BENM 2123 MICROPROCESSOR
TECHNOLOGY
Chapter 1: Introduction to Microprocessor
Definition of microprocessor
Microprocessor (abbreviated µP)
• The word comes from the combination micro and
processor.
• Micro is the term used to represent the
size of the circuit that form this solid
state device. (micro = 10-6)
• Processor means a device that processes
numbers, specifically binary numbers, 0’s
and 1’s.
• Thick of human hair = 100 micron.
Microprocessor
A digital electronic component with miniaturized
transistors on a single semiconductor integrated
circuit (IC).
The microprocessor is a programmable device that
takes in numbers, performs on them arithmetic or
logical operations according to the program stored
in memory and then produces other numbers as a
result.
Microprocessor: What is it used for?
Microprocessors are used for general
purpose computing systems such as
• Personal Computer (PC) – computer on your desk
• Laptop – portable computer you can put on your
lap
• Mainframe – powerful computers for high
performance task
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - hand-sized
computer
Microprocessor is also used for embedded
system
• General-purpose microprocessors are also used in
embedded systems, but generally require more
support circuitry than microcontrollers. Electronic
devices/gadgets that have the capability like
computer
• Computing systems embedded within electronic
devices designed to perform a specific function
Microprocessor: What is it used for? (cont..)
Eg: (micro-p as embedded system)
1. portable devices - digital watches, PDAs,
digital cameras, GPS units and MP3 players.
2. Larger systems - traffic lights, systems
controlling power plants and factory
controllers.
3. Telecommunications systems also use several
embedded systems from telephone switches to
mobile phones.
4. Consumer electronics - video game consoles,
DVD players and printers.
5. House hold appliances - microwave ovens,
washing machines and dishwashers use embedded
processors as well.
Microprocessors in the market
Motorola 68000
ARM7TDMI
Microprocessor vs microcontroller
Microprocessor Microcontroller
• Designed for general tasks and • Designed for specific tasks.
specific tasks. Specific – applications where the
relationship of input and output is
defined.
• an IC which has only the CPU • CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O ports is
inside them. It don’t have RAM, ROM embedded on a single chip (compact)
and other peripherals (add them Reduces size and cost
externally).
costly
• The clock speed of the • operate from a few MHz to 30 to 50
Microprocessor is quite high as MHz
compared to the microcontroller
>1GHz
Application: Desktop PC’s, laptops, Application: digicam, pendrive,
notepads, etc. remote, microwave, cars, bikes,
telephone, mobiles, watches, etc.
Microprocessor find applications
where tasks are unspecific like
developing software, games, websites,
photo editing, creating documents
Evolution of microprocessor
68k uses CISC architecture
Evolution of ARM processor
ARM microprocessors are the most widely used processors in the world today - 1.66
billion ARM processor units were shipped in 2005! Arguably among the most advanced
systems in their class, ARM processors are a Cambridge success story. The ARM processor
architecture will be used to provide concrete examples of how the theory is implemented
in the real world.
ARM7TDMI was designed in 1998. It uses RISC architecture
What is the difference between CISC and
RISC?
CISC – Complex Instruction Set Computer
RISC – Reduced Instruction Set Computer
Example:
Which one is
faster?
Basic Architecture of Microprocessor-based
System
Microprocessor itself is completely useless – must
have supporting devices to be a complete computer
system.
Essential elements
• Microprocessor (or CPU)
• Memory
• Input/output
Connected by system bus (lines)
Basic Architecture of Microprocessor-based
System (cont.)
Initially, the system designers need to decide what instructions they need to use according to
their design.
How do CPU access data from memory or input port?
CPU will request instruction from memory.
Instructions and data are stored in memory in specific locations determine
by the program. Data can also be obtained from input port.
Each location in memory has a unique address associated with it.
Instructions are obtained by the CPU by placing an address on the address
bus.
Instructions are transferred via the data bus as they are requested by CPU.
CPU executes the instructions, store the modified data back in memory.
The control bus will coordinate all of these operations.
CPU operation (How CPU communicates
with memory?)
Microprocessors are controlled
by programs,
programs which are simply
lists of simple instructions.
Microprocessors can execute
millions of these instructions
every second.
Most processors operate
according to von Neumann
sequence/cycle.
In the EXECUTE step, results
are returned to registers and
memory.
What is memory?
Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions
and data (binary) waiting to be executed by the processor.
Memory stores three basic categories of items:
OS and System software
Application program
Processed data
Types of memory:
Random Access Memories – SRAM, DRAM
Read Only Memories –ROM, PRO , EPROM, EEPROM, Flash
Storage – floppy disk, hard disk, CD, DVD, Blue-ray CD, tape.
Memory system in microprocessor based
(cont.)
Data bus is bidirectional
Write – data units are stored
into specified address in
memory
Read – data unit comes out from
specified address in memory
Accessing memory in microprocessor based
system
Read data from a memory into a
microprocessor
• Set address of the memory
location where intended data is
stored.
• Set the Read control signal
• Data is read.
Write data from a microprocessor
into a memory
• Set address of the memory
location where processed data will
be stored.
• Set the Write control signal
• Data is written/stored
Is this memory a RAM or ROM
type??
Volatile vs nonvolatile memory
Volatile memory
When the computer power is turned off, the contents
lost
Example: RAM
RAM is a read/write memory in which data can be
written into or read from any selected address.
Nonvolatile memory
Data are stored permanently.
Does not lose its contents when power is removed
from computer
Example: ROM, flash memory
Data can be read from a ROM, but there is no
read/write operation as in the RAM.
RAM
Function of RAM in modern computer architecture
Memory map in microprocessor-based
system
Refer to the datasheet of ARM processor to
know the exact memory location
Input/Output peripherals
Input/output devices are electronic
circuits/equipment used to enter information
and instructions into a computer for storage or
processing
Input devices – keyboard,mouse, scanner
Output devices – printer, monitor
Software
Once you have a working prototype, you can put
away the soldering iron because all operational
changes can then be made with software.
Areas such as address decoding, chip enables,
instruction timing and hardware interfacing
become important when programming
microprocessors.
Eg: Basic I/O operation
To route the data from the input switches to the output LEDs, the
data from the input port must first be read into the microprocessor
before they can be sent to the output port.
The software used to drive microprocessor-based
systems is called assembly language.
Software (cont.)
Closer to human language
English-like
terms
representing
binary code
Binary code (1s
and 0s)
•CPU
•Memory (RAM, ROM)
•Disk drives
•Input/Output
Software (cont.)
Assembly language
To avoid using 1s and 0s strings, english-like terms called
mnemonics or opcodes are used.
Each microprocessor have its own mnemonic instructions.
Mnemonic instruction for a given processor is called instruction
set.
Assembly program for Motorola processors will not work on Intel
processors. Even if the processors are within the same family, the
assembly program are also different.
Then, why do you need to use assembly language?
Teach how a computer works at the machine level
Consume small memory
Fast
Assembly language
Why do you need to learn assembly language?
Software engineers who create compilers will need
good understanding of the machine including its
architecture, instruction set(s) and programmer’s
model.
Application engineers, or any engineer writing hand
optimized routines for performance reasons, will
need to understand assembly.
Certain features of processors can only be accessed
using native instructions of the hardware. Eg:
saturated maths operation or access to
coprocessors.
Hardware engineers who design the next generation
of microprocessors and microcontrollers will need
to understand how they work at the lowest level.
