Microprogramming and Its Relationship To Emulation and Technology

Abstract

The structure of microprogrammed processors, and microprogramming in general, is largely determined by two facts: the state of (semiconductor) technology and the task of emulation. This article first reviews those technological advances as well as those constraints and demands imposed by the emulation process that have shaped the evolution of microprogramming. The other main theme of this article is that it is a fruitless exercise to try to characterize and understand microprogramming in terms of how it differs from 'regular' programming. The right approach to understanding microprogramming is to recognize that it is primarily applied to the task of emulation (interpretation). Through this approach the evolution of microprogramming independent of a particular technology and type of instruction set being emulated is reviewed and future trends are indicated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1974
Accession Number
AD0784822

Entities

People

  • C. Gordon Bell
  • Charles Kaman
  • Samuel H. Fuller
  • Victor R. Lesser

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Computing System Architectures
  • Content Addressable Memory
  • Decoding
  • Instruction Set Architecture
  • Instructions
  • Language
  • Machine Languages
  • Microcode
  • Microprogramming
  • Personal Information Managers
  • Programming Languages
  • Semiconductor Devices
  • Semiconductors

Readers

  • Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Data Science/Digital Signal Processing.
  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics