Nicolette 1080

History

The Nicolette 1080 computer was the successor of the Nicolette 1070/PDP-8 computer, released in 1971 by the American firm "Nicolette Instrument Corporation", which operated between 1966 and 1992 in Madison, Wisconsin. As a part of a data processing mainframe, model 1080 allowed RMN spectra analisys by the use of FFT algorithms. The process of big amounts of data at a fast rate (it was possible to compute the FFT of 32000 points in just 100 secconds) was possible thanks to the uncommon 20 bits architecture, which was a significant performance advantage over other systems based on 8 and 16 bits architectures.

Technical Specifications

Architecture

The computer was form by dozens of integrated circuits containing simple logic gates (AND, NAND, OR, NOT, etc.), transistors, diodes, and passive electronic components like resistors, capacitors and coils. The Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) had a sample rate of 100 kHz, allowing the measure of 50 kHz signals(See Nyquist frequency). Beside this, digitalized signals could be averaged "by hardware", which increase Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) improving processed data quality. Computer clock frequency was 2 MHz, and some complex functions like multiplication and division between 20 and 40 bits registers could be performed in one instruction cycle thanks to the complexity of the arithmetic module, in a similar way to the more recent ALUs.

Memory

Computer's main memory was a Magnetic-core memory, formed by two or three 4000 words bank, 20 bits words.^[2] This would be, in modern terms, a 30 kilobytes memory (8 bits/byte).

Peripheral

The computer included an ASR 33 Teletype, used for introducing or modifiyng programs, as well as reading memory contents. Two RS232 serial ports allowed, on the other hand, the use of displays and dot matrix printers. Although the seccond serial port (RS232-B) didn't have assigned functions on the original system, it could be used to achieve connectivity with other computers. Between the compatible peripheral used were hard drives, like "Diablo 30s" and NIC 298 8 floppy disk drive . Default media for program loading was, however, the paper tape (folded on itself on a zig-zag fashion) eight holes a line (plus one smaller hole for traction). Standard system and FFT programs were included on paper tape format.

Front Panel

Front Panel had three rows of red LEDs, allowing to see the contents of the acumulator, instruction registry and program counter (PC). A group of twenty switches and buttons were used to read or modify any selected registry.

References

External links

• Nicolette Computers and the Fourier Revolution, por Jack G. Kisslinger