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Some Features of Microprocessor

A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that functions as the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. It reads binary instructions stored in memory, processes data according to those instructions, and provides output. The microprocessor uses the same logic as a computer's CPU. It has digital circuits for data handling and computation under program control, making it a data processing unit. A microcomputer is a complete computing system built around a microprocessor that includes memory, I/O functions, and other necessary circuits. Microprocessors have evolved over time to become more powerful in terms of data word length, addressable memory words, and instruction execution speed.

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94 views10 pages

Some Features of Microprocessor

A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that functions as the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. It reads binary instructions stored in memory, processes data according to those instructions, and provides output. The microprocessor uses the same logic as a computer's CPU. It has digital circuits for data handling and computation under program control, making it a data processing unit. A microcomputer is a complete computing system built around a microprocessor that includes memory, I/O functions, and other necessary circuits. Microprocessors have evolved over time to become more powerful in terms of data word length, addressable memory words, and instruction execution speed.

Uploaded by

AjitKumar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is a Microprocessor: A Microprocessor is a multipurpose,

programmable, clock-driven, register-based electronic device that reads


binary instructions form a storage device called memory; accepts binary
data as input and processes data according to those instructions, and
provides results as output.

Some features of microprocessor: The microprocessor uses the same


type of logic that is used in a digital computer's central processing unit
(CPU).
Because of its resemblance to the CPU, and because it is constructed
with microcircuit (integrated circuit) technology, we say it is a
microprocessor.
Like the CPU, the microprocessor has digital circuits for data handling and
computation under program control. In other words, the microprocessor is
a data processing unit.

Data processing is the microprocessor's main function. Data processing


includes both computation and data handling. Computation is performed
by logic circuits that make up what is usually called the arithmetic and
logic unit (ALU).
These logic circuits enable us to use functions that cause data changes.
Among these functions are Add, Subtract, AND, OR, Compare, Increment,
and Decrement

The ALU cannot itself move data from place to place. Instead, the ALU
merely performs an operation on whatever data it finds in certain places,
and it leaves the result in the same place.
The microprocessor has other logic circuits, outside the ALU, that
handle data. This data-handling logic moves data into place so that the
ALU can process the data. After the operation, the data-handling logic
moves the data elsewhere.
But what tells the ALU how to process the data?
In order to process data, the microprocessor must have control logic
which tells the microprocessor how to decode and execute the
programa set of instructions for processing the data.
The control logic steps the microprocessor through the stored program
steps (instructions) in memory. It calls (fetches) them one at a time. After
the instruction is fetched, the microprocessor's control logic decodes the
instruction. Then the control logic carries out (executes) the decoded
instruction.
The instructions that you store in memory determine what the
microprocessor will do.

To review: The microprocessor's purpose is to process data. The


microprocessor operates in the following steps.
First, the microprocessor fetches (gets) an instruction. Then the control
logic decodes what the instruction says to do. After decoding, the
microprocessor executes (carries out) the instruction. These steps are
called the fetch-and-execute cycle, or the fetch/ execute cycle. For
each instruction in memory, the microprocessor goes through one fetchand-execute cycle.

The control logic controls how the microprocessor works with all of the
outside circuits (memory, input, and output) connected to the
microprocessor.
Powerful though the microprocessor is, it can do nothing by itself. The
microprocessor must have the aid of other circuits. Some memory
circuits are required to store the program instructions. Circuits are also
needed to move data into and out of the microprocessor; these circuits
are called input/output (I/O) circuits. Storage of data requires additional
memory. The microprocessor also needs a power supply.

What is a microcomputer: The microcomputer is a complete computing


system built around a microprocessor. A complete computing system has
a microprocessor-based CPU, and it has memory and input/ output
function.

Power of a microprocessor: What we mean by the power of a


microprocessor is its capacity to process data. There are three main
measures of the power of a microprocessor: 1) the length of the
microprocessor's data word; 2) the number of memory words that the
microprocessor can address; and 3) the speed with which the
microprocessor can execute an instruction.

Evolution of Microprocessor (Book-Barray) : The history of


microprocessor evolved since 1971 when Intel developed the
worlds first microprocessor 4004. It was a four bit
microprocessor. The other successive processors are shown in
table 1.1.

Pentium D processor in 2005


Pentium dual core 2007
Pentium core 2 duo 2008

Photograph of the Intels first microprocessor

Types of Microprocessor: In response to the expressed needs,


microprocessors have evolved in three major directions during the last
30 years.
DEDICATED CONTROLLERS
One direction has been dedicated controllers. These devices are used
to control "smart" machines such as microwave ovens, clothes
washers, sewing machines, auto ignition systems, and metal lathes.
Texas Instruments produced millions of their TMS-1000 family of 4-bit
microprocessors for this type of application.
ln 1976 Intel introduced the 8048, which contains an 8-bit CPU.
RAM, ROM, and some I/O ports all In one 40-pin package. Other
manufacturers have followed with similar products. These devices
are often referred to as-microcontrollers. Some currently available
devices in this category, the PIC16f series.

BIT-SLICE PROCESSORS
A second direction of microprocessor evolution has been bit-slice
processors. For some applications general-purpose CPUs are not fast
enough or their instruction sets are not suitable. For these applications
several manufacturers produce devices which can be used to build a
custom CPU. An example is the Advanced Micro Devices 2900 family
of devices. This family Includes 4-bit ALUs, multiplexers, sequencers,
and other parts needed for custom-building a CPU. Intels bit slice
family is 3000.
The term slice comes from the fact that these parts can be connected
in parallel to work with 8-bit words, 16-bit words, or 32-bit words. In
other words, a designer can add as many slices as needed for a
particular application. The designer not only custom-designs the
hardware of the CPU, but also custom-makes the Instruction set for it
using "microcode."

GENERAL-PURPOSE CPUs
The third major direction of microprocessor evolution has been
toward general-purpose CPUs which give a microcomputer most
or all of the computing power of earlier minicomputers. All of the
microprocessor we use in computers are general purpose
microprocessors.

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