High Level Design
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Overview
This project consists of two different parts--the hardware and the software.
The hardware part consists of connecting the correct inputs and outputs in order
to combine the Mega32, the AD724 RGB-NTSC converter, and the ELM304 Sync Generator.
The core of the hardware design is the AD724 RGB-NTSC converter. This chip takes
an RGB signal and a composite sync to produce a TV signal that can be recognized
by any standard NTSC TV. The RGB input are the 3 bits that are relayed by the
Mega32. Since the Mega32 must be able to communicate with the AD724, it must trigger
part of its code at the same clock frequency as the AD724. Thus, the AD724 horizontal
sync input and the Mega32 interrupt trigger signal is the same signal that is delivered
by the ELM304.
The most difficult part of implementing color is to be able to synchronize the software
to the vertical and horizontal sync pulses. The software design must be able to detect
and distinguish the vertical and horizontal sync signals. Once this is done, the rest
of the game code can be implemented using the controls that were implemented by the
signal synchronizing portion of the code.
We have chosen to implement 8 colors, with the inclusion of black and white, for
simplicity. These 8 colors are merely binary combinations of the 3 color bits. Black
represents the background whereas the other colors represent the different pieces
in the game.