The Description and Use of Register-Transfer Modules (RTM's)

This note describes a set of register-transfer modules (RTM's) that are used as a basis for digital systems design. RTM's allow digital systems to be specified in a flow chart form with complete construction (wiring) information, thus obviating combinational and sequential switching circuit theory based design. The modules make extensive use of integrated circuitry. The note briefly describes the class of problems that RTM's can be used to solve, together with some of the module design decisions. The most important RTM's are described from the user's viewpoint, and two example designs are given.