Introduction to Microcomputer Systems

Outline
What is a Microcomputer? Types of Microcomputers Modular Microcomputer Clock and CPU Control Circuits Address Decoder Address and Data Bus Buffers Buffer Control Bus Arbitration Control Memory Management Memory Module Peripherals Module

Goal
Understand components of modular microcomputer

Reading
Microprocessor Systems Design, Clements, Ch. 1

What is This Course?

Learn microcomputer systems

hardware organization assembly code and C programming hardware interfacing

Hardware/software combinations
the essence of computer engineering

Preparation for CPSC 483

build HW/SW projects using same boards

Course Organization

Lectures
fundamentals of microcomputer systems details of Motorola ColdFire single-board computer used in labs

Labs
learn ColdFire hardware learn how to program the board in C and assembler learn how to control ColdFire resources learn how to add and interface hardware peripherals learn how to implement applications

References
Microprocessor Systems Design, 68000 Hardware, Software, and Interfacing, Third Edition, Alan Clements, PWS-KENT, 1997.
text, in bookstore

Web Site
lecture notes lab manual

Motorola MC68000 Family References

in lab, on Web site

Motorola ColdFire References

in lab, on Web site

Chip Data Sheets

in lab, on Web

Grading

Midterm Final Labs HW, Project, Quizzes

25% 25% 35% 15%

Topics
Microcomputer systems 68k programmer model 68k signal description 68k memory hierarchy 68k instruction set - briefly 68k C and assembly code programming Static RAM Memory read and write cycles Address decoding Exceptions - interrupts, exceptions

Topics
I/O fundamentals Parallel I/O & Timers Serial I/O Microcomputer buses Dynamic RAM - organization and timing Microcomputer systems design

Assignment

Read Chapters 1, 2.1-2.3, 7.5, 7.6

Microcomputers 68000 programmer model Cache memory Virtual Memory 680X0 architecture - ColdFire is 68060 descendent

Form lab teams

2 person teams for lab assignments Turn in one lab report, get same grade Form teams by first lab

Assignment (cont.)

If you have PC with CD-ROM drive

get CDROM out of your book try to install cross-assembler and C compiler on your PC see if they will assemble and compile a simple program you can then do coding at home and bring floppy to lab note we will use GNU C compiler in class labs start second week read lab assignment in advance bring some PC floppies to lab end of this week - check that your ID will access HRBB 217 make sure you have Neo account for class email

Everyone

What is a Microcomputer?
Microcomputer (uC) = microprocessor-based computer Microprocessor (uP) = single-chip or chipset CPU Chipset - few closely-interacting chips
68020 - integer+control, MMU, floating point VAX 8200 - integer+control+MMU, microcode, floating point

All computers today have single-chip CPU

off-chip delays force all high-speed paths on chip 2.26+ GHz P4 off-chip path is 500 MHz 2 levels of memory cache on chip chipset is interface chip for CPU memory interface, mouse, keyboard, graphics, USB, ...

Types of Microcomputers
Single board computer (SBC)
usually an embedded computer - buried inside a product

Features
dedicated to a single fixed task minimum hardware to support the task minimize cost, power, weight, size

Examples
PostScript printer, ATM, microwave oven, cell phone

Microcontroller
board shrunk to single chip - most common uC CPU, memory, I/O Examples: ARM, 68HC11, 8051

Types of Microcomputers
Modular microcomputer
modules connected by a bus usually a general-purpose computer

Features
used for wide range of applications flexible hardware to support application range can mix and match modules as needed example - add more memory modules

Examples
personal computer, factory controller

Modular Microcomputer
System = modules linked by system bus
system bus - data transfer between modules local bus - data transfer within module

Advantages
standard modules assembled to form computer large number of module types available can easily customize computer to application needs

System bus standards

bus specification agreed upon by all manufacturers often first a proprietary bus Motorola Versabus => VME bus now industry committees agree to bus standards

Figure 1.1
System Bus

Buffers CPU MMU Local Memory Clock Bus Arbitration

Buffers

Buffers

DRAM DRAM Ctl Addr Decode

Parallel I/O Serial I/O Timer Disk Cntlr USB Firewire ...

CPU Module

Memory Module

Peripherals Module

Clock and CPU Control

Time reference to CPU.
square or sine wave 1000 MHz for 500 MHz Alpha

Also forms master clock used for rest of system

synchronize bus, other modules

Power-on reset
force CPU to initialize and execute start-up routine bootstrap code initiated when power first turned on can also initiate manually - the reset button

Address Decoder
Divide up address space
allocate to individual memory units

Divide up among memory chips

e.g. split 64 MB across 32 16 Mb DRAM chips

Partition physical memory locations

local memory on CPU board SRAM, EEPROM, Flash, ROM data transfer on local bus accessible only to CPU allows CPU module to be independently tested main memory in memory module data transfer on system bus

Address and Data Bus Buffers

uP output pins can only drive small load
a few nearby chips

Use buffers or bus drivers to drive large buses

chips with big transistors, little logic shield uP from load

Interface between uP and local and system buses Need buffer control to coordinate drivers

Buffer Control
Determines operating mode of bus drivers and receivers
only turn on drivers when they need to send data e.g. disable system bus drivers during local memory access

Only one device can drive the bus at a time

tristate - buffer goes into high impedance state like an open circuit

Operations on parts of a word

e.g. 32-bit uP wants to write one byte or a 16-bit word memory has byte addresses

Byte/word control turns on drivers in part of bus

Bus Arbitration Control

Master and slave devices
CPU is master memory and peripherals are slaves CPU controls all bus usage

Multi-master system
multiple devices can access bus DMA (direct memory access) controller moves data between memory and peripheral autonomous of CPU multiprocessor - multiple uPs

Need protocol (rules) for bus access

one at a time, fair access, timely access in hardware for speed master - currently controlling bus slave - devices accessed by master

Memory Management
Translate uP logical address to memory physical address
logical address - any address in uP architecture address space issued by program physical address - actual memory location

Virtual memory
make small physical memory look like large logical memory store part of data on disk system vs. user protection domains

Location independence
programmers use logical address operating system figures out what physical address to use

Memory management unit (MMU)

part of CPU today - 68030, 486, and later

Memory Module
Types of memory
read/write random access memory (RAM) read-only memory (ROM) programmed when manufactured use for bootstrap programs, fixed code example: PostScript interpreter EPROM, EEPROM, flash program once, or once in a while use for program storage, preferences

Interface
bus interface - buffers, buffer control address decoders refresh logic

Memory Module (cont.)

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

lowest cost/bit - 1 transistor+capacitor per bit used for large main memories must refresh bits every few milliseconds

Static RAM (SRAM)

faster more expensive - 6 transistors per bit often used for cache memory often used for battery applications holds data at very low power

Peripheral Module
Interfaces to outside world Serial input/output (I/O)
terminal line

Parallel I/O
printer cable

Timer
measure time generate series of pulses - e.g. interrupt uP at fixed interval used for real-time systems

Disk controller
disk operations data format conversion

Network interface
Ethernet, IEEE 488 bus, etc.

MVME 162

MVME 167

Microcontroller

912B32 - Computer on a Chip

0.75 KB byte-erasable EEPROM 32 KB flash EEPROM 1 KB SRAM 8-channel 8-bit A/D converter 8-channel 16-bit timer 4-channel 8-bit pulse width modulator Asynch/synch serial lines Interrupt, watchdog, clock timers Wait, stop modes Hardware breakpoints Muxed 16-bit address/data bus

ColdFire MCF5206e