CPU and Microprocessor Fundamentals
23 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of actuators?

Convert electrical signals to mechanical processes.

Which are common examples of actuators?

  • Turning a wheel (correct)
  • Moving robotic arms (correct)
  • Controlling a conveyor belt (correct)
  • Opening or closing a door (correct)
  • LCD projectors are heavier than DLP projectors.

    False

    Inkjet printers produce high-quality hard copies of digital _?

    <p>images</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the sensor type with what it measures:

    <p>Acoustic = Sound levels Accelerometer = Acceleration rate, tilt, vibration Flow = Rate of gas, liquid or powder flow Gas = Presence of a gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a CPU?

    <p>Processes data by executing instructions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a microprocessor?

    <p>To perform arithmetic and logic operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a CPU controls the flow of data and instructions?

    <p>Control unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ALU performs logical operations such as ADD and SUBTRACT.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Registers are small memory locations within the CPU that temporarily store data needed to execute an _______ .

    <p>instruction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following system buses with their descriptions:

    <p>Address bus = Carries addresses throughout the computer system Data bus = Bidirectional bus allowing data to be sent in both directions Control bus = Bidirectional bus carrying signals from the control unit to other components</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of carbon monoxide detectors?

    <p>Detect levels of gas in confined spaces and when fixing gas leaks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do humidity monitors measure?

    <p>Levels of water vapor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is the primary usage of infra-red technology?

    <p>Detecting motion or a heat source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    PH is a measure of the level of acidity or __________.

    <p>alkaline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following storage technologies with their descriptions:

    <p>Cache memory = Store frequently/recently used instructions and data Solid State = Uses transistors arranged in a grid layout Optical = Includes CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Virtual memory acts as RAM when primary memory is full.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a Network Interface Card (NIC) enable computers and other devices to do?

    <p>connect to a network</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true about a MAC address?

    <p>It represents the manufacturer code and serial number of a device</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Static IP addresses change each time a device logs onto the internet.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dynamic IP addresses are assigned by the ISP each time a device logs onto the ________.

    <p>internet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following IP address types with their descriptions:

    <p>IPv4 = Can be static or dynamic IPv6 = Removes the risk of IP address collisions Static IP = Permanently assigned by ISP and doesn't change Dynamic IP = Assigned each time a device logs onto the internet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a router?

    <p>route data packets between different networks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    CPU and Microprocessor

    • A CPU (Central Processing Unit) processes data by executing instructions
    • A microprocessor is a type of integrated circuit that contains a CPU, used in general-purpose computers and embedded systems

    Components of a CPU

    • Control Unit:
      • Controls the flow of data around the CPU
      • Sends control signals to different components
      • Decodes instructions
      • Controls the timings of operations
    • Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU):
      • Performs calculations required to execute instructions (e.g., ADD, SUBTRACT)
      • Carries out logical operations (e.g., COMPARE)
      • Has a built-in register for interim results
    • Registers and Buses:
      • Registers: small memory locations within the CPU that temporarily store data needed to execute an instruction
      • Program Counter (PC): stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched
      • Memory Address Register (MAR): stores the address of the instruction or data to be fetched or written to memory
      • Memory Data Register (MDR): stores the data that has been fetched from memory or is being written to memory
      • Current Instruction Register (CIR): stores the instruction being decoded or executed
      • Accumulator: temporarily stores the results of calculations performed by the ALU
    • Buses: parallel transmission components that transmit data between components

    System Buses

    • Address bus: carries addresses throughout the computer system, unidirectional between CPU and memory
    • Data bus: carries data between CPU, memory, and input/output devices, bidirectional
    • Control bus: carries control signals between CPU and other components, bidirectional, 8-bits wide

    Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

    • FETCH: CPU fetches instruction from memory, stores it in MDR, and increments PC
    • DECODE: instruction is decoded, and control signals are sent to components
    • EXECUTE: CPU executes the instruction, using control signals to interact with components

    Factors Affecting CPU Performance

    • Cache memory: stores frequently accessed instructions and data, improving CPU performance
    • Number of cores: more cores allow for more instructions executed per second
    • Clock speed: increasing clock speed increases processing speed

    Embedded Systems

    • A computer system with a specific function, built into a larger mechanical device
    • Runs on firmware, no additional peripherals
    • Examples: digital clocks, traffic lights, security systems, vending machines

    Advantages of Embedded Systems

    • Low power consumption
    • Small physical size
    • Low cost to manufacture
    • Can be controlled remotely
    • Real-time operation and quick response to inputs

    Input Devices

    • Examples: barcode scanner, QR code scanner, 2D and 3D scanners, digital camera, keyboard, mouse, microphone, touchscreen

    Output Devices

    • Actuators: convert electrical signals to mechanical processes
    • Examples: turning a wheel, opening/closing a door, controlling a conveyor belt
    • Projectors: digital light projector (DLP), LCD projector
    • Printers: laser printer, inkjet printer, 3D printer
    • Display screens: LCD, LED, OLED### Organic Carbon Compounds and Semiconductors
    • Organic carbon compounds are used to create semiconductors
    • No backlighting is required for these semiconductors
    • They can be made into very thin, flexible screens

    Speakers

    • Speakers are used to convert digital sounds or recordings into sound waves that can be heard by humans
    • Typical uses of speakers include:
      • Listening to music
      • Listening to video sound
      • Telephone calls
      • Alarms

    Sensors

    • Sensors are input devices that measure physical properties of their environment
    • Examples of physical properties that can be measured by sensors include:
      • Light levels
      • Temperature
      • Movement
    • Sensors can be used for:
      • Monitoring systems
      • Control systems

    Types of Sensors

    • Acoustic sensors: measure sound levels, used in industrial machinery, noise pollution monitoring, and security systems
    • Accelerometer sensors: measure acceleration rate, tilt, and vibration, used in vehicle safety features, mobile phones, and more
    • Flow sensors: measure rate of gas, liquid, or powder flow, used in water systems and pipes
    • Gas sensors: detect presence of gases, used in confined spaces, gas leak detection, and more
    • Humidity sensors: measure levels of water vapour, used in greenhouses and monitoring moisture
    • Infra-red sensors: detect motion or heat sources, used in security systems and emergency services
    • Level sensors: measure liquid levels, used in petrol tanks, water tanks, and leak detection
    • Light sensors: measure light levels, used in automatic light switching, street lights, and headlights
    • Magnetic field sensors: detect presence and strength of magnetic fields, used in anti-lock braking systems and monitoring rotating machinery
    • Moisture sensors: detect presence and levels of moisture, used in soil monitoring, building damp monitoring, and more
    • pH sensors: measure acidity or alkalinity, used in soil monitoring, chemical processes, and more
    • Pressure sensors: measure gas, liquid, or physical pressure, used in tyre pressure monitoring, manufacturing processes, and more
    • Proximity sensors: measure distance, used in robotics, safety systems, and more
    • Temperature sensors: measure temperature, used in swimming pools, chemical processes, and more

    Primary Storage

    • Primary storage is directly accessible by the CPU
    • Includes RAM, Cache, and ROM
    • Purpose of RAM: to store data, instructions, and software currently in use
    • Characteristics of RAM:
      • RAM is also called main memory
      • Faster read/write speeds than secondary storage
      • Volatile, meaning data is lost when the computer is switched off
      • Can be increased in size to improve operational speed
    • Types of RAM technology:
      • Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
      • Static RAM (SRAM)
      • DRAM: uses transistors and capacitors, needs to be constantly refreshed, less expensive to manufacture
      • SRAM: uses flip flops, doesn't need to be constantly refreshed, faster data access time, more expensive to manufacture

    Cache Memory

    • Purpose: store frequently/recently used instructions and data
    • Characteristics:
      • Faster read/write speeds than RAM
      • Volatile, meaning data is lost when the computer is switched off
      • Increasing cache size can improve performance

    ROM Memory

    • The role of ROM is to store the computer's boot-up sequence
    • Characteristics:
      • Non-volatile, meaning data is stored even when the computer is switched off
      • Read-only, meaning data cannot be written to ROM
      • Data cannot be altered
      • Always used to store BIOS and other data needed at start-up

    Secondary Storage

    • Not directly accessed by the CPU
    • Used for permanent storage of data
    • Non-volatile, meaning data is stored even when the computer is switched off
    • Characteristics:
      • Slower data access speeds than primary storage
      • Larger capacity
      • Software such as the operating system is saved permanently

    Types of Secondary Storage

    • Magnetic storage
    • Solid State storage
    • Optical storage

    Virtual Memory

    • Part of secondary storage that acts as RAM when RAM is full
    • Prevents computer system crashes when RAM is full
    • Data is switched between virtual memory and RAM by the operating system

    Cloud Storage

    • A method of data storage where data is stored on remote servers
    • Benefits:
      • Almost unlimited storage capacity
      • Recovery of data in case of failure
      • Remote backup of data
      • No need for external storage devices
      • Files can be accessed from anywhere
    • Drawbacks:
      • Risk of loss of data if the cloud storage company fails
      • High costs for large storage capacity
      • Slow internet connections can cause problems

    Network Hardware

    • Network Interface Card (NIC)
    • Wireless Network Interface Card (WNIC)
    • Media Access Control (MAC)
    • Internet Protocol (IP)

    Media Access Control (MAC)

    • A hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network
    • Manufactured into every Network Interface Controller (NIC)
    • Cannot be changed
    • 12-digit hexadecimal number

    Internet Protocol (IP)

    • Used to identify a device on the Internet or network
    • Allocated by the network or Internet Service Provider (ISP)
    • Can be used in place of URL
    • IP addresses can be IPv4 or IPv6
    • IP addresses can be static or dynamic

    Advantages of IPv6

    • Removes the risk of IP address collisions
    • Has built-in authentication checks
    • Allows for more efficient packet routes

    Routers

    • Enable data packets to be routed between different networks
    • Take data transmitted in one format and convert it to a protocol and format understood by another network
    • Allow different networks to communicate

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore the basics of CPU and microprocessor, including components and functions. Learn about the control unit and arithmetic logic unit and their roles in data processing.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser