Microprocessor Systems

System Structure

Dr. Taisir Eldos

 Basic Microprocessor System
q Kernel (Core)
v Processor, Microprocessor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), it’s the heart of any
computer system and it works like a very complex clockwork
v Support elements; reset circuit, clock circuit and real-time clock circuit
q Storage (Hierarchy; cache memory, main memory and mass storage)
v Solid state memory come in different flavors;
Ø Read Only Memory; ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash
Ø Random Write Memory; which is either static or dynamic
v Mass storage come in different flavors
Ø Electro, Opto, Magneto, Mechanical, devices, like: HD, TD, FD, CD, DVD, BR, etc.
Ø Flash drives, SSD, SD Cards, etc.
q I/O Components
v To exchange data with input/output devices
v Keyboard, Monitor, Printer, Mouse, Touchpad, Microphone, Speaker, Camera, …
q Glue Logic
v Buffers, to resolve the fan-out problem
v Decoders & Arbiters, to resolve conflicts like requesting a service by many devices

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 Modular Computer –Block Diagram
System Bus

Buffers Buffers Buffers

Decoding Logic Decoding Logic Decoding Logic

Memory Control Parallel I/O

Input - Output devices

CPU
Serial I/O

Clock / Timer Keyboard I/F

Memory Array
BIOS ROM Disk I/F

Setup RAM IEEE 488 BUS

Processor Module Memory Module Peripheral Module

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 Block Diagram - Comments
q Clock/Timer
v Provide main clock and timing signals for advanced functions like multitasking
q Decode/Control
v Decodes memory space and input-output space, perform bus arbitration and
interrupt handling
q Buffers
v Extend fanout capability
q ROM and NVM
v BIOS and Loader in ROM, RTC and setup info
q Memory Control
v Memory Management Functions (DRAM refresh, cache, …)
q BUS Interface
v Lab and Industrial equipment; Control & Monitor and others

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 Type of Computers (Based on applications )
q Special Purpose Computer
v Perform specific task; Controllers, Embedded Systems,
v Examples:
Ø Simple: Morse Code Generator, cellular Phone, Microwave oven, Traffic Controller,
Digital Exchange
Ø Complex: Supervisory Systems, Medical Equipment, Autopilot, Missile Guidance
System
q General Purpose Computers
v Variety of applications; Scientific, Accounting, Games
v Examples:
Ø Simple: Portable Computers, Personal Computers, Workstations
Ø Complex: Networks, Main Frames, Supercomputers

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 Example: Morse Code Generator
Control Bus
Address Bus
Data Bus

Control,
CPU Reset, and ROM RAM
Decode
I/O
Interface

Clock

Power
Supply To all modules

O/P Keyboard

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 General Purpose Microcomputer
Control Bus
Address Bus
Data Bus

Control,
Real Time Local Bus
CPU Reset, and ROM RAM
Clock Control Composite
Decode
Local Bus

Clock

Power
Supply To all modules

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 Example: Continued

Disk Memory Ethernet USB Hub Parallel Serial

Controller Controller Interface Interface Interface Interface

Composite Local Bus

Joystick Mouse Keyboard Video
Interface Interface Interface Interface

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 Minimal vs Typical Systems

I/O I/O I/O

CPU ROM RAM PIO SIO PTC

AB
DB

Chip Selects
Clock CB Dec.

Interrupt Inputs
Reset Int.

Power Supply

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 Inverter Based Clock Generator
q Clock circuits are better built with inverters, they require less components and
they are readily available on almost any board
q A Schmitt trigger inverter (inverter with hysteresis) generates a square wave
(clock) with a single RC network
q Due to the hysteresis effect, the mark to space ratio is nearly 1 to 3 or 1 to 2
causing the duty cycles to be ¼ or little more
q Connecting the RC to the inverter input via a resistor improves the duty cycle
q If Vth-l=Vcc/3 and Vth-h=2Vcc/3 Vo Vo
q Ts=1.1*RC and Tm=1.1*RC, So
q T = 2.2*RC, F = 0.45/RC 74LS04 74LS14
q R = 1 KΩ, C = 1 nF, F = 0.5 MHz Vi Vi
Vt Vlt Vht
q Characteristic curves show that
v Standard has single threshold input
v Schmitt has two thresholds
q Typically, Vth-h =2.8 and Vth-l=1.4

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 Clock Generator
q Pierce oscillator uses a single Schmitt trigger inverter to generate a clock
q An alternative uses two standard inverters can be used with a Schmitt trigger
buffer or inverter to beatify the output.
q The R and C values are important to make the Crystal the right frequency
(fundamental or overtones)
q May not start properly every time, use slightly different R’s
q If CMOS inverters used, R’s must be in the MΩ range
q Noisy clock, use a large capacitor on the chip directly, and Schmidt inverter
instead of a standard one

8 MHz
Before

2x74LS04
74LS14
Pierce Oscillator 1 K 10 n 1 K
After

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 Simple Reset Circuit
q An RC charging path. On power
up, voltage starts at 0 and 20 KOhm
exponentially increases to +5V Push Button 1 x 74LS14 2 x 4.7 KOhm
RST*
q Inverters’ outputs remains high, 22 microF
HALT*

Push Button Pressed

until input is Vth-hi (≈ 3 V) 1 KOhm
2 x 74LS05

q Pressing the push button,

discharges the capacitors, and it
starts charging again
Voltage
q Small discharge path to prevent
excessive currents Time
q Hot reset requires 100
Voltage
milliseconds to overcome the
supply delay Time
q Cold reset requires 10 clock
Voltage
cycles, but safer to provide more
(Like 100 cycles, equal to 10 Time
microseconds at 10 MHz) Hot Reset Cold Reset

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 Microprocessor Systems
System Components

Dr. Taisir Eldos

 Generic µProcessor
q D/A registers: 8/16, 16/24, 32/32, 32/64, 64/64
q DB: 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 VCC
q AB: 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 36, 40, up to 50
q CB: 10’s to 100’s of signals
v I/P: Clock(s), Reset, Interrupts, Bus Request, Halt,
Data Acknowledge or Wait, Bus Error CB - O/P DB
v O/P: Clock(s), Interrupt Acknowledge, Bus Grant,
Address Strobe, Data Strobe, Read, Write, Function
Code, Refresh
v I/O: Reset, Halt …
CB- I/O
q Power: GND and 5.0, 3.3, 2.8, 2.0, 1.8, 1.2, 1.0, and
sub 1.0 V (many points of feeding)
q Some have AB and DB multiplexed
q Packages: DIL, SMT, PGA, BGA, LGA …
CB - I/P
q Pin count: 14, 28, 40 48, 52, 64, 1000+ and 4000+ AB
q May functions are now integrated on the chip;
caches, memory management, …
q Complex processors have on-board thermal control
GND

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 Generic ROM
q DB: 4, 8 and 16
q AB: 4, 5, …, 20 VCC VPP
q CB: CS*, OE* and PGM* (for programming)
q Power: GND , VCC (5.0 V), VPP = 12 V for programming)
q Packages: DIL and SMT with 24, 28, 32, 40 pins
q Example: what is the pin count of byte organized 1 MB ROM DB
v AB = 20
v DB = 8 CS*
v CB = 3 (CS, OE, PGM) OE*
v Power= 3 (VCC,VPP,GND) PGM*

q What is the pin count if the ROM is word organized?

q PROM comes blank and get programmed in house
q EPROM is erasable using UV to reprogram many times
AB
q EEPROM is electronically erasable and programmable
q Flash EEPROM is the same but erase in blocks for speed

GND

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 Generic SRAM
q Uses 4 to 6 transistors per cell or but structure
q DB: 4, 8 and 16 VCC
q AB: 8, 9, …, 20
q CB: CS*, OE* and WE*
v There can be many CS lines; active low and/or active high
v OE*: enable data buffers, (to read unless it is a write process as
dictated by WE* input) DB
v WE*: enable data buffers, to write
q Power: GND and 5.0 V CS*
q Packages: DIL and SMT with 24, 28, 32, 40 pins WE*
q Example: what is the pins count of1Mx16bit = 2 MB chip OE*
v AB = 20
v DB = 16
v CS = 1 or 2
v OE = 1
v WR = 1 AB
v VDD/GND = 2

GND

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 Generic DRAM
q Uses 1 transistor per cell; slower, less cost and less power
q DB: 1, 2, 4 and 36 VCC
q AB: 8, 9, …, 15
q CB: CS*, OE*, WE*, CAS* and RAS* DI
v CS1*: enable DO
v RD*: enable data buffers, to read (sometimes CAS* is used)
v WE*: enable data buffers, to write CS*
v RAS*: latch row address WE*
v CAS*: latch column address OE*
RAS*
q Power: GND and 5.0 V
CAS*
q Packages: DIL & SP DIL with 16, 18, 20 and 40 pins
q Example: what is the pin counts of a 1Gx1bit chip
v AB = 30/2 = 15
v DB = 1 or 2 AB
v CS = 1 or 2
v OE/WE = 2
v VDD/GND = 2
v CAS/RAS = 2 GND

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 Microprocessor Systems
Microcontrollers

Dr. Taisir Eldos

 Microcontroller Structure
q Typically used as embedded systems in cars, planes, weapons, toys, etc.
q Integrate a processor, memory and basic peripherals, and may support
expansion slots

Oscillator ROM PIO ADI

Bus
CPU
Cont

Int Cont RAM SIO PTC

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 Micro Controller Unit (MCU)
q May have 8-bit, 16-bit or even 32-bit data units and run at 100 MHz
q May have 256 KB Flash ROM and 32 KB SRAM
q Many vendors offer such chips for only few dollars

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 System On Chip (SoC)
q MCU integrates CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O to handle general control tasks
q SoC add even more to those in the MCU, to support specific functions like
audio processing, video processing, communications, bus interfaces, etc.
v Global Positioning System (GPS)
v Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)
v Near Field Communication (NFC)
v Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
q Examples of SoC specific functions:
v Smartphones
Ø An SoC for a smartphone may include graphics, audio, video processing parts
Ø A three-chip solution then include such an SoC, Radio chip and Power management
chip
v Networks
Ø Devices like switches and routers, etc. may employ an SoC that handles the packet
processing and routing through built-in hardware functions
v Televisions
Ø Sophisticated video functions, like scaling, upscaling, color processing, etc.

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