MASCO: An academic exercise in computer design using microprogramming

ABSTRACT

The design of a host machine architecture for implementing an existing image machine architecture is considered. The proposed microarchitecture uses a microprogrammed control unit to emulate the Motorola MC6809 microprocessor architecture.

The detailed hardware characteristics of the proposed machine are described and the microinstruction set is defined. The microroutines that emulate the MC6809 instruction set have been developed. A practical implementation using current technology is studied and some realistic timing characteristics are determined. The simulation of the proposed architecture is reviewed and the performance is evaluated. Finally, comparisons with existing models are made and the results are discussed.

References

1. 1.S. S. Husson, Microprogramming, Principles and Practices, Prentice Hall, 1970
2. 2.Motorola Inc., MC6809 Preliminary Programming Manual, Austin, 1979.
3. 3.A. C. Staugaard, Jr., 6809 Microcomputer Programming & Interfacing with Experiments, Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, 1981.
4. 4.Texas Instruments, Inc., Semiconductor Group, The TTL Data Book for Design Engineers, Dallas, 1981.
5. 5.M. V. Wilkes, "The Best Way to Design an Automatic Calculating Machine," in "Computer Design Development: Principal Papers," edited by E. E. Swartzlander, Jr., Hayden Book Company, Inc., Rochelle Park, New Jersey, pp. 266-270.
6. 6.R. Zaks and W. Labiak, Programming the 6809, SYBEX, Inc. Berkeley, CA 1982.

Index Terms

• Computer systems organization

  • Architectures

• Hardware

  • Electronic design automation

    • Methodologies for EDA

  • Integrated circuits

    • Logic circuits

      • Arithmetic and datapath circuits

      • Design modules and hierarchy