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Computer Architecture - Control Unit

The control unit coordinates the flow of data and instructions within the central processing unit. It interprets instructions and generates control signals that direct the arithmetic logic unit, memory, and input/output devices to perform operations. There are two types of control units - hardwired control units use dedicated logic circuits to generate signals, while microprogrammable control units store control sequences in a control store that is read by the instruction register. The control unit manages all components of the computer system and ensures coordinated execution of programs.

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125 views

Computer Architecture - Control Unit

The control unit coordinates the flow of data and instructions within the central processing unit. It interprets instructions and generates control signals that direct the arithmetic logic unit, memory, and input/output devices to perform operations. There are two types of control units - hardwired control units use dedicated logic circuits to generate signals, while microprogrammable control units store control sequences in a control store that is read by the instruction register. The control unit manages all components of the computer system and ensures coordinated execution of programs.

Uploaded by

akoprogram1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Architecture

Control Unit

Prepared by: Dana Omer Mahmood

1
Table of Contents

Contents
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Functions of the Control Unit .................................................................................................................... 3
Types of Control Unit ................................................................................................................................. 4
1. Hardwired Control Unit .................................................................................................................... 4
2. Microprogrammable Control Unit .................................................................................................... 4
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 5
References .................................................................................................................................................... 5

2
Introduction
Control Unit is the part of the computer’s central processing unit (CPU), which directs the
operation of the processor. It was included as part of the Von Neumann Architecture by John
von Neumann. It is the responsibility of the Control Unit to tell the computer’s memory,
arithmetic/logic unit and input and output devices how to respond to the instructions that have
been sent to the processor. It fetches internal instructions of the programs from the main memory
to the processor instruction register, and based on this register contents, the control unit generates
a control signal that supervises the execution of these instructions.

A control unit works by receiving input information to which it converts into control signals,
which are then sent to the central processor. The computer’s processor then tells the attached
hardware what operations to perform.

Control unit generates timing and control signals for the operations of the computer. The control
unit communicates with ALU and main memory. It also controls the transmission between
processor, memory and the various peripherals. It also instructs the ALU which operation has to
be performed on data.

Functions of the Control Unit

1. It coordinates the sequence of data movements into, out of, and between a processor’s
many sub-units.
2. It interprets instructions.
3. It controls data flow inside the processor.
4. It receives external instructions or commands to which it converts to sequence of control
signals.
5. It controls many execution units(i.e. ALU, data buffers and registers) contained within a
CPU.
6. It also handles multiple tasks, such as fetching, decoding, execution handling and storing
results.

3
Types of Control Unit
There are two types of control units:

1. Hardwired Control Unit


In the Hardwired control unit, the control signals that are important for instruction execution
control are generated by specially designed hardware logical circuits, in which we can not
modify the signal generation method without physical change of the circuit structure. The
operation code of an instruction contains the basic data for control signal generation. In the
instruction decoder, the operation code is decoded. The instruction decoder constitutes a set of
many decoders that decode different fields of the instruction opcode.

2. Microprogrammable Control Unit


The fundamental difference between these unit structures and the structure of the hardwired
control unit is the existence of the control store that is used for storing words containing
encoded control signals mandatory for instruction execution.

n microprogrammed control units, subsequent instruction words are fetched into the instruction
register in a normal way. However, the operation code of each instruction is not directly
decoded to enable immediate control signal generation but it comprises the initial address of a
microprogram contained in the control store.

4
Conclusion

1. The control unit of CPU Select the interprets program instruction and then coordinate
their execution.
2. The Control Unit does not perform any actual processing of data, it acts as the central
nervous System for other component of computer.
3. It manages and coordinate the entire computer system including its input and output unit.
4. There are two types of Control Unit (Hardwired Control Unit, Microprogrammable
Control Unit

References

➢ geeksforgeeks.org. Introduction of Control Unit and its Design. Retrieved from


www.geeksforgeeks.org: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/introduction-of-control-unit-and-its-
design
➢ studytonight.com. Design of Control Unit. Retrieved from www.studytonight.com:
https://www.studytonight.com/computer-architecture/design-of-control-unit
➢ slideshare.net. Control Unit. Retrieved from www.slideshare.net:
https://www.slideshare.net/SameerPatil8/control-unit-52899946

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