Microprocessors :: essays research papers fc

Inside of the mysterious box that perches ominously on your desk is one ofthe marvels of the modern world. This marvel is similarly a total enigma to most ofthe population. This enigma is, of course, the microprocessor. To an averageobserver a microprocessor is simply a sm in all piece of black plastic that is ensnareinside of almost everything.In How Microprocessors Work they are defined as a computers centralprocessing unit, usually contained on a single combine circuit (Wyant andHammerstrom, 193). In plain English this simply means that a microprocessor isthe brain of a computer and it is only on one chip. Winn L. Rosch compares themto being an electronic equivalent of a knee-joint that when struck with theproper digital stimulus willing react in the exact same way each time (Rosch,37). much practically a microprocessor is multitudinous transistors squeezed onto assmall a piece of silicon as possible to do math problems as fast as possible.Microprocessors are made of many smal ler components which all worktogether to make the chip work. A really good analogy for the way the interiorworkings of a chip operate can be found in How Microprocessors Work. In theirbook, Wyant and Hammerstrom describe a microprocessor as a grind and all ofthe inner workings of the chip as the various parts of a factory (Wyant andHammerstrom, 71-103). Basically a microprocessor can be seen as a factorybecause like a factory it is sent something and is told what to do with it. Themicroprocessor factory processes information. This most basic unit of thisinformation is the bit. A bit is simply on or off. It is either a one or a zero.Bits are put into 8 bit groups called bytes. The number 8 is utilize because it isoffers enough combinations to encode our undefiled language (28=256). If only 4bits are used only (24=16) combinations would be possible. This is enough toencode 9 digits and some operations. (The first microprocessors plycalculators) A half byte is called a nibble and consists of 4 bits. In the worldof computer graphics the combination of bits is easier seen. In computergraphics bits are used to make color combinations, thus with more bits morecolors are possible. Eight bit graphics will display 256 colors, 16 bit willdisplay 65,536, and 24 bit graphics will display 16.7 million colors. The busunit is described as the shipping dock because it controls data transfers, andfunctions in the midst of the individual pieces of the chip. The part of the chip that