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Microprocessor
What is a Microprocessor?
Computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) built on a s i n g l e I n t e g ra t e d
Circuit (IC) is called a microprocessor .
A digital computer with one microprocessor which acts a s a CPU is called
microcomputer.
It is a p r o g ra m m a b l e , m ult i pur po se , clock -driven, r e g i s t e r - b a s e d
electronic device that r e a d s bi nar y i nstruct ions from a s t o r a g e dev ice
called memo r y , a c c e p t s bi nar y d a t a a s input and p r o c e s s e s d a t a
according to those instructions and provides results as output.
The microprocessor contains millions of tiny components like transistors ,
registers, and d i o d e s that work together.
A t ransisto r is a device that regulates current or voltage 昀氀ow and acts as
a switch or gate for electronic signals. Transistors consist of three layers of
a semiconductor material, each capable of carrying a current.
R e g i s t e r s are a type of computer memory used to quickly accept, store,
and transfer data and instructions that are being used immediately by the
CPU
Diode, an electrical component that allows the flow of current in only one direction. In
circuit diagrams, a diode is represented by a triangle with a line across one vertex
Block Diagram of a Microcomputer
, 16248954lOMoARcPSD|
A microprocessor consists of an ALU, control unit and register array.
Where A L U performs arithmetic and logical operations on the data received from
氀
an input device or memory. Control unit controls the instructions and 昀ow of data
within the computer. And, regis te r ar ra y consists of registers identi昀椀ed by
letters like B, C, D, E, H, L, and accumulator.
Evolution of Microprocessors
We can categorize the microprocessor according to the generations or
according to the size of the microprocessor:
First Generation (4 - bit Microprocessors)
The 昀 rst generation microprocessors were introduced in the year 1971-
椀
1 9 7 2 by Intel Corporation. It was named Intel 4 0 0 4 since it was a 4-bit
processor.
It was a processor on a single chip. It could perform simple arithmetic and
logical operations such as addition, subtraction, Boolean O R and Boolean
AND.
I had a control unit capable of performing control functions like fetching an
instruction from storage memory, decoding it, and then generating control
pulses to execute it.
Second Generation (8 - bit Microprocessor)
The second generation microprocessors were introduced in 1 9 7 3 again by
Intel. It was a 昀
椀rst 8 - bit microprocessor which could perform arithmetic
and logic operations on 8-bit words. It was Intel 8008, and another
improved version was Intel 8088.
Third Generation (16 - bit Microprocessor)
The third generation microprocessors, introduced in 1 9 7 8 were
represented by I nt el's 8086, Z i l o g Z 8 0 0 a n d 80286, which were 1 6 -
bit processors with a performance like minicomputers.
Fourth Generation (32 - bit Microprocessors)
Several different companies introduced the 32-bit microprocessors, but
the most popular one is the Intel 80386.
Fifth Generation (64 - bit Microprocessors)
From 1 9 9 5 to now we are in the 昀
椀fth generation. After 80856, Intel came
out with a new processor namely Pentium processor followed by Pe n t i u m
Microprocessor
What is a Microprocessor?
Computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) built on a s i n g l e I n t e g ra t e d
Circuit (IC) is called a microprocessor .
A digital computer with one microprocessor which acts a s a CPU is called
microcomputer.
It is a p r o g ra m m a b l e , m ult i pur po se , clock -driven, r e g i s t e r - b a s e d
electronic device that r e a d s bi nar y i nstruct ions from a s t o r a g e dev ice
called memo r y , a c c e p t s bi nar y d a t a a s input and p r o c e s s e s d a t a
according to those instructions and provides results as output.
The microprocessor contains millions of tiny components like transistors ,
registers, and d i o d e s that work together.
A t ransisto r is a device that regulates current or voltage 昀氀ow and acts as
a switch or gate for electronic signals. Transistors consist of three layers of
a semiconductor material, each capable of carrying a current.
R e g i s t e r s are a type of computer memory used to quickly accept, store,
and transfer data and instructions that are being used immediately by the
CPU
Diode, an electrical component that allows the flow of current in only one direction. In
circuit diagrams, a diode is represented by a triangle with a line across one vertex
Block Diagram of a Microcomputer
, 16248954lOMoARcPSD|
A microprocessor consists of an ALU, control unit and register array.
Where A L U performs arithmetic and logical operations on the data received from
氀
an input device or memory. Control unit controls the instructions and 昀ow of data
within the computer. And, regis te r ar ra y consists of registers identi昀椀ed by
letters like B, C, D, E, H, L, and accumulator.
Evolution of Microprocessors
We can categorize the microprocessor according to the generations or
according to the size of the microprocessor:
First Generation (4 - bit Microprocessors)
The 昀 rst generation microprocessors were introduced in the year 1971-
椀
1 9 7 2 by Intel Corporation. It was named Intel 4 0 0 4 since it was a 4-bit
processor.
It was a processor on a single chip. It could perform simple arithmetic and
logical operations such as addition, subtraction, Boolean O R and Boolean
AND.
I had a control unit capable of performing control functions like fetching an
instruction from storage memory, decoding it, and then generating control
pulses to execute it.
Second Generation (8 - bit Microprocessor)
The second generation microprocessors were introduced in 1 9 7 3 again by
Intel. It was a 昀
椀rst 8 - bit microprocessor which could perform arithmetic
and logic operations on 8-bit words. It was Intel 8008, and another
improved version was Intel 8088.
Third Generation (16 - bit Microprocessor)
The third generation microprocessors, introduced in 1 9 7 8 were
represented by I nt el's 8086, Z i l o g Z 8 0 0 a n d 80286, which were 1 6 -
bit processors with a performance like minicomputers.
Fourth Generation (32 - bit Microprocessors)
Several different companies introduced the 32-bit microprocessors, but
the most popular one is the Intel 80386.
Fifth Generation (64 - bit Microprocessors)
From 1 9 9 5 to now we are in the 昀
椀fth generation. After 80856, Intel came
out with a new processor namely Pentium processor followed by Pe n t i u m
