JPS5845739B2 - Display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a display method for displaying the operating status, etc. of an electronic computer.

In general, electronic computers, such as minicomputers,
A group of data switches for setting data and a group of control switches for starting and stopping programs are arranged on the operation panel, as well as a display device to show the contents and status of various registers inside the computer. It is being

As shown in FIG. 1, generally internal registers 1, 1...
Since there are multiple registers, and it is impossible to provide a display device corresponding to each register, we have a configuration in which the multiplexer 2 is used to switch between them, and the contents of a specific register are displayed on a single display device 3. is taken.

Furthermore, since the internal state of the computer must be constantly monitored,
Internal status information source 4 is provided with an independent status display device 5 .

However, in the display device 3 shown in FIG. 1, the contents of the various registers 1, 1, etc. change rapidly while the computer is operating, so it is difficult to discern the displayed contents with the human eye. In other words, this display device 3 is effective only when the computer is stopped.

The present invention allows the display device 3 to be used even while the computer is in operation, and will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In Figure 2, 1, 2. -3. ．． 4.5 shows various registers, multiplexers, display device internal status information source, and status display device similar to those shown in FIG. In the memory, the contents of the memory 6 are read out according to an address register 7, such as a microprogram counter.

8 is 0) A switch for switching between displaying the contents of the microprogram memory 6 on the display device 3, or displaying the contents of various registers 1, 1, etc. obtained via the multiplexer 2. In the circuit, 2 pieces tl)
It is composed of an A N D gate, one OR gate, and one Q inverter circuit, and this switching circuit 8
0) The switching operation is controlled by the operating signal (RUN) obtained when the computer is in operation.

Therefore, when the computer is stopped, the operation signal (RUN)
Since there is no such register, the contents of a specific one of the various registers 1, 1, . . . selected by the multiplexer 2 are applied to the display device 3 via the switching circuit 8, and the contents are displayed.

On the other hand, since the operation signal (RUN) is obtained while the computer is in operation, the contents of the address register 7 are applied to the display device 3.

Let us now consider the operation of address register 7.

When the microprogram is operating normally, the contents of the address register 7 are constantly changing randomly at high speed, and in this state the contents displayed on the display device 3 cannot be read.

However, if the microprogram stops at a certain location for some reason or cannot exit a certain loop and cannot proceed, the contents of the address register 7 at that time will repeat a certain pattern, and the The result display device 3 can now recognize a specific address or a specific address range.

For example, from address 16 to 20 of microprogram memory 6
When the program running to the address cannot be skipped and starts repeating operations within this range, the contents of the address register 7 change as follows.

In such a case, bit 4 of display device 3 lights up brightly, bits 2, 1, and 0 light up at intermediate brightness, and the program starts from address 16 to 2 based on the lighting status of display device 3.
It is possible to know that the program is sheeping within address 0, and the display status of this display device 3o can be notified of an abnormality in the program.

On the other hand, when the program is progressing normally, the contents of the address register 7 are changing at high speed as described above, so all bits of the display device 3 are lit at an intermediate brightness, indicating whether it is normal or abnormal. This can be known from the state of the display device 3.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention allows a display device, which normally has no use while the computer is in operation, to be effectively used even during operation by associating it with an address register through a switching circuit. It becomes possible to determine the location of the abnormality in the computer based on the display state of the display device inside the computer, which has significant benefits for computers, especially small-sized computers such as minicomputers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional configuration, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration when implementing the method of the present invention.
2 indicates various registers, 2 a multiplexer, 3 a display device, 7 an address counter, and 8 a switching circuit, respectively.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multiplexer to which various registers inside the computer are connected, an address register into which the read address of the microprogram memory storing the microprogram is introduced, and the contents of this address register and the selected data obtained through the multiplexer. It consists of a switching circuit that switches between the contents of the various registers and a display device that displays the contents obtained from the switching circuit, and when the computer is operating, the address register is displayed on the display device depending on the operation of the switching circuit. This display method is characterized by displaying the contents of various registers on a display device when the computer is stopped, depending on the operation of a switching circuit.