Historical information
The Logic Analyser was purchased by the Ballarat College of Advanced Education Physics Department in the early 1980s. At the time it was a state of the art piece of test equipment used for fault finding and programming diagnostics for 8 bit computers.
It was later used by the Electrical Engineers, after Physics merged with Engineering in the mid 1990s. The device monitored the 16 bit Address buss and 8 bit Data buss of an 8 bit computer.
This device continually samples the 24 bits simultaneously and looks for a preset pattern. When the pattern is matched the logic analyser continues for a set number of steps thus allowing an operator to examine the data and address information both leading up to and after an event. This was particularly useful for diagnosing unusual programming and hardware errors.
Logic analyzers are used in debugging and troubleshooting in mini- and microcomputers. The HP analyzers collect information through 24 (1615A) or 32 (1610B) inputs leads, connected to the computer's address, data and/or control lines. The logic state flow is shown on a display in a number of traces, a single data line or an appropriate combination of data lines providing a trigger signal. Captured data can be stored for detailed analysis.
(http://http://www.science.uva.nl/museum/hp1610.php)
Physical description
Grey Analog computer. Includes keys and small screen.
