The pace of microprocessor technology has advanced significantly with the emergence of relatively low-cost 32-bit microcomputer systems organized about a handful of integrated circuit chips. The architecture of such general-purpose microprocessors tends toward reduced instruction set computer (RISC) designs, based mostly on single cycle instruction machines with instruction sets limited to primitive functions. A number of RISC-based microprocessor circuit sets have been introduced in recent years; one of the most popular is a four-microcircuit set designed by British-based Acorn Computer Ltd. and built by VLSI Technology Inc. in the United States and Sanyo Ltd. in Japan.
The Acorn RISC machine is a full 32-bit microcomputer system with performance in the 5–6 million instruction per second range. Its design is partitioned into four distinct integrated circuit elements: a RISC machine processor, a memory controller, a video controller, and an input-output controller. This well-written and effectively organized data manual gives an overview of this RISC system architecture and its top-level functional design as well as specific details of its four microcircuit components. In addition to the introductory overview, separate sections are devoted to each microcircuit element, providing function operations, timing characteristics, addressing conventions, and other hardware and software details necessary for the system designer. Each section is in fact a stand-alone circuit and data specification for that element; extensive hardware and software examples illustrate typical use of the circuit features.
The utility of this manual is in the binding together of the four separate circuit specifications, interwoven with examples of their circuit and data operations--essentially all one needs to develop an application-specific RISC-based microprocessor system. I recommend it as essential to a basic understanding of the rather elegant Acorn RISC machine design and as supplemental reading for students of microcomputer architecture and its circuit realization.
