ASANSOL INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT – POLYTECHNIC

ASANSOL

Subject : Computer System Organization

Course Code : CST207

Pre Test:
UNIT-2 (Part-1)
 Micro Programmed Control :
Control Memory :
A control memory is a part of the control unit. Any computer that involves microprogrammed control consists of two
memories. They are the main memory and the control memory. Programs are usually stored in the main memory by
the users. Whenever the programs change, the data is also modified in the main memory. They consist of machine
instructions and data.
The machine instructions generate a chain of microinstructions in the control memory. Their function is to generate
micro-operations that can fetch instructions from the main memory, compute the effective address, execute the
operation, and return control to fetch phase and continue the cycle.

Address Sequencing :
Microinstructions are saved in control memory in groups. These groups describe routines. Each computer instruction
has its microprogram routine that can create micro-operations. These micro-operations can execute instructions. The
hardware consists of controls for the address sequencing of the microinstructions of a similar routine. They also branch
the microinstructions.
Types of Address Sequencing :

 Sequential Addressing:
o Definition: Addresses are generated in a sequential order, typically increasing by a fixed amount (e.g., byte or
word).
o Application: Used in linear memory access, such as reading a program stored in memory or processing arrays.
 Direct Addressing:
o Definition: The address is explicitly specified within the instruction.
o Application: Common in simple load/store instructions where the address of the operand is directly given.
 Indirect Addressing:
o Definition: The address field specifies a register or a memory location that contains the actual address.
o Application: Useful for accessing data structures like arrays or linked lists, where the address may change
dynamically.
 Indexed Addressing:
o Definition: Combines a base address with an index value to compute the effective address.
o Application: Ideal for accessing elements in an array or table, where the index is used to calculate the exact
location.

Design of Control Unit :

The Control Unit is classified into two major categories:
(i) Hardwired Control
(ii) Microprogrammed Control

 Hardwired Control
The Hardwired Control organization involves the control logic to be implemented with gates, flip-flops, decoders, and
other digital circuits.
The following image shows the block diagram of a Hardwired Control organization.
 i. A Hard-wired Control consists of two decoders, a sequence counter, and a number of logic gates.
ii. An instruction fetched from the memory unit is placed in the instruction register (IR).
iii. The component of an instruction register includes; I bit, the operation code, and bits 0 through 11.
iv. The operation code in bits 12 through 14 are coded with a 3 x 8 decoder.
v. The outputs of the decoder are designated by the symbols D0 through D7.
vi. The operation code at bit 15 is transferred to a flip-flop designated by the symbol I.
vii. The operation codes from Bits 0 through 11 are applied to the control logic gates.
viii. The Sequence counter (SC) can count in binary from 0 through 15.

 Micro-programmed Control
The Microprogrammed Control organization is implemented by using the programming approach.
In Microprogrammed Control, the micro-operations are performed by executing a program consisting of micro-
instructions.
The following image shows the block diagram of a Microprogrammed Control organization.

i. The Control memory address register specifies the address of the micro-instruction.
ii. The Control memory is assumed to be a ROM, within which all control information is permanently stored.
iii. The control register holds the microinstruction fetched from the memory.
iv. The micro-instruction contains a control word that specifies one or more micro-operations for the data processor.
v. While the micro-operations are being executed, the next address is computed in the next address generator
circuit and then transferred into the control address register to read the next microinstruction.
vi. The next address generator is often referred to as a micro-program sequencer, as it determines the address
sequence that is read from control memory.

Difference between Horizontal and Vertical micro-programmed Control Unit:

S.
No Horizontal µ-programmed CU Vertical µ-programmed CU

1. It supports longer control word. It supports shorter control word.

It allows a higher degree of parallelism. If degree It allows a low degree of parallelism i.e., the degree of
2. is n, then n Control Signals are enabled at a time. parallelism is either 0 or 1.

Additional hardware in the form of decoders is required to

No additional hardware is required.
3. generate control signals.

It is faster than a Vertical micro-programmed

it is slower than a Horizontal micro-programmed control unit.
4. control unit.
S.
No Horizontal µ-programmed CU Vertical µ-programmed CU

It is more flexible than a vertical micro- It is less flexible than horizontal but more flexible than that of a
5. programmed control unit. hardwired control unit.

A vertical micro-programmed control unit uses vertical micro-

A horizontal micro-programmed control unit
instruction, where a code is used for each action to be
uses horizontal micro-instruction, where every
performed and the decoder translates this code into individual
bit in the control field attaches to a control line.
6. control signals.

The horizontal micro-programmed control unit

The vertical micro-programmed control unit makes more use of
makes less use of ROM encoding than the
ROM encoding to reduce the length of the control word.
7. vertical micro-programmed control unit.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

A. Multiple Choice Questions :

1. What is the primary function of a microprogrammed control unit?

a) To decode machine language instructions
b) To execute user programs
c) To control the operation of the processor by executing microinstructions
d) To manage memory operations

Answer: c) To control the operation of the processor by executing microinstructions

2. Which of the following is used to store microinstructions in a microprogrammed control unit?

a) Main Memory
b) Cache Memory
c) Control Memory
d) ROM

Answer: c) Control Memory

3. In a microprogrammed control unit, a microinstruction specifies which of the following?

a) The address of the next instruction to fetch
b) The operations to be performed by the CPU
c) The operands for the current operation
d) The I/O devices to be accessed

Answer: b) The operations to be performed by the CPU

4. Which of the following best describes a Microoperation?
a) A low-level instruction that is executed in a single clock cycle
b) A series of arithmetic operations
c) A control signal used to activate specific hardware components
d) A high-level language statement

Answer: a) A low-level instruction that is executed in a single clock cycle

5. In microprogrammed control, the control signals are generated by:

a) A combinational circuit
b) A set of flip-flops
c) A microprogram stored in control memory
d) The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Answer: c) A microprogram stored in control memory

6. Which component in the control unit is responsible for sequencing the execution of microinstructions?
a) Program Counter
b) Instruction Register
c) Microprogram Counter
d) Stack Pointer

Answer: c) Microprogram Counter

7. What is the purpose of control signals in a microprogrammed control unit?

a) To initialize memory operations
b) To specify the operation to be performed by the ALU
c) To control the timing of clock cycles
d) To activate specific hardware components during instruction execution

Answer: d) To activate specific hardware components during instruction execution

8. Which of the following terms refers to the smallest operation that can be performed in a computer's control unit?
a) Machine Instruction
b) Microoperation
c) Macrooperation
d) Nanoinstruction

Answer: b) Microoperation

9. What does the Microprogram Counter (MPC) do in a microprogrammed control unit?

a) Keeps track of the current instruction in the program
b) Points to the next microinstruction to be executed
c) Stores the data being processed
d) Controls the clock cycle timing

Answer: b) Points to the next microinstruction to be executed

10. Which of the following is a disadvantage of microprogrammed control?

a) Increased complexity in the control logic
b) Difficulty in adding new instructions
c) Slower execution compared to hardwired control
d) Limited flexibility in design

Answer: c) Slower execution compared to hardwired control

B. Answer the following questions :

Q1) Explain the concept of Micro-programmed control in a computer system. Draw the Block Diagram.
Q2) Differentiate between Hardwired Control and Micro-programmed Control.
Q3) What is the Control Memory ? Draw the Block Diagram.
Q4) What do you mean by Address Sequencing ? Explain with Block Diagram.
Q5) What are the different types of Address Sequencing ? Explain.
Q6) Give the Design of Control Unit with a suitable diagram.
Q7) Difference between Horizontal and Vertical micro-programmed Control Unit.