SMALL RECONFIGURABLE PROCESSOR FOR VARIETY OF DATA PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

摘要

An improved microinstruction data processor capable of operating as an independent processor or as a terminal unit for a large general purpose computer employing a read/write disk memory to hold both macroinstructions and microinstructions, wherein the microinstructions implement macroinstructions. The memory has a macroinstruction portion and a microinstruction portion having a changeable boundary therebetween to accomodate a variable number of microinstructions. A push-down stack facilitates microprogram branching and returning by holding microinstruction return addresses when microinstructions call for branching to microprogram subroutines. A microinstruction decoding register augmented with a microinstruction buffer register decodes a previously fetched microinstruction while a new microinstruction is fetched from memory.