Data processing apparatus

Claim 2

A data processing apparatus comprising: a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions comprising an operation code and an operand code, and designation instructions for changing the operand code of said processing instructions; a plurality of registers; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a series of said instructions by designating a plurality of locations in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and to said program counter for holding an instruction designated by said program counter; instruction decoder means for decoding instructions held in said instruction register; control means, responsive to a processing instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by the operand code of said processing instruction; alternative register selection means, coupled to said instruction decoder means and responsive to a designation instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder prior to decoding of said processing instruction, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction upon subsequent execution of the operation code of said processing instruction; said alternative register selection means including: (i) gate circuit means; (ii) register means, connected to said instruction register through said gate circuit means, for storing in said register means an operand code of a designation instruction entered into said instruction register; (iii) operand code decoder means, connected to said register means, for decoding said operand code stored in said register means so as to select a predetermined one of said plurality of registers in accordance with said operand code; and (iv) means for accessing the contents of the register selected by said alternative register selection means and for utilizing such contents as the operand of said processing instruction, while preventing use of the contents of said register selected by said control means as the operand of said subsequently executed processing instruction.

Claim 3

The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said register means comprises a source address register and a destination address register.

Claim 4

A data processing apparatus comprising: a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions comprising an operation code and an operand code, and designation instructions for changing the operand code of said processing instructions; a plurality of registers; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a series of said instructions by designating a plurality of locations in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and to said program counter for holding an instruction designated by said program counter; instruction decoder means for decoding instructions held in said instruction register; control means, responsive to a processing instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by the operand code of said processing instruction; and alternative register selection means, coupled to said instruction decoder means and responsive to a designation instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder prior to said processing instruction, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction upon subsequent execution of the operation code of said processing instruction; said alternative register selection means including: (i) a logic circuit having at least one flip-flop circuit which is connected to said instruction decoder means and which is set when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means, and (ii) means connecting said flip-flop circuit to said control means responsive to said designation instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder means, for preventing said control means from selecting said register designated by said processing instruction; and (iii) means for accessing the contents of the register designated by said alternative register selection means and for utilizing such contents as the operand of said subsequently executed processing instruction.

Claim 5

A data processing apparatus comprising: a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions comprising an operation code and an operand code, and designation instructions for changing the operand code of said processing instructions; a plurality of registers; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a series of said instructions by designating a plurality of locations in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and to said program counter for holding an instruction designated by said program counter; instruction decoder means for decoding instructions held in said instruction register; control means, responsive to a processing instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by the operand code of said processing instruction; and alternative register selection means, coupled to said instruction decoder means and responsive to a designation instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder prior to said processing instruction, for selecting one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction upon subsequent execution of the operation code of said processing instruction; said alternative register selection means including: (i) a logic circuit having at least one flip-flop circuit which is connected to said instruction decoder means and which is set when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means, and (ii) means connecting said flip-flop circuit to said control means responsive to said designation instruction being decoded by said instruction decoder means, for preventing said control means from selecting said register designated by said processing instruction; and (iii) means for accessing the contents of the register designated by said alternative register selection means and for utilizing such contents as the operand of said subsequently executed processing instruction.

Claim 6

The data processing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flip-flop circuit comprises first and second flip-flop circuits which are connected to said instruction decoder and at least one of which are set when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder.

Claim 7

The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said alternative register selection means further includes a gate circuit; a source address register connected to said instruction register by said gate circuit for setting therein a code representing a register designated by said designation instruction; and a decoder connected to said source address register to decode said code and, in response thereto, to produce a control signal which selects said designated register.

Claim 8

The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said alternative register selection means further includes a gate circuit; a destination address register connected to said instruction register by said gate circuit for setting therein a code representing a register designated by said designation instruction; and a decoder connected to said designation address register for producing a control signal which selects said designated register.

Claim 9

The data processing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flip-flop circuit is set when a designation instruction for changing the source or destination designated by the operand code of a processing instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder means; and in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder is prevented from producing control information which selects a source or destination designated by the operand code of an instruction to be executed after said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder.

Claim 10

The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said alternative register selection means further includes a gate circuit; and a source/destination address register connected to said instruction register through said gate circuit for storing therein a code representing the source or destination designated by said designation instruction; and a decoder connected to said source/destination address register for decoding the source/destination address stored in said source/destination address decoder, and, in response thereto, to produce a control signal that selects one of said plurality of registers as a source/destination register.

Claim 11

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location of said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location of said memory device designated by said program counter an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logical circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects an operand for an instruction to be executed next when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; an address register; a gate circuit coupled between said address register and said instruction register, for passing a code to said address register representing the one of said plurality of registers which is designated by said designation instruction held in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects said one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction, in place of the operand designated by an instruction to be executed next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 12

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location of said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location of said memory device designated by said program counter an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logical circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects an operand for an instruction to be executed next when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; an address register; a gate circuit coupled between said address register and said instruction register, for passing a code to said address register representing the one of said plurality of registers which is designated by said designation instruction held in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects said one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction, in place of the operand designated by an instruction to be executed next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 13

Data process apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a source operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a source address register; a gate circuit coupled between said source address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said source address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction register in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said source address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a source by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be executed next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 14

Data process apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a source operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a source address register; a gate circuit coupled between said source address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said source address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction register in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said source address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a source by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be executed next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 15

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a destination operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a destination address register; a gate circuit coupled between said destination address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said destination address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said destination address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a destination by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be designated next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 16

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and to said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a destination operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a destination address register; a gate circuit coupled between said destination address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said destination address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said destination address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a destination by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be designated next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 17

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a source/destination operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a source/destination address register; a gate circuit coupled between said source/destination address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said source/destination address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said source/destination address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a source/destination by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be designated next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.

Claim 18

Data processing apparatus comprising a memory device for storing a program including processing instructions and designation instructions; a plurality of registers connected to said memory device which are available for use in connection with the execution of said processing instructions; a program counter connected to said memory device for designating a location in said memory device; an instruction register connected to said memory device and said program counter for holding an instruction outputted from a location in said memory device designated by the contents of said program counter; an instruction decoder connected to said instruction register for decoding an instruction held in said instruction register to supply control information to said plurality of registers; a flip-flop circuit connected to said instruction decoder to be set when a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder and reset when an instruction other than a designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a logic circuit connected to said flip-flop circuit and said instruction decoder for preventing, in response to the status of said flip-flop circuit, said instruction decoder from producing control information that selects a source/destination operand designated by a processing instruction to be executed next when said designation instruction is decoded by said instruction decoder; a source/destination address register; a gate circuit coupled between said source/destination address register and said instruction register for passing a code to said source/destination address register representing the address designated by said designation instruction in said instruction register; a decoder connected to said source/destination address register to produce, in response to said code, a control signal which selects the one of said plurality of registers designated by said designation instruction to be used as a source/destination by said instruction to be executed next instead of the operand designated by said instruction to be designated next; and means responsive to said control signal for accessing the contents of the selected register and for utilizing such contents as the operand of the next processing instruction to be executed.