MICROCOMPUTER OVERVIEW
WHAT IS A MICROCOMPUTER?
A Microcomputer is a system of one or more integrated circuit devices using semiconduc- tor technology and digital logic to implement large computer functions on a smaller scale.
Computer miniaturization is a
There are three main elements in a micro- computer system; each has a special role to play in the overall operation of the computer system. These three elements are shown in Figure 1. They are the central processing unit (CPU), the memory, and the input/output (10) ports.
The CPU does the actual work of the micro- computer system: numerical processing (addi- tions, subtractions, etc.) logical operations, and timing functions.
The CPU is told what to do by a set of instructions, called a program, stored in the microcomputer's memory. Data is also kept
in the memory and processed according to programmed instructions. The input/ output
(10)ports allow the CPU to communicate with the outside world.
The program(s) are specially designed sec- tions of machine code that perform the following, to name a few:
•numeric calculation
•communication with Input/ Output devices
•organization and manipulation of data structures
•response to expected and unexpected con- ditions and program interrupts
•translation of Input/ Output data to/from
•coordination, monitoring, and timing of events
While it may appear that the computer does many things simultaneously, the CPU exe- cutes just one instruction at a time. Instruc- tion times vary depending on the type of instruction, and the speed of memory or I/O device.
MEMORY
CPU
MODULE
I/O
/
CONTROL BUS
