Minimal-UART-Computer
About the Minimal-UART-Computer PCB
Minimal-UART-Computer is an open source PCB design by slowcorners, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 191.8 × 121.3 mm, with 109 components from 26 distinct parts.
Other key parts include the 74HC04, 74HC173, 74HC245, AT28C64B CTRL MSB and AT28C64B CTRL LSB. By type, the board carries 49 capacitors, 47 ICs, 10 resistors, 1 crystal, 1 connector and 1 switch.
From the project
Build information concerning my 'Minimal UART CPU' design. Visit my YouTube channel for a brief introduction to the project.
Hi there, I built my own Computer from scratch - using nothing but TTL chips, because, well, that's what I wanted to do, I guess! I wanted a CPU that is easy to understand, fun to build and powerful enough to allow for programming educational stuff and little games on it. Ah, and by the way - it should be as simple as possible - sort of the "Simplest Usable Personal Computer Ever". Well, in case you're interested, this repo aims to provide you with everything you need to follow my one-and-a-half year journey down this rabbit hole.
Main components on the Minimal-UART-Computer
Minimal-UART-Computer bill of materials (BOM)
109 components, 26 distinct parts.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74HC04 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U1 |
| 10 | 74HC173 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U2, U3, U5, U6, U8, U10, U17, U36 +2 |
| 5 | 74HC245 | DIP-20_W7.62mm | U4, U15, U23, U50, U53 |
| 1 | AT28C64B CTRL MSB | DIP-28_W15.24mm_Socket | U7 |
| 1 | AT28C64B CTRL LSB | DIP-28_W15.24mm_Socket | U9 |
| 11 | 74HC161 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U11, U26, U28, U30, U33, U34, U42, U46 +3 |
| 2 | 74HC86 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U12, U16 |
| 2 | 74HC283 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U13, U14 |
| 2 | 74HC02 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U18, U40 |
| 1 | 74HC08 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U19 |
| 3 | 74HC32 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U24, U29, U48 |
| 1 | AT28C64B 8k ROM | DIP-28_W15.24mm_Socket | U31 |
| 1 | CY62256 32k RAM | DIP-28_W15.24mm | U32 |
| 2 | 74HC00 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U35, U44 |
| 1 | 74HC193 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U37 |
| 1 | 74HC164 | DIP-14_W7.62mm | U39 |
| 2 | 74HC165 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U43, U45 |
| 1 | ACO-1.8432MHz | Oscillator_DIP-14 | X1 |
| 1 | UART | PinSocket_1x06_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | RESET | SW_PUSH_6mm | SW1 |
Show 6 more
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 100nF | C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mm | C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 +39 |
| 1 | 100pF | C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mm | C10 |
| 1 | 47µF | CP_Radial_D7.5mm_P2.50mm | C52 |
| 8 | 470 | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 |
| 1 | 10k | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R9 |
| 1 | wire | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R10 |
Minimal-UART-Computer design files
The KiCad project lives in the slowcorners/Minimal-UART-Computer repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
Minimal-UART-Computer: common questions
How big is the Minimal-UART-Computer PCB?
The Minimal-UART-Computer measures 191.8 × 121.3 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the Minimal-UART-Computer?
109 components, from 26 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the Minimal-UART-Computer design files?
From the slowcorners/Minimal-UART-Computer repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the Minimal-UART-Computer design in my own project?
The repository has no license, so all rights stay with slowcorners. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.