| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/GB86/00601 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 13, 1987 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 13, 1987 PCT Filed Oct. 6, 1986 PCT Pub. No. WO87/02487 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 1987.A wafer-scale integrated circuit comprises a few hundred modules which can be connected into a long chain by commands sent from a terminal XMIT to the modules along a transmit path set up by way of module inputs from neighbouring modules and outputs thereto, only one of which is enabled by one of four selection signals. The transmit path normally follows a route through a main chain of modules M0 to M15, as shown by a full line. However, commands may be sent to nodal modules M0, M6 and M10 to make a alternative direction selections thereat, so as to obtain access to modules M16 etc in spur chains. Commands are addressed to the modules in accordance with their distances F from XMIT. Spurs may themselves include nodal modules such as M17. The normal and alternative direction selections are listed in a stored table which is used by a command unit to access any desired module and then restore the main chain M0-M15. In an alternative embodiment, the stored table lists individually for every module the sequence of direction selections needed to obtain access thereto by the shortest route avoiding unusable modules (marked with a cross). |