About the CF1 The Persistor CF1 is a miniature single board computer that takes advantage of CompactFlash technology to significantly extend the range and versatility of remote and portable data recording applications. The 1.4" x 2.5" x 0.5" CF1 features a Motorola MC68CK338 microcontroller with 1 MByte of flash ROM for programs or data, and 256 KBytes of battery backed static RAM. It targets custom battery powered instrumentation with 3.3 volt operation and power management circuitry that can reduce the current drain to below 10 microamps.

Persistors accept a single CompactFlash (CF) card, which are currently available in capacities from 2 to 48 MBytes. CF cards are primarily used as digital film, but their extremely low power requirements, non-volatility, and ready availability makes them ideal for data logging applications. Though about 1/3 the size of standard PC Cards, CF cartridges plug into an inexpensive adapter card for insertion into any PC or laptop with PCMCIA slots. Persistors come with the PicoDOS operating system which provides DOS-like commands for accessing CompactFlash files and 100% DOS/Windows media formats for easy data retrieval.

The integral PicoDOS operating system simplifies instrument design with built-in driver support for standard C/C++ library functions and C language interfaces to all of the 68338's many integrated peripherals. Persistors support Windows 95/98/NT and Macintosh development with the Metrowerks CodeWarrior Pro C/C++ compilers. Though tiny, the CF1 further simplifies custom instrument design by bringing out the full complement of 50 I/O and 40 bus connections using standard double-row 0.1" headers.

Audience

The Persistor CF1 is a platform to help you create custom instrumentation. Its componentry specifically targets miniature, low power applications that require lots of computing horsepower and lots of nonvolatile data storage, though it has other unique features that make it appropriate for applications that don't necessarily need the minuscule power or ultra-small size.

The Persistor CF1's hardware and software were designed to be used by engineers, technicians, and technically savvy researchers. You don't have to be an electronics or computer engineer to use the Persistor, but you do need a basic knowledge of electronics and computer programming. The Persistor, while simple and easy to use, should not be used as a platform for learning C programming. In general, the more you know, or are willing to learn, the more ambitious the task you can tackle with a Persistor.

Where to begin?

If you're reading this in advance of a purchasing decision, you may wish to start with the Features and Specifications chapter, then work through as much of the detailed Hardware Reference as needed to make your decision. If you've just bought your Persistor, you'll be better off reading the chapter on Getting Started, which will show you how to connect to your CF1 and start communicating with a host computer.

Your first interaction with the Persistor will be through PicoDOS, and you'll want to at least skim the chapter on PicoDOS Commands and Operations to make the most effective use of the operating system.

If you'll be doing software development in C for the CF1, we recommend you start with the chapter on C Programming for the Persistor. This will show you how to quickly migrate your desktop or other embedded controller programming experience to the Persistor by focusing on standard C functions and practices using simple console I/O examples.

Your first introduction to PicoDOS programming came through the use of standard C library functions, but PicoDOS has a wealth of additional function libraries to simplify your data collection programming, and they're all described in the section on PicoDOS Library Functions.

After you become familiar with setting up and running Persistor C programs, you'll want to tap into some of the features that probably attracted you to the CF1. The section on BIOS Programming introduces you to the routines that that access the Persistor's powerful hardware subsystems. Of course, once you start poking around with software that exercises the hardware, your going to need to know some of the particulars of the hardware, and this is covered in the Hardware Reference section.

Where to look next?

Assuming you've made a good start in getting to know your Persistor, it might be time to dig right into the example projects that came with your developer's kit. These programs contain valuable examples that illustrate many of the basic functions of the Persistor. They will also give you a good idea of how a well-organized Persistor project looks as well as illustrate the difference between desktop development and developing for the Persistor.

From here on in, it is an open road. Feel free to use any code from the examples in your applications, and start writing. Experience is the best teacher. Good luck!

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