Repository for the 2025 Board Folk recreation of the mainboard of the Einstein TC-01 computer from Tatung.
This repository contains the Bill-of-Materials (iBOM), Gerbers and Kicad files for a remake of the Tatung Einstein TC-01 main board.
Projects are in Kicad 9.
Revisions
Version 1.1 Initial Public Release
Modifications
The 3 digit references have been abridged so they work in Kicad
The factory modifications (cuts and bodge wires) for the reset circuit have been included on the board
A solder jumper next to socket M16 provides the common modification of 5V power to pin 6 on the video output socket as you'd have on a BBC Micro
Some small silkscreen improvements have been made to avoid confusion
Build Notes
Power connectors are 5.08mm pin headers
M6 keyboard pin header is 2.5mm not 2.54mm pitch
Corner line indicator on transistor footprints signifies flat front side direction, NOT pin 1
BC307 can be subtituted for BC557
BC308 can be subtituted for BC558
Reset switch is the same as the one found on the TRS-80 Model I
The ADC0844 alternative footprint is a µPD7002 which requires C13 populating with 33nF (untested)
The value/range of L101 "Chrominance Rejector" is at this time unknown
Coming Soon
The board requires specifically the TMS9129 VDP chip, which can be hard/expensive to get. TMS9929 adapter board to follow.
Arduino based PS/2 keyboard adapter.
Credit for this work carried out by:
PCB layouts by Rob Taylor @peepouk. Schematics recreated by Ian Cudlip @grandoldian
They have kindly allowed this website to use their information and files so that anyone interested can build their own TC01 Retro motherboard. This design has been built and tested by them. MORE to come from this Team.
