ABSTRACT
A special-purpose microprogrammable processor having a generalized internal data path architecture had been developed. This provided detailed control over the flow of data between various functional units and the requisite performance, as well as the capability to be easily adapted to perform other algorithm functions. The basic design approach was to cast the various algorithms involved in change detection into hardwired logic. This chapter outlines the characteristics of a special-purpose computer system currently under development. It reviews experience gained through the prior developments that contributed to this architecture. In early 1976 work was started on developing initial design concepts for the next generation processor. Computation requirements indicated that a faster logic technology was needed. An example of combination parallel-pipeline architecture is the Modular Change Detection system which had four pipelines of nine processors each, and four processors assigned to jobs that tie the pipelines together.
