Integration of a microprogrammed CPU

For many airborne digital data processing applications, equipment suppliers have developed discrete circuit solutions based upon bit slice processors. The ASIC-based replacement of a preexisting discrete components computer was a good opportunity to introduce some architectural enhancements. The authors describe these evolutions as well as the design methodology. Two comparisons are performed using benchmarks: first, the new computer throughput versus the former's one; second, the new performance versus a standard CPU's one.<>