The project is based on the knowledge of internal structure of UniDisk 3.5 drive, it uses same HW of Apple II machines. It is a smart device built by controlled drive board powered by
The UniDisk 3.5 drives can used directly by Apple //c with 3.5 ROM (ROM version 0) or by Apple IIe or an II Plus using special interface controller card aka "LIRON card".
*The Protocol Converter (PC)* is a set of assembly-language routines built in 3.5 ROM or in Liron controller used to support smart external I/O devices (aka SmartPort), like UniDisk 3.5.
*The Protocol Converter Bus (CBus)* consists of hardware and software components that permit and control communications between the Apple II and intelligent I/O devices (s. a. UniDisk 3.5's) connected o its external disk port.
- The software part of the Protocol Converter Bus includes Protocol Converter and the CBus communication protocol;
- The hardware component of the CBus is a daisy chain made up of the following:
* The Apple II disk port
* One or more Intelligent I/O devices (UniDisk drive)
* One Disk II (optional). If included, the Disk II must be the terminal member of the daisy chain and remains dormant when a bus resident is addressed.
3) Using Protocol Converter CONTROL Call (Set Dowload, Download, Run) to Download and Run a special 65c02 subroutine, and using STATUS Call to read the informations. This complex sistem allow to Dumping all UniDisk memory;
5) Due to UniDisk, less the I/O Disk routine in its ROM, is a bare metal, I decide to implement the Floating Point routine by using WOZ original routine, but I was need to write the converter program from WOZ routine to Applesoft routine. This allow me to execute FP operations;
This project required a great deal of effort due to use only the real Apple IIc machine to coding in 'Merlin' Assembler and 'Applesoft' Basic and then execute the code, because no Apple II simulator is able to emulate UniDisk 3.5 Drive, at now.
The PC/MAC next to the Apple II machine, connected by serial port, allows you to use different special software to compile, manage disks image and then send to Apple II. A custom all-in-one modern IDE also can be creating to automate all this process.