REX Overview: Difference between revisions

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== REX Overview ==
== REX Overview ==


REX Architecture
REX is a low power 1MB flash card custom designed to work with the Model T.  The challenge for REX is to be able to accomplish a "write" in a socket designed only for "reads".  An additional challenge, is to be able to control 19 address lines and 8 data lines to the flash, with a minimum amount of resources. 
 
A major challenge with REX, was finding a CPLD with enough I/O to manage the flash, while being small enough to fit in the socket.
 
== REX Architecture ==
 
The architecture of REX is shown in the illustration below.  Here we see that the CPLD (a programmable logic device, the "brains" of REX) sits between the flash chip and the option rom socket connector. 
 
REX manages only some of the address lines going to the flash - A15-A19, and A0-A7.  A8-A14 are provided as direct connections from the optrom socket, as are AD0-AD7.  REX intercepts the address/data bus AD0-AD7, and the system communicates with the CPLD using data sent on these lines.
 
Data is sent to REX on the falling edge of the ALE signal.  During this time, the address/data bus AD0-AD7 contains the lower address information for that CPU cycle.
 
So, in order to send data to REX, the data is sent as the bottom 8 bits of the ADDRESS, not the DATA, during a read cycle from the option rom.
 


[[Image:Rex_architecture.jpg]]
[[Image:Rex_architecture.jpg]]
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REX needs to distinguish between "normal reads" to the option rom, and "control reads" to REX.  In order to tell them apart, REX listens for a sequence of 6 reads from specific memory locations.  When this key sequence is observed, REX jumps into a command mode, to allow control of REX and manipulation of the flash.


== REX State Machine ==
The following illustration is the REX state machine.  This heavily optimised state machine has commands to set and read the registers of REX, and to send specific sequences to the flash to allow programming and erasing of the different blocks in the flash.
The state machine has been optimised for high speed operation as well as maximum flexibility.  REX is able to program a 32k binary image in under 4 seconds.
[[Image:REX_statemachine.jpg]]
== REX Flash Organization ==
REX makes 32k blocks of flash memory visible to the Model T, and the currently visible block is selected by programming the sector register.  The flash is organised according to the following diagram.


REX Flash Organization


[[Image:REX_flash_org.jpg]]
[[Image:REX_flash_org.jpg]]


Here we see 6 blocks of flash, including block 0, reserved for system use, and 26 blocks are free for use to store images.
Block 0 is a special block, in that it may be erased independantly of any other block, and in 3 sections, a 16k section and 2 8k sections.  Block 1 may be erased independantly of any other block, and is a stand alone 32k block.  The remaining blocks are actually associated with a 64k sector - 2 adjacent blocks form a sector, and the entire sector must be erased at the same time. 
This poses a challenge for REX, since REX images are all 32k in size.  In general, in order to erase a block, the adjacent block must be copied to a free block first, to allow a complete erasure of the 64k sector.
128k is reserved for main rom replacement.  64k is reserved for primary main rom, and 64k is reserved for a secondary main rom.  In practice it is expected that the primary main rom gets programmed once, and left alone, since it is critical to allow reliable booting once the user unplugs the original equipment ROM.  That leaves the secondary rom for custom loads.
M100/T102 needs only 32k for each main rom, but T200 needs 40k (IE 64k).
== REX Registers ==
REX has 2 internal registers - the version register (read only) and the status register (read/write).  The definitions of these registers is illustrated below.




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[[Image:REX_flowchart.jpg]]
== REX Mananger Flow Chart =




[[Image:REX_statemachine.jpg]]
[[Image:REX_flowchart.jpg]]

Revision as of 18:46, 1 July 2009

REX Overview

REX is a low power 1MB flash card custom designed to work with the Model T. The challenge for REX is to be able to accomplish a "write" in a socket designed only for "reads". An additional challenge, is to be able to control 19 address lines and 8 data lines to the flash, with a minimum amount of resources.

A major challenge with REX, was finding a CPLD with enough I/O to manage the flash, while being small enough to fit in the socket.

REX Architecture

The architecture of REX is shown in the illustration below. Here we see that the CPLD (a programmable logic device, the "brains" of REX) sits between the flash chip and the option rom socket connector.

REX manages only some of the address lines going to the flash - A15-A19, and A0-A7. A8-A14 are provided as direct connections from the optrom socket, as are AD0-AD7. REX intercepts the address/data bus AD0-AD7, and the system communicates with the CPLD using data sent on these lines.

Data is sent to REX on the falling edge of the ALE signal. During this time, the address/data bus AD0-AD7 contains the lower address information for that CPU cycle.

So, in order to send data to REX, the data is sent as the bottom 8 bits of the ADDRESS, not the DATA, during a read cycle from the option rom.


Rex architecture.jpg


REX needs to distinguish between "normal reads" to the option rom, and "control reads" to REX. In order to tell them apart, REX listens for a sequence of 6 reads from specific memory locations. When this key sequence is observed, REX jumps into a command mode, to allow control of REX and manipulation of the flash.

REX State Machine

The following illustration is the REX state machine. This heavily optimised state machine has commands to set and read the registers of REX, and to send specific sequences to the flash to allow programming and erasing of the different blocks in the flash.

The state machine has been optimised for high speed operation as well as maximum flexibility. REX is able to program a 32k binary image in under 4 seconds.

REX statemachine.jpg


REX Flash Organization

REX makes 32k blocks of flash memory visible to the Model T, and the currently visible block is selected by programming the sector register. The flash is organised according to the following diagram.


REX flash org.jpg


Here we see 6 blocks of flash, including block 0, reserved for system use, and 26 blocks are free for use to store images.

Block 0 is a special block, in that it may be erased independantly of any other block, and in 3 sections, a 16k section and 2 8k sections. Block 1 may be erased independantly of any other block, and is a stand alone 32k block. The remaining blocks are actually associated with a 64k sector - 2 adjacent blocks form a sector, and the entire sector must be erased at the same time.

This poses a challenge for REX, since REX images are all 32k in size. In general, in order to erase a block, the adjacent block must be copied to a free block first, to allow a complete erasure of the 64k sector.

128k is reserved for main rom replacement. 64k is reserved for primary main rom, and 64k is reserved for a secondary main rom. In practice it is expected that the primary main rom gets programmed once, and left alone, since it is critical to allow reliable booting once the user unplugs the original equipment ROM. That leaves the secondary rom for custom loads.

M100/T102 needs only 32k for each main rom, but T200 needs 40k (IE 64k).


REX Registers

REX has 2 internal registers - the version register (read only) and the status register (read/write). The definitions of these registers is illustrated below.


REX registers.jpg


= REX Mananger Flow Chart

REX flowchart.jpg