Honeywell Information Systems Inc.

George M O'Har

John J Bradley

Melinda A Widen

Ming T Miu

Theodore R Staplin, Jr

Brian L Stoffers

Thomas C O'Brien

What is disclosed is apparatus making up an arithmetic logic unit and utilizing a programmable read-only memory (PROM) to perform arithmetic functions for an associated processor. The PROM is used as a look-up table for computation results. Operands used to perform a mathematical computation make up an address to the PROM which is used to read out the computation result stored therein. Also stored in the PROM as part of each computation result are information bits indicating if the computation result is a valid answer. These bits are also read out and stored in flip-flops to indicate to the processor if the computation result is valid or invalid.

Arithmetic logic unit with outputs indicating invalid computation

Apparatus is provided for addressing a memory by word and by one of a number of nibbles within a word, with the ability to increment or decrement nibble and word addresses and thereby access adjacent nibbles and words without having to generate new nibble and word addresses. An initial word address is placed in an address counter and an initial nibble address is placed in a nibble control. The two addresses indicate a particular nibble within a particular word. Thereafter, only increment or decrement signals are provided to increment and decrement the nibble address and/or the word address. A nibble counter counts the increment and decrement nibble signals and when the last or first nibble in a word is addressed, an increment or decrement word address signal is respectively generated that changes the word address stored in the address counter.

Nibble and word addressable memory arrangement

Growing community of inventors

Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

George M O'Har