ByteFrost Specifications

Here is a general overview of the capabilities and features of the ByteFrost computer:

Features

• Built from scratch using breadboards and integrated circuits
• RISC-inspired instruction set with a maximum of 32 opcodes (currently 20 in use), with each instruction being 2 bytes
• Uses EEPROMs for non-volatile memory (store microcode and program code)
• Clock controlled by a potentiometer - clock speed ranges from ?? (minimum) Hz to about 430 kHz
• Has power-on reset
• Buttons for halt, continue, reset, and single-step (one clock-cycle)
• Register File comprises of 4 8-bit registers
• 8-bit data bus
• Three 8-bit address spaces, one for instruction memory (i.e. program counter address), one for program memory (i.e. RAM), and one for stack memory
• Has a 4 row, 20 column LCD display (using an Arduino Nano as a video card)

Display

The ByteFrost computer has a 4 row, 20 column LCD display. To simplify printing to the display, an Arduino Nano is used to convert display instructions from the ByteFrost to the display. This allows the use of a dedicated instruction, OUT, to print an ASCII character or the value of a register to the display, instead of needing to create a display library in the ByteFrost's instruction memory EEPROM.

General Specifications

Stat	ByteFrost Capability
Clock Speed	Maximum ~430 kHz
Data Bus Size	8 bits
Memory Address Size	8 bits (planned expansion to 16 bits)
Program Address Size	8 bits (planned expansion to 16 bits)
Stack Size	256 bytes
Register File	Four 8-bit Registers
Instruction Size	16 bits
Display	4 rows, 20 column display