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The '''Tektronix 4051''' was a graphics-capable desktop microcomputer produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display technology was similar to the Tektronix 4010 terminal, using a [[direct-view storage tube]] display (like an analog storage scope) to avoid the need for video RAM. It was  all-in-one designs with the display, keyboard, CPU and DC300 tape drive in a single desktop case, and included a [[GPIB]] interface. A simple operating system and BASIC interpreter were included in ROM.
{{Instrument Sidebar
|manufacturer=Tektronix
|model=4051
|class=Computer
|series=4050-series computers
|summary=Graphics-capable desktop microcomputer
|image=Tek_4051.jpg
|caption=Tektronix 4051
|introduced=1975
|discontinued=(?)
|designers=Hiro Moriyasu;
|manuals=
* [[Media:070-1940-01.pdf|4050 Series Operator's Manual]]
* [[Media:070-2056-01.pdf|4050 Series Reference Manual]]


The storage tube display allowed the screen to retain images drawn to it, eliminating the need for frame-buffer memory. This allowed the resolution to be as high as the hardware could handle, which was ostensibly 1024 by 1024 but limited by the physical layout of the screen to 1024 by 780. It also allowed the machine to dedicate all of its memory to the programs running on it, as opposed to partitioning off a section for the buffer.
* [[Media:070-2065-00.pdf|4051 Graphic System Service Manual Vol.1]]
* [[Media:070-2286-00.pdf|4051 Graphic System Service Manual Vol.2]]


The 4051 was based on an 8-bit Motorola 6800 CPU running at a 1 MHz, and normally shipped with 8 kB of RAM expandable using 8 kB modules to 32 kB.
* [[Media:070-2270-00.pdf|4051 GPIB Hardware Support]]
The remaining 32 kB of address space was reserved for ROM, which could be expanded using two external ROM cartridge of 8 kB each. It included six character sets in ROM and an extended dialect of BASIC that included various vector drawing commands.
* [[Media:070-3985-00.pdf|Tektronix GPIB Programming Guide]] (4050 series, [[TM5000]] series)


The 4051 was released in 1975 for the base price of $5,995. Adding the optional RS-232 interface allowed it to emulate a Tektronix [[4012]] terminal.
* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/tektronix/405x/ 4050 series manuals] @ bitsavers
* [[Media:Tek_4051_basicref.pdf|Tektronix 4051 BASIC Reference Guide]] (OCR)
}}
The '''Tektronix 4051''' is a graphics-capable desktop microcomputer produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display is similar to the Tektronix [[4010]] terminal, using a [[direct-view storage CRT]] display (like an analog storage scope) to avoid the need for video RAM. 
 
An all-in-one design, the 4051 includes display, keyboard, CPU and a 300 kByte [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-inch_cartridge DC300 quarter-inch cartridge tape drive] in a single desktop case, and includes a [[GPIB]] interface. A simple operating system and BASIC interpreter are stored in ROM.
 
The storage tube display allows the screen to retain images drawn to it, eliminating the need for frame-buffer memory, and allowing the resolution to be as high as the display hardware can handle - logical coordinates are 1024 by 1024 of which the physical screen displays 1024 by 780. This type of display does not require a raster buffer memory, so all memory can be dedicated to programs and data.
 
The 4051 is based on an 8-bit [[Motorola 6800]] CPU running at 1 MHz, and normally shipped with 8 kB of RAM expandable to 32 kB using 8 kB modules.
 
The remaining 32 kB of address space is reserved for ROM, which can be expanded using one or two external ROM cartridges of 8 kB each. The ROM includes six character sets and an extended dialect of BASIC including various vector drawing commands.
 
'''Option 1''' adds a Data Communication Interface [[021-0188-00]] that attaches to the rear of the 4051 via a card-edge connector and provides an RS 232 port and two slots to accept expansion ROM cartridges/packs.
 
The 4051 was released in 1975 for the base price of $5,995 (2020 value $28,960). Adding the optional RS-232 interface allowed it to emulate a Tektronix [[4012]] terminal.
 
Key designer of the 4051 was [[Hiro Moriyasu]].
 
==See Also==
* [[Patent US D244614S]]
* [[021-0188-00]] '''Option 1''' Data Communication Interface
* [[4051F10|4051F10 - RS-232 Printer Interface]]
* [[4050E01|4050E01 - ROM Expander]]
* [[4051R07|4051R07 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 1]]
* [[4051R08|4051R08 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 2]]
* [[4907|4907 "File Manager" floppy disk drive (GPIB)]]
* [[4924|4924 cartridge tape drive (GPIB)]]
* [[Media:Hp 9830 to tek 4051 prog conversion.pdf ‎|HP 9830 to Tektronix 4051 Program Conversion Guide]]
* [https://archive.org/download/tek_4051_applications_library_master_tape_num_19/tek_4051_applications_library_master_tape_num_19.pdf Tektronix 4051 Applications Library Master Tape Number 19 Documentation]
* [[:Category:4050-series_computers#Links]]


==Links==
==Links==
===General Information===
* [[Media:4051_Brochure.pdf|Tektronix 4051 Brochure (PDF)]]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tektronix_4050 Tektronix 4050 series at Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tektronix_4050 Tektronix 4050 series at Wikipedia]
* [[Media:Tekscope_1975_V7_N5.pdf | Tekscope 1975 Vol.7 No.5: ''A desk-top graphic computing system'']]
* [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/tektronix/405x/Tektronix-4051-1976.pdf 4051 leaflet from 1976]
* [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/tektronix/405x/Tektronix-4051-1976.pdf 4051 leaflet from 1976]
===Museums===
* [http://www.tekmuseum.com/tek-museum_009.htm 4051 @ tekmuseum.com]
* [http://www.tekmuseum.com/tek-museum_009.htm 4051 @ tekmuseum.com]
* [http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/tektronix-4051 4051 @ Dalby Datormuseum]
* [http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/tektronix-4051 4051 @ Dalby Datormuseum]
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yCHW0tQrAA Tek 4051 at work] @ YouTube
* 4051 introduction @ YouTube - [https://youtu.be/xWrIS_l5HWk part 1] / [https://youtu.be/wZKfOTkEZKU part 2] / [https://youtu.be/DvcFw9jPLEs part 3] / [https://youtu.be/-lUSDb-1NDg part 4] / [https://youtu.be/V3ET9xRb82c part 5] / [https://youtu.be/tXeQoHw950E part 6] / [https://youtu.be/a94uJjTOjTY Emulator]
===Software===
* [https://github.com/mmcgraw74/Tektronix-4051-4052-4054-Program-Files Tektronix 4051/4052/4054 Program Files] (GitHub repository)
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/405x/fiche/4051_Firmware/ 4051 firmware listings (microfiche scans)] @ bitsavers
{{Documents|Link=4051}}
==Pictures==
<gallery>
Tek_4051_front_01.jpg|Front view
Tek_4051_keyboard_01.jpg|Keyboard
Tek 4051 with 4924 tape drive.jpg | 4051 with [[4924|4924 GPIB cartridge tape drive]]
Tek_WP1110_01.jpg|4051 with connected [[P7001|DPO]] - [[SPS|WP1110]]
Tek_WP1110_front.jpg|4051 with connected [[P7001|DPO]] - [[SPS|WP1110]]
Tek_4051_back_01.jpg|[[021-0188-00]] Option 1 Data Communication Interface
Tek_4051_back_02.jpg|Back side detailed view
Tek_4051_back_03.jpg|Back side detailed view
Tek_4051_comint01.jpg|[[021-0188-00]] Option 1 Data Communication Interface
Tek_4051_comint02.jpg|[[021-0188-00]] Option 1 Data Communication Interface
Tek_4051_comint03.jpg|[[021-0188-00]] Option 1 Data Communication Interface
Tek_4051_inside01.jpg|Inside view
Tek_4051_ram.jpg|RAM board
Tek_4051_mb01.jpg|main board
Tek_4051_monitor.jpg|Screen without frame
Tek_4051_pwr01.jpg|Power supply
Tek_4051_pwr02.jpg|Power supply
Tek_4051_roms.jpg|ROMs closeup
4051ad.png | 4051 ad
</gallery>
==Advertising==
<gallery>
Tek_4051_electronics_1976_05_13.jpg|4051 advertising in Electronics magazine 1976
</gallery>
==Components==
{{Parts|4051}}


[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:4050-series computers]]
[[Category:Introduced in 1975]]
[[Category:GPIB interface]]
[[Category:RS-232 interface]]

Latest revision as of 07:48, 9 October 2023

Tektronix 4051
Graphics-capable desktop microcomputer
Tektronix 4051

Produced from 1975 to (?)

Manuals
Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 4051 is a graphics-capable desktop microcomputer produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display is similar to the Tektronix 4010 terminal, using a direct-view storage CRT display (like an analog storage scope) to avoid the need for video RAM.

An all-in-one design, the 4051 includes display, keyboard, CPU and a 300 kByte DC300 quarter-inch cartridge tape drive in a single desktop case, and includes a GPIB interface. A simple operating system and BASIC interpreter are stored in ROM.

The storage tube display allows the screen to retain images drawn to it, eliminating the need for frame-buffer memory, and allowing the resolution to be as high as the display hardware can handle - logical coordinates are 1024 by 1024 of which the physical screen displays 1024 by 780. This type of display does not require a raster buffer memory, so all memory can be dedicated to programs and data.

The 4051 is based on an 8-bit Motorola 6800 CPU running at 1 MHz, and normally shipped with 8 kB of RAM expandable to 32 kB using 8 kB modules.

The remaining 32 kB of address space is reserved for ROM, which can be expanded using one or two external ROM cartridges of 8 kB each. The ROM includes six character sets and an extended dialect of BASIC including various vector drawing commands.

Option 1 adds a Data Communication Interface 021-0188-00 that attaches to the rear of the 4051 via a card-edge connector and provides an RS 232 port and two slots to accept expansion ROM cartridges/packs.

The 4051 was released in 1975 for the base price of $5,995 (2020 value $28,960). Adding the optional RS-232 interface allowed it to emulate a Tektronix 4012 terminal.

Key designer of the 4051 was Hiro Moriyasu.

See Also

Links

General Information

Museums

Videos

Software

Documents Referencing 4051

Document Class Title Authors Year Links
Tekscope 1975 V7 N5.pdf Article A Desk-top Graphic Computing System Colin Barton 1975
Tekscope 1975 V7 N5.pdf Article Graphing With the 4051 Graphic Computing System Tom Needham 1975
Tekscope 1977 V9 N2.pdf Article The Fundamental Beauty of Computer Graphics Bruce Rodgers 1977
Tektronix 4909 Hard Disk System Tekniques V5 N4.pdf Article 4050 Users Share Data Storage and Retrieval in New Tektronix Hard Disk Chuck Smith Dave Watts 1981
Tekscope 1981 V13 N2.pdf Article Software Innovations Increase Productivity of Desktop Computer Users Bruce Rodgers 1981
Tekniques vol.6 no.1.pdf Article A Fast Unidirectional TTY Interface for a Minicomputer R. Christie Harper Ben M. Williams James E. Gaiser 1982
Tekniques vol.6 no.1.pdf Article 4050 Controls New Generation of Programmable Instruments for Measurement Automation 1982

Pictures

Advertising

Components

Some Parts Used in the 4051

Part Part Number(s) Class Description Used in
Motorola 6800 156-0426-00 156-2413-00 156-5472-01 Monolithic integrated circuit 8-bit microprocessor 021-0206-00 021-0374-00 067-0902-00 067-1137-99 222 222A 222PS 2424L 2445 2465 2467 4051 7250 7912 7912AD 7A16P 7A29P 7B81P 7B90P 833 834 835 836 CG5001 CG551AP CG5010 CG5011 DF1 DF2 DM5010 FG5010 MI5010 SI5010 PS5004 PS5010 SG5010 Keithley 181 Keithley 182 Keithley 175 Keithley 175A Keithley 191 Keithley 192 Keithley 195 Keithley 195A Keithley 197 Keithley 220 Keithley 224 Keithley 230 Keithley 263 Keithley 485 Keithley 580 Keithley 617