from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
MCP-1600
A processor made by {Western Digital}, consisting of at least
four separate {integrated circuits}, including the control
circuitry unit, the {ALU}, two or four {ROM} chips with
{microcode}, and timing circuitry.
The ALU chip contained twenty-six 8-bit {registers} and an
8-bit {ALU}, while the control unit supervised the moving of
data, memory access, and other control functions. The {ROM}
allowed the chip to function as either an 8- or 16-bit chip,
with clever use of the 8-bit {ALU}. Further, {microcode}
allowed the addition of {floating-point} routines (40 + 8 bit
format), simplifying programming (and possibly producing a
floating-point coprocessor).
Two standard {microcode} {ROMs} were available. This
flexibility was one reason it was also used to implement the
{DEC} {LSI-11} processor as well as the {WD} {Pascal
Microengine}.
(1994-11-18)