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 Robotics / Handy Board / 8553
8552  |  8554
Subject: 
0x8000 and main()
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics.handyboard
Date: 
Thu, 3 Jan 2002 15:01:00 GMT
Viewed: 
2490 times
  
Dan,

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting what you mean by "a startup program".  To me, a
"startup program" means there is a file downloaded to the HB that contains a
"  main()  " function, i.e., a function which will automatically be executed
upon startup (powerup reset) of the HB.  I think this is what Fred means by
an "auto-start program".

Therefore, I take Fred's explanation of RAM location 0x8000 to mean that if
you have a " main() " function resident on the HB, 0x8000 will be a 1.  If
you have a program resident on the HB, but it does not contain a " main() "
function, 0x8000 will be a 0.

If 0x8000 is set to 1 if ANY program ( with or without a " main() " functon)
is loaded on the HB, I don't see that the value of 0x8000 has much significance.

When you say you saw 0x8000 set to 1 when you loaded "any" program, did
"any" include both programs with and without a " main() " function?   This
is, in fact, what I see.  Loading ANY program to the HB sets 0x8000 to
1..... hmmmmm?

Smack me up side the head and get me straightened out.

Thanks,
John



In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, Dan Gates writes:
John,
I just did the same test, I think what Fred was saying is that IC sets the
0x8000 to accept a startup program if one is loaded. If I poke a 0 to that
address then load any program it sets back to 1.  I think he was wandering if
your IC version was messed up, and not setting that register correctly. Anyway,
I'm glad you got to the bottom of it!!  Now we all have more experience under
our belts.
-Dan

In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, John R. McDaniel writes:
Dan,

Yes, I did cut the trace for external motor power.  I know the HB and the
motor power "+" sources are isolated because I not only checked with a VOM,
but I removed the motor supply batteries and when I run my motor test
program (remember, no motor supply batteries installed), the motors do not • run.

In fact, one of the reasons I wrote the program to have output to the LCD
was so I could be positive the program was executing even when the motors
are unpowered.

Would you mind trying to duplicate my "experiment" relative to RAM location
0x8000, i.e., would you download a file with " main() " and peek 0x8000 .
Then unload that file and download a file which has NO " main() " functon
and see what value 0x8000 has then?

I'll rest a little easier if I know someone else gets the same results I did.

Keep shootin' in the dark ---- I'm almost out of bullets over here !!

Thanks,

John




In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, Dan Gates writes:
Wow, What a bugger!  This is one of the strangest cases I've seen. Works fine
while connected, but not when reset.  Works fine on my board either way. • Memory
and 68HC11 have been traded out. Scope shows no voltage drop at Mem-power
durring reset. Both the free version and the Newton labs version of IC have
been tried. What else could it possibly be!!!
Did you cut the trace to internal motor power when you added the external
motor power?  I'm just shootin' in the dark now, I'm sure you did all that
right.
-Dan




In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, John R. McDaniel writes:

Fred,

Thanks for the info on how IC determines whether to auto-start a program or
not.  Based on your suggestions ----

I just finished downloading the open-source (free) version of IC.    I had
been running Newton Labs 3.1 and most recently 3.2.

I unzipped the open-source version of IC files, configured DL and IC and
successfully downloaded the "new" Pcode to my HB.   My HB LCD displayed:  "
Interactive C V2.81  9/28/93 " and the heartbeat.

Using  peek(0x8000),  showed 0x8000 to be equal to 1 (one).   I used
poke(0x8000,0); to change memory location 0x8000 to be equal to 0 (zero).
I then used peek(0x8000) to confirm that 0x8000 had been changed to equal to
0 (zero)......it had.

With 0x8000 set to 0 (zero), I downloaded my "  main()  " file (filename:
jrm1.c) to the HB.   Again, using peek(0x8000); I checked 0x8000 and is was
equal to 1 (one).....so far, so good.

I then reset the HB and my "  main()  " program would not run.  I tried
multiple times.  As always, typing   "    main();  "  on the PC caused my "
main()  " program to run properly.

Now, it gets more interesting. I unloaded the "  main()  " program
(filename: jrm1.c).  Unloading did not cause 0x8000 to be set equal to 0
(zero).    This might or might not be ok.

To find out,  I confirmed the unload  using " list files ".  Then, I  poked
0x8000 to equal 0, and confirmed the poke with peek(0x8000);.... 0x8000 was
equal to 0 (zero).  Calling "  main()  " from the PC resulted in the
"Function main undefined" message.  So, no " main() " function resident on
the HB and 0x8000 is equal to 0 (zero).

Next, I loaded a file which does NOT have a "  main()  " function (filename:
music.c)...... peeked 0x8000 and it was now equal  to 1 (one) !!??  Both a
program WITH  a " main() " function and one WITHOUT a " main() " function
set RAM location 0x8000 to equal 1 (one).....???!!

Incidentally, "music.c" worked fine, I could call the various tunes from the
PC and it did not start running upon HB reset.  I could further confirm that
music.c had no " main() " function by trying to call "  main()  " from the
PC.......I simply got the "Functon main undefined" message.

Just to double check, I then changed everything back to Newton Labs IC v3.2.
I downloaded the Pcode (3.10)  and my HB LCD displayed "  IC v3.1 Handy
Board 1.2  " and the heartbeat.  Yes, it does display v3.1, even though
under Help/About the message says I'm running v3.2  (Newton Labs take note).

Anyway,  I repeated all the  above peeks, pokes, loads, peeks, unloads, et
cetera, ......getting exactly the same results.

My testing would indicate that 0x8000 being a 1 or a 0 does not define a
downloaded file which contains a "  main()  " function.  Have I
misinterpreted something....sorry if so.

I've looked at the source code, but can't figure out how to determine the
memory address of PCODE_ORIGIN.....I'll study it more.

Suggestions?


Thanks,

John



















In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, Fred G. Martin writes:
OK, I looked at the source code to try to understand what could be the
problem.  If anyone wants to download the source themselves, go to
http://handyboard.com/software/base.html and click on the link at the
bottom of the page.

The following is true of the open-source (free) version of IC.  I don't
think it's changed in Newton Labs' IC, but I could be wrong.

The very first byte of battery-backed RAM, 0x8000, marks whether or not
an auto-start program is in place.

If this byte is 0, there is no auto-start program.
If this byte is 1, there is an auto-start program, and compiled code
beginning at 0x8001 is executed.

So, given this, I'd check that you can properly read and write to
location 0x8000 of your RAM.

I haven't heard of this problem before so I too am curious as to what's
going on.  Definitely try things with the open-source IC that's
distributed from the HB site.

Fred



On Tuesday, January 1, 2002, at 11:03 PM, John McDaniel wrote:

Dan,

Thanks for hanging tough on this problem.....I'm feeling really
inadequate
on this one.

I downloaded your revision of my program and it did not help.  Of
course, if
I do type " main() " on the PC, it does give your "Press Start....."
message
and waits for me to press START.  After pressing START, the HB beeps and
starts running "my" program.

Yes, I'm downloading the Pcode version 3.1.  However, per your earlier
suggestion, I downloaded the "PWM Pcode" to my HB and then downloaded
my "
main()  " file......no joy!.... same problem.

I will download the 'free' IC version and try everything from a DOS
prompt,
although that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Incidentally, I just reattached the battery pack after resoldering every
connection on the HB.....no change.

Well, I've got 103 fewer Toshiba 68HC11's than you, but I'm glad to hear
that you don't think that the Toshiba is the problem -- or maybe I wish
it
were that.

Please feel free to post any/all of this discussion on the other
board....I'll take any help I can get.  You can probably tell that I'm
really frustrated with this problem.  I'm ready to get on with my robot
project, but I have to get past this problem first......arrrrgh.   If I
can't get this squared away, I'm going to have a very expensive
paperweight.

Regards,
John



In lugnet.robotics.handyboard, Dan Gates writes:
John,
I added a little sub routine to your program, see if you can use it
this way.
Probably not, but hey it's worth a try. Also, if you don't mind I'd
like to
post it to the yahoo handyboard files too at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/handyboard/files/
-Dan

/* filename: jrm1.c    John R. McDaniel */

  void main()
             {

  init();         /* Run initialize routine */

  while(1){ /*do this loop endlessly*/


  printf("Test Motors !!\n");   /*print 'Test Motors !!' on LCD*/

  ao(); /*both motor off for 2 seconds*/
  sleep(2.0); /*delay start so can unplug cable*/

  /*go forward*/
  printf("Forward\n"); /*print 'Forward' on LCD*/
  fd(0); /*left motor forward*/
  fd(2); /*right motor forward*/
  sleep(3.0); /*do this for 3 seconds*/
  alloff(); /*let motors coast to stop*/
  sleep(1.0);

  /*turn right*/
  printf("Right\n"); /*print 'Right' on LCD*/
  fd(0); /*left motor forward*/
  bk(2); /*right motor backwards*/
  sleep(2.0); /*do this for 2 seconds*/
  alloff(); /*let motors coast to stop*/
  sleep(1.0);

  /*turn left*/
  printf("Left\n"); /*print 'Left' on LCD*/
  bk(0); /*left motor backwards*/
  fd(2); /*right motor forward*/
  sleep(2.0); /*do this for 2 seconds*/
  alloff(); /*let motors coast to stop*/
  sleep(1.0);

  /*go backward*/
  printf("Back\n"); /*print 'Back' on LCD*/
  bk(0); /*left motor backwards*/
  bk(2); /*right motor backwards*/
  sleep(3.0); /*do this for 3 seconds*/


  alloff(); /*all motors off, rest until next loop*/
  printf("Loop Done\n"); /*print 'Loop Done' on LCD*/

  sleep(5.0); /*pause before doing loop again*/

  }
  }

  /* end */

  /* ****************** Subroutines ************************* */


  void init()
  {
       printf("Press Start to  Go!\n");
       while(!start_button()){}
       tone(800.,1.);
}




Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: 0x8000 and main()
 
John, I think it lies in the Pcode, in other words if the pcode sets the 0x8000 to 1 then any program loaded that has main() in it will auto run at startup. If the pcode does NOT set 0x8000 to 1 then no matter what you have loaded as a program it (...) (23 years ago, 3-Jan-02, to lugnet.robotics.handyboard)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: JRM code and Reset
 
John, I just did the same test, I think what Fred was saying is that IC sets the 0x8000 to accept a startup program if one is loaded. If I poke a 0 to that address then load any program it sets back to 1. I think he was wandering if your IC version (...) (23 years ago, 3-Jan-02, to lugnet.robotics.handyboard)

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