Specifications

4 - 1
CHAPTER 4
THEORY OF OPERATION
4.1 INTRODUCTION
With the exception of several unique functions which are discussed in detail in this chapter, the
Little Board/286 is functionally identical, from both a hardware and software perspective, with the
IBM PC/AT computer. This chapter will only briefly touch on standard PC/AT features and
functions, but rather will focus on the non-standard functions, which are unique to the Ampro
Little Board/286.
For detailed technical information on the architecture and functions of a PC/AT and its normal
software environment, it is recommended that you consult publications such as the following:
n IBM Technical Reference, Personal Computer AT
IBM Document number 1502243
n DR DOS User's and Reference Guide -- available from Ampro
n IBM Disk Operating System Version 3.30
IBM Document number 80X0667
n IBM Disk Operating System Technical Reference
IBM Document number 80X0945
n The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC
Microsoft Press
A Division of Microsoft Corporation
10700 Northrup Way
Box 97200
Bellevue, Washington 98009
n Interfacing to the IBM Personal Computer
Lewis C. Eggebrecht
Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc.
A Subsidiary of Macmillan, Inc.
4300 West 62nd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46268 USA
In reading the material regarding the board's hardware functions, bear in mind that many of the
board's devices are highly programmable, so their functional behavior is dependent on a variety
of programming options. Therefore, to explain the normal functions performed by these devices
as used on the Little Board/286, it is assumed that those devices are initialized and/or operated
by the board's ROM-BIOS.