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CE-150-Reference.md

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Sharp CE-150 4-Color Plotter/Printer Reference

Overview

The Sharp CE-150 is a compact 4-color plotter and printer peripheral for the Sharp PC-1500 pocket computer. It extends the PC-1500's capabilities with graphics output, text printing, and cassette tape storage functions.

Key Features

  • 4-color plotting: Black, Red, Blue, Green pens
  • Text mode: Character printing with variable sizes
  • Graphics mode: X-Y plotter with programmable control
  • Paper feed: Mechanical paper advance system
  • Cassette interface: Enhanced tape operations with remote control
  • Compact design: Portable unit matching PC-1500 form factor

Hardware Specifications

  • Resolution: Approximately 0.2mm per step
  • Paper width: 40mm plain paper
  • Pen colors: 0=Black, 1=Red, 2=Blue, 3=Green (ink pens)
  • Character sizes: 4 sizes (0-3)
  • Rotation angles: 4 orientations (0-3, 90° increments)
  • Ports: B00A-B00F (ME1 expansion bus)

Command Summary

CE-150 Specific Commands (Token Range 0xE680-0xE7A9)

Command Token Handler Description
CSIZE 0xE680 $B180 Set character size (0-3)
GRAPH 0xE681 $ACD3 Switch to graphics mode
GLCURSOR 0xE682 $B191 Set graphics cursor position
LCURSOR 0xE683 - Set line cursor
SORGN 0xE684 $B153 Set origin point
ROTATE 0xE685 $B15A Set rotation angle (0-3)
TEXT 0xE686 $ACA6 Switch to text mode
RMT 0xE7A9 $BEF9 Remote cassette motor control

Enhanced Commands (0xF0B0-0xF0BC)

These commands are part of the PC-1500 token space but specifically enhanced for CE-150:

Command Token Handler Description
FEED 0xF0B0 $82E1 Paper feed
CHAIN 0xF0B2 - Load and execute from tape
COLOR 0xF0B5 $B16A Select pen color (0-3)
LF 0xF0B6 $B1B4 Line feed
LINE 0xF0B7 $B222 Draw absolute line
LLIST 0xF0B8 $B754 List program to printer
LPRINT 0xF0B9 $B2EC Print to plotter
RLINE 0xF0BA $B224 Draw relative line
TAB 0xF0BB - Tab to column
TEST 0xF0BC - Graphics test function

Detailed Command Reference

Graphics Mode Commands

GRAPH

  • Token: 0xE681
  • Abbreviation: GRAP
  • Handler: $ACD3
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Switch CE-150 to graphics mode. In graphics mode, all output is directed to the plotter with coordinates interpreted as X-Y positions.
  • Syntax: GRAPH
  • Effects:
    • Enables X-Y coordinate plotting
    • Disables text character mode
    • Initializes plotter motor system
    • Sets default origin at (0,0)
  • Related: TEXT, GLCURSOR, SORGN

TEXT

  • Token: 0xE686
  • Abbreviation: TEX
  • Handler: $ACA6
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Switch CE-150 to text mode for character printing.
  • Syntax: TEXT
  • Effects:
    • Enables character printing
    • Disables X-Y coordinate mode
    • Resets cursor to text position
  • Related: GRAPH, CSIZE, ROTATE

GLCURSOR

  • Token: 0xE682
  • Abbreviation: GL
  • Handler: $B191
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Set graphics cursor position in plotter coordinates.
  • Syntax: GLCURSOR x, y
  • Parameters:
    • x: X coordinate (integer)
    • y: Y coordinate (integer)
  • Notes: Coordinates are affected by SORGN origin setting and ROTATE angle
  • Related: GRAPH, LINE, RLINE

LCURSOR

  • Token: 0xE683
  • Abbreviation: LCU
  • Handler: -
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Set line cursor for text mode printing.
  • Syntax: LCURSOR
  • Related: TEXT, GLCURSOR

LINE

  • Token: 0xF0B7
  • Abbreviation: LIN
  • Handler: $B222
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Draw line from current position to absolute coordinates.
  • Syntax: LINE x, y
  • Parameters:
    • x: Target X coordinate
    • y: Target Y coordinate
  • Effects:
    • Draws line using current COLOR pen
    • Updates cursor position to endpoint
    • Respects rotation and origin settings
  • Related: RLINE, GLCURSOR, COLOR

RLINE

  • Token: 0xF0BA
  • Abbreviation: RL
  • Handler: $B224
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Draw line relative to current cursor position.
  • Syntax: RLINE dx, dy
  • Parameters:
    • dx: X offset from current position
    • dy: Y offset from current position
  • Related: LINE, GLCURSOR, COLOR

SORGN

  • Token: 0xE684
  • Abbreviation: SO
  • Handler: $B153
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Set origin point for coordinate system. All subsequent coordinates are relative to this origin.
  • Syntax: SORGN x, y
  • Parameters:
    • x: New origin X coordinate
    • y: New origin Y coordinate
  • Default: (0, 0) at power-on
  • Related: GLCURSOR, LINE, RLINE

Display Control Commands

COLOR

  • Token: 0xF0B5
  • Abbreviation: COL
  • Handler: $B16A
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Select pen color for plotting and drawing.
  • Syntax: COLOR pen
  • Parameters:
    • pen: Pen number (0-3)
      • 0 = Black
      • 1 = Red
      • 2 = Blue
      • 3 = Green
  • Default: 0 (Black)
  • Related: LINE, RLINE, LPRINT

CSIZE

  • Token: 0xE680
  • Abbreviation: CSI
  • Handler: $B180
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Set character size for text mode printing.
  • Syntax: CSIZE size
  • Parameters:
    • size: Size code (0-3)
      • 0 = Normal
      • 1 = Double width
      • 2 = Double height
      • 3 = Double width and height
  • Default: 0 (Normal)
  • Related: TEXT, ROTATE, LPRINT

ROTATE

  • Token: 0xE685
  • Abbreviation: RO
  • Handler: $B15A
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Set rotation angle for text and graphics output.
  • Syntax: ROTATE angle
  • Parameters:
    • angle: Rotation code (0-3)
      • 0 = 0° (normal)
      • 1 = 90° clockwise
      • 2 = 180°
      • 3 = 270° clockwise (90° counter-clockwise)
  • Default: 0
  • Applies to: Both text characters and graphics drawing
  • Related: TEXT, GRAPH, CSIZE

Printing Commands

LPRINT

  • Token: 0xF0B9
  • Abbreviation: LP
  • Handler: $B2EC (CE-150), $82E4 (CE-158)
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Print output to CE-150 plotter/printer.
  • Syntax: LPRINT [expr1][;|,][expr2]...
  • Behavior:
    • Same format as PRINT command
    • Output directed to CE-150 instead of display
    • Respects CSIZE, ROTATE, COLOR settings
    • Semicolon (;) suppresses line feed
    • Comma (,) advances to next print zone
  • Related: PRINT, LLIST, LF

LLIST

  • Token: 0xF0B8
  • Abbreviation: LL
  • Handler: $B754 (CE-150), $82E5 (CE-158)
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: List BASIC program to CE-150 printer.
  • Syntax: LLIST [start[-end]]
  • Parameters:
    • start: First line number to list (optional)
    • end: Last line number to list (optional)
  • Examples:
    • LLIST - List entire program
    • LLIST 100 - List from line 100 to end
    • LLIST 100-200 - List lines 100 through 200
  • Related: LIST, LPRINT

LF

  • Token: 0xF0B6
  • Abbreviation: -
  • Handler: $B1B4
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Generate line feed on CE-150 printer.
  • Syntax: LF [n]
  • Parameters:
    • n: Number of line feeds (optional, default=1)
  • Related: FEED, LPRINT

FEED

  • Token: 0xF0B0
  • Abbreviation: -
  • Handler: $82E1 (CE-158 handler)
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Advance paper in CE-150 printer.
  • Syntax: FEED
  • Related: LF

Cassette Control

RMT

  • Token: 0xE7A9
  • Abbreviation: RM
  • Handler: $BEF9
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Remote control of cassette tape motor. The CE-150 provides automatic motor control during CLOAD/CSAVE operations.
  • Syntax: RMT flag
  • Parameters:
    • flag: Motor control
      • 0 = Motor OFF
      • 1 = Motor ON
  • Note: Normally controlled automatically by tape I/O commands
  • Related: CLOAD, CSAVE

CHAIN

  • Token: 0xF0B2
  • Abbreviation: CHA
  • Handler: - (CE-150)
  • Type: Statement
  • Description: Load BASIC program from tape and immediately execute it.
  • Syntax: CHAIN "filename"
  • Effects:
    • Loads program from cassette
    • Clears current program
    • Begins execution of loaded program
    • Variables are preserved
  • Related: CLOAD, RUN, MERGE

Memory Map

CE-150 Working Registers (0x79E0-0x79F9)

Address Name Size Description
0x79E0-0x79E1 USER_CTRX 2 User counter X (pen X coordinate)
0x79E2-0x79E3 USER_CTRY 2 User counter Y (pen Y coordinate)
0x79E4-0x79E5 SCIS_CTRY 2 Scissoring counter Y direction
0x79E6 ABS_POSX 1 Absolute position X counter
0x79E7-0x79E8 SCIS_EXTY 2 Scissoring counter X direction
0x79E9 PEN_UPDOWN 1 Pen up/down state
0x79EA LINE_TYPE 1 Line type (0-9) for GRAPH mode
0x79EB DOT_LINE_CTR 1 Dotted line counter
0x79EC CURR_PEN 1 Current pen position (00=up, 01=down)
0x79ED XMTR_HLD_CTR 1 X-motor hold counter
0x79EE MTR_PHASE 1 Motor phase (stored in Port C)
0x79EF YMTR_HLD_CTR 1 Y-motor hold counter
0x79F0 PRNT_MODE 1 Print mode (00=TEXT, FF=GRAPH)
0x79F1 PRNT_DISABLE 1 Printer disable flag
0x79F2 PRNT_ROTATE 1 ROTATE setting (0-3)
0x79F3 PRNT_COLOR 1 COLOR setting (0-3)
0x79F4 PRNT_CSIZE 1 CSIZE setting (0-3)
0x79F5 PRNT_LLPARAM 1 LPRINT/LLIST parameter
0x79F6 PRNT_TEMPM 1 LINE dir. param/LLIST LF/COLOR pen location
0x79F7 PRNT_DTYPE 1 Data type (00=numeric, FF=string)
0x79F8 PRNT_TEMPP 1 Temp storage pen location during feed
0x79F9 PRNT_PWRINT 1 Power up/interrupt in progress flag

I/O Ports (0xB00A-0xB00F)

Address Name Access Description
0xB00A CE150_MSK_REG R/W Mask register (ME1)
0xB00B CE150_IF_REG R/W Interrupt flag register (ME1)
0xB00C CE150_PRT_A_DIR R/W Port A direction register (ME1)
0xB00D CE150_PRT_B_DIR R/W Port B direction register (ME1)
0xB00E CE150_PRT_A R/W Port A data register (ME1)
0xB00F CE150_PRT_B R/W Port B data register (ME1)

System Functions (ROM Addresses)

Character and Graphics Functions

Address Function Description
$A000-$A28A PRNT_VEC Character vectors (651 bytes)
$A28B MGP1_150 Start of MGP 1 program block
$A519 COLDES Color designation routine
$A769 MOTOFF Printer motor OFF
$A781 PRINT_150 Print ASCII character (no LF)
$A8DD MOTDRV Motor drive - move pen
$A951 LFEED Single line feed
$AA04 NLFEED Multiple line feeds (n times)
$AAE3 PENUPDOWN Pen up/down control
$ABEF GRPHPREP Switch from text to graphics mode
$ACA6 TEXT TEXT mode handler
$ACD3 GRAPH GRAPH mode handler / Text mode preparation
$ACDЗ TEXTPREP Text mode preparation routine

Plotting and Graphics

Address Function Description
$B153 SORGN SORGN command handler
$B15A ROTATE ROTATE command handler
$B16A COLOR COLOR command handler
$B180 CSIZE CSIZE command handler
$B191 GLCURSOR GLCURSOR command handler
$B1B4 LF LF command handler
$B222 LINE LINE command handler
$B224 RLINE RLINE command handler
$B2EC LPRINT_150 LPRINT command handler
$B754 LLIST_150 LLIST command handler

Cassette Interface Functions

Address Function Description
$B888 SBRA4 Subroutine A4 - CMT block 2 start
$B88B SBRA8 Subroutine A8
$B88E SBRAA Subroutine AA
$B891 SBRAE Subroutine AE
$B894 SBRB0 Subroutine B0
$B897 SBRB2 Subroutine B2
$B89A SBRB4 Subroutine B4
$B89D SBRB6 Subroutine B6
$B8A0 SBRB8 Subroutine B8
$B8A3 PCJUMP01 Direct PC load from $E524
$B8A6 CSAVE_150 CSAVE handler
$B8F9 CLOAD_150 CLOAD handler
$B994 MERGE_150 MERGE handler
$BB6A CHAIN_150 CHAIN handler
$BBD6 HEADERCREATE Write tape sync header
$BBF5 TERMCMTIO Finalize tape I/O control
$BCE8 HEADERIO Read tape sync header / search filename
$BD3C FILETRSF Read/write file to tape
$BDCC SAVEONECHR Send character to tape
$BDF0 LOADONECHR Read character from tape
$BEF9 RMT RMT command handler
$BF11 REMOTEON Remote motor ON
$BF43 REMOTEOFF Remote motor OFF

Programming Examples

Basic Graphics

10 REM Circle drawing example
20 GRAPH
30 SORGN 500, 500
40 COLOR 0
50 FOR A=0 TO 360 STEP 10
60 X=COS(A)*200
70 Y=SIN(A)*200
80 LINE X, Y
90 NEXT A
100 TEXT

Multi-Color Plot

10 REM Four-color spiral
20 GRAPH
30 SORGN 400, 400
40 FOR I=0 TO 720 STEP 5
50 C=I/180
60 COLOR C AND 3
70 R=I/4
80 X=COS(I)*R
90 Y=SIN(I)*R
100 LINE X, Y
110 NEXT I
120 TEXT

Text Printing

10 REM Print formatted report
20 TEXT
30 CSIZE 3
40 LPRINT "SALES REPORT"
50 LF 2
60 CSIZE 0
70 LPRINT "Item", "Qty", "Price"
80 LF
90 LPRINT "Widget", 100, 5.99
100 LPRINT "Gadget", 50, 12.50
110 LF 3

Rotated Text

10 REM Rotated text demo
20 TEXT
30 FOR R=0 TO 3
40 ROTATE R
50 CSIZE R
60 LPRINT "ANGLE ";R*90
70 LF 3
80 NEXT R
90 ROTATE 0
100 CSIZE 0

Hardware Notes

Pen Mechanism

  • The CE-150 uses a 4-pen carousel mechanism
  • Pen changes are automatic when COLOR command is issued
  • Physical pen switching takes approximately 1-2 seconds
  • Pen wear affects line quality - replace pens as needed

Motor Control

  • Stepper motors control X and Y pen movement
  • Minimum step size approximately 0.2mm
  • Motor hold time prevents skipping on rapid movements
  • Power consumption increases during motor operation

Paper Specifications

  • Type: Plain paper, 40mm width (for use with ink pens)
  • Roll length: Approximately 8 meters standard
  • Paper advance: Controlled by LF and FEED commands
  • Paper out detection: Monitor for error conditions

Cassette Interface

  • Enhanced CMT control through CE-150
  • Remote motor control via RMT command
  • Improved signal quality for reliable tape operations
  • Compatible with standard cassette tapes

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Pen Not Drawing

  • Check pen down state (CURR_PEN register at 0x79EC)
  • Verify correct COLOR selection (0-3)
  • Ensure pen carousel has moved to selected pen
  • Check pen ink level

Motor Errors

  • Verify power supply voltage
  • Check for mechanical obstructions
  • Allow motor hold time between rapid movements
  • Reset with TEXT/GRAPH mode switch if stalled

Print Quality Issues

  • Adjust paper pressure
  • Clean pen tips
  • Verify paper type (plain paper for ink pens)
  • Check ink levels in pens
  • Check CSIZE and ROTATE settings

Coordinate Problems

  • Reset origin with SORGN 0,0
  • Check ROTATE setting (should be 0 for normal)
  • Verify coordinate values are within plotter range
  • Consider scissoring limits in registers

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification Value
Plotting Resolution ~0.2mm per step
Paper Width 40mm plain paper
Pen Colors 4 (Black, Red, Blue, Green - ink pens)
Character Sizes 4 (0-3)
Rotation Angles 4 (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°)
I/O Port Range 0xB00A-0xB00F
Register Range 0x79E0-0x79F9
ROM Function Range 0xA000-0xBF43
Power Consumption 4×AA batteries or AC adapter
Dimensions ~150mm × 95mm × 35mm

See Also

Document Version 1.0 - Generated from ROM disassemblies and library definitions