PLA and ROM based design
E.L. Dagless · Institution of Engineering and Technology eBooks · 1983
It is informative to see that there is a continuous spectrum of implementation choices from the simple combinatorial logic circuit to a fully-fledged microprogrammed machine all being derived from the same design philosophy based on an algorithmic description of the solution. It is not difficult to see that programs running on computers are an upward extension of the same theme. Here hardware implementations have been concentrated on and a wide range of options have been illustrated. The arrival of semi-custom and VLSI design methods has extended the options even further. As well as being a well organised method it provides a standard approach that all designers can adopt thereby making designs more understandable. The method provides a good documentation base which also improves the portability of the designs. ASM is not a replacement for the more sophisticated methods of design being produced for VLSI systems, but it does provide a workable method which may suffice until these tools are available.