MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED LOGIC TEACHING SYSTEM.

A microprocessor based interactive hardware simulation system is described, comprising a conventional patchboard interfaced to a microprocessor. The teaching system described permits a student to interconnect simulated logic modules on a patchboard and to treat these modules as real hardware. The microprocessor is used to simulate logic modules of any desired complexity, which may be interconnected on the patchboard to assemble digital systems. The configuration of patchboard modules may be changed at will by amending the contents of the microprocessor's memory. Complex logic functions may be assigned to patchboard area, either by defining them as networks of lower level elements or by using a functional description of their operation. The simulation of logic functions confers flexibility on the teaching system while the use of a patchboard for module interconnection gives an impression of using real hardware.