Variable word length data processing - involves masking and shift facility to allow variable length words to be processed

摘要

A digital computer system is provided with a masking facility to enable variable word length operation. The memory (1) transfers data to and from two information lines (4, 7). The information lines are coupled to input switching stages for the arithmetic unit (20) and to shift register inputs (29) to allow bit position changes to be produced. A data mask (16) connects directly with the input switches and data is entered with bits identifying the word-length characteristic.