EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

The primary goal of this chapter is to introduce the key
components of a computer and all of the terminology that will be
used throughout the rest of the book, plus provide a basic
understanding of how computers execute instructions.
Learning Outcomes:
After completing this chapter you will be able to:
3.1 Describe the basic concept of a computer system.
3.2 Describe the basic components and operation of computer
hardware.
3.3 Describe the basic components and operation of computer
software.
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BROCK J. LAMERES, PH.D.

 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.1 COMPUTER OVERVIEW

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CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

COMPUTER DEFINITIONS
Computer – collection of hardware and software working together to
accomplish a task.

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3.1 COMPUTER
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COMPUTER DEFINITIONS
Computer – collection of
hardware and software
working together to
accomplish a task.

Operation code (op-code) – a

binary code that identifies the
instruction.

Instruction set – a group of

instructions the computer is
designed to execute.
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3.1 COMPUTER
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COMPUTER DEFINITIONS (CONT.)

Software – the sequence of
instructions that when
executed one-by-one, will
accomplish a task.

Program – the sequence of

instructions perform the task.

Software developer /
programmer – a person who
designs the program by
deciding which instruction
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3.1 COMPUTER
CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

COMPUTER DEFINITIONS
Hardware
- provides all the necessary functionality to store the program,
retrieve the individual instructions from memory, and execute
them.
- Refers to the physical components within the system.

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 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.1 COMPUTER OVERVIEW

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 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.2 COMPUTER HARDWARE

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CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.2.1 PROGRAM MEMORY

• The storage system that holds • Most computers implement
the instruction. program memory on an
EEPROM – can be read from
• Treated as read only memory during normal operations but
during execution to prevent can only be written to using a
instructions from being dedicated procedure.
overwritten.

• Programs stored on non-

volatile memory, so the
computer system does not
lose its program when
power is removed.

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3.2.2 DATA MEMORY

• Used to hold temporary memory of a computer.
variables that are created by
the software program.

• Can be written to and read

from during normal operation.

• Implemented with
read/write memory.

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• “RAM” refers to the data

3.2 COMPUTER
CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

• Reads instructions from • Contains circuitry to perform
memory, decodes the op-code arithmetic and logic operations
to determine the instruction is on data.
being performed, and executes
the necessary steps to
complete the instruction.

• Contains registers that are

used for general purpose
data storage, operational
information, and system
status.
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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.1 CONTROL UNIT
• Finite state machine that controls the operation of the computer by
fetching the instruction, decoding the instruction op-code, and
executing the appropriate steps to accomplish the functionality of
the instruction.

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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS

• Execute instructions and hold

status information.

• Dedicated Registers – used as

part of the normal operation of
the computer and are not under
the control of the program.

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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS (CONT.)

• Program Counter (PC) –

holds the address of the next
instruction in program memory
to execute.

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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS (CONT.)

• Program Counter (PC) –

holds the address of the next
instruction in program memory
to execute.

• Stack Pointer (SP) – provides

a way to dynamically allocate
variable space in the data
memory without having to
keep track of specific
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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS (CONT.)

• Status Register (SR) –

contains flags that are
asserted when various
conditions occur during the
execution of the program.

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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS (CONT.)

• Status Register (SR) –

contains flags that are
asserted when various
conditions occur during the
execution of the program.

• Instruction Register (IR) –

holds the op-code/operand
that is fetched from program
memory.
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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.2 REGISTERS (CONT.)

• General Purpose Registers –

can be accessed directly by
the program.

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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.3 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

3.2.3.3 ARITHMETIC LOGIC
UNIT (ALU)
• The system that performs all
mathematical and logic
operations.

• Contains logic to produce

status bits that provide the
ability for subsequent
instructions to react to
particular results.
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3.2 COMPUTER
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3.2.4 INPUT / OUTPUT PORTS

• Port – hardware component • Serial ports – use a single line
used to access the outside and send data bit-by-bit.
world; can be input, output, or
bidirectional.

• Input / Output ports –

designed to pass information
in parallel or serial format.

• Parallel ports – pass data

as a bus and allow more
information to be
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3.2.5 BUS SYSTEM

• Handles routing of signals • I/O ports, data memory, and
between the CPU and program memory share the
memory. address and data busses.

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3.2.5 BUS SYSTEM (CONT.)

• Memory Address Bus (MAB) • Memory map – gives all the
– provides a single address to addresses for all locations in
data memory, program memory.
memory, and the I/O ports.

• Memory Data Bus (MDB) –

carries information back and
forth between the CPU and
the memory & I/O ports.

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3.2 COMPUTER
 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.2 COMPUTER HARDWARE

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 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.3 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

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CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.3 COMPUTER
CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

RISC VS. CISC

RISC (Reduced Instruction CISC (Complex Instruction
Set Computer) Set Computer)
• Small number of instructions. • Large number of instructions.

3.3 COMPUTER
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RISC VS. CISC

RISC (Reduced Instruction CISC (Complex Instruction
Set Computer) Set Computer)
• Small number of instructions. • Large number of instructions.

• Reduces the size of the needed• Increased physical size of the

circuitry in the CPU. computer.

• Executes instructions very • Executes instructions very

quickly. quickly .

• Requires a large number of • Requires fewer number of

operations to accomplish a instructions to accomplish a
given task. given task.

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3.3.1 CLASSES OF INSTRUCTIONS

3.3.1.1 DATA MOVEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
• Move information between the CPU and memory or between
two memory locations.
• Do not use the ALU.
• Assert control signals within the bus system to facilitate the
routing and storing of information between a source and
destination.

3.3 COMPUTER
CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.3.1 CLASSES OF INSTRUCTIONS

3.3.1.2 DATA MANIPULATION INSTRUCTIONS
• Use the ALU to perform arithmetic or logical operations on
information.
• Examples: addition, subtraction, ANDs, XORs, increments,
decrements, bit-sets, and bit-clears.

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3.3.1 CLASSES OF INSTRUCTIONS

3.3.1.3 PROGRAM FLOW INSTRUCTIONS
• Provide the ability to alter the program counter to support looping
and conditional statement functionality.
• Unconditional program flow – always change the program
counter to a fixed value.
• Conditional program flow – only alter the program counter when
certain conditions exist
within the status register.

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3.3.2 OP-CODES
• Unique binary code given to each instruction in the set.

• Mnemonic – a descriptive name for the op-code that can be used

when discussing the instruction functionally.

• Assembly – low-level language that uses mnemonics to

communicate which instruction is being talked about.

• Assembler – translates the mnemonics and additional information

for each instruction into its specific op-code.
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3.3.2 OPERANDS
• Provides additional information needed to complete the instruction.

• May include moving/copying information:

• From memory into any of the general-purpose CPU registers.
• From any CPU register into memory.
• Between any two CPU registers.
• Between any two memory locations.

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3.3.2 OP-CODES AND OPERANDS

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3.3 COMPUTER
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3.3.2 OP-CODES AND OPERANDS

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3.3 COMPUTER
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3.3.2 OP-CODES AND OPERANDS

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3.3.3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FLOW

• At the highest level of program development, the language C can
be used to develop programs without needing to understand the
architecture of the CPU or how the internal registers are used to
move and manipulate data.

• Complier – used to convert high-level programming constructs

into individual assembly language instructions.

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3.3.3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FLOW (CONT.)

• In assembly language programming, each instruction is listed in a
file using the mnemonic with the associated operands. Additionally,
information can be provided in an assembly file that will dictate
memory allocation for variables.

• Assembler – used to translate the instruction mnemonics and

operands into their corresponding binary codes.

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3.3.3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FLOW (CONT.)

• Linker – a tool within the development flow that joins multiple
source files and assigns the final addresses for the program code.

• The output of the linker stage is an executable object file that is

ready to be downloaded to the MSP430 using the EEPROM
programmer.

• Debugger – a tool that allows the program to be executed

instruction-by-instruction (stepped) and the values within the CPU
registers and memory to be observed as instructions are executed

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3.3 COMPUTER
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3.3.3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FLOW

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3.3 COMPUTER
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3.3.3 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FLOW

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3.3 COMPUTER
 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

3.3 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

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