International Business Machines Corporation

Franz J Raeth

Klaus J Getzlaff

Johann Hajdu

Herbert Chilinski

In a microprogram-controlled processor, having an additional operating mode in which particular functions can be executed under direct hardware control, a mode latch signals whether microprogram instructions or directly controlled macro instructions are to be executed. The macroprogram instructions are conventionally executed. For the execution of directly controlled macro instructions, a control storage supplies a hardware control word associated with the macro instruction to be directly executed. The hardware control word contains a mode control bit for signalling that the direct hardware control mode is to be executed. The remainder of the hardware control word contains a plurality of direct control bits, each of which directly controls a hardware function. In an alternative embodiment multiple hardware control words are employed.

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Boeblingen, Germany

Franz J Raeth