******************************* GALer V1.41 (c) by Christian Habermann All rights reseved. ******************************* GALer is a GAL programming device with relevant driver software. GALer is SHAREWARE. If you use this program and/or the hardware, please send me 20 DM or 15 US $. The circuit diagram for the hardware will be sent to you on receipt of the shareware donation. Send money by postal money order or cash, no checks please! If you send me a disk you will be sent the next update of GALer when it becomes available. My address is: Christian Habermann Asamstr. 17 85356 Freising Germany EMail: FidoNet 2:246/105.10 The distribution of GALer on PD-disks or through the networks is permitted, as long as no profit is made from it, and that the included files remain unaltered, and are distributed in their entirety. If you build the GAL-prommer you are allowed to sell this one, to the price of the parts. It is not allowed to sell this product in commercial way. The circuit diagram must only be distributed privately and free of charge. WARNING!!! The "GALer" and "GALerTest" programs send data over your Amiga's parallel port. This means: when you have a printer, digitizer, or something else attached, it should be switched off or disconnected, since it is possible that you may damage them. I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER OR PRERIPHERALS. The "GALer" hardware and software has been running faultlessly on my A3000. I have tested GALer on A1000, A3000 and A4000 machines. It should run on all other Amigas too. The circuit diagram is 100% fault free. With careful construction there is no reason for anything going awry. Even so the construction should be carried out by electronics freak (you should at least have soldering experience, and be able to intelligently read circuit diagrams). More information about the construction can be found in chapter III. Note: This manual sparely covers the operational theory of GAL programming. It is not a substitute for further reading (see the end of this file for litarature). If you already have long experience with digital circuitry, and really don't care how a GAL is made, or how it works internally, then this manual together with the examples should suffice to intelligently implement your GALs. Versions: V1.0: Test version V1.1: Intuition-interface added V1.2: cured a few bugs V1.3: - cured some bugs in the GAL assembler. /name.E is no longer allowed. - The pin names of the last assembled files can be assigned to the indicated GAL. V1.4: - Kick 2.0 - new Intuition environment - support of A- and B-type GALs - new format of JEDEC-files - new functions: verify of programmed GALs test whether security fuse is set or not compare GALs optimizer for Boolean equations reassembler - IMPORTANT CHANGE!!!: '/' in pin declaration is now considered in the equations V1.41 - support of locale.library and gadtools.library - req.library replaced by reqtools.library, reqtools.library is copyright by Nico Francois - Help available Thanks to: - all registerd GALer users - Frank Stange for beta-testing - Walraven van Heeckeren, Wenzel Hoche, Peter Roessel and Helmut Hohenwarter for parts of the English documentation - Nico Francois for the reqtools.library (reqtools.library (c) by Nico Francois) - Brian Ipsen for the dansk-catalogs - Commodore for the great Amiga Contents: Chapter I Introduction I.1 What are GALs I.2 What is Inside of a GAL? I.3 What Kind of GALs are there? I.4 The Operation Modes of a GAL Chapter II The Software II.1 The Source File II.2 The Program "GALer" II.2.1 Installation II.2.2 How to use GALer II.2.3 Menus II.2.4 Assembler II.2.5 How to Program GALs II.2.6 How to Test Programmed GALs II.2.7 Optimizer II.3 JEDEC File II.4 Further Examples II.5 Error Messages II.5.1 Assembler II.5.2 JEDEC File II.5.3 Reassembler Chapter III The Hardware III.1 Programming GALs III.2 Circuit Description III.3 Construction Appendix Source File Keywords Parts List Further Reading Chapter I: Introduction ===================== I.1 What are GALs? ------------------ GALs (Generic Array Logic) are programmable logic devices. By appropriate programming by the user, many standard gate functions can be resolved into a single GAL chip. Assuming you need the following logic functions for your circuit: - AND -Gate with 2 inputs - OR -Gate with 2 inputs - NAND-Gate with 2 inputs - NOR -Gate with 2 inputs Normally you would need FOUR standard TTL-ICs. These functions can be replaced with ONE GAL. The main use of GALs is to make digital circuits as simple as possible, by replacing many standard logic ICs by one or more GALs. A GAL is able, with appropriate programming, to replace all the logic functions, such as for example: AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, inverters, FlipFlops, decoders (especially address decoders), mutiplexers, counters. On top of all the GAL is reprogrammable (at least 100 times), so that the desired logic functions may easily be altered. I.2 What is inside of a GAL? -------------------------------------- The essential part of a GAL is a matrix. The input pins of the GAL are connected both inverted and uninverted to the columns of this matrix. If the GAL hasn't been programmed the rows and columns are connected to each other. Every connection between a row and a column represents an AND gate. If the GAL is programmed the particular connections are erased so that the wanted logic is programmed. A row is called a product term, because every column (input) that is still connected to a row represents an AND gate. Eight of these rows (product terms) are connected via an OR gate with the so called OLMC (Output Logic Macrocell). So eight product terms can be ORed together. The OLMC is a "configurable output cell". What is a "Configurable Output Cell"? A GAL contains eight of these configurable output cells. These output cells may be configured as input, combinational output, tristate output, or register output. Combinational Output: This output can be HIGH or LOW. Tristate Output: This output can take one of three states: HIGH, LOW, and HIGH IMPEDANCE This is used if you want to tie two outputs together, but only one may be active. Register Output: With this output the result of an equation is not directly coupled to the output, but connected via a D-FlipFlop. Only on receipt of a clock pulse, is the signal passed to the output. When /OE is HIGH, then the output goes HIGH-IMPEDANCE. Besides the Matrix, a GAL contains extra bits: ( (n) means that these bits are available for each output). XOR (n) : The result of the digital connection can be negated with this bit. XOR (n) = 0 : Output is active LOW XOR (n) = 1 : Output is active HIGH SYN, AC0, AC1(n): This bits determine in which mode the GAL works. There are three main operating modes in which the GAL works: Mode 1: SYN = 1, AC0 = 0 AC1(n) = 1 : OLMC as input AC1(n) = 0 : OLMC as combinational output Mode 2: SYN = 1, AC0 = 1 AC1(n) = 1 : tristate output Mode 3: SYN = 0, AC0 = 1 AC1(n) = 1 : OLMC as tristate output AC1(n) = 0 : OLMC as register output PT0...63: (PT = product term) These bits indicate whether the rows (product terms) 0...63 in the GAL's matrix are valid or not. PTx = 1: AND-junction in the row x is valid. PTx = 0: AND-junction in the row x is not used (have no effect) on the output. (x = between 0 and 63; there are 64 rows in the matrix, so that each row can be individually activated or deactivated) All these bits (82 bits) are tied together via the so called Architecture- Control-Word (ACW). The ACW is described in chapter III. Signature: Here are eight bytes for your own use. Normally a short comment or a version number of the GAL is placed here. Security fuse: (Security-Bit) By setting these bit the GAL can be protected from unauthorized copying. The reading of the logic matrix is no longer possible. Since the rest of the bits can still be read this protection is not very effective. Bulk Erase: By programming this row the whole GAL is erased. Now it is possible to program the GAL again. A GAL can be reprogrammed about 100 times. I.3 What kind of GALs are there? -------------------------------- The most common types of GALs are the standard types GAL16V8, GAL20V8 and the A and B types GAL16V8A, GAL20V8A. All this GALs are supported by GALer. A and B type GALs are faster than the standard GALs. Since there is no greate difference between the standard, A and B type GALs I will only talk about the standard GALs GAL16V8 and GAL20V8. When there are any differences between A, B and standard GALs I will mention this extra. Pin designations: GAL16V8 ---- ---- Input or Clock 1| |20 +5V Input 2| |19 Configurable Output Cell Input 3| |18 Configurable Output Cell Input 4| |17 Configurable Output Cell Input 6| |15 Configurable Output Cell Input 7| |14 Configurable Output Cell Input 8| |13 Configurable Output Cell Input 9| |12 Configurable Output Cell GND 10| |11 Input or /OE --------- GAL20V8 ---- ---- Input or Clock 1| |24 +5V Input 2| |23 Input Input 3| |22 Configurable Output Cell Input 4| |21 Configurable Output Cell Input 5| |20 Configurable Output Cell Input 6| |19 Configurable Output Cell Input 7| |18 Configurable Output Cell Input 8| |17 Configurable Output Cell Input 9| |16 Configurable Output Cell Input 10| |15 Configurable Output Cell Input 11| |14 Input GND 12| |13 Input or /OE --------- From the pin designations you can see that the only difference between the types of GALs is the number of inputs. The choice of GAL then, is dependant solely on the number of inputs required. I.4 The Operation Modes of a GAL -------------------------------- As already explained under I.2, the SYN, AC0 and AC1(n) bits determine the mode of the GAL. The pin designations of the GAL are determined by this mode. GAL16V8: Mode 1 | Mode 2 | Mode 3 Mode 1 | Mode 2 | Mode 3 --------------------------- -------------------------- | | --- --- | | In | In | Clock 1| |20 +5V | +5V | +5V In | In | In 2| |19 In/C | T* | In/T/R In | In | In 3| |18 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 4| |17 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 5| |16 C | I/T | In/T/R In | In | In 6| |15 C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 7| |14 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 8| |13 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 9| |12 In/C | T* | In/T/R GND | GND | GND 10| |11 In | In | /OE ------- GAL20V8: Mode 1 | Mode 2 | Mode 3 Mode 1 | Mode 2 | Mode 3 --------------------------- -------------------------- | | --- --- | | In | In | Clock 1| |24 +5V | +5V | +5V In | In | In 2| |23 In | In | In In | In | In 3| |22 In/C | T* | In/T/R In | In | In 4| |21 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 5| |20 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 6| |19 C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 7| |18 C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 8| |17 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 9| |16 In/C | In/T | In/T/R In | In | In 10| |15 In/C | T* | In/T/R In | In | In 11| |14 In | In | In GND | GND | GND 12| |13 In | In | /OE ------- Abbreviations: In : input C : combinational output without feedback T : tristate-output T* : tristate-output without freedback to the matrix, which means that this output cannot be configured as input R : register-output Clock : pulse for D-FlipFlops; only affects those pins which are configured as register-output /OE : output enable (low active): activate the register-outputs (see I.2) From the pin designations you can see that pins 15 and 16 of the GAL16V8 and pins 18 and 19 of GAL20V8 cannot be programmed as inputs when the GAL is in mode 1. The same hold true for pins 12 and 19 and 15 and 22 for mode 2. In mode 1, pins 1 and 11 (GAL16V8) and pins 1 and 13 (GAL20V8) are reserved for Clock and /OE. These pins therefore cannot be used as inputs. If you need at least one register output in your GAL, then mode 3 is used. When you need at least one Tristate-Output and no register output, then the GAL will be in mode 2. When you need neither a tristate nor a register output, mode 1 is used. Chapter II: The Software ======================== In principle you can forget all of chapter I. In principle! What you should remember is the pin designations of the GAL in the different modes. Thereby avoiding many unnecessary failures. The determination of the function mode and the other parameters, which are to be taken into account during the programming of the GAL, are taken care of by the software. II.1 The Input File ---------------------- First a source file has to be created with a text editor. This source file must contain the following information: 1. The GAL type (GAL16V8 or GAL20V8 ) 2. an 8 byte long comment, which will be written into the GAL as the signature (see I.2) 3. The pin names - here pin numbers are replaced with names, which is easier to oversee. 4. The Boolean equations 5. The keyword DESCRIPTION - after this you can place some desired text. This text generally describes the GAL's function. That way you can know years later what the GAL's intended use was. Before it's getting boreing here is a first example (be happy). Example 1: Assuming you need the following gates in your circuit: - one AND with 3 inputs - one NAND with 2 Inputs - one OR with 2 inputs - one small digital circuit which feeds the outputs from 2 AND gates to the inputs of one OR gate. Switch diagram: (sorry for the European symbols) AND: +----+ W = A * B * C A ----| | B ----| & |---- W C ----| | +----+ NAND: +----+ /X = D * E D ----| | | & |o--- X E ----| | +----+ OR: +----+ Y = F + G F ----| | | >1 |---- Y G ----| | +----+ small digital +----+ Z = H * I + J * K circuit: H ----| | | & |----+ I ----| | | +----+ +----+ +---| | | >1 |---- Z +----+ +---| | J ----| | | +----+ | & |----+ K ----| | +----+ Legend: * : AND - connection + : OR - Connection / : low active In order to create the source file we have to determine which type of GAL will suit our purpose. For the implementation of the above logic functions, we need a total of 11 inputs and 4 outputs. From chapter I we know (or not?) that the type of GAL is dependant on the number of needed inputs. The number of inputs in turn depends on the mode (see I.4, pin designations of the various modes). Since neither tristate nor register outputs are used, the GAL will be in mode 1, after programming. It therefore follows, the GAL16V8 has 10 inputs and 8 configurable outputs. Since we only need 4 outputs, we can program the rest of the outputs as inputs, so that we obtain the total required 11 inputs and 4 outputs. Therefore GAL16V8 is adequate for our purposes. GAL20V8 can also be used, but that leaves a lot of unused inputs (WASTE !). The second thing we need is a signature for the GAL. Remember, it can be up to 8 characters long. For example "example". Now we have to define the pins. The pins are named one after the other from 1 to 20. Pins that are not used should be named "NC" (not connected), ground with "GND" and +5V with "VCC". here: B C D E F G H I J GND K NC NC NC Z Y X W A VCC that is: Pin 1 := B Input Pin 2 := C Input Pin 3 := D Input Pin 4 := E Input Pin 5 := F Input Pin 6 := G Input Pin 7 := H Input Pin 8 := I Input Pin 9 := J Input Pin 10 := GND Ground Pin 11 := K Input Pin 12 := NC Not Connected Pin 13 := NC Not Connected Pin 14 := NC Not Connected Pin 15 := Z Combinational Output Pin 16 := Y Combinational Output Pin 17 := X Combinational Output Pin 18 := W Combinational Output Pin 19 := A (Configurable Output defined as Input) Pin 20 := VCC Voltage Supply GAL16V8 ---- ---- B 1| |20 VCC C 2| |19 A D 3| |18 W E 4| |17 X F 5| |16 Y G 6| |15 Z H 7| |14 NC I 8| |13 NC J 9| |12 NC GND 10| |11 K --------- Next come the Boolean equations: W = A * B * C /X = D * E Y = F + G Z = H * I + J * K Therewith we have all the parts required for the source file. Now the question arises, what format does such a file have?: In line 1 must be the type of GAL. Here "GAL16V8" In line 2 must be the signature. Here "Example" Then follow the pin declaration: B C D E F G H I J GND K NC NC NC Z Y X W A VCC Then the Boolean Equations: W = A * B * C /X = D * E Y = F + G Z = H * I + J * K and the keyword DESCRIPTION. Now using a text editor you can create your source file, and save it with the title "example.pld". Don't forget the extension ".pld". This is how the file should look: (**** These characters designate the start and end of the file, please don't type it.) ****************************************************** GAL16V8 here could be a comment Example here could be a comment B C D E F G H I J GND K NC NC NC Z Y X W A VCC W = A * B * C /X = D * E Y = F + G Z = H * I + J * K DESCRIPTION: here could be a comment ****************************************************** Negations ('/') in the pin declaration are considered in the Boolean equations. This means, if you use a '/' in the pin declaration and if you use the related pin in a Boolean equation this pin will be negated. Example: -------- A B /C D ..... GND K L M N ..... VCC N = C This is the same: A B C D ..... GND K L M N ..... VCC N = /C How do you obtain from this source file a programmed GAL? For that you need the program "GALer". II.2 The Program "GALer" ------------------------ II.2.1 Installation ------------------- GALer needs the following files respectively libraries: reqtools.library This library can be found in the directory GALer/Libs/. If you still don't have this library in your libs: directory, you have to copy it into. GALer.config This is the configuration file of GALer. If GALer does not find this file, defaults will be used. GALer looks for this file in the s: directory (s:GALer.config). GALer.catalog GALerTest.catalog The catalog files for GALer and GALerTest can be found in the directory GALer/Catalogs/. To install the library and the catalogs you can use the installation skripts 'InstallLibs' and 'InstallCatalogs'. You can start GALer either from Workbench or from CLI. This version of GALer needs Workbench 2.1 or later. II.2.2 How to use GALer ----------------------- The most requesters can be confirmed/refused by pressing the corresponding gadgets or by using the Return/ESC key. You can get help on a menu item when pressing the help key while moving the mouse pointer over this menu item. GALer uses several files which have different extensions like ".pld", ".jed", ".chp", ".pin", ".fus". If you want to load or save such a file GALer will choose the right extensions automatically. So you don't have to care about it. If you don't enter the postfix, GALer will add it. II.2.3 Menus ------------ Project: About GALer Tells you who has done all this code. I can tell you, I was it. Save config. Saves some settings to the file "S:GALer.config". Starting GALer next time, GALer will read this file and set your saved settings again. Quit Quit quits GALer, but ATTENTION! Handle this function with care: If you use Quit too often, GALer will sell your Amiga's CPU. Are you thinking that I'm pulling your leg? Ohhhh no..., really not!!! I never would do this. GAL-Type: GAL16V8 Here you can select the type of GAL which should be GAL20V8 read/programmed next time. Since there are no A-Type principle differences between A and B types there is no extra menu for the B types, use the A-Type menu instead. Auto-A-Type If you don't want to care about whether you have a A, B type or standard type GAL, select this menu. GALer will then notice automatically what type of GAL you have inserted in the socket. You only have then to choose between 16V8 and 20V8. Type-Requester Every time when GALer wants to read or program a GAL GALer will bring up a requester in which you can select the type of GAL you want to read or program. This selection overrides the selection in the GAL16V8, GAL20V8 and A-Type menus. If you don't want this behavior of GALer, deselect the Type-Requester menu. GALer will then not bring up a requester. GAL: Program Program a GAL. This is the most importent function of GALer. After selecting this menu, GALer will bring up a file requester in which you can select the JEDEC-file which should be programmed into the GAL. Copy Copy a GAL. You can only copy a GAL if the security bit of the source GAL is not set and if the destination GAL is not programmed. Erase Erase a GAL. If you want to program a GAL the GAL must be erased. Do this with this function. Compare There are three different types of comparison. You can compare a GAL with several GALs, a GAL with several JEDEC files or a JEDEC file with several GALs. Blank test Test whether the GAL is erased or not. Set security bit Set the security bit of a GAL. The logic matrix of such a protected GAL can't be read out after doing this. Test security bit Test whether the security bit of a GAL is set or not. Write access This function brings up a requester. In this requester you can select what GALer should do before or after programming, copying or erasing a GAL. programming: - with blank test: before programming a GAL test whether it is erased or not - with verify : verify GAL after programming copying: - with blank test: test destination GAL whether it is erased or not - with verify : verify programmed destination GAL erasing: - with blank test: test after erasing a GAL whether it is really cleared or not GAL-Assembler: Assemble file Assemble a source file (name.pld) and generate the JEDEC file and some special files. GAL-Disassembler: Read signature Read signature of a programmed GAL and print it on the screen. Read ACW Read the architecture control word of a GAL and print it on the screen. GAL-Info Gives you some information about your GAL. generate JEDEC-file Read a GAL and make a corresponding JEDEC file. JEDEC-file parameter Selecting this menu puts up a requester in which you can determine parameters concerning the writing of JEDEC files. Security bit: If this is enabled, GALer will write JEDEC files in which a special flag is set. Reading this JEDEC file to program a GAL will bring up a requester in which you can choose to set the security bit after programming or not. Fuse-Checksum: If this is enabled, GALer will write JEDEC files with a checksum calculated over all fuses. Manually changed fuses (with text editor) will be detected by GALer and GALer will warn you that this JEDEC file has been changed when reading this file next time. You are allowed to change comments etc. but you are not allowed to change fuses ('0' and '1'). File-Checksum: If this is enabled, GALer will write JEDEC files with a checksum calculated over all characters in this file. This means that you are not allowed to change anything in this file by using a text editor. Reassembler This function reads a JEDEC file and generates then the original source file. So you can read a unknown GAL and get back a source file with the Boolean equations. Tools: Show pinnames Prints the pin names of the last assembled source file on the screen. Clear pinnames Clears pin names from screen. GAL-Checker There you can check a programmed GAL whether it does this what you want to do it or not. See corresponding paragraph. Optimizer Optimize Boolean equations. See corresponding paragraph. Help Explains how to get help on a specific menu item. II.2.4 Assembler ---------------- In order to program a GAL the source file (".pld") must be transposed into a so called JEDEC file. This task is assumed by the GAL-Assembler. The JEDEC file (extension ".jed") is a ASCII file in which all the bits which can be set in a GAL are listed. The state of the fuses (0 or 1) is mediated by the GAL-Assembler from the source file. Besides the JEDEC file, the GAL-Assembler can generate three other files. This files are for documentation only. GALer do not need them: The Fuse-File (extension ".fus") shows the state of the bits in the logic matrix. The Chip-Diagram (extension ".chp") shows the connection diagram of the GAL and the Pin-Diagram file (extension ".pin") lists all the pins and shows, whether these are programmed as inputs or outputs. The files can be read with a text-editor and possibly post-processed. Selecting the menu 'Assemble file' pops up a requester, called assembler requester. In the assembler requester you can select which files should be generated by the assembler. Just click on the corresponding gadget. Furthermore you can select two other gadgets: Autosave: This means that all selected files are generated automatically without bringing up an extra file requester. The name of the generated files are taken from the source file name. Adjust type of GAL: This means that the type of GAL for which the source file is, is taken over from GALer. For example: You have set a GAL20V8 in GALer's menu. Now you are assembling a source file for a GAL16V8. If the assembly is successful, GAL16V8 will be set in GALer's menu. Selecting the 'Count' (countinue) gadget of the assembler requester will pop up a file requester. Now you have to choose your source file. After this the GAL assembler will start assembling. If GALer detects no errors, a second file requester will pop up. Now you have to save your JEDEC file. II.2.5 How to Program GALs --------------------------- After the GAL-Assembler has created the JEDEC file from the source file, the GAL can be programmed using this JEDEC file. To initiate the programming of the GAL, simply select 'Program' and give the JEDEC file name. As soon as the GAL is programmed, a requester pops up, and tells you the GAL is programmed, and it is OK to remove the GAL from the programmer's socket. The steps in programming a GAL: 1. With a Text editor create the source file and save this file as "name.pld" (add the extension .pld!) 2. Assemble the source file. As a result of this you'll get a JEDEC file ("name.jed"). 3. Select the GAL type (GAL16V8, GAL20V8) 4. Insert the GAL in the Programmer's socket 5. Perform the 'Blank test' to verify that the GAL is empty. When the GAL is not empty, then you must first erase the GAL before it can be programmed, use therefore the function 'Erase'. 6. Initiate programming by selecting 'Program'. 7. Take the GAL out of the programmer's socket, - DONE ! II.2.6 How to Test Programmed GALs ---------------------------------- Once the GAL has been programmed, the question remains, "does it work the way you envisaged it?". This is the purpose of the GAL-Checker. In order to verify the GAL's functions, you must of course first plug the GAL into the programmer's socket, and select the correct GAL-type. Now you can select the menu item GAL-Checker. In the middle of the screen you'll see a symbolic GAL displayed. In this GAL, you'll see a number of 'I's and 'O's. The 'I' stands for Input and the 'O' for Output. The 'O' is a gadget. By clicking on the 'O' it turns into an 'I' and clicking on it again it becomes an 'O' again. In other words, you can determine if this pin is to be used as an input or an output. If a pin is an input, then you can select from another gadget if the pin is to be in a "High" ('H') or in a "Low" ('L') state. The outputs have a green border. An output can assume three states: 'H' (High), 'L' (Low) and 'Z' (high impedance). If you're using the GAL from the above example, pin 19 must be defined as an input (="A") by clicking on the 'O' (the one by pin 19), since this pin was defined as an input during programming in the above example. The inputs of the AND gate are: pin 19 (="A"), pin 1 (="B"), pin 2 (="C"). The output is pin 18 (="W"). If you now set the inputs of the AND gate HIGH (by clicking on the gadgets), the output (=pin 18) should also go HIGH. If it doesn't work or if the output also goes high with other combinations of input levels, then the fault is probably in the source file. The error should be corrected in the source file. The GAL must then be erased and reprogrammed (a GAL can be erased and reprogrammed at least a hundred times). In this manner the whole GAL can be fully tested, and if no errors are detected, can be used in your circuit. II.2.7 Optimizer ---------------- Boolean equations can be simplified very often, but for human beings it is a hard way to do. A computer can do this much faster (in most times). The Optimizer of GALer tries to optimize Boolean equations by use of the Quine-McCluskey algorithm. How this algorithm works you can read in many books which deal with Boolean mathamatics. The usage of the Optimizer: Just select the menu 'Tools - Optimizer' to start GALer's Optimizer. After this a file requester pops up. Now you have to select the source file which equations you want to be optimized. After successfully loading this source file GALer starts to optimize the equations. GALer displays the original equation and the optimized one. If you are happy with the result of the optimization you should select the gadget 'use it'. Then the original equation is replaced by the optimized equation in your loaded source file. If you don't like the result of the optimization, you should select the gadget 'reject'. Then the original equation is not replaced. After trying to optimize all equations GALer will pop up a file requester again. Now you have to select a file name of your optimized source file. Please don't use the file name of the original source file for the optimized source file. Example of optimization: Original Boolean equation: X = /A*/C + A*/C + C*/D + /B*/C + /A*C*D + B*/D By GALer optimized Boolean equation: X = /C + /D + /A Both equations are equal, but the second one is much easier to read. Not all equations can be simplified. It could be that a "optimized" equation is more complicate than the original one. Just try it. II.3 JEDEC File --------------- JEDEC means (J)oint (E)lectron (D)evice (E)nineering (C)ouncil. This file is a ASCII file in which every bit which can be set in a GAL is listed. The JEDEC file has the extension ".jed" and it's generated by the GAL-Assembler. The JEDEC file can start with any text until there is a asterisk (*). The first '*' introduces the command field. The command field starts with the first '*' and ends at the file end. Within the command field are... (now be astonished) commands! A command is introduced by one character and it ends with a '*' character. All commands are optional. Not every command must be in a JEDEC file. The GAL-Assembler normaly uses: L, F and G commands (see below) Possible commands are: N: This introduces a comment. Example: N this is a comment * ^ ^ ^ | | | command any text end of command F: You don't have to list all states of the fuses in the GAL. If you don't list all fuses GALer must know what the state of the missed fuses is. F0 *: not listed fuses are set to 0 F1 *: not listed fuses are set to 1 G: Security Fuse G0 *: don't set the security fuse after programming the GAL G1 *: ask user (you) whether to set the security fuse after programming the GAL or not L: L defines the address of a fuse and what the state of the fuse should be. Example: L0000 10110111111111111111111111011111 * this means: set fuse at address 0 to 1 set fuse at address 1 to 0 set fuse at address 2 to 1 . . . possible addresses are: GAL16V8, GA16V8A, GAL16V8B: 0000-2047: matrix of fuses 2048-2055: XOR bits 2056-2119: signature 2120-2127: AC1 bits 2128-2191: product term disable bits 2192 : SYN bit 2193 : AC0 bit GAL20V8, GAL20V8A, GAL20V8B: 0000-2559: matrix of fuses 2560-2567: XOR bits 2568-2631: signature 2632-2639: AC1 bits 2640-2703: product term disable bits 2704 : SYN bit 2705 : AC0 bit QF: Defines how many fuses in the JEDEC file are. A GAL16V8 has 2194 fuses and a GAL20V8 has 2706 fuses. Now GALer can identify for which type of GAL this JEDEC file is. Example: QF2194 * C: C is followed by a 16 bit hex number which is the fuse checksum of the JEDEC file (see description of menu 'JEDEC-file parameter'). Example: C6402 * , : This are control characters. : 0x02 = CTRL-B : 0x03 = CTRL-C Your text editor displays this characters in this way:   defines the start of the JEDEC file and the end of the JEDEC file. is followed by the file checksum (see description of menu 'JEDEC file-parameter'). The file checksum is a 16 bit hex number. V: V introduces a test vector. GALer 1.4 does not support this. GALer interprets this command as a N command (comment). II.3 Further Examples ---------------------- Next I want to show an example with a tristate output. (sorry again for the European symbols) /A ---------+ |\| | \ B -------| +------------------------ Y1 | / |/ VCC | +----+ |\| C -------| | | \ | >1 |-----------| +------- Y2 D -------| | | / +----+ |/ +----+ E -------| | | & |------+ F -------| | | +----+ | |\| | \ G -----------------| +o------------- Y3 | / |/ Y1 should only be in the "B" state, when "A" = LOW. Y2 should always be active (either HIGH or LOW - depending on "B" and "C"). This corresponds to a combinational output. Y3 should only be active if "D" and "E" = HIGH. GAL16V8 ---- ---- A 1| |20 VCC B 2| |19 Y1 C 3| |18 Y2 D 4| |17 Y3 E 5| |16 NC F 6| |15 NC G 7| |14 NC NC 8| |13 NC NC 9| |12 NC GND 10| |11 NC --------- In the source file, tristate outputs are designated with a ".T". The tristate control is followed with an ".E". If the tristate control is absent then the normal free switching is assumed (=VCC). Tristate control = GND means high impedance. NOTE: With tristate outputs you can only have seven product terms in your equation (all other output formats have a maximum of eight). In the tristate control you can only have ONE product term (no OR) in your equation. The Source file looks like this: ****************************************************** GAL16V8 ex.2 A B C D E F G NC NC GND NC NC NC NC NC NC Y3 Y2 Y1 VCC Y1.T = B Y2.T = C + D Y3.T = /G Y1.E = /A Y3.E = E * F DESCRIPTION ****************************************************** For the last example we will deal with register outputs. First the pin declaration: GAL16V8 ---- ---- (Input) Clock 1| |20 VCC (Input) D0 2| |19 Q0 (Output) (Input) D1 3| |18 Q1 (Output) (Input) D2 4| |17 Q2 (Output) (Input) D3 5| |16 Q3 (Output) (Input) Set 6| |15 NC (not used) (Input) Clear 7| |14 NC (not used) (Input) NC 8| |13 NC (not used) (Input) NC 9| |12 NC (not used) GND 10| |11 /OE (Input) --------- Since register output sets the GAL in mode 3, this means that pins 1 and 11 are reserved for Clock and /OE. When /OE is HIGH, all register outputs (Q0-Q3) go to "high impedance" (=Z). When LOW-HIGH transition pulse is presented at the clock input, then the counter will be incremented. When Clear = HIGH and a (LOW-HIGH) clock transition occurs, the outputs are cleared. The inputs D0-D3 can be used to preset the counter. While Set = HIGH and a Clock pulse the values in D0-D3 are transferred to Q0-Q3. In the source file register outputs are designated with an ".R". ****************************************************** GAL16V8 4-Bit-Counter Counter Clock D0 D1 D2 D3 Set Clear NC NC GND /OE NC NC NC NC Q3 Q2 Q1 Q0 VCC Q0.R = /Clear * Set * D0 + /Clear * /Set * /Q0 Q1.R = /Clear * Set * D1 + /Clear * /Set * /Q1 * Q0 + /Clear * /Set * Q1 * /Q0 Q2.R = /Clear * Set * D2 + /Clear * /Set * Q2 * /Q1 + /Clear * /Set * Q2 * /Q0 + /Clear * /Set * /Q2 * Q1 * Q0 Q3.R = /Clear * Set * D3 + /Clear * /Set * Q3 * /Q2 + /Clear * /Set * Q3 * /Q1 + /Clear * /Set * Q3 * /Q0 + /Clear * /Set * /Q3 * Q2 * Q1 * Q0 DESCRIPTION ****************************************************** II.5 Error Messages ------------------- Now I want to describe all possible error messages which GALer can create. II.5.1 Assembler ---------------- "Line 1: type of GAL expected" The first line of your source file must define for what type of GAL this source file is. So the first line must contain one of the following keywords: GAL16V8, GAL20V8, GAL16V8A, GAL20V8A "unexpected end of file" Normaly this error occurs when there is no DESCRIPTION keyword at the end of your Boolean equations. "pin name expected after '/'" A '/' must be followed by a pin name. If there is a '/' but no pin name this error will occur. "max. length of pin name is 8 characters" Pin names are not allowed to be longer than 8 characters. "illegal character in pin declaration" In a pin name is a character which is not allowed to use. Possible characters are: a..z, A..Z, 0..9, / "illegal VCC/GND assignment" VCC and GND are keywords. It's not allowed to use this words for other pins. Use it only for the pins VCC and GND. "pn declaration: expected VCC at VCC pin" The pin VCC must have the name VCC. "pin declaration: expected GND at GND pin" The pin GND must have the name GND. "pin name defined twice" In the pin declaration a pin name is used multiple. "illegal use of '/'" Negations ('/') must be followed by a pin name. "unknown pin name" Within a Boolean equation is a undefined pin name. "NC (Not Connected) is not allowed in logic equations" NC is a keyword for unused pins. So don't use this in your Boolean equations. "'T', 'E' or 'R' expected after '.'" A '.' must be followed by a T, E or R. This defines an output pin as tristate or register. E defines a equation for the tristate enable. "'=' expected" A '=' is expected but not found (what else should I say). "this pin can't be used as output" You have tried to define a pin as output which can't be used as output. "same pin is defined multible as output" It's easier to show an example: X = ... X = ... This brings up this error message. "Tristate control: tristate output is not defined" You have defined a Boolean equation for tristate enable but there was no Boolean equation for the trisate output. The order must be: name.T = ... name.E = ... Possibly you have done: name.E = ... name.T = ... this is wrong! "Mode 2: pins 12, 19 can't be used as input" The GAL would be in mode 2. In this mode you can't define the pins 12 and 19 as input pins. This pins do not have a feedback too. This means that the following equation is not allowed. a := pin 19 b := pin 4 y := pin 17 a = b a is output, b is input y = a * b y is output a is used as input, this is not allowed in mode 2 because there is on feedback "Mode 2: pins 15, 22 can't be used as input" The GAL would be in mode 2. In this mode you can't define the pins 15 and 22 as input pins. This pins do not have a feedback too. This means that the following eqauation is not allowed. a := pin 22 b := pin 4 y := pin 17 a = b a is output, b is input y = a * b y is output a is used as input, this is not allowed in mode 2 "Tristate control is defined twice" Example: name.E = A * B name.E = C this is not allowed! "Tristate control for registered output" name.E is only allowed for tristate outputs. You have used it for a register output. "Tristate control without previous '.T'" There is a tristate control for a combinational output. wrong: name = ... name.E = ... right: name.T = ... name.E = ... "use GND, VCC instead of /VCC, /GND" I think there is nothing to explain. "Mode 3: pins 1,11 are reservated for 'Clock' and '/OE'" Using register outputs causes mode 3 for the GAL. In this mode the pins 1 and 11 of a GAL16V8 can't be used by your own. This pins are reserved for Clock and /OE. "Mode 3: pins 1,13 are reservated for 'Clock' and '/OE'" Using register outputs causes mode 3 for the GAL. In this mode the pins 1 and 13 of a GAL20V8 can't be used by your own. This pins are reserved for Clock and /OE. "use of VCC and GND is not allowed in equations" Expressions like "X = A * VCC" are not allowed (and not necassary). "Tristate control: only one product term allowed (no '+')" In Boolean equations for tristate controls only one product term can be used. This means no ORs in your name.E=... equation. "max. 8 product terms allowed" In Boolean equations for combinational and register outputs a maximum of eight product terms is allowed. This means that you can use a maximum of seven ORs in your equations. "max. 7 product terms allowed" In Boolean equations for tristate outputs a maximum of seven product terms is allowed. This means that you can use a maximum of six ORs in your equations. The eighth product term is used for the tristate control. "no equations found" Sorry, but there are no Boolean equations in your source file. So GALer does not know what to do with your source file. II.5.2 JEDEC File ----------------- "unexpected end of file" The last thing in a JEDEC file should be either the file checksum or a '*'. "unknown command found" There is a unknown command in your JEDEC file (see chapter JEDEC File for possible commands). In most cases the reason for this error message is a missing '*'. "bad format of number" A dez. or hex. number is expected and found, but there are illegal characters in it. Example: C1a#3 "number expected after command" After this command a dez. or hex. number is expected but not found. "0 or 1 expected" Fuses can be set to 0 or 1. Using another digit will cause this error. "can't find out type of GAL" GALer can't identify for which type of GAL (GAL16V8 or GAL20V8) this JEDEC file is. But GALer must know this in order to program a GAL. "QF multible found" In the JEDEC file the command QF is found multiple. This is not allowed. "QP multible found" In the JEDEC file the command QP is found multiple. This is not allowed. "ending '*' expected" GALer expects a '*' character. "after 'C' command no 'L' command allowed" After the fuse checksum no change of fuses (L command) is allowed. "bad fuse checksum" The fuse checksum is bad. The reason for this can be that you have changed some state of fuses with a text editor. "too many (= CTRL-B, 0x02) found" The control character should be once at the beginning of the JEDEC file. "too many (= CTRL-C, 0x03) found" The control character should be once at the end of the JEDEC file. "bad sequence of , " The first control character must be a then a not vice versa. "after file checksum end of file expected" There is a character after a file checksum which is not a Space, TAB or Carriage Return. This is not allowed. "bad fuse address (L... too short)" It's easier to show an example: L0010 1011* L0013 0111* Address 13 is defined twice. "addresses skiped but no default value (F0/1*) defined" It's easier to show an example: L0010 11* L0015 01* The fuses of the addresses 12, 13 and 14 are not defined and there is no F command which would define the values of missing fuses. "'*' expected" '*' expected but not found (what else should I say here). "QF... and last fuse address (L...) are not equal" QF defines the number of fuses in this JEDEC file (GAL16V8: 2194, GAL20V8: 2706). If the last fuse of a L command does not match to the QF command, this error will occur. "no values for the fuses found (no F0/1, L...)" In your JEDEC file are no fuses defined. Such a file is useless and therefore rejected by GALer. "only QF2194* (GAL16V8) and QF2706* (GAL20V8) allowed" There is a QF command followed with a number not equal 2194 or 2706. "too many fuses found (>2706)" In your JEDEC file are too many fuses defined. "found several fuse checksumms" In your JEDEC file are several fuse checksumms. This is not allowed. "selected type of GAL fits not to JEDEC file" You have selected a to-be-programmed-GAL which does not fit to the JEDEC file. II.5.3 Reassembler ------------------ "Mode AC0 = SYN = 0 is not supported" In the JEDEC file the bits AC0 and SYN are set to 0. This mode is not supported by GALer. "Pin xx: pin name defined twice" A pin name is used for more than one pin. "Pin xx: illegal character" Legal characters are : digits, letters and the '/' Illegal characters are: Space, #, *, ... "Pin xx: no pin name found" There is no name for the pin xx defined. "Pin xx: VCC/GND at wrong pin" VCC and GND must be the pin names for the VCC and GND pin of the GAL. "Pin xx: illegal use of '/'" Usage of the negation character: /pinname Illegal: pinname/, /, //pinname etc. "Pin xx: GND expected" Pin 10 of GAL16V8 respectively pin 12 of GAL20V8 must be defined as GND. "Pin xx: VCC expected" Pin 20 of GAL16V8 respectively pin 24 of GAL20V8 must be defined as VCC. Chapter III: The Hardware ========================= III.1 Programming GALs ---------------------- The first question that arises is how can you program a GAL when all the pins are already defined and no pins are free for the programming. If you apply a voltage of 16.5 V to pin 2 of a GAL, then the pin description change, the GAL is then in the Edit mode. GAL16V8 ---- ---- VIL 1| |20 +5V EDIT 2| |19 P,/V RAG1 3| |18 RAG0 RAG2 4| |17 VIL RAG3 5| |16 VIL RAG4 6| |15 VIL RAG5 7| |14 VIL SCLK 8| |13 VIL SDIN 9| |12 SDOUT GND 10| |11 /STR --------- GAL20V8 ---- ---- VIL 1| |24 +5V EDIT 2| |23 VIL RAG1 3| |22 P,/V RAG2 4| |21 RAG0 RAG3 5| |20 VIL VIL 6| |19 VIL VIL 7| |18 VIL RAG4 8| |17 VIL RAG5 9| |16 VIL SCLK 10| |15 SDOUT SDIN 11| |14 VIL GND 12| |13 /STR --------- Whether the GAL is to be read from or written to is determined by the level of P,/V. A HIGH means write, a LOW read. The to be read/written addresses are presented to pins RAG0-RAG5. The programming occurs as follows: After giving the addresses to RAG0-RAG5, the to be written bits have to be presented to SDIN (serially) and by clocking SCLK with a LOW-HIGH-transition the data is transferred to an internal shift register. A LOW-pulse on the /STR pin programs the addressed row. This repeats until the whole GAL is programmed. The reading of a GAL proceeds similarly: After presenting the addresses to RAG0-RAG5 the bits of the corresponding address are put into the internal shift register by clocking /STR with a LOW-pulse. By clocking SCLK with a LOW-HIGH-clock transition all the various bits are sent out the SDOUT pin. The bit width of an address determines the number of SCLK pulses required to complete the programming or reading the address. VIL means Input Voltage Low. This pins must be connected to ground or LOW when the GAL is in the Edit mode. GALs do have different algorithm codes. This codes determine the parameters Edit mode voltage and STR pulse width. GALer supports the algorithm codes 0 to 4. The function 'GAL-Info' of GALer returns the algorithm code of the inserted GAL. This code is not very importent for you, but GALer needs this code for reading and programming GALs. | READ | PROGRAM ------------+----------------------------+---------------------------- Algorithm | Edit mode | STR pulse | Edit mode | STR pulse | read voltage | | prog. voltage | ------------+---------------+------------+----------------+----------- 0 | 12 ± 0,25 V | 5 us | 15,75 ± 0,25 V | 80 ± 5 ms 1 | 12 ± 0,25 V | 5 us | 15,75 ± 0,25 V | 80 ± 5 ms 2 | 12 ± 0,25 V | 5 us | 16,50 ± 0,25 V | 10 ± 1 ms 3 | 12 ± 0,25 V | 5 us | 14,50 ± 0,25 V | 40 ± 5 ms 4 | 12 ± 0,25 V | 5 us | 14,00 ± 0,25 V |100 ± 5 ms To erase a GAL you have to apply HIGH to P/V then pulse STR low for 100 ms and then apply LOW to P/V. After this the GAL is erased and ready to be programmed again. The internal organization of the GAL (addresses of the parts) looks as follows: GAL16V8, GAL16V8A,B: Address Width 0-31 Fuse-Matrix 64 Bit 32 Signature 64 Bit 33-59 reserved space 64 Bit 60 Architecture-Control-Word ACW 82 Bit 61 Security bit 62 reserved 63 Bulk Erase GAL20V8, GAL20V8A,B: Address Width 0-39 Fuse-Matrix 64 Bit 40 Signature 64 Bit 41-59 reserved space 64 Bit 60 Architecture-Control-Word ACW 82 Bit 61 Security bit 62 reserved 63 Bulk Erase The Architecture-Control-Word has the following structure (82 Bit wide): GAL16V8: Bits 0-31: 32 bit product term enable 0-31 Bits 32-35: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 19-16 Bit 36: AC0-Bit Bits 37-44: 8 Bit AC1(n) for OLMC pins 19-12 Bit 45: SYN-Bit Bits 46-49: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 15-12 Bits 50-81: 32 Bit product term enable 32-63 GAL16V8A,B: Bits 0-3: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 19-16 Bit 4: AC0 Bit 5-8: 4 Bit AC1(n) for OLMC pins 19-16 Bit 9-72: 64 Bit product term enable PT0 - PT63 Bit 73-76: 4 Bit AC1(n) for OLMC pins 15-12 Bit 77: SYN Bit 78-81: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 15-12 GAL20V8: Bits 0-31: 32 Bit product term enable 0-31 Bits 32-35: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 22-19 Bit 36: AC0-Bit Bits 37-44: 8 Bit AC1(n) für OLMC pins 22-15 Bit 45: SYN-Bit Bits 46-49: 4 Bit XOR(n) für OLMC pins 18-15 Bits 50-81: 32 Bit product term enable 32-63 GAL20V8A,B: Bits 0-3: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 22-19 Bit 4: AC0 Bit 5-8: 4 Bit AC1(n) for OLMC pins 22-19 Bit 9-72: 64 Bit product term enable PT0 - PT63 Bit 73-76: 4 Bit AC1(n) for OLMC pins 18-15 Bit 77: SYN Bit 78-81: 4 Bit XOR(n) for OLMC pins 18-15 III.2 Circuit Description ------------------------------ In the following section I'll describe the functioning of my GAL-Programming Device. I'll refer to my circuit diagram, so if you haven't ordered that, you can skip this section. The hardware is connected to the Amiga's parallel port. The connected data signals are D0-D4 and the BUSY-Line. IC1, IC3, IC4 and IC5 are eight way "serial in/parallel out" shift registers. The outputs of the shift-register from IC3, IC4 and IC5 are connected to the Textool-Zero insertion force socket for the GAL. Therefore it is possible to (besides VCC and GND) define each of the GAL's pins with a level (HIGH or LOW). The possible outputs of the GAL (pin 14 to 22) can be read through IC7 and IC6a . IC7 is an eight way "parallel in/serial out" shift register. IC1 is so to speak the switch centre, this IC selects IC3, 4 and 5 (OE). Furthermore, this IC switches the programming voltages for the GAL (VCC, Edit-voltage) on or off. Since the ICs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 can be individually accessed, a separate clock line is provided for each IC. These clock lines are selected via IC2, a 1 out of 4-Decoder, by the parallel port's data lines D0 and D1. D3 determines whether a read (low) or write (high) operation is to occur. You must ensure that D3 does not go low until the IC to be accessed is selected through D0 and D1. Otherwise an IC gets an unwanted clock-pulse and at the next Strobe-pulse (D2) the wrong (once left shifted) data is presented at the outputs. The Strobe-pulse for the shift-register is derived from D2 . When D2 goes high, the data in the shift registers is transferred to the output registers of ICs 1, 3, 4, 5 . Through IC7, D2 can be made high (D2 = high), so that the data on Pins P1-P8 are transferred to the internal shift register and may be read through the BUSY line by clocking the relevant clock-line. D4 transfers the individual bits from the Amiga to the GAL-Burner. Since Pins 2 and 4 of the Textool-socket may be supplied with the programming voltage of up to 16.5 Volt, we have to protect IC4 with the diodes D2 and D3 against over voltage. The programming voltage is derived from IC9, a switch mode voltage regulator. This voltage can be precisely adjusted with the trimpots R40-R44. The relay K1 connects the supply voltage of the GAL to pin 24 of the Textool-Socket, Relay K2 connects the output Q7 from IC3 or +5V supply voltage (according to the GAL type) to Pin 22 of the Textool-Socket. Both relays are driven by IC1. The LED shows whether voltage is supplied to the Textool-Socket or not. When the LED is on, a GAL may not be inserted or removed from the socket. Parallel-Port: D0-D1: Selection of individual ICs by Clk D2: Strobe-pulse for IC 1, 3, 4, 5 D3: write = low, read = high D4: Data line for "Write Bits" BUSY: Data line for "Read Bits" IC1: Q1 make 16.5V (but don't switch it!) Q2 switch edit-current on pin 2 for GAL20V8 Q3 switch edit-current on pin 4 for GAL16V8 Q5 switch Vcc Q6 OE for IC3, 4, 5 Q7 controlles LED on : high, low = off Q8 not used IC3: Q1-Q8 pin 16-23 of the Textool-socket over R3-R8 IC4: Q1-Q8 pin 1-8 of the Textool-socket IC5: Q1-Q3 pin 9-11 of the Textool-socket Q4 pin 13 of the Textool-socket Q5-Q6 pins 14, 15 of the Textool-socket over R9, R10 IC6: a read pin 13 of the Textool-socket b read buffer of IC7 IC7: P1-P8 read pin 14-21 of the Textool-socket III.3 Construction ---------------------- The parts list can be found in the appendix. If you want to save the cost of the Textool-socket, you can also use a normal 24 pin socket, but since the two pin rows are too far apart, you will have to carefully cut the socket along it's length, and set them to the correct distance. Or you might like to use "MOLEX" pins instead. For IC-sockets you should only use precision sockets. The 25 Pin Sub-D-socket (A1000) or the Sub-D-plug (other Amiga models) is connected as follows: D0 = pin 2 D1 = pin 3 D2 = pin 4 D3 = pin 5 D4 = pin 6 BUSY = pin 11 GND : A1000 pin 14 A500, A2000, A3000, ... pin 17 The supply voltage (+5V and ground (GND) you will have to get from the Amiga's Expansion-Port or from a regulated +5V power supply. The GAL-Burner has a maximum current consumption of about 220 mA. The main difficulty in the construction of the GAL-burner is probably the PC board. Most likely a double sided through plated PCB is required, so probably the best solution is to use a piece of veroboard, and connect the relevant pins with fine hookup wire, or wire wrap wire. If you want the whole thing to look impressive, you can use wiring guides. The wires can be conducted via these guides, and wont go here there an everywhere. I have constructed my GAL-Burner and endless other projects in this way. When you have built the circuit and you have connected it to the Amiga, and the Amiga DIDN'T blow up, you can run the test program "GALerTest". The program set various voltage levels on the Textool-socket, which you can check with a VOM. The programming voltages are adjusted with R40-R44. For this you can use "GALerTest". DON'T FORGET: adjust the programming voltage with the trimpots, otherwise the GAL-burner will NOT FUNCTION !!!! (start the "GALerTest" and click through to the relevant test points). If the GAL-Burner works just as the test program demands, then you can try burning a test GAL and test it with the GAL-Checker function of GALer. IF this all works then there are no faults in the hardware. GALs of the type GAL16V8 must be inserted in the Textool-socket, so that pin 1 of the GAL lines up with pin 3 of the socket. With GALs of the type GAL20V8 pin 1 of the GAL must line up with pin 1 of the socket. Well that's about it. Chau and have fun with the cute GALs. ************************************************************************** Appendix ====== Keywords of the Source File: ---------------------------- GAL16V8, GAL20V8 designates the GAL-Type GAL16V8A, GAL20V8A NC not connected (unused) pin GND GROUND (=LOW) VCC +5V (=HIGH) .T output pin is tristate output .E tristate enable through product term .R output pin is register output = output pin is given an equivalence + OR * AND / NOT DESCRIPTION indicates the end of the Boolean equations Parts list: ------------ ICs: ---- IC1, IC3, IC4, IC5 : 4 x 4094 IC2 : 1 x 4555 IC6 : 1 x 4503 IC7 : 1 x 4021 IC8 : 1 x 74LS06 IC9 : 1 x TL 497 IC10 : 1 x 74LS145 Diodes: ------- D1-D4 : 4 x 1N4148 LED : 1 x rot, 3 mm Transistors: ------------ T2, T4, T5 : 3 x BC237B T1, T3 : 2 x BC327 Resistors (5%, 1/4 Watt): ------------------------- R1, R2, R35-39 : 7 x 1 KOhm R3-13, R19-26 : 19 x 10 KOhm R28-32 : 5 x 1,8 KOhm R14 : 1 x 1 Ohm R15 : 1 x 27 KOhm R34 : 1 x 220 Ohm R18 : 1 x 4,7 Ohm R27 : 1 x 47 Ohm R33 : 1 x 22 KOhm R40-44 : 5 x 2 KOhm trimpots (there are no R16, R17) Relays: ------- K1, K2 : 2 x relays with 5V or 6V, 1 x single pole double throw Coil: ----- L1 : 1 x 100 uH, miniature fixed Capacitors: ----------- C1 : 1 x 100 pF C2 : 1 x 4,7 uF, tantalum C3 : 1 x 100 nF C4 : 1 x 220 uF, 25V Sundries: ---------- IC-Sockets 8 x 16 pin 2 x 14 pin 1 x Textool-Socket 24 pin, narrow! (.3 row spacing) or use a universal type 1 x 25 pin female Sub-D connector for Amiga 1000 or 25 pin male Sub-D connector for all other Amiga types u = mikro Bibliography: ------------------ 1) GALs - Programmierbare Logikbausteine in Theorie and Praxis Bitterle Franzis-Verlag This book (German) is well suited for beginners. 2) Programmable Logic Manual - GAL Products SGS-Thomson This book (english) is for the pro.