GENERAL
The Xebec S1410 Disk Controller, referred to as the Controller, can control the
operation of up to two 5 1/4-inch Winchester disk drives that have interfaces
that are compatible with the interface of the ST-506 disk drive made by Seagate
Technology. This means that the S1410 Controller can operate with a large and
growing class of 5 1/4-inch Winchester disk drives.
DESCRIPTION
The S1410 Controller is packaged on a printed circuit
board whose dimensions are 5 by 8 inches. The board with this popular form
factor mounts easily on 5 1/4-inch drives. If not mounted directly on the drive,
controller takes up very little space in a typical drive enclosure. And because
the controller uses the Shugart Associates System Interface (SASI), it does not
require special or complex design considerations in order to communicate with
popular host buses. The following list highlights the operating and design
features of the controller.
-- Interlocked data transfer through the Shugart Associates System Interface (SASI).
-- Microprocessor-based architecture (patent pending).
-- Full-sector buffer.
-- Hardware 32-bit ECC polynomial with 11-bit burst correction.
-- Field-proven data separator.
-- Seagate Technology disk interface.
-- Automatic retries during disk access.
-- Internal Diagnostics
-- Automatic burst error detection and correction.
-- Separate sector format for ID and data fields with individual ECC fields for
both the ID and data fields.
-- High level command set.
FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION
The simplified block diagram shows the functional organization of the
Controller. Only the major areas are shown.
Host Interface
The host interface connects the internal data bus to the host adapter; the state
machine controls the movement. of data and commands through the host interface.
Processor
The eight-bit processor is the intelligence of the controller, it monitors and
controls the operation of the controller,
State Machine
The state machine controls and synchronizes the operation of the host adapter,
SERDES, and sector buffer.
SERDES
The serializer/deserializer (SERDES) converts parallel data from the internal
data bus to serial data for transfer to a selected disk drive. It converts
serial data from the selected disk drive to parallel data which it places on the
internal data bus.
Data Separator
The data separator converts serial NRZ data to MFM for transfer to the selected
disk drive. It converts MFM data coming from the selected disk drive to serial
NRZ data for the SERDES.
Sector Buffer
The sector buffer stages data transfers between the disk and the host to prevent
data overruns.
Data from the XEBEC 1410 Owners Manual
Michael Holley's SWTPC Collection Home Page