Motherboard
The motherboard is composed
of
a
PC
board containing
a
microprocessor
(MPU)
chip,
a
combination Random Access Memory
-
Input/Output (RAM-110) chip, and
a
Television
Interface Adaptor
(TIA)
chip
(see
Figure
1-3).
The board also contains numerous
capacirors, resistors, transistors, and other assorted electronic components. These
parts are
all
listed in Section
8,
PARTS
LIST.
a
MICROPROCESSOR CHIP
The heart of the
VCS
is
the
6507
microprocessor chip
(MPU).
This device
makes decisions for
the
VCS
based upon information it receives from the
game cartridge and the
RAM-I/O
(discussed
in
the next paragraph).
RANDOM ACCESS
MEMORY-INPUT/OUTPUT
CHIP
Temporary storage
of
data from the
MPU
is
provided
by
the
6532
Random
Access ~emory-Input/Output (RAM-1/01 chip.
This chip also scans the
option switches and the joystick 1/0 lines for information and maintains
time accounting for the
MPU.
0
TELEVISION INTERFACE ADAPTOR CHIP
This ATARI proprietary
chip
generates audio and video signals which are
required
by
the
RF
modulator.
The
Television Interface Adaptor
(TIA)
chip
also contains the analog-to-digital converter circuitry that allows the
MPU
to understand signals originating in the handheld paddle controllers.
TIA
outputs are processed
by
additional circuitry into
a
composite
video,
sound, and color signal which
is
routed
to
the
RF
module on the switch-
board via the 12-conductor ribbon
cable.
The
RF
module converts the
composite signal to
a
RF signal acceptable to the television.
A
coaxial
cable transmits this
RF
signal from the console to
a
selection
box
that can
be
mounted
on the
T.V.
This
switchbox (Figure
1-41
allows you to display
either
a
signal received
by
the antenna (for normal
T.V.
viewing) or
a
signal
from the
VCS
(for playing
a
game).
Figure
1-4.
TV
Switchbox
1-4
2600/2600A
Domestic
VCS
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