Interruptable microprogram controller for microcomputer systems
First Claim
1. A microprogram controller having output means for generating through said output means microinstruction address signals used to access a program memory element containing a plurality of microinstructions, there being a first register means connected to said memory element for receiving and temporarily holding microinstructions accessed from said memory element by said microinstruction address signals and bus means for communicating a portion of said accessed microinstruction from said first register means to said microprogram controller, said microprogram controller comprising:
- input means connected to said bus means for receiving instruction words and data words;
decode means connected to said input means for receiving said instruction words to generate therefrom a plurality of control signals;
first address generating means, having second register means and incrementing means operably interconnected to provide sequentially incremented address signals;
storage means responsive to said control signals for selectively storing address signals; and
first multiplex means, connected to said input means, said first address generating means and said storage means, for selectively coupling said input means, said first address generating means, and said storage means to said output means in response to said control signals, said first address generating means and said storage means further connected to a first multiplex output terminal means for receiving signals therefrom in response to said control signals;
whereby said microinstruction address signals are generated.
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Abstract
A microprogram controller, in a microcomputer system used as an address sequencer intended for controlling the sequence of execution of microinstructions in a microprogram memory, is presented. The microprogram controller includes architecture that provides the capability to asynchronously receive indications of an event, break from the microinstruction sequence in response, branch to control of subroutine consisting of a predetermined microinstruction sequence directed to responding to the event, and returning to the interrupted sequence upon completion of the subroutine.
69 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A microprogram controller having output means for generating through said output means microinstruction address signals used to access a program memory element containing a plurality of microinstructions, there being a first register means connected to said memory element for receiving and temporarily holding microinstructions accessed from said memory element by said microinstruction address signals and bus means for communicating a portion of said accessed microinstruction from said first register means to said microprogram controller, said microprogram controller comprising:
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input means connected to said bus means for receiving instruction words and data words; decode means connected to said input means for receiving said instruction words to generate therefrom a plurality of control signals; first address generating means, having second register means and incrementing means operably interconnected to provide sequentially incremented address signals; storage means responsive to said control signals for selectively storing address signals; and first multiplex means, connected to said input means, said first address generating means and said storage means, for selectively coupling said input means, said first address generating means, and said storage means to said output means in response to said control signals, said first address generating means and said storage means further connected to a first multiplex output terminal means for receiving signals therefrom in response to said control signals; whereby said microinstruction address signals are generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A microprogram controller having output means for generating through said output means microinstruction address signals used to access a program memory element containing a plurality of microinstructions, there being a first register means connected to said memory element for receiving and temporarily holding a microinstruction accessed from said memory element by said microinstruction address signals and bus means for communicating a portion of said microinstruction from said first register means to said microprogram controller, said microprogram controller comprising:
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input means connected to said bus means for receiving instruction words and data words; decoder means connected to said input means for receiving said instruction words to generate therefrom a plurality of control signals; first address generating means to provide sequentially incremental address signals from received address signals; storage means responsive to said control signals for selectively storing address signals; first multiplex means, connected to said input means, said first address generating means and said storage means, for selectively coupling said input means, said first address generating means and said storage means to an output terminal means; and second register means connected to said first multiplex output terminal means for temporarily holding address signals from said first multiplex means, and for providing address signals to said first address generating means and to said output means; whereby, while said first register means holds the microinstruction of a first address signals, said microprogram controller in operation holds the next sequential address signals in said second register means and forms the third sequential address signals through said first multiplex means. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification