US3748649A
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US
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Translator memory decoding arrangement for a microprogram controlled processor
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-29
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1992-02-29
Abstract
Abstract A microinstruction controlled minicomputer is arranged to perform processing functions either autonomously or in conjunction with a high level external memory. A dual bus scheme is utilized throughout the computer and all elements, such as memories and registers, have access to both buses for information transferal purposes. The controlling microinstructions are obtained from a first or program memory in sequential fashion and the OP code of each microinstruction specifies a particular word in a second or translation memory for decoding purposes. Each word of the second memory contains the number of bits necessary to control directly all of the functions of the machine. A multiphase clock is used to control the sequence of operation of the machine functions in conjunction with the various bits of the selected word of the translator memory. The processor is arranged to accept information from an external memory under control of a particular microinstruction and is arranged to jump to a new program memory microinstruction as directed, always remaining controlled by instructions decoded from the microinstruction supplied by the internal program memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Eowen J Mc
- 👤 D Opferman
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/22; G06F9/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A data processor comprising a source bus and a destination bus, a unique path from said source bus to said destination bus, said unique path including a plurality of data manipulation elements, a plurality of paths from said destination bus to said source bus, a read only translator memory, a program memory containing a series of microinstructions including OP fields for addressing said translator memory, a local memory, means for accessing said program memory from said destination bus, means for accessing said local memory from said destination bus and means for connecting the outputs of said local memory to said source bus, a multiphase clock source, means responsive to distinct phases of said multiphase clock source for connecting the outputs of an addressed translator memory location in an unpacked manner to individual ones of said data manipulation elements, and means responsive to said translator memory outputs and other fields of one of said program memory microinstructions for controlling transfer of information to said source bus and from said destination bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A data processor comprising a source bus and a destination bus, a unique path from said source bus to said destination bus, said unique path including a plurality of data manipulation elements, a plurality of paths from said destination bus to said source bus, a read only translator memory, a program memory containing a series of microinstructions including OP fields for addressing said translator memory, a local memory, means for accessing said program memory from said destination bus, means for accessing said local memory from said destination bus and means for connecting the outputs of said local memory to said source bus, a multiphase clock source, means responsive to distinct phases of said multiphase clock source for connecting the outputs of an addressed translator memory location in an unpacked manner to individual ones of said data manipulation elements, and means responsive to said translator memory outputs and other fields of one of said program memory microinstructions for controlling transfer of information to said source bus and from said destination bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A data processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said paths from said destination bus to said source bus includes an external memory access register and another of said paths from said destination bus to said source bus includes an external memory buffer register whereby additional processing instructions may be obtained from an external memory and applied through the source bus, the unique path, and the destination bus to said program memory to control the processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A data processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unique path includes an accumulator and further comprising means for transferring microinstructions from said program memory to said source bus, whereby a given one of said microinstructions may be placed in said local memory and then transferred from said local memory to said accumulator, an instruction register, means for transferring said given one of said microinstructions from said accumulator to said instruction register, and predecoder means responsive to an OP code from said program memory for enabling said transferring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a processor having a number of elements for controlling data manipulation, each element operable in response to signals communicated thereto, a microinstruction store, means for obtaining from said microinstruction store a coded microinstruction representative of a processor operation to be performed, each said microinstruction including an operational code field, a translator memory having a pluarlity of words, each word individually addressable and each word having a plurality of individual bits, means for communicating said operational code field of an obtained coded microinstruction to said translator memory, means for addressing said translator memory at an address location therein corresponding directly to said communicated operational code field of said microinstruction so as to obtain said translator memory word contained at said addressed location, and means for communicating each said bit of said obtained translator memory word in an unpacked manner to individual ones of said data manipulation elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a processor having a number of elements for controlling data manipulation, each element operable in response to signals communicated thereto, a microinstruction store, means for obtaining from said microinstruction store a coded microinstruction representative of a processor operation to be performed, each said microinstruction including an operational code field, a translator memory having a pluarlity of words, each word individually addressable and each word having a plurality of individual bits, means for communicating said operational code field of an obtained coded microinstruction to said translator memory, means for addressing said translator memory at an address location therein corresponding directly to said communicated operational code field of said microinstruction so as to obtain said translator memory word contained at said addressed location, and means for communicating each said bit of said obtained translator memory word in an unpacked manner to individual ones of said data manipulation elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said data manipulation elements include a plurality of source registers, and at least one source multiplexer circuit operable in response to receipt of a coded instruction for selectively enabling data transferal from one of said source registers; means for obtaining a first coded instruction representative of a source register from which data is to be transferred, and means controlled by a first translator memory bit obtained from said translator memory for communicating said source register coded instruction to said multiplexer circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 further comprising means for generating a second coded instruction representative of a source register from which data is to be transferred, and means controlled by the inverse of said first translator memory bit for exclusively communicating said source register second coded instruction to said multiplexer circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said data manipulation elements include a plurality of destination registers, means operable in response to receipt of a coded instruction for selectively enabling data transferal from one of said destination registers; MEANS for obtaining a coded instruction representative of a destination register from which data is to be transferred, and means controlled by a second translator memory bit obtained from said translator memory for communicating said destination register coded instruction to said data transferal means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
The invention set forth in claim 7 wherein said data manipulation elements further include a rotate control circuit operable in response to a coded instruction for shifting information provided thereto on a number of inputs a certain number of positions with respect to those inputs, the number of positions in which information is shifted being controlled by a received coded instruction, means for obtaining a rotate control coded instruction, and means controlled by a signal converted from a third memory bit obtained from said translator memory for communicating said rotate control coded instruction to said rotate control circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein said microinstruction store contains a series of microinstructions, each microinstruction containing a plurality of bits and wherein said processor operation coded instruction, said first source register coded instruction, said destination coded instruction and said rotate control coded instruction are all obtained from an operative one of said microinstructions, and further comprising means for communicating a first address location to said microinstruction store to obtain said operative microinstruction stored therein at said communicated address location, and means controlled by certain of said bits obtained from said translator memory at a location controlled by said processor operation coded instruction of said operative microinstruction for exclusively utilizing said first source, said destination and said rotate control coded instructions of said operative microinstruction to form an address location in said microinstruction store associated with a next operative microinstruction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention set forth in claim 9 further comprising means controlled by certain of said bits obtained from said translator memory at a location controlled by said processor operation coded instruction of said operative microinstruction for causing said microinstruction store to advance to a location therein sequentially next to said operative microinstruction location to provide a next operative microinstruction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention set forth in claim 4 further comprising means for selectively changing any of said microinstructions, said changing means including a further memory having individual words stored therein, which words are communicated to said processor operation coded instruction obtaining means under control of operative ones of said microinstructions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein said data manipulation elements include a scratch pad memory operative for storing and for returning stored data, and means controlled by operative ones of said microinstructions for enabling storage or retrieval of data at particular locations within said scratch pad memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
193 words
A microinstruction controllable processor arrangement comprising source and destination buses for communicating n information bits in parallel, where n is any positive number, a plurality of registers and at least one memory unit connected between said buses, each said register and each word of said memory unit having n bit capacity and addressable in terms of a coded instruction for transferring information to said source bus and for storing information transferred from said destination bus; at least one unit connected between said buses and operable for performing logical operations on information bits transferred thereto, and said words being arranged in said memory unit in sequential fashion and defining microinstructions, each including certain bits designated as OP code bits, and means for translating said OP code bits of each said microinstruction into control signals for controlling information transfer to and from said buses and for controlling the performance of logical operations on said transferred information, said translating means including a second memory having a plurality of words each word addressable by said OP code bits, the individual bits of said second memory word utilized in an unpacked manner for directly defining said control signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
193 words
A microinstruction controllable processor arrangement comprising source and destination buses for communicating n information bits in parallel, where n is any positive number, a plurality of registers and at least one memory unit connected between said buses, each said register and each word of said memory unit having n bit capacity and addressable in terms of a coded instruction for transferring information to said source bus and for storing information transferred from said destination bus; at least one unit connected between said buses and operable for performing logical operations on information bits transferred thereto, and said words being arranged in said memory unit in sequential fashion and defining microinstructions, each including certain bits designated as OP code bits, and means for translating said OP code bits of each said microinstruction into control signals for controlling information transfer to and from said buses and for controlling the performance of logical operations on said transferred information, said translating means including a second memory having a plurality of words each word addressable by said OP code bits, the individual bits of said second memory word utilized in an unpacked manner for directly defining said control signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention set forth in claim 13 further comprising means for obtaining a first coded instruction from each said microinstruction, source connecting means operable in response to receipt of a coded instruction for selectively connecting the register associated with said received coded instruction to said source bus, and means controlled by a unique bit of a word addressed in said second memory for extending said obtained first coded instruction to said source connecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention set forth in claim 14 further comprising means for obtaining a second coded instruction from each said microinstruction, destination connecting means operable in response to receipt of a coded instruction for connecting said destination bus to a register associated with said received coded instruction, and means controlled by a unique bit of a word addressed in said second memory for extending said obtained second coded instruction to said destination means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention set forth in claim 15 further comprising means for obtaining a third coded instruction from each said microinstruction, rotate control means operable in response to a coded instruction for shifting information provided thereto on a number of inputs a certain number of positions with respect to those inputs, the number of positions in which information is shifted being controlled by a received coded instruction, and means controlled by a unique bit of a word addressed in said second memory for extending said third coded instruction to said rotate control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
The invention set forth in claim 13 further comprising means for obtaining a first coded instruction from each said microinstruction, means operable for enabling a plurality of functions, each said function being enabled in response to receipt by said function enabling means of a coded instruction uniquely associated with said function to be enabled, means controlled by a unique bit of a word addressed in said second memory for extending said obtained coded instruction to said function enabling means, means for generating a second coded instruction, and means controlled by said unique bit of said addressed memory word for inhibiting said extension of said first coded instruction to said function enabling means and for extending said second coded instruction in lieu thereof to said function enabling means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
The invention set forth in claim 13 further comprising means for obtaining a coded instruction from each said microinstruction, a plurality of means each operable for enabling a plurality of functions, each function enabled in response to receipt by said respective function enabling means of a coded instruction uniquely associated with said function to be enabled, and means controlled by one or more bits of a word addressed in said second memory for extending said obtained coded instruction to selected ones of said function enabling means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
149 words
A microinstruction controllable processor comprising a program memory containing a series of microprograms, each microprogram containing a set of microinstructions, means for addressing said program memory to provide an operative microprogram, means controlled by said operative microprogram for sequentially providing operative microinstructions from the set of microinstructions associated with said addressed microprogram, means for writing microprograms into said program memory of selected address locations therein, and means controlled by a processor control field of said provided operative microinstruction for providing signals to control the processor, said program memory addressing means including a second memory separate from said program memory, the individual words of which are selected by said program memory and communicated to said program memory addressing means under control of a provided operative microinstruction, and means controlled by said operative microinstruction for enabling said program memory write means so as to selectively change certain ones of said microprograms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
149 words
A microinstruction controllable processor comprising a program memory containing a series of microprograms, each microprogram containing a set of microinstructions, means for addressing said program memory to provide an operative microprogram, means controlled by said operative microprogram for sequentially providing operative microinstructions from the set of microinstructions associated with said addressed microprogram, means for writing microprograms into said program memory of selected address locations therein, and means controlled by a processor control field of said provided operative microinstruction for providing signals to control the processor, said program memory addressing means including a second memory separate from said program memory, the individual words of which are selected by said program memory and communicated to said program memory addressing means under control of a provided operative microinstruction, and means controlled by said operative microinstruction for enabling said program memory write means so as to selectively change certain ones of said microprograms.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention set forth in claim 19 wherein each said word obtained from said second memory contains a plurality of fields, each field containing information utilized by said program memory addressing means for defining within said program memory an address location corresponding to a particular microprogram and for defining a microprogram to be written thereat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention set forth in claim 20 wherein each said field of an obtained other memory word from said second memory communicated individually to said program memory addressing means under control of different operative ones of said microinstructions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |