and infrared wireless
communications required by the system. Voyager is the industry's first
chipset to support the StrongARM microprocessor, which provides the
processing power in the MessagePad 2000; an ARM710 microprocessor delivers
the processing power for eMate 300. [...]
The Voyager Chip Set provides significant functionality and performance to
these Newton-based product, based on its four chips: CL-PS7010 CPU
Subsystem Controller; CL-PS7020 Analog Controller; CL-PS7030 PCMCIA
Controller and CS8130 Infrared Transceiver. This quartet provides the new
Apple products with commonly used functions of traditional desktop personal
computers and the added flexibility of high-connectivity, mobile computers.
Both the MessagePad and eMate products were developed to interact with
desktop servers and the Internet through the Voyager chipset and the Newton
operating system.
The PS7010 Subsystem Controller supplies all of the functions required by
the CPU in both the MessagePad and eMate platforms. This device supports
single/dual scan LCD panels at 3.3V and 5V and at up to 640x480 resolution
with up to 16 levels of gray scales. The chip also integrates eight DMA
channels and a programmable memory controller for MROM, DRAM, Flash and
serial EEPROM devices. Four serial ports [there ya go!], a real-time clock,
timers and an interrupt controller are also integrated.
All of the analog functions of the new Newton products are handled by
Cirrus Logic's PS7020 controller. This highly optimized device incorporates
a pen digitizer and touch-pad interface, a battery and temperature monitor,
audio record and playback functionality and clock generator. This chip
enables the computers to easily interface to microphones, speakers,
headsets, modems and other analog peripherals to add greater flexibility
for mobile computing.
The PS7030 PCMCIA Controller, meanwhile, offers a cascadable architecture
with support for up to four PCMCIA slots [you don't say! *FOUR* PCMCIA
slots!? What mojo needed to, erh, cascade from two to four?] and, in the
MessagePad 2000 product, has enabled the first PCMCIA adapter in a hand
held device [what about MP1x0, those Californians got short term memory
issues?]. This chip was developed to accommodate a wide range of peripheral
and storage functions now available in PCMCIA card formats. Compatible with
the PCMCIA 2.01 standard, the chip supports hot insertion and removal of
both 3.3V and 5V PCMCIA cards.
The CS8130 infrared transceiver was developed to provide multimode IR
support for both Apple products. IR support is especially important for the
eMate 300 mobile computer, where students can distribute information and
collaborate with other students easily, using a wireless environment.
Conforming to the IRDA standard for data rates as high as 115 kbps, the
single-chip transceiver integrates a high-gain PIN diode amplifier,
programmable transmit LED power driver, standard UART interface and on-chip
baud rate generator."
-- This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/ WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
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