Advanced general-purpose computer
Computer uses custom-designed complementary metal-oxide semiconductor/silicon-on-sapphire LSI arrays with critical computer paths packages on thick-film hybrids.
Clapp, W. A.↗
Engineering topics
Clapp, W. A.
Publications and source records attributed to Clapp, W. A..
LSI computer for 1980's space mission
The low power, high reliability, SUMC-III-C computer is one member of the Space Ultrareliable Modular Computer (SUMC) family designed by NASA/MSFC to meet a wide range of missions through modularity in word size, throughput, and reliability. The SUMC-III-C, directed at such missions as the Large Space Telescope and Space Tug, uses custom designed CMOS/SOS LSI arrays with critical computer paths packaged on thick-film hybrids. This technology provides 300 to 600 logic gates per array with a typical stage delay of 3 to 5 nsec. SUMC-III-C is fully S/360 compatible at the user level, and includes virtual memory for the first time in an aerospace computer.
Clapp, W. A.↗
C-MOS array design techniques: SUMC multiprocessor system study
The current capabilities of LSI techniques for speed and reliability, plus the possibilities of assembling large configurations of LSI logic and storage elements, have demanded the study of multiprocessors and multiprocessing techniques, problems, and potentialities. Evaluated are three previous systems studies for a space ultrareliable modular computer multiprocessing system, and a new multiprocessing system is proposed that is flexibly configured with up to four central processors, four 1/0 processors, and 16 main memory units, plus auxiliary memory and peripheral devices. This multiprocessor system features a multilevel interrupt, qualified S/360 compatibility for ground-based generation of programs, virtual memory management of a storage hierarchy through 1/0 processors, and multiport access to multiple and shared memory units.
Clapp, W. A.↗
LSI computer design - SUMC/DV.
Advanced Technology Laboratories has designed, built, and tested the first CMOS general-purpose computer. The computer executes 32 instructions that are operation-code compatible with the IBM 360 and RCA Spectra 70 series of computers. The computer is supported by 2k words of main-memory LSI storage and a TTY peripheral for input and output operations. Additionally, a simulator, an assembler, and a loader have been constructed to provide software support to the hardware. This paper provides an overall picture of this computer project.
Clapp, W. A.↗