MECB Template 22V10

Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB)

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

The “Minimalist Europe Card Bus” (MECB), as I call it, is a Retro 8-bit CPU Bus based 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.

The included 'MECB_Template_16V8' and 'MECB_Template_22V10' folders contains KiCAD v9 Templates to enable fast-tracking new MECB board designs. This templates also include the standardised PLD (either 16V8 or 22V10), for Address Decoding, and is as illustrated in the Standardised Board Mechanical Specifications diagram below.

To utilise either Template, simply copy the entire Template folder and contents into your KiCAD v9 'KICAD_USER_TEMPLATE_DIR' path folder (as defined under: Preferences -> Configure Paths...).

More information on the Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) can be found here: https://digicoolthings.com/minimalist-europe-card-bus-mecb

MECB Board Mechanical (MECB_BoardMechanical.pdf)

MECB Bus Pinout (MECB_Bus_Pinout.png)