Yaohan Chu: Digital Computer Design Fundamentals

This book is an outgrowth of a course on electronic digital computers which the author has been teaching since 1953. It has been written for seniors and graduate students in engineering and science who are interested in the logic and circuit aspects of the electronic digital computer. No previous acquaintance with the subject is needed; but knowledge is required of college mathematics, plus a general understanding of electronics.
One major task of the electronic digital computer is to perform arithmetic operations (Chapters 1 and 2) which are realized by "logic" operations (Chapters 3 and 4). Logic circuits (Chapters 5 to 9) implement logic operations. Thus, the study of computer elements (Chapter 10) and arithmetic and control unts (Chapters 11 and 12) requires knowledge of the fundamental topics of digital arithmetic, Boolean algebra, and logic circuits. For this reason these fundamental topics are presented, not only comprehensively, but also in an integrated manner. For example, the discussion of Boolean matrices and switching matrices (Chapter 9) shows their correspondence and thus integrates logic concept and logic circuitry.
The symbolic method for logic design of the digital computer is introduced in Chapter 10 and is exemplified in Chapters 11 and 12. In this method, the operations of the computer are first expressed in symbolic statements and then in logic equations; the latter (in turn) prescribe the interconnection of logic circuits. Although the symbolic method is a variation of the newer Boolean-equation approach, the older block-diagram approach is also included because one complements the other.