New Coldfire-based Networkable Embedded Laser Controller!

[Harvey]

Hi Bill
Here are some answers to your questions.
1: 25 years
2: Have worked on more Imagen systems than I care to remember
3: Do I know the architecture of the Z80 and how to code it (Yes:

[Pangolin]

Hi Harvey,

Well it certainly sounds like you have a lot of experience in the industry!! Welcome to Photon Lexicon.

I must say, I have not studied the Imagen architecture very closely, but I do have German friends who have worked on this system, including its internal programming.

Perhaps you know better than I, but I am under the impression that it was a single Z-80 that did all of the work. It managed the serial data terminal interface and user interface, it managed scanning of the beam from the ROM, etc. Also, all manipulations including positioning, rotation, and sizing was done by a rather magical DAC board -- we could say "rotations in hardware". Also, as far as I know, the Imagen really did not use a double-buffer architecture, because it didn't need one. So if my impression about the Imagen is correct, this really is unlike any other architecture today...

It is easy, from the outside in, to imagine what is going on inside a system. But sometimes intuition is incorrect. I may very well be incorrect about my impressions of the Imagen, but these impressions come from German friends who were Laser Media dealers in Germany, and who did actual programming on the Imagen in Germany...

Let me ask you, how sure are you of the internal architecture of Imagen?

Best regards,

William Benner

[allthatwhichis]

Damn, what happened to the thread degradation. We were starting to go subterrainian there for a few. What this thread and I both need is a smilie...



That's better...

[DZ]

Bill you also take drugs

I almost fell out of my chair reading this for some reason! It is clear this goober has never actually met Bill! I feel kinda guilty smoking a cigarette around Bill the few times that I've met him as I usually get the feeling that he really dislikes 2nd hand smoke. I don't blame him, I really dislike 1st hand smoking! And to think that he does drugs!?! There went msith's credibility, not that he had any to begin with....

[mliptack]

I award this thread... more specifically allthatwhichis for the biggest smiley I have ever seen in my life...

well I am also fairly interested as to where this thread is going now... I learn something new every day... I have never heard of the Imagen system... any guesses to how old I am (ignoring all other posts/age references given out???)


-Max

[mixedgas]

Hey Bill, want a Zap! system? I'll send it down to you, complete with magic board, although the magic board only has two of the 8 channels stuffed, they are identical. I dont have time to mess with it, and its preloaded with a beam show. With what I would have to do to get a copy of the manual, from those who have one, I could code a unit from scrap.
I have CPU, ROM CARD, TTL IO and Analog Out board, no serial however unless its that terminal block on the CPU. It would be a nice conversation piece on your desk next to the stuffed pangolin.

Steve Roberts

[Pangolin]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the offer, but I don't have the time or the interest in this system.

Those who know me, know that I am "Mr. throw it out". I am the opposite of a pack rat... In fact, I had a complete ZAP system at one point in time. I threw it out with the exception of the magic board, which I kept for nostalgia. But who knows, that might have gotten thrown out as well...

However, I am sure that there should be someone else on the forum would would be interested in this piece of history and wonderful technology!

Best regards,

William Benner

[carmangary]

Well, I am Mr. Take It In! So the next time you want to throw something out let me know!

[allthatwhichis]

Heh, that was also odd...

I'm like that too. The boss has a way of getting me to reject the urges that part of me is afflicted by.

[clandestiny]

Mixedgas- I have a lot of lasermedia tables still in use, obviously the old electronics have been gutted- but I still have them.
Could you take a picture of what you have? I would like to see if it matches any of my old stuff. I might fire it up to see what those old shows looked like-
just for old time sake.