Global InformationMPT8080 information
| Date invented | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Invented by | Dr. Ravi Raizada |
| Manufacturer | Limrose Electronics |
| Introduced | 1976 |
| Type | Microprocessor trainer |
| Processor | Intel 8080A |
| Memory | 1 kilobyte |
| Ports | Proprietary input and output ports |
The MPT8080 "Microtutor" is a microprocessor trainer based on the Intel 8080 processor, developed by Limrose Electronics. It was designed in the mid-1970s to assist in the understanding of the then-new microprocessors.
Users of the MPT8080 enter assembly language programs via binary switches or a hexadecimal keypad. While the code executes, the user can observe what is happening on the address, data, and control signals of the microprocessor. The MPT8080 acts like a simulator, in that code can be stepped through one instruction—or each cycle of each individual instruction—at a time to observe what is happening.
The MPT8080 has simple input and output, consisting of eight LEDs and eight switches. The input port allows code to sense the state of external switches, whilst the output port can display information on one of its eight LEDs. The input and output ports also have connectors, allowing them to be connected to external signals through accessory patch kits, thus allowing the MPT8080 to control and monitor other circuitry.