The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 12, 1989
Fernando Concha, Boca Raton, FL (US);
John M Loffredo, Deerfield Beach, FL (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
To provide for efficient use of computer microcodes, a firmware structure containing a mainline programmable logic array circuit and at least one subroutine programmable logic array circuit may be used. As the states of the mainline programmable logic array circuit are sequenced, the data bits representing the encode number field in its OR array are compared with the data bits representing the encode number field of the AND array of the subroutine programmable logic array circuit. If a match is made, the mainline programmable logic array circuit suspends its operation and sequencing of the subroutine programmable logic array circuit begins, in order to perform the function required. Upon completion of the function, control is automatically transferred from the subroutine programmable logic array circuit back to the mainline programmable logic array circuit, at the point where it was suspended. By nesting a plurality of subroutine programmable logic array circuits, a plurality of functions, many of which may be performed simultaneously, can take place.