Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Troy K Wilson

Burke B Baumann

Robert J Handly

A controller of a microprocessor includes a control store for storing microinstructions. A programmable logic array (PLA), enabled when a predetermined macroinstruction type is to be executed, translated the operand field of the macroinstruction into information bits which are used to modify the microinstruction as it is being fetched from the control store. The bits of the microinstruction which are changeable are coupled from the control store to a first input of a multiplexer. The output of the PLA is coupled to a second input of the multiplexer. A select signal for the multiplexer is generated when the predetermined instruction type is to be excuted, thereby effecting a modification of the fetched microinstruction, and yielding a modification to the basic operation of the macroinstruction.

Apparatus for modifying microinstructions of a microprogrammed processor

An improved means and method for accomplishing floating point calculations in computational apparatus includes a primary microprocessor and a secondary microprocessor, each with its own control ROM. The normal or fixed point calculations are handled by the primary microprocessor under the control of a first segment of the associated control ROM. When a floating point calculation is called for, a second segment of that ROM is addressed. The addressing of the second segment of the first ROM also effects the coincident addressing of the ROM of the secondary microprocessor. For floating point calculations, the exponent portion of the numbers being manipulated is handled by the primary microprocessor. Simultaneously therewith, the mantissa portion of the numbers being manipulated is handled by the secondary microprocessor under the control of its associated control ROM. The resultant calculations are recombined in the primary microprocessor to produce a complete solution for the floating point calculation. In executing a division operation, the mantissas are preconditioned to be normalized, the most significant bit being a logical '1'. The divide routine shifts and subtracts repeatedly until the most significant bit in an accumulating register is also a logical '1', thus eliminating the need for a preset counter and the associated control functions.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Troy K Wilson