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Considering “micro-dioded” logic

10/12/2009

Althogth I've discarted microprogramming from the very begining in favor of hardwired logic and the entire design have been built arround such desition, I've been always tempted with the idea of a diodes matrix as a “sequence encoder”.

Dioded matrix is a very old technique employed in 1st. and 2nd generation of computers (that is from 1940's and 1950's) and used extensibly among time not only for computers. It is, then, a technique for which I feel a profound respect.

The only problem with diodes matrix is the physical size. I've found, however, that I could use small matrixes for specific circuits as opposite of a centralized “microcode storage”. Small diodes matrix distributed among circuits in different cards (as planned for hardwired logic) would help to simplify implemention and also so save both board space and money.

I'm not sure if that could be considered “microprogramming”. I hope it would not. But I think it worth to give it a chance. The first step would be to test it at high frequency and see what the waveforms look like.

02/05/2010

It proved problematic, so I discarded. See link below: