Obsolete 21.feb.2017 – New design. The Call & Raise instructions are identical in design, it is only the op-code that differs. I re-use the extended length option from Assign and add an array of 32 bit Data Descriptors to define the parameters. Moving on I have several unsolved design questions with the VM: One is…
Dealing with math it is quite handy to use a standard algebraic expression format. But, to do so we need a parser that translate the expression into a sequence of simple math instructions. In this case we expect the Assembler to “compile” the expression into P-Code that we later execute as part of the VM’s Assign…
I don’t intend to describe all instructions in detail here, but I will draft the more critical ones. Assign is one of those because it contains a small micro-VM of it’s own dealing with mathematical expressions. The instruction format is illustrated above. It contains a standard op-code, but we now also add a rule that…
This is an updated illustration of the VM Core. I will not describe it in detail right now because I am in the progress of making proper documentation that will be available. This is the new 16 bit instruction format. I did use a more generic 32 bit instruction set earlier, but concluded that a…
The RTL (Real-Time Linker) part of the VM is a module that receive code that is being downloaded and perform the last step of linking to create an executable binary. The way I do this is actually quite simple. I let the assembler create a special RTL format file that is sent one instruction at…
My VM basically have an 16 bit array of instructions and start by decoding and executing the one at index 0. We run a controlled loop executing one instruction at time. A sample C code snip is included below. Each instruction do their job and set the next ix to be used. Once the instruction…
I used to work with sound back in the days and looking into STM32 capabilities I actually wonder if I should attempt to create the basis for a DIY sound synthesizer. The idea is to use a Sound IO Hat with 1-2 channels, add a STM32F405 (or similar) and stack the Hat’s on a Raspberry…
I need to return to assembly syntax later. For now I want to implement what we have described on the VM to start testing it using real applications. One of the design issues that I need to solve is storage space for downloaded applications. STM32F10x series of MCU’s organize their embedded Flash as 1 or…
The concept shown on the Lab PSU earlier is that I can create a battery module as illustrated above. The MCU is simply used to monitor output voltage and current towards preset values that can be controlled by a robot control system if required. We can also add a charger so we can just connect…
Looking for Programmable PSU’s on the net I find a few “programmable” priced at 100.- 300.- GBP – I also found this module for ca 30.- GBP on ebay. This is a 0-30V/5A module from ebay. Quite good spec, but by the time you have added a Box and mains PSU you could as well…