Here are four clear and illustrative diagrams to enrich your lecture slides on the key topics:
Microprogrammed Control Unit Architecture — shows core components like Control
Memory, Control Address Register (CAR), Microinstruction Register (MIR), and
Sequencer .
RISC vs. CISC Processing Paradigms — contrasts their design philosophies and effects
on CPU performance .
Microprogram Flow for an ADD Instruction — demonstrates sequencing and
branching logic using conditional paths .
Two-Level Control Store (Micro- and Nano-instructions) — details how control
signals are structured efficiently .
Lecture Notes: Detailed and Student-Friendly
1. Microprogrammed Control: Core Concepts
The control unit uses a control memory (e.g., ROM) that stores microinstructions—
sequences of micro-operations for each machine instruction .
Important components:
o Control Address Register (CAR) holds the address of the next microinstruction.
o Sequencer decides the next address by incrementing CAR, branching, or
accepting external subroutine return .
o Control Data Register (MIR) holds the current microinstruction.
Advantages: Flexible and easier to modify. Disadvantage: Generally slower than
hardwired control .
2. Micro-instruction Sequencing & Execution
Sequencing Models:
o Single address field: next instruction is sequential by default; branch field used
when needed .
o Dual address field: separate addresses for true/false conditional branches.
Flow:
1. Instruction fetched into IR, mapped to microprogram starting address.
2. Retrieve microinstruction via CAR → Control Memory → MIR.
3. Execute micro-operations; determine next CAR via sequencer logic.
Supports subroutine call/return via special registers (like SBR) .
3. Grouping of Signals & Bit-Slice Architecture
Grouping of signals: microinstructions group related control signals (e.g., ALU
operations, data transfers).
Bit-slice architecture:
o Builds CPUs modularly using identical blocks (slices), each handling a few bits.
o Example: AMD AM2901 provides a 4-bit ALU slice; multiple slices combine for
full word width .
o Offers customizability and good performance for targeted designs .
4. RISC vs. CISC Machines
CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer):
o Rich, varying-length instruction set, many addressing modes.
o Often uses microprogrammed control for decoding complex instructions.
o Compact code but complex control logic .
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer):
o Simpler instruction set, fixed-length instructions, fewer addressing modes.
o Typically uses hardwired control and straightforward decoding pipelines.
o Emphasizes speed and energy efficiency at the expense of larger code size .
The diagram above (2nd) visualizes this contrast well .
5. Parallel Processing, Multiprocessing & Vector Computation
Parallel processing / Multiprocessing: executing instructions or programs concurrently,
often via multiple CPUs or cores.
Vector computation: processing data arrays (vectors) in SIMD manner (one instruction
applies to multiple data points).
Typically supported by RISC machines with multiple pipelines and register bottleneck
avoidance.
6. Fault-Tolerant Systems & Use of Large Register File
Fault tolerance: ensuring system reliability via redundancy, error checking, recovery
mechanisms.
Architectures include multiple functional units, duplicated pipelines, and voting logic to
maintain correctness.
Using a large register file helps by:
o Reducing memory access latency.
o Providing quick context switching or redundant operations (useful in pipelined or
fault-tolerant designs).
o Supporting deeper pipelines and parallel execution.
7. RISC Architecture and Pipelining
Pipeline stages in RISC (classic 5-stage):
1. Instruction Fetch (IF)
2. Instruction Decode / Register Fetch (ID)
3. Execute (EX)
4. Memory Access (MEM)
5. Write Back (WB) .
Pipelining overlaps instruction stages across cycles for increased throughput, reducing
cycles per instruction .
Summary Table
Topic Highlights
Microprogrammed Control Flexible, microinstructions in ROM, sequencer-based
Sequencing Approaches Single vs. dual vs. variable format microinstructions
Bit-Slice Architecture Modular, customizable ALU units (e.g., AM2901)
Simplicity & pipelining vs. complex instructions & compact
RISC vs. CISC
code
Parallel, Vector, Fault- Combines pipeline depth, SIMD, redundancy, large register
Tolerance files
RISC Pipelining Classic five-stage pipeline boosts throughput
This detailed content—with diagrams—should serve as a solid foundation for your lecture PDF.
Let me know if you'd like specific examples, exercises, or a ready-to-use slide deck!
