Microprocessor

 A microprocessor is an electronic device used in computing devices like computers, smartphones, smart watches, and many other for data processing, performing logical and control operations. Microprocessors are generally built in the form an integrated circuit (IC).

A typical microprocessor consists of two main units namely, arithmetic logic unit and control circuitry. A microprocessor is also termed as CPU (Central Processing Unit) in personal computers. The microprocessor is a digital integrated circuit that works by taking binary data as input and processing this data as per the instructions provided. Finally, it produces a result in the binary form.

What is a Microprocessor?

A microprocessor is nothing but a semiconductor electronic device designed to perform data processing and digital operations in a computing machine like a computer. It is also termed as a processor or central processing unit or CPU. It is generally built in the form of a single IC (integrated circuit). The first commercially available microprocessor was developed by Intel Corporation in the year of 1971, which was named as Intel 4004.

The primary function of a microprocessor is to take digital data from user, process them according to instructions, and produce the output. Hence, it performs three basic functions namely,

• Inputting
• Processing
• Outputting

It consists of three main parts which are described as follows −

• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) − It is an electronic circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations on data received from an input device or memory.
• Control Unit (CU) − This electronic circuit of the microprocessor is responsible controlling the flow of data and instructions within the device or the system.
• Register Array − Register array is nothing but a collection of digital registers to provide small and fast storage to temporarily hold data and instructions in the microprocessor during processes.

In addition to these three basic components, modern microprocessors also consist of cache memory as well.

How does a Microprocessor Work?

The working of a microprocessor can be understood by breaking it down into the following four key steps −

• Fetch − It is the very first function that a microprocessor performs. In this step, the microprocessor access data and instructions from memory unit or an input device.
• Decode − After receiving data and instructions, the microprocessor decodes them and interprets for computing process.
• Execute − In this step, the microprocessor performs the requested operations on the data.
• Store − Finally, the results produced by the operations are stored in the memory unit.

Hence, a typical microprocessor completes its working in four steps, where each step represents a specific task or function.

Applications of Microprocessors

Today, microprocessors are being used in almost all electronic devices and systems used in household to industries. Some common applications of microprocessors depending on their nature are listed below −

• Microprocessors are used in a wide range of common electronic and computing devices like laptops, desktops, smart watches, smart TVs, etc.
• Microprocessors are also used in microcontrollers to perform data processing and control operations.
• Microprocessors specially designed for digital signal processing are used in applications like telecommunication, audio processing, image processing, etc.
• Microprocessors are also used in robotic or autonomous devices like surveillance drones, autonomous aircrafts, etc.
• The specialized microprocessors named Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) microprocessors are designed for specific tasks and customization depending on the application requirements.
• GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) microprocessors are designed and used for performing high performance graphics functions.
• Microprocessors are also used in network devices like switches, routers, or security devices to process network data packets. These microprocessors are highly optimized for this function.
• Some microprocessors, known as coprocessors, are used to provide auxiliary processing support to the main processor of a system.

Important Terms Related to Microprocessors

In this section, we have picked up and defined some most important terms related to microprocessors. These terms will be very helpful for readers to understand the concepts covered in the tutorial.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU is considered the brain of a computing machine. It is the most important part of the system that performs operations, calculations, logic functions, execution of instructions, and manages data flow across the system.

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)

ISA is a design architecture of microprocessors. It defines the set of instructions that the microprocessor can execute. There are two different types of ISAs commonly used in microprocessors namely, RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) and CISC (Complex
Instruction Set Computing).

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

ALU is one of the key components of a microprocessor that is basically an electronic circuit designed to perform arithmetic and logic operations.

Control Unit (CU)

It is another key part of a microprocessor which is responsible for controlling the execution of instructions and managing the data flow among components of the system.

Clock Speed

Clock speed is a performance measurement parameter of a microprocessor that indicates how fast the processor can execute instructions. It is generally measured in MHz or GHz.

Core

In the case of a microprocessor, the term “core” is used to represented an independent processing unit. Hence, microprocessors are available 1 core, dual core, quad core, octa core, etc. designs.

Cache Memory

Cache memory is a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) used as an integral part of a microprocessor. It is a small and high-speed memory that provides a storage space for most frequently accessed data and instructions.

Bus

In microprocessors, Bus represents a communication channel for data and instructions. There are two types of buses are very common in microprocessors namely, data bus that allows transmission of data between CPU and other hardware components and address bus that allows access of memory address to the microprocessor.

Floating Point Unit (FPU)

FPU, also known as Math Coprocessor, is a specially designed component to handle complex arithmetic operations that involve the use of decimal points.

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Pipelining

Pipelining is a technique that breaks down big tasks into smaller subtasks and accomplishes them in stages. This technique is used to enhance the efficiency of the microprocessor.

Multithreading

Multithreading is a processing technique in which a single core microprocessor executes multiple threads of a process concurrently. The primary objective of multithreading is to enhance performance and optimize the resource utilization.

Overclocking

As the name implies, overclocking is a process that makes the speed of the microprocessor greater than its factory setting to enhance its performance. However, it can lead to generation of more heat.

Die

Die is nothing but a piece of silicon within an integrated circuit that houses the entire microprocessor circuit.

ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)

ASIC is a specialized and customizable microprocessor that can be optimized to meet the requirements of a specific application.

Digital Signal Processor

Digital signal processor is a microprocessor specially designed for applications like audio, video, and image processing.

Register

A register is a small, high-speed memory device used as a part of a microprocessor unit. It is provided in microprocessors to hold data and instructions during processing temporarily.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

IC is also called as Chip. It is an electronic device that combines several components like transistors, capacitors, diodes, resistors, etc. into a small silicon wafer.