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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of actuators?
Convert electrical signals to mechanical processes.
Which are common examples of actuators?
LCD projectors are heavier than DLP projectors.
False
Inkjet printers produce high-quality hard copies of digital _?
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Match the sensor type with what it measures:
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What is the role of a CPU?
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What is the role of a microprocessor?
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Which component of a CPU controls the flow of data and instructions?
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The ALU performs logical operations such as ADD and SUBTRACT.
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Registers are small memory locations within the CPU that temporarily store data needed to execute an _______ .
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Match the following system buses with their descriptions:
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What is the purpose of carbon monoxide detectors?
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What do humidity monitors measure?
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Which of the following is the primary usage of infra-red technology?
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PH is a measure of the level of acidity or __________.
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Match the following storage technologies with their descriptions:
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Virtual memory acts as RAM when primary memory is full.
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What does a Network Interface Card (NIC) enable computers and other devices to do?
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Which of the following is true about a MAC address?
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Static IP addresses change each time a device logs onto the internet.
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Dynamic IP addresses are assigned by the ISP each time a device logs onto the ________.
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Match the following IP address types with their descriptions:
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What is the primary function of a router?
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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
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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.
