SOME OBSERVATIONS ON MODULAR DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND THE USE OF MICROPRAGRAMMING

摘要

As modules become more complex the advantages and disadvantages of modularity have become more pronounced. The cost of modularity is measured not only in added hardware but also in a loss of flexibility. Functions that are easy to implement at a submodule level may be very difficult, or even impossible, to duplicate at the modular level. We term this a loss of transparency. The added hardware and transparency costs are given for existing module sets end projections made for the next generation of modules. Finally, a micro programmed implementation of the control portion of existing and projected module sets is shown to be a way to decrease hardware costs and increase transparency.