| 摘要 |
A wafer-scale integrated circuit comprises a few hundred modules which can be connected into a long chain by commands sent from a terminal (XMIT) to the modules along a transmit path set up by way of module inputs from neighbouring modules and outputs thereto, only one of which is enabled by one of four selection signals. The transmit path normally follows a route through a main chain of modules (M0 to M15), as shown by a full line. However, commands may be sent to nodal modules (M0, M6 and M10) to make alternative direction selections there at, so as to obtain access to modules (M16) etc. in spur chains. Commands are addressed to the modules in accordance with their distances (F) from (XMIT). Spurs may themselves include nodal moduls such as (M17). The normal and alternative direction selections are listed in a stored table which is used by a command unit to access any desired module and then restore the main chain (M0 - M15). In an alternative embodiment, the stored table lists individually for every module the sequence of direction selections needed to obtain access thereto by the shortest route avoiding unusable modules (marked with a cross). |
