Microprocessor and Assembly Language

History of Microprocessor

A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated P) is a digital electronic component with transistors on a single semiconductor integrated circuit (IC). A Central processing unit (CPU) in a computer system or handheld device consists of one or more microprocessors.

A Microprocessor is essentially a set of switches. Using photographic technology a massive set of electronic switches is superimposed onto a very small piece of silicon. Through the use of binary language, which consists of only two states; one and zero (on and off), these can be used to store information and perform operations on it.

Most of today's computers are turning to 64 bit designs to handle dealing with very large amounts of data. This is needed especially as demand for 3D Graphics and fast video has risen. E.g. AMD Athlon, Pentium i5/i7 processors.

Microprocessors are classified into different types on the basis of the bit of operation. Based on bit of operation at a time, the following are the types of microprocessors: ==> 4 bit. e.g. Intel 4004 ==> 8 bit. e.g. Intel 8085, 8088, Zilog Z80, Z180 ==> 16 bit. e.g. Intel 8086, 80186, 80286, 80386, ==> 32 bit. e.g. Intel Pentium, Celeron, AMD Sempron ==> 64 bit. e.g. AMD Athlon.

Based on the instruction set microprocessors are classified into: RISC Reduced Instruction Set Computing. These types of processors are commonly used in ovens, air conditioners, etc. CISC Complex Instruction Set Computing. The types of processors are used in desktops, laptops and servers.

Microcomputer Block Diagram

Basic Block Diagram of Microprocessor

ALU Performs all arithmetic and logical operations Register array Holds the data temporarily for processing Control Unit It supervises/ monitors all the operations carried out in the computer

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

Register Array

Timing and Control unit

The 8085 Microprocessor

The 8085 microprocessor was introduced by Intel in the year 1976. This microprocessor is an update of 8080 microprocessor. The 8080 processor was updated with Enable/Disable instruction pins and Interrupt pins to form the 8085 microprocessor. It is an 8-bit microprocessor with a 40 pin dual in line package

Pin Diagram of a Basic 8085 Microprocessor

Intel 8085 Microprocessor Architecture

8-bit_Internal_databus

Accumulator

Temp. Reg

Flag Reg

Instruction Reg

D H Arithmetic and Logic Unit Instruction decoder Stack Pointer

E L

Program Counter Incrementer/ Decrementer Address latch

Address Buffer A8-A15 Timing and Control unit

Data/address Buffer AD0-AD7

8- bit External Data bus Clock Write Read RAM memory

The 8085 has a set of registers for performing various operations. The various registers include:

Accumulator 8 bit register which holds the latest result from ALU

B, C, D, E, H and L are general purpose registers

HL pair can be used for indirect addressing as well Program counter 16 bit register which holds the address of the next instruction to be executed Instruction register It holds the instruction that is currently being processed. Stack pointer is used during subroutine calling and execution.

Address Latch It increments/ decrements the address before sent to the address buffer

Various Flags

Sign Flag:If the result of the latest arithmetic operation is having MSB (mostsignificant byte) 1 (meaning it is a negative number), then the sign flag is set. Otherwise, it is reset to 0 which means it is a positive number. Zero flag: If the result of the latest operation is zero, then zero flag will be set; otherwise it be reset.

Auxiliary Carry Flag: This flag is not accessible to programmer. This flag will be used by the system during BCD (binary-coded decimal) operations.
Parity Flag: If the result of the latest operation is having even number of 1s, then this flag will be set. Otherwise this will be reset to 0. This is used for error checking. Carry Flag: If the result of the latest operations exceeds 8-bits then this flag will be set. Otherwise it be reset.