- * The information for new mode is retrieved from the mode
- * struct passed as parameter, the code field is ignored.
- * The struct is copied into the internal mode array and the code
- * field will be set to a unique integer.
+ * @param name the name of the mode to be created
+ * @param sort the mode_sort of teh mode to be created
+ * @param bit_size number of bits this mode allocate
+ * @param align the byte alignment for an entity of this mode (in bits)
+ * @param sign non-zero if this is a signed mode
+ *
+ * This function constructs a new mode given by the parameters.
+ * If the parameters match an already defined mode, this mode is returned
+ * (including the default modes).
+ * If the mode is newly allocated, a new unique mode_code is choosen.