Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) - Background & Introduction

Europe Card Bus (ECB) is a Retro CPU Bus standard from the late 1970’s / early 1980’s.

The “Minimalist Europe Card Bus” (as I call it), is a Retro 8-bit CPU Bus and PCB design standard that I decided to define & document. The purpose of which is to provide a modular platform for me to re-experience the fun of experimenting with the different 8-bit CPU’s, and the various video and peripheral devices, that I grew up with in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

My goal is that of a robust and modular design platform which would allow me to create interchangeable boards, based on time proven reliable bus connectors and modern low-cost prototype PCB manufacturing.

i.e. A robust, flexible, and low cost way for me to re-create some of the early microprocessor circuits, that I’d originally built using Wire-Wrap methods back in the day.

As evident from the name, the Bus itself is based on a Minimalist implementation of the original Europe Card Bus (ECB) standard.

Join me for an Introduction of MECB, and the Background that lead me down this path. Also, a few previews of some of the MECB boards I've been developing, to date.

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For those interested in specific segments:
00:05 - Overview
00:45 - Some Board Previews
01:24 - Background
03:29 - Which Bus Connector Standard to use?
06:31 - Which Bus Pin-Out Standard to use?
08:50 - A MECB Backplane
10:49 - Simplified & Flexible Glue Logic
14:40 - Standard Board Design KiCAD Template
15:42 - Standardised Board - Mechanical Specifications
18:11 - Outro

MECB on GitHub - Board Mechanical Specification / KiCAD Template:
https://github.com/DigicoolThings/MECB

Blog entry / Transcript:
https://digicoolthings.com/minimalist-europe-card-bus-mecb-background-introduction

MECB Homepage:
https://digicoolthings.com/minimalist-europe-card-bus-mecb
Digicool Things on the web:
https://digicoolthings.com

Digicool Things on Tindie:
https://www.tindie.com/stores/DigicoolThings
Video production setup:
Camera (overhead): Logitech Brio 4K (captured at 1080p 60fps)
Camera (other): Canon Powershot G7X Mark II
Mic: Samson C01U Pro USB
Lighting: PT-176S 5600K LED Video Light Panel (x2),
and Double-row 8520 LED 6000K strip lighting
Capture / Post Prod: OBS / Camtasia 9.1 (1080p 30fps)

Видео Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) - Background & Introduction канала Digicool Things