Firmware transitional logic for on-line monitoring and control

A new digital Logic system design and implementation methodology, Firmware transitional Logic, is introduced. Based on a digital signal Processing technique fundamentally different from that used in microprocessors, it applies to the design, monitoring, and control of dynamic systems with discrete (boolean) inputs and discrete outputs, such as are found in automated manufacturing systems, digital computer systems and certain classes of continuous processes. This methodology, which relies on state modeling and firmware implementation, fills a need in on-line diagnostics because of its unique advantages of design exhaustivity and speed. It is also useful for high-speed control tasks.