Design and construction of an intelligent printer for graphics:Software (PDOS)

Abstract

As a part of Micro-Computer Application, distributed processing system was designed, simulated, and implemented. Intelligent Printer for graphics was implemented using PRINTRONIX 300 LINE PRINTER, so it has the processing facility, main memory, and disk - called Printer Subsystem. Simply, the graphic parameter is passed from any host computer to the Intelligent Printer, then the graphic package located at disk in printer is operated by PDOS (Printer Disk Operating System). PDOS located at ROM is compact operating system which bootstrap and manage the disk, manage the RAM - for efficient use of relatively small main memory, manage the graphic package, and also I/O facility. In doing so, Cromemco Micro Computer System was used for simulation tool;Z-80, 32K RAM (16K x 1bit chip), 2K ROM (7816), mini floppy disk, disk controller, and over one hundred I.C. chips was used for Printer Subsystem.