Computer Interfacing
Lecture 1
Computer interfacing
The goal of this course is to introduce
hardware and software design techniques and
issues for interfacing computers with
peripheral and external devices.
Computer interfacing
Course contents:
Introduction to computer interfacing.
History of microprocessors.
Computer Buses.
Data Acquisition System.
Buffering interface.
Stepper Motors.
Programmable Peripheral Interface.
Parallel Port.
Serial Port.
USB Port.
Computer interfacing
1. Bill Buchanan, "Computer Buses", Taylor &
Francis, 2010
2. George Smith, "Computer Interfacing",
Newnes, 2000.
3. Mohamed I. Eladway, “Computer
Interfacing”. 2010.
Computer interfacing - Definition
Construct a system that facilitate data inputting
or outputting to/from the computer in order to
control processes that occur outside the
computer case.
Computer interfacing
Computer
Computer Interfacing-Definitions
Interface specifications….
A set of technical requirements that must be
meet at an interface.
Computer interfacing
Why???????
High speed Programming flexibility
Mass storage of data
Data analysis and visualization
Low cost (relatively)
Computer Architecture
• Computer system main components:
– Microprocessor
– Memory
– Input/Output units
• Main computer buses:
– Address bus
– Data bus
– Control bus
What is Microprocessor?
• Microprocessor is a programmable device
• It can be instructed to perform given tasks
within its capability.
• The programmer selects instruction from the
list and determines the sequence of execution
for a given task.
• It takes input from the input device and
process the input according to a stored
program then gives the output.
The Microprocessor
A typical microprocessor must have as a minimum:
– ALU
– Registers
– Control Unit
The Microprocessor
Z 80 Architecture
Block diagram of microprocessor
The Microprocessor
Important requirements:
Must be relatively simple
Reasonably small
The designer must have access to all features of the
microprocessor – bus, memory, registers, all I/O ports,
Must be programmed in some convenient programming
language.
Can interact with the outside world through the
input/output ports.
The Microprocessor
In short, Microprocessors are components with
flexible features that the engineer can configure
and program to perform task or a series of tasks.
The Microprocessor
Limitations on the tasks that microprocessors
could perform:
The limitations of the microprocessor itself.
The imagination (or capabilities) of the designer.
The Microprocessor
Characteristics which differentiate microprocessors:
• Instruction set: The set of instructions that the
microprocessor can execute.
• Bandwidth : The number of bits processed in a single
instruction.
• Clock speed : Given in megahertz (MHz), Gegahertz (GHz).
The clock speed determines how many instructions per
second the processor can execute.
The Microprocessor-History
• Intel's 4004 is considered the first
microprocessor .
– Frequency 0.74 MHz
– Data width 4 bit
– 2000 transistors
The Microprocessor-History
• The 4004 was later followed in 1972 by the
8008, the world's first 8-bit microprocessor.
The Microprocessor-History
• Then is the 8080 microprocessor evolved in
1974.
• Then comes 8085 that is the 8 bit
microprocessor
The Microprocessor
Progress has advanced at a pace since 1971.
•There have been four generations of microprocessors.
•The bandwidth has been increased from 4 bit, 8 bit,12, 32, 64 bit
•The number of devices per chip has been increased by a factor of 2000, clock
frequency by a factor of 1000.
•The overall throughput of a microprocessor has increased by hundreds or several
hundreds of magnitude.
•Multicore architecture has been introduced.
The Microprocessor
The Bobcat c- series:
– Produced 2011.
– 64-bit microprocessor
– Single core, Dual core
– Frequency (GHz): up to 1.2
– Ultra low power (<10W)
The Microprocessor
Cortex-A15 MPCore:
Produced 2011 by Designed by ARM Holdings
Bandwidth 32 bit
Multicore architecture 4 cores per cluster, up to 2
clusters per chip.
Introduced for smart phones, tablets, mobile
computers and digital home entertainment devices.
Clock rate of up to 2.5 gigahertz…
