1
10
2
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Microsystems International Limited (MIL) Collection
Description
An account of the resource
In October of 1968, with $48 million package from the Canadian Treasury Board, Northern Electric transformed its Advanced Devices Center into a new company called Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL). In March of 1969, MIL opened its doors with its headquarters in Montreal and the manufacturing facility in Ottawa. The company's focus was to be on new semiconductor technologies and products. In a short period of time, MIL acquired state of the art integrated circuit technologies and the second source rights to a number of products. The company's memory products, such as MF1101, MF1103, MF1701, or MF1702, and the MF8008 microprocessor, placed the company among the semiconductor leaders on the international market. <br /><br />Between 1970 and 1972, MIL developed and manufactured Canada's first microprocessor -- the MF7114. It also produced three microcomputers: the CPS/1 system designed around the MF7114 microprocessor as well as the MOD8 and the MOD80 computers. The MOD8 microcomputer, developed in 1974, was based on the MIL MF8008 8-bit microprocessor. This computer (as well as its refinement -- the MOD80) consisted of the MOD8-8 PCB backplane mounted in an aluminum case. The backplane contained the Eprom programmer and nine connectors for the CPU, memory, interface, and I/O cards. The MOD8 computer and its MONITOR8 software were aimed at the development of the MF8008-based applications. To MIL's surprise, it was the North American computer enthusiasts who made the MOD8 a popular 8008-based microcomputer kit in 1975-1976. MIL's <em>MF8008 Applications Manual </em>was one of the most widely read early documents on 8-bit microprocessors. The MOD8 influenced other early microcomputer designs for the hobbyists' market such as the Mike2 computer from Martin Research or a range of C-MOD computers from Celetron Corporation which were sold by MiniMicroMart of Syracuse, NY. <br /><br />The company closed its operations in June 1975. However, MIL's demise seeded the Canadian high-technology sector with scores of semiconductor, computer, and telecommunications start-ups founded by former MIL employees. <br /><br /><b> Acquisition:</b> The artifacts have been donated to YUCoM by several individuals including John Freeman, John Hackman, Kelly Hamilton, William Kindree, Mark Silver, Zbigniew Stachniak, and Candi Trefero. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">HARDWARE</span></strong>
<ul>
<li>MOD8 microcomputer</li>
<li>MOD80 microcomputer with a variety of additional home made boards and passive backplane</li>
<li>MP-1 chip set (it includes the MF7114 microprocessor)</li>
<li>MF8008 microprocessor</li>
<li>various MIL integrated circuits including the MF7114 and MF8008 CPUs as well as the MF1702A Eproms.</li>
<li>MOD8-8 backplane</li>
<li>A set of replicated MOD8 printed circuit boards</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">MANUALS, GUIDES, APPLICATIONS NOTES </span></strong>
<ul>
<li><i>MC-1 Microcomputer Handbook (Preliminary), </i>MIL (197?)</li>
<li>How to Use the CPS/1 Micro-Computer System, Bulletin 50001 (MIL, 1972)</li>
<li>Techniques for the CPS/1, Microsystems International Ltd., preliminary edition, 1973(?)</li>
<li>CPS/1 Application Guide, Microsystems International Ltd. , June 26, 1972</li>
<li><i>Short Form Catalogue Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80001, Microsystems International Ltd., March 1971</li>
<li><i>Selected Linear I.C. Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80004A, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition</li>
<li><i>MF8008 Central Processing Unit Applications Manual</i>, Microsystems International Ltd., preliminary edition, 1974(?)</li>
<li><i>MOS Memory Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80005, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974</li>
<li><em>MOS LSI Memory</em>, Bulletin 23006, Microsystems International Ltd., 1972(?)</li>
<li><em>MOS LSI Memory Fully Decoded Static Random Access 1024 Bit Memory MF2102</em>, Bulletin 23032, Microsystems International Ltd., 1972</li>
<li><i>MF8008 Central Processor Applications Manual</i>, Bulletin 80007, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition</li>
<li><em>Microprocessor Control of the Singer Telerex 30PMI Matrix Printer</em>, MIL Applications Note, HRM 1468-00, November 16, 1973</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>MF 7114 Central Processing Unit Product Specification</em>, Design Report P-F-7114, Issue 1, Microsystems International Ltd., October 1973</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>MF 7115, 64x4 RAM Product Specification</em>, Design Report P-F-7115, Issue 1, Microsystems International Ltd., October 1973</li>
<li><i>MOD8 Manual</i>, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)</li>
<li><em>MOD8/Audio Cassette Interface Manual</em> (Moducomp?)</li>
<li><i>MOD80 Supplement</i>, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)</li>
<li><i>GNC 8: Modular Micro Computer User's Manual</i>, Great Northern Computers Ltd., 1975</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>SOFTWARE and HARDWARE NOTES </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>L. Schweizer,<i> MPS/1, Mini Processor System/First Try, </i>Microsystems International Ltd. (1972?)</li>
<li><i>CPS/1 Software Notes, </i>draft copy, Microsystems International Ltd. (1973?)</li>
<li><i>New Super Component: MOD8-9 </i>(MIL?, 6pp)</li>
<li><em>MOD 8-8, Backplane/PROM Programmer</em> (MIL?, 16 pp)</li>
<li>Notes on the MOD-80 version2, revision 1 and other 8080-related hardware/software by Tom Dale (c. 1977)</li>
<li>B. Warren, 4006 Design Report, Intel, December 16, 1971</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>A Microprocessor Prototyping System for the 8080</em> (1974?)</li>
<li>J. Heckman, <em>Interupts for CPS/1</em> (handwritten notes)</li>
<li>J. Heckman, <em>Tech Note - COMBUS</em> (handwritten notes)</li>
<li><i> The MOD 8 Data Package </i>, by Robert Swartz (1975). It includes:
<ul>
<li><i>The MOD 8 Data Package</i> cover page</li>
<li><i>MOD 8-8 Backplane/PROM Programmer</i> documentation</li>
<li><i>Audio Cassette/MOD8 Interface</i></li>
<li><i>Errors in MIL Application Manual, Bulletin 80007 - 1974 Edition</i></li>
<li><i> Helpful Hints in Getting a Running System</i></li>
<li>MOD 8 Parts List, 1/5/75</li>
<li><i>Additional Notes on MOD 8</i>MIL.htm</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MOD 80 CPU board schematic diagram and board layout; designed by Robert Swartz (1975), layout by Nano Systems, manufactured by Space Circuits</li>
<li><i>The MOD8 software and notes</i> by Brother Thomas McGahee (1975/76):
<ul>
<li><i>Notes on Using the MIL-MOD 8 System</i>, 6 pages</li>
<li><i>Minimal Monitor for Scientific Calculator</i>, 12 pages</li>
<li><i>How it Works: Parallel I/O for MOD-8</i>, 14 pages</li>
<li><i>Monitor-8P Parallel I/O</i>, 8 pages</li>
<li><i>Scientific Calculator Software</i>, 36 pages</li>
<li><i>Proposed C-MOD8-2P</i>, (February 1976), 7 pages</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><i> Datapak: LED Display</i>, MiniMicroMart, 1976 (discusses LED display board for MOD80, C-MOD 80)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS</strong></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li>CPS1-1, February 6, 1973</li>
<li>MOD-4 CPU board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 25, 1974</li>
<li>MOD-4 Exoander board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 21, 1974</li>
<li>MOD-4 debug board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 21, 1974</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>SOFTWARE <br /></strong></span>
<ul>
<li>MONITOR 8 (on eight Intel 1702 Eproms)</li>
<li>MONITOR 8 (2K x 8, 8316 ROM) from MiniMicroMart (not in the YUCoM's collection)</li>
<li>MONITOR 80 (3 2708 Eproms) from MiniMicroMart (not in the YUCoM's collection)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> CORPORATE DOCUMENTS </strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span>
<ul>
<li>Microsystems International Ltd. share certificate, February 23, 1970</li>
<li>Minutes of CPS/1 Meeting, May 18, 1972</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> MOD8/80 related articles in MiniMicroMart publications </strong> </span>
<ul>
<li>MOD8 discussed in <em>MiniMicroMart Newsletter</em>, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 2-3</li>
<li>Monitor-8 Software including Audio Cassette Interface, <em>MiniMicroMart Technical Bulettin</em> B101-4/75</li>
<li>MOD8, C-MOD8/80 discussed in Special issue C A 75</li>
<li>MONITOR 8 and Tape Cassette Interface for MOD8 discussed in <em>MiniMicroMart Newsletter</em>, special issue C101A-5/75</li>
<li>C-MOD 8 Boards, C-MOD 80 Boards: Modular 8 Bit Microprocessor, <em>MiniMicroMart Product Bulletin</em>-A103-9/75</li>
<li>RM 6800 -- C-MOD 6800 Mini System,<em> MiniMicroMart Product Bulletin</em> (preliminary), November 1975</li>
<li><i>C-MOD System>, Product Bulletin, Sep. 1976 </i></li>
<li>Monitor 80, 80A, and RM 8080 discussed in<i> Product Bulletin, Nov. 1976 </i></li>
<li>C-MOD 80 system discussed in Product Bulletin<i>, July, 1977 </i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> MOD8/80 related articles in Toronto Association of Computer Enthusiasts (TRACE) <i> Newsletter</i> </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>TRACE group purchase of MOD8 and MOD80 PCBs as well as MOD 80 based TV typewriter and color graphics terminal; a note by B. Kindree, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 3, May 1976.</li>
<li>MOD8/80 user group; a note by J. Szilock, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 4, June 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, MOD 8 and MOD 80 Bus Display Board. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 5, July 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, The MOD 8 and MOD 80 Microcomputers: a short summary. TRACE <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 5, July 1976.</li>
<li>A note on MOD80 CPU board by B. Kindree. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 7, August 1976.</li>
<li>MOD 80 Tips, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 8, October 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, From the Editor's Desk. A note on the status of TRACE MOD8/80 User's Group. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 13, March 1977.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>T.A. Dale, <em>Monitor 68 Users Guid</em>, University of Waterloo, 1977</li>
<li><em>Phoenix-8</em> promotional brochure, HRB (Goderich, ON), 197?</li>
</ul>
Subject
The topic of the resource
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://museum1.eecs.yorku.ca/www_decorations/mil_logo.png" alt="MCM_logo" width="30%" height="30%" border="0" /></p>
This collection documents corporate history of Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL).
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Zbigniew Stachniak
hardware
A computer (or a calculator), its components and
peripherals (displays, printers, pointing devices, modems, external storage devices, etc).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
MOD 8 Microcomputer
Subject
The topic of the resource
hardware: microcomputer
Description
An account of the resource
<strong>Historical Context</strong><br />(by Z. Stachniak)<br /><br />In October of 1968, with $48 million package from the Canadian Treasury Board, Northern Electric transformed its Advanced Devices Center into a new company called Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL). In March of 1969, MIL opened its doors with its headquarters in Montreal and the manufacturing facility in Ottawa. The company's focus was to be on new semiconductor technologies and products. In a short period of time, MIL acquired state of the art integrated circuit technologies and the second source rights to a number of products. The company's memory products, such as MF1101, MF1103, MF1701, or MF1702, and the MF8008 microprocessor, placed the company among the semiconductor leaders on the international market.<br /><br />Between 1970 and 1972, MIL developed and manufactured Canada's first microprocessor -- the MF7114. It also produced three microcomputers: the CPS/1 system designed around the MF7114 microprocessor as well as the MOD8 and the MOD80 microcomputers. The MOD8, developed in 1974, was based on the MIL MF8008 8-bit microprocessor. This computer (as well as its refinement -- the MOD80) consisted of the MOD8-8 PCB backplane mounted on top of an aluminum case, and several cards inserted into the backplane's connectors. These cards provided the CPU, memory, interface, and I/O functions. The backplane also contained built-in EPROM programmer. The MIL MOD80 microcomputer had the same architecture as the MOD8 with the exception of the CPU module. While the MOD8 employed the MF8008 microprocessor, the MOD80 was built around the MIL MF8080 CPU (a clone of the Intel 8080).<br /><br />The MOD8 computer and its MONITOR8 software were aimed at the development of the MF8008-based applications. To MIL's surprise, it was the North American computer enthusiasts who made the MOD8 a popular 8008-based microcomputer kit in the second half of the 1970s. MIL's <em>MF8008 Applications Manual</em> was one of the most widely read early documents on 8-bit microprocessors. The MOD8 influenced other early microcomputer designs for the hobbyists' market such as the Mike2 computer from Martin Research or a range of C-MOD computers from Celetron Corporation which were sold by MiniMicroMart of Syracuse, NY.<br /><br />The company closed its operations in June 1975. However, MIL's demise seeded the Canadian high-technology sector with scores of semiconductor, computer, and telecommunications start-ups founded by former MIL employees. The MOD8 and MOD80 microcomputers continued to be sold by companies such as Great Northern Computers Ltd., Moducomp Inc., and HRB (Goderich, ON).<br /><br /><strong>Museum holdings</strong><br /><br />For the MOD8 and MOD80 museum holdings, consult the MIL collection.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1974
Relation
A related resource
MIL collection
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
H.37
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
1974-1977 in North America
Contribution Form
The set of elements containing metadata from the Contribution form.
Online Submission
Indicates whether or not this Item has been contributed from a front-end contribution form.
No
microcomputer
Microsystems International Ltd.
MIL
-
https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/038c5961ce60a57d1909f1854baf1660.jpeg
77365218aba564dbb486b9c379dba043
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Microsystems International Limited (MIL) Collection
Description
An account of the resource
In October of 1968, with $48 million package from the Canadian Treasury Board, Northern Electric transformed its Advanced Devices Center into a new company called Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL). In March of 1969, MIL opened its doors with its headquarters in Montreal and the manufacturing facility in Ottawa. The company's focus was to be on new semiconductor technologies and products. In a short period of time, MIL acquired state of the art integrated circuit technologies and the second source rights to a number of products. The company's memory products, such as MF1101, MF1103, MF1701, or MF1702, and the MF8008 microprocessor, placed the company among the semiconductor leaders on the international market. <br /><br />Between 1970 and 1972, MIL developed and manufactured Canada's first microprocessor -- the MF7114. It also produced three microcomputers: the CPS/1 system designed around the MF7114 microprocessor as well as the MOD8 and the MOD80 computers. The MOD8 microcomputer, developed in 1974, was based on the MIL MF8008 8-bit microprocessor. This computer (as well as its refinement -- the MOD80) consisted of the MOD8-8 PCB backplane mounted in an aluminum case. The backplane contained the Eprom programmer and nine connectors for the CPU, memory, interface, and I/O cards. The MOD8 computer and its MONITOR8 software were aimed at the development of the MF8008-based applications. To MIL's surprise, it was the North American computer enthusiasts who made the MOD8 a popular 8008-based microcomputer kit in 1975-1976. MIL's <em>MF8008 Applications Manual </em>was one of the most widely read early documents on 8-bit microprocessors. The MOD8 influenced other early microcomputer designs for the hobbyists' market such as the Mike2 computer from Martin Research or a range of C-MOD computers from Celetron Corporation which were sold by MiniMicroMart of Syracuse, NY. <br /><br />The company closed its operations in June 1975. However, MIL's demise seeded the Canadian high-technology sector with scores of semiconductor, computer, and telecommunications start-ups founded by former MIL employees. <br /><br /><b> Acquisition:</b> The artifacts have been donated to YUCoM by several individuals including John Freeman, John Hackman, Kelly Hamilton, William Kindree, Mark Silver, Zbigniew Stachniak, and Candi Trefero. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">HARDWARE</span></strong>
<ul>
<li>MOD8 microcomputer</li>
<li>MOD80 microcomputer with a variety of additional home made boards and passive backplane</li>
<li>MP-1 chip set (it includes the MF7114 microprocessor)</li>
<li>MF8008 microprocessor</li>
<li>various MIL integrated circuits including the MF7114 and MF8008 CPUs as well as the MF1702A Eproms.</li>
<li>MOD8-8 backplane</li>
<li>A set of replicated MOD8 printed circuit boards</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">MANUALS, GUIDES, APPLICATIONS NOTES </span></strong>
<ul>
<li><i>MC-1 Microcomputer Handbook (Preliminary), </i>MIL (197?)</li>
<li>How to Use the CPS/1 Micro-Computer System, Bulletin 50001 (MIL, 1972)</li>
<li>Techniques for the CPS/1, Microsystems International Ltd., preliminary edition, 1973(?)</li>
<li>CPS/1 Application Guide, Microsystems International Ltd. , June 26, 1972</li>
<li><i>Short Form Catalogue Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80001, Microsystems International Ltd., March 1971</li>
<li><i>Selected Linear I.C. Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80004A, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition</li>
<li><i>MF8008 Central Processing Unit Applications Manual</i>, Microsystems International Ltd., preliminary edition, 1974(?)</li>
<li><i>MOS Memory Catalogue</i>, Bulletin 80005, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974</li>
<li><em>MOS LSI Memory</em>, Bulletin 23006, Microsystems International Ltd., 1972(?)</li>
<li><em>MOS LSI Memory Fully Decoded Static Random Access 1024 Bit Memory MF2102</em>, Bulletin 23032, Microsystems International Ltd., 1972</li>
<li><i>MF8008 Central Processor Applications Manual</i>, Bulletin 80007, Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition</li>
<li><em>Microprocessor Control of the Singer Telerex 30PMI Matrix Printer</em>, MIL Applications Note, HRM 1468-00, November 16, 1973</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>MF 7114 Central Processing Unit Product Specification</em>, Design Report P-F-7114, Issue 1, Microsystems International Ltd., October 1973</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>MF 7115, 64x4 RAM Product Specification</em>, Design Report P-F-7115, Issue 1, Microsystems International Ltd., October 1973</li>
<li><i>MOD8 Manual</i>, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)</li>
<li><em>MOD8/Audio Cassette Interface Manual</em> (Moducomp?)</li>
<li><i>MOD80 Supplement</i>, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)</li>
<li><i>GNC 8: Modular Micro Computer User's Manual</i>, Great Northern Computers Ltd., 1975</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>SOFTWARE and HARDWARE NOTES </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>L. Schweizer,<i> MPS/1, Mini Processor System/First Try, </i>Microsystems International Ltd. (1972?)</li>
<li><i>CPS/1 Software Notes, </i>draft copy, Microsystems International Ltd. (1973?)</li>
<li><i>New Super Component: MOD8-9 </i>(MIL?, 6pp)</li>
<li><em>MOD 8-8, Backplane/PROM Programmer</em> (MIL?, 16 pp)</li>
<li>Notes on the MOD-80 version2, revision 1 and other 8080-related hardware/software by Tom Dale (c. 1977)</li>
<li>B. Warren, 4006 Design Report, Intel, December 16, 1971</li>
<li>J. Freeman, <em>A Microprocessor Prototyping System for the 8080</em> (1974?)</li>
<li>J. Heckman, <em>Interupts for CPS/1</em> (handwritten notes)</li>
<li>J. Heckman, <em>Tech Note - COMBUS</em> (handwritten notes)</li>
<li><i> The MOD 8 Data Package </i>, by Robert Swartz (1975). It includes:
<ul>
<li><i>The MOD 8 Data Package</i> cover page</li>
<li><i>MOD 8-8 Backplane/PROM Programmer</i> documentation</li>
<li><i>Audio Cassette/MOD8 Interface</i></li>
<li><i>Errors in MIL Application Manual, Bulletin 80007 - 1974 Edition</i></li>
<li><i> Helpful Hints in Getting a Running System</i></li>
<li>MOD 8 Parts List, 1/5/75</li>
<li><i>Additional Notes on MOD 8</i>MIL.htm</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MOD 80 CPU board schematic diagram and board layout; designed by Robert Swartz (1975), layout by Nano Systems, manufactured by Space Circuits</li>
<li><i>The MOD8 software and notes</i> by Brother Thomas McGahee (1975/76):
<ul>
<li><i>Notes on Using the MIL-MOD 8 System</i>, 6 pages</li>
<li><i>Minimal Monitor for Scientific Calculator</i>, 12 pages</li>
<li><i>How it Works: Parallel I/O for MOD-8</i>, 14 pages</li>
<li><i>Monitor-8P Parallel I/O</i>, 8 pages</li>
<li><i>Scientific Calculator Software</i>, 36 pages</li>
<li><i>Proposed C-MOD8-2P</i>, (February 1976), 7 pages</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><i> Datapak: LED Display</i>, MiniMicroMart, 1976 (discusses LED display board for MOD80, C-MOD 80)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS</strong></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li>CPS1-1, February 6, 1973</li>
<li>MOD-4 CPU board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 25, 1974</li>
<li>MOD-4 Exoander board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 21, 1974</li>
<li>MOD-4 debug board, Microsystems International Ltd., June 21, 1974</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>SOFTWARE <br /></strong></span>
<ul>
<li>MONITOR 8 (on eight Intel 1702 Eproms)</li>
<li>MONITOR 8 (2K x 8, 8316 ROM) from MiniMicroMart (not in the YUCoM's collection)</li>
<li>MONITOR 80 (3 2708 Eproms) from MiniMicroMart (not in the YUCoM's collection)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> CORPORATE DOCUMENTS </strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span>
<ul>
<li>Microsystems International Ltd. share certificate, February 23, 1970</li>
<li>Minutes of CPS/1 Meeting, May 18, 1972</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> MOD8/80 related articles in MiniMicroMart publications </strong> </span>
<ul>
<li>MOD8 discussed in <em>MiniMicroMart Newsletter</em>, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 2-3</li>
<li>Monitor-8 Software including Audio Cassette Interface, <em>MiniMicroMart Technical Bulettin</em> B101-4/75</li>
<li>MOD8, C-MOD8/80 discussed in Special issue C A 75</li>
<li>MONITOR 8 and Tape Cassette Interface for MOD8 discussed in <em>MiniMicroMart Newsletter</em>, special issue C101A-5/75</li>
<li>C-MOD 8 Boards, C-MOD 80 Boards: Modular 8 Bit Microprocessor, <em>MiniMicroMart Product Bulletin</em>-A103-9/75</li>
<li>RM 6800 -- C-MOD 6800 Mini System,<em> MiniMicroMart Product Bulletin</em> (preliminary), November 1975</li>
<li><i>C-MOD System>, Product Bulletin, Sep. 1976 </i></li>
<li>Monitor 80, 80A, and RM 8080 discussed in<i> Product Bulletin, Nov. 1976 </i></li>
<li>C-MOD 80 system discussed in Product Bulletin<i>, July, 1977 </i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong> MOD8/80 related articles in Toronto Association of Computer Enthusiasts (TRACE) <i> Newsletter</i> </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>TRACE group purchase of MOD8 and MOD80 PCBs as well as MOD 80 based TV typewriter and color graphics terminal; a note by B. Kindree, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 3, May 1976.</li>
<li>MOD8/80 user group; a note by J. Szilock, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 4, June 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, MOD 8 and MOD 80 Bus Display Board. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 5, July 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, The MOD 8 and MOD 80 Microcomputers: a short summary. TRACE <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 5, July 1976.</li>
<li>A note on MOD80 CPU board by B. Kindree. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 7, August 1976.</li>
<li>MOD 80 Tips, <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 8, October 1976.</li>
<li>B. Kindree, From the Editor's Desk. A note on the status of TRACE MOD8/80 User's Group. <em>TRACE</em> <i>Newsletter</i> nr. 13, March 1977.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS </strong></span>
<ul>
<li>T.A. Dale, <em>Monitor 68 Users Guid</em>, University of Waterloo, 1977</li>
<li><em>Phoenix-8</em> promotional brochure, HRB (Goderich, ON), 197?</li>
</ul>
Subject
The topic of the resource
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://museum1.eecs.yorku.ca/www_decorations/mil_logo.png" alt="MCM_logo" width="30%" height="30%" border="0" /></p>
This collection documents corporate history of Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL).
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Zbigniew Stachniak
hardware
A computer (or a calculator), its components and
peripherals (displays, printers, pointing devices, modems, external storage devices, etc).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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MIL MF7114 microprocessor
Description
An account of the resource
<strong>Historical context<br /></strong>(by Z. Stachniak)<br /><br />The MF7114 was an early 4-bit single-chip microprocessor designed and built by Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL) of Montreal between 1970 and 1972. It was the first microprocessor designed and manufactured in Canada. <br /><br />The MF7114 has its roots in the development of Intel's first single-chip central processing unit (CPU) -- the 4004. Before it was given the `MF7114' designation, the chip's general architecture was called the Intel 4005 and the purpose of its development was to backup the 4004's project, to fabricate a simpler general-purpose microprocessor in case of the 4004's fiasco.<br /><br />When in early 1971 the design work on the 4004 chip resulted in silicon wafers with a sufficient number of fully-functional CPUs on them to permit the chips' fabrication at the target cost, Intel abandoned the 4005 project. MIL on the other hand, continued the 4005's development and, by mid 1972, had its own 4-bit microprocessor -- the MF7114.<br /><br />MIL marketed the MF7114 as a CPU for stored program controllers. In 1973, the company designed an MF7114-based controller board to demonstrate the use of the chip to control the Singer Telerex 30 PMI Matrix Printer.<br /><br />The company also used the MF7114 to design a 4-bit microcomputer -- the CPS-1 (also referred to as the CPS/1, MPS/1, and MC-1). The computer was offered in two versions. The first one was a single-board version. The board included the MF7114 CPU, clock, 4Kb of memory, and 16 I/O ports including a TTY interface. The second version was a modularly designed hardware that included a chassis with backplane bus for system's expansions, a CPU and memory board, a power supply, a programmer's console, and the PROM connector to the PROM programmer. Designed in 1973, the CPS-1 was the first microprocessor powered computer built in Canada.<br />
<h4>The MF7114 Specifications</h4>
<ul>
<li>data bus - 4 bit, bi-directional</li>
<li>address bus - 12 bit</li>
<li>communications bus: (COMBUS) 21 bit, included 16 lines of data and address buses plus 5 control lines</li>
<li>clock speed: 0.9 microseconds per cycle</li>
<li>on-chip registers: accumulator (AC, 4 bit), program counter (PC, 12 bit), data pointer (DP, 12 bit), overflow register (OF, 1 bit)</li>
<li>virtual (working) registers: eight 4-bit and eight 12 bit registers</li>
<li>number of instructions: 58, executed in three to five cycles</li>
<li>supporting chips: the MF1601 ROM and MF7115 RAM</li>
<li>packaging: 24-pin DIP</li>
</ul>
<h4>Museum Holdings</h4>
A promotional paperweight with a 7114 chip set consisting of an MF 7114 CPU, an MF1601 ROM, and an MF7115 RAM.<br /><br /><strong>References</strong>
<ul>
<li><em> MF8008 Central Processor Applications Manual</em>, MIL,<br />Bulletin 80007, 1974.</li>
<li>Stachniak, Z. The MIL MF7114 Microprocessor. <i> IEEE Annals of the History of Computing,</i>October-December 2010 (vol. 32 no. 4) pp. 48-59.</li>
<li><em>MIL CPS-1 Emulator: Design Notes and Programmer's Guide</em>, Version 2.2, York University Computer Museum, 2021.</li>
</ul>
Creator
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Microsystems International Ltd. (MIL)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1971-1975
Contributor
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John Freeman, John Hackman, Kelly Hamilton, and Zbigniew Stachniak
Subject
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hardware: integrated circuits
Contribution Form
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Online Submission
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No
7114
microprocessor