Text A. Microcomputer and microprocessor design

 

1. Since the transistor was invented, no single electronics innovation has had such an impact as microcomputer. Powered by tiny semiconductor chips containing computing elements with the same power and functions previously found only in large scale computers, these microcomputers systems are now being applied to literally thousands of applications. Microcomputers are automating assembly lines, providing the heart of sophisticated electronic games, making “intelligent” computer peripherals even faster. This revolution in occurring because microcomputers are very inexpensive, easy to implement into a system, and significantly reduce the time and cost of product development.

2. The microcomputers were the fist computers to use a single microprocessor chip as the processor. Personal computers and small business computers are microcomputers. 8-bit microprocessors usually support only one user terminal and have a maximum of 64 KB of memory. 16-bit microcomputers may support several user terminals and usually have a maximum of 1 million bytes of memory. As the power of microcomputers increase, they can be used in two ways. They can be used either as a central computer (providing processing for several user terminals), or as a more powerful single computer for an individual user (see figure 2).

3. A microprocessor is the tiny processor used, as mentioned above, in microcomputers. The microprocessor requires a power supply and memory to be a complete computer. Microprocessors are also used in minicomputers, mainframes and peripheral devices, as well as in all industrial and consumer products which use a computer.

4. As usual processors all microprocessors have the ability to fetch (obtain from memory) and execute a limited set of instructions, to perform addition and subtraction on a binary word, and to input (take in) and output (put out) binary data. After fetching an operational code from the program in memory, while this operation is being executed, the program counter is automatically incremented by one unit. At the completion of the instruction, it is then ready with the address for the following program instruction. In many situations the microprocessors have many more capabilities that application requires.

5. In conclusion some words more about single-chip microcomputers. They, where control functions and memory circuits reside on one chip, are beginning to appear in consumer appliances. One of their attractions is the fact that programmable read-only memories (PROMs) that can be included on these chips require no electrical power to retain data. In addition to providing permanent storage, PROMs also allow one type of micro to be stocked as a standard component that can be programmed individually to provide a variety of control functions.

6. Just as computer circuits have grown smaller, so too have memory circuits. Moreover, new technologies such as the bubble memory and Josephson-junction memory show the ability for providing more compact memories that retain data with little or no applied power. These new memories allow micros to be used where power Is not always available and conventional read-only memories do not have enough capacity.

Figure 2. Block Diagram of a Typical Microcomputer with a Microprocessor

 

Notes

innovation - новшество

an impact – зд. влияние

Powered by tiny semiconductor chips – Приводимые в действие крошечными полупроводниковыми кристаллами (чипами)

literally - буквально

”intelligent” – “умный” (зд, применительно к вычислительной машине)

product development - зд. выпуск продукции

in conclusion – в заключение

micro = microcomputer – микрокомпьютер

Josephson-junction memory – запоминающее устройство с переходом Джозефсона (прогрессивная технология изготовления полупроводниковых кристаллов (чипов)пересечением слоев сверхпроводящих металлов)

 

Exercises

 

IV. For the nouns in column II find suitable attributes in column I and translate:

I II

1.user 1. computer

2. power 2. lines

3. “intelligent” 3. products

4. large-scale 4. terminal

5. permanent 5. supply

6. assembly 6. peripherals

7. consumer 7. storage

8. tiny 8. counter

9. program 9. semiconductor chips

10. computing 10. microprocessor

11. single-chip 11. element

 

V. Find the Russian equivalents to the following English word combinations:

1. no single innovation; 2. the ability to fetch; 3. a variety of control functions; 4. more powerful; 5. mainframes and peripheral devices; 6. a limited set of instructions; 7. 8-bit microcomputers; 8. significantly reduce the time and cost; 9. to retain data; 10. in addition to; 11. an individual user; 12. a personal computer; 13. literally thousands of applications; 14. a standard component

1. персональный компьютер; 2. кроме того; 3. стандартный элемент; 4. удерживать данные; 5. множество функций управления; 6. ограниченный набор команд; 7. большие компьютеры и периферийные устройства; 8. способность выбирать (команду из памяти); 9. разрядные микрокомпьютеры; 10. индивидуальный пользователь; 11. более мощный; 12. значительно уменьшают время и стоимость; 13. буквально тысячи применений; 14. ни одно новшество

 

VI. Memorize the following definitions:

1. A microcomputer is a small scale computer using a single microprocessor chip in its architecture. 2. A microprocessor is a tiny processor on a single chip. 3. A personal computer is a computer used for home or personal use. Personal computers are microcomputers.

VII. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the reason for advent (приход) of microcomputers? 2. What component do the microcomputers use as the processor? 3. How many user terminals do 8-bit microcomputers support? 4. What is the density of memory of 16-bit microcomputers? 5. What is a microcomputer? 6. What is a microprocessor? 7. Where are microprocessors used? 8. What ability have the microprocessors? 9. What new progressive technologies are used in memory units? 10. What memories are used in microcomputers?

 

VIII. Translate the words of the same root. Define pans of speech:

to use - user - a use - useful - useless; to process - a process - processed - processor; inexpensive - expensive; type - typical; to invent - inventor - invention; power - powerful - powerless -powered; to conduct - conductor - semiconductor - conducted; to contain - container; to combine - combiner - combination -recombination; electron - electronic - electronics; to apply - application - applied - appliance - applicant; automatic - automatically – automatical – automaton - automated - automation - to automatize; to implement - implementation; operational - to operate - operator - operation; to complete -complete - completion; to attract - attractive - attraction; capable - capability; convention - conventional - conventionally; capacity - capacitor - capacitance

 

IX. Read and translate the following sentences paying attention to ing-forms:

1. The operand length, being powers of two, permit maximum efficiency in the use of binary addressing and in matching the physical word size of storage. 2. Floating-point arithmetic designed to allow easy translation between the two formats. 3. The fraction of a floating-point number is expressed in hexadecimal digits, each consisting of four binary bits and having the values 0 - 15. 4. Bytes locations in storage are consecutively numbered starting with 0; each number is considered the address of corresponding byte. 5. The floating-point instruction set provides for loading, adding, subtracting, comparing, multiplying, dividing, and storing as well as the sign control of short and long operands. 6. The specific meaning of any setting is significant only to the operation setting in the condition code. 7. The process of discovering, locating and correcting errors proved to be one of main difficulty, often taking considerably longer time than writing the program in the first place and using much machine time. 8. Although programming techniques have improved greatly since the early days, the process of finding and correcting errors in programs known as "debugging" still remains a most difficult and unsatisfactory operation. 9. We are reaching the limit of the human ability to write complicated programs, and the software crisis really is the result of attempting making the human beings to write them. 10. The central processing unit contains the facilities for addressing main storage, for fetching or storing information, for arithmetic and logic processing data, for sequencing instructions in the desired order, and for initiating the communication between storage and external devices. 11. It is the compiling of a program that requires great attention of the programmer. 12. Compiling a program requires great attention of a programmer.