CPU CONTROL UNIT DESIGN (Module -111) What are Control Signals? Both Hardwired and Microprogrammed control unit was designed to *generate* the control signals. The control signals operate the functioning of the processor's hardware. It decides what operation has to be performed, what must be the sequence of the operations performed by the processor. in what time an operation must be executed and so on. What is Hardwired Control Unit? In simple words, the hardwired control unit generates the control signals to execute the instructions in a proper sequence and at the correct time. The hardwired control unit is created with the hardware; itis a circuitry approach, 11 is designed for the RISC style jon set. A hardwired cireuit organization is shown in the igure below. Let us discuss all the ‘components one by one. in order to understand the “generation of control signals” from this circuitry organization, Step Counter The instruction register is a processors register thal has the “instruction” which is, currently in execution. The instruction register generates the OP-code bits respective of the operation and the addressing modes of the operands, mentioned in the instruction, + Instruction decoder receives the Op-code bits generated by the instruction register and interprets the operation and addressing modes of the instruction. Now, based on ‘operation and addressing mode of the instruction in instruction register it set the corresponding Instruction signal INS, to 1. Each instruction is executed in step-like, instruction fetch, decode, operand fetch, ALU, memory store. These steps may vary in different books. But in general, five steps are enough to for the execution of an instruction. + Now, the contro! unit must be aware of the current step. the instruction is in. For this, a Step Counter is implemented which has signals from TI, ..., TS. The step counter sets one of the signals T! to TS to 1 on the basis of the step, the instruction is in. + Here, the question arises how step counter knows the current step of the instruction? For this, a Clock is implemented. This clock is designed such that for each step theclock must complete its one clock eyele. So. consider if the step counter has set T3 signal 1 th step counter will set T4 to |. + What ifthe execution of instruction has is interrupted due to some reason? Will the clock still continue to trigger step counter? The answer is No. The Counter Enable ‘disables’ the step counter to increment to the next step signal. till the execution of the current step is completed. + Now, stippose the execution of an instruction depends on some condition o branch instruction, This is determined with the help of the Condition signals. The Condition signals generate the signals for the conditions greater than, less than. equal. greater than equal, less than equal etc. + The remaining is Extemal inputs. it acknowledges the control of interrupts which affects the execution of the instruction, ‘On an, all the Control Signal Generator generates the control signals, based on the inputs obtained by the Instruction register, Step counter, Condition signals and External inputs. after a clock eyele completes jgnal generator What is Microprogrammed Control Unit? Microprogrammed control unit also produces the control signal but using the programs. ‘This approach was very popular in past during the evolution of CISC architecture. The program that creates the ‘control signals” is called Microprogram. This microprogram is placed on the processor chip which is fast memory. itis also called control memory or control store. A microprogram has a set of microinstruetions, or it is also termed as control word. Each microinstruction is ‘n’ bit word. Each control signal differs from other control signal depending on the bit pattern of the control word. Each control word/microinstruction has a different bit pattern. Instruction execution is performed in steps as we have seen above. So, for cach step there is a control word/ microinstruction in the microprogram. A sequence of microinstructions required to exceute a particular instruction is called microroutine. Im the figure below, you can understand the organization of a control word/ microinstruction, microroutine and microprogram. N a Miainteueton contr! Word contol RAE ORRIOROT ‘Signals: SS westoxdo.o ‘The organization of the microprogram control unit. The flow of instruction execution in terms of instruction execution steps.Microprogrammed Address Generator 1. In the first step (instruction fetch) the Microinstruction address generator would fetch the instruction from ‘instruction register” (IR). . 2. Inthe second step, the ‘microinstruction address generator decodes th instruction ‘obtained from IR and retrieves the starting address of the microroutine required to perform the corresponding operation mentioned inthe instruction. It fonds that starting address to microprogram counter. 3. In the third step, the ‘control word" corresponding to the “starting address" of “Mnieroprogram counter” is read and as the execution proceeds, microprogram address generator will ingrement the value of microprogram counter to read the successive control words of the microroutine. 4. Inthe last microinstruction of a microroutine, there is a bit which we call end bit. When end bit is set to 1 it denotes successful execution of that microroutine. 5. After this, the microprogram address generator would return back to Step I again to fetch a new instruction. And the cycle goes on. Control Store or Control memory is a memory used store the microprograms. A microprogram control unit is simple wo implement and flexible to modify but it is slower than Hardwired control unit. Key Differences Between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit |. The hardwired conirol unit is implemented using a hardware cireuit while a microprogrammed control unit is implemented by programming. 2. Ahardwired control unit is designed for RISC style instruction set. On the other hand. a microprogrammed control unit is for CISC style instruction set. 3. Implementing modification in a microprogrammed control unit is easier as it is easy to change the code, But implementing modification in Hardwired control uni is difficult as changing the circuitry will add cost. 4. The hardwired conirol unit executes simple instructions easily but it finds difficulty in executing complex instruction. The microprogrammed control unit finds, ‘executing complex instructions easy. 5. Building up a hardwired control unit requires the hardware cireuit which is eostly. Building up microprogrammed control unit is cheaper as it only requires coding. ‘The hardwired control unit does not require a control memory as here: the control signal is generated by hardware. The micropragrammed control unit requires theBasic Design Moditication Instructions Costing Control memory Execution Speed control memory as the microprograms Wl control signals are stored in control memory. Execution is fast as everything Hardwired Control Unit Itis.a circuitry approach. RISC style instructions Modification is difficult as the control unit is hardwired. Modifying it will require the change in hardware. It works well for simple instructions. Implementing hardwired structure requires a cost. No control memory is required Faster execution hich are responsible for generating the in the hardware. But, the microprogram control unit is slow as it has to access control memory for the execution of every instruction. Microprogrammed Control Unit This control unit is implemented by programming CISC style instructions Modifications are easy in case of mnicroprogrammed control unit as it will require the in change in the cade only. Tt works well for complex instructions also. Implementing microprograms is not costly. Control memory is required Comparatively slow