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Hardwired & Micro-Programmed C.U.

A document about computer design and architecture delves into the intricate world of constructing and organizing computer systems. It discusses the principles and techniques involved in creating efficient and reliable computing machines, outlining the fundamental components that contribute to their overall functionality. The document explores the various computer architectures such as von Neumann architecture, parallel computing, and distributed systems, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

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251 views3 pages

Hardwired & Micro-Programmed C.U.

A document about computer design and architecture delves into the intricate world of constructing and organizing computer systems. It discusses the principles and techniques involved in creating efficient and reliable computing machines, outlining the fundamental components that contribute to their overall functionality. The document explores the various computer architectures such as von Neumann architecture, parallel computing, and distributed systems, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

Uploaded by

tanishqshukla17pixel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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HARDWIRED / MICRO-PROGRAMMED CONTROL UNIT

In a system or computer, most of the tasks are controlled with the help of a processor or
CPU (Central processing unit), which is the main component of a computer. The CPU usually
has two main systems: control unit (CU) and arithmetic and logic unit (ALU). The
mathematical and logical operations are handled by ALU whereas Control Unit (CU) is used
to synchronize the tasks by sending timings and control signals.
To execute an instruction, the control unit of the CPU must generate the required
control signal in the proper sequence. There are two approaches used for generating the
control signals in proper sequence:
(i) Hardwired Control unit and
(ii) Micro-programmed control unit.

Hardwired Control unit:


As the name suggests, these control units are designed using hardware components such as
sequential logic circuits or some finite state machines, for example, logic gates, flip-flops,
decoders, resistors and other digital circuits to generate a specific sequence of control signals.
Since, the sequence of operations carried out by this machine is determined by the
wiring of the logic elements thus named as “hardwired”.

Hardwired control units are simple and fast, but they can be inflexible and difficult to
modify.
Key Points:
 Fixed logic circuits that correspond directly to the Boolean expressions are
used to generate the control signals.
 Hardwired control is faster than micro-programmed control.
 A controller that uses this approach can operate at high speed.
 RISC architecture is based on the hardwired control unit
Micro-programmed Control Unit:

On the other hand, a Micro-Programmed Control Unit is a control unit that uses a
microcode to execute instructions. The microcode is a set of instructions that can be
modified or updated, allowing for greater flexibility and ease of modification. The
control signals for each instruction are generated by a microprogram that is stored in
memory, rather than being hardwired into the control unit.
Micro-programmed control units are slower than hardwired control units because they
require an extra step of decoding the microcode to generate control signals, but they are
commonly used in modern CPUs because they allow for easier implementation of
complex instruction sets and better support for instruction set extensions.
Key Points:
 The control signals associated with operations are stored in special memory
units inaccessible by the programmer as Control Words.
 Control signals are generated by a program that is similar to machine
language programs.
 The micro-programmed control unit is slower in speed because of the time it
takes to fetch microinstructions from the control memory.

Some Important Terms


1. Control Word: A control word is a word whose individual bits represent
various control signals.
2. Micro-routine: A sequence of control words corresponding to the control
sequence of a machine instruction constitutes the micro-routine for that
instruction.
3. Micro-instruction: Individual control words in this micro-routine are referred
to as microinstructions.
4. Micro-program: A sequence of micro-instructions is called a micro-program,
which is stored in a ROM or RAM called a Control Memory (CM).
5. Control Store: the micro-routines for all instructions in the instruction set of
a computer are stored in a special memory called the Control Store.
The differences between hardwired and micro-programmed control units:

Micro-programmed Control
Hardwired Control
Unit
Unit

Fixed set of logic gates Microcode stored in memory


Implementation
and circuits

Less flexible, difficult to More flexible, easier to modify


Flexibility
modify

Supports complex instruction


Supports limited
Instruction Set sets
instruction sets

Complex design, more difficult


Simple design, easy to
Complexity of Design to implement
implement

Slower operation due to


Speed Fast operation microcode decoding

Larger size, higher cost


Size and Cost Smaller size, lower cost

Easier to upgrade and


Maintenance and Difficult to upgrade and
maintain
Upgradability maintain

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