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Microprocessors :
Analog devices like transistors and diodes lead to opamps and analog
computing. This takes more parts but with fast devices, it is real
time. Then came Logic and Digital Circuits, here also big systems
will take too many parts. A very Old hp Logic Analyzer instrument,
could be HP1607A, had more than five large PCBs, Toggle Switches and
numerous 74Fxx TTL Chips. I tried to revive it, it could not
be fully restored.
Then came the solution the Microprocessor.
Here
the
entire
system
goes
into
the firmware and a Hardware. Tool Set
in the Microprocessor made up of Logic and Math, sequentially used to
perform the same operation that would require innumerable Gates in a
plain hardware digital circuit. But as it performs the operations one
after another, it takes time, hence the speed is defined by the CPU
Clock Speed and Bus width.
When the External RAM and
EPROM and other peripheral devices moved into
the main package, MicroController
were born. When more external devices merged with the MicroController.
It formed a nearly complete computer, this is known as the SOC.
Now soft cores of some popular chips and new structures are available
as IP. These can be integrated in your FPGA or ASIC design. The speed
and capabilities of a Microcontroller system depends on how Intelligent
the hardware is. Less code needs to be written, when more standard
software routines are implemented as hardware blocks. One example is
the Numeric processor 387 integrating with uC 386 to form 486 with
other enhnacements. Another example is the serial port or UART in 8051,
this had to be coded in the 8748.
Anantha Narayan 12-Jan-11
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