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Radofin 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System

The Radofin 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System is a second-generation home video game console released in 1979. It is part of a group of software-compatible consoles which include the Interton VC 4000 and the Voltmace Database. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System included its power pack inside the console instead of an exterior power pack.

The graphics capabilities of this system are impressive for a 1979 home console system. THe background can consist of a series of alternating lines, while the games can program 4 single color sprites; 1 sprite can be 1 of 8 colors. Then there is 1 score line, displaying 4 BCD digits. The graphics were provided by the Programmable Video Interface: Signetics 2636 running at 3.58MHz.

An expensive Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kb of user-programmable memory and had a 5 pin DIN socket to allow software to be saved to a cassette tape player. This converted the unit into a halfway house between a home computer and an ordinary gaming console. The user had to be familiar with programming in Signetics 2650 assembly language and the unconventional ways and register architecture of the Signetics 2650 processor.

The console was produced by different companies and sold with different names. Not every console is compatible with others due to differences in the shapes and dimensions of the cartridge slots (but all of the consoles are software compatible). This particular machine was fully compatible with the Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System which was produced for the German market in 1978.

Signetics/Philips 2650 CPU

The Signetics 2650 was a 8-bit microprocessor produced by Signetics in 1975. It came in a 40-pin DIP package, had 15 address lines and could run at 1.2MHz.

The CPU was designed in 1972 by a team led by John Kessler of IBM, to compete with the minicomputers of that time. The CPU was produced using the NMOS process which used less power and produced less head than PMOS CPU designs. The base for the design was the 1130, which was a 16-bit minicomputer released in 1965.

The Signetics 2650 was one of the most advance CPUs of 1972. It easily outperformed the Intel 4004 and 8008. Due to production delays the CPU was not formally released until 1975, by which time other CPUs had been introduced that were designed from the ground up, rather than based on a mini-computer design. In 1975 Signetics was bought by the Dutch electronics company Philips.

The Signetics/Philips 2650 has four main general purpsoe registers (REG0..REG3) and three Alternate general purpose registers (REG1'..REG3'). It has one instruction addresss register, and a return address stack of 8 15-bit words. The Alternate registers could be switched between with a single instruction that controlled a bit in the status register called PSW. This allowed rapid switching of values during subroutines, interrupt handling and OS level task switching.

The Signetics 2636 Video Controller

The 2636 Programmable Video Interface has 108 registers that control its audio and video output. Four other register provide the processor with information about video object collisions and provide input for the analog joystick data. Another 37 registers function as general purpose memory locations. The PVI also generates chip select signals for various functions on the game cartridge. It can send an interrupt request signal to the CPU.

The 2636 PVI is capable of generating a single square wave frequency which is then fed to other circuits that generate audio effects such as explosions, white noise or beeps.

Magnified image of the 2650A die

Advertisement for the 2650 CPU

Technical Details
Released 1979 Brand Radofin Type 1292 Compatibles Programmable Video System Name Radofin 1392 APVS CPU Class CUSTOM CPU Signetics 2650A @0.887MHz Memory RAM: 43 bytes Sound Chip none Sound Single Square wave frequency. Display Chip Signetics 2636 Video Controller Display 218x200 in 8 colors Best Color 8 colors Best Graphics unknown Sprites 4 single color sprites Storage ROM cartridge
Related Systems
 
1292 Compatibles Programmable Video System
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Radofin  1392 APVS (1979)
Related Media
World Wide Web Links
 
Wikipedia: Signetics 2650 CPU
Wikipedia page for the Signetics/Philips 2650 CPU