What is a microprocessor?

What is a microprocessor?
A microprocessor is a state machine that executes sequential instructions.

What two kinds of logic devices make up a microprocessor?
The two kinds of devices which make up a microprocessor are:

  1. Combinational logic devices.
  2. Sequential logic devices.

How are microprocessors controlled?
Microprocessors are controlled using coded instructions like software or firmware.

What do microprocessors manipulate and for what?
Microprocessors manipulate digital data stored in memory to perform useful tasks.

What electrical components are used to create logic devices?
Electrical components used to create logic devices include:

  • Transistors.
  • Diodes.

Important skills to learn understand

What skills do you need to learn or understand?
The skills you need to learn or understand include:

  • Number systems - Decimal, binary, hexadecimal, and octal.
  • Fundamental architectures of microprocessors and computers.
  • Coding in assembly and C.
  • Peripheral Hardware Devices.
  • Embedded computing.
  • Transistors and diodes.

Office hours

...

Course goals

What are the goals of ECE 330?
The goals of ECE 330 are to:

  • Gain knowledge of the architecture of one of the more prevalent microprocessor cores, the ARM series.
  • Learn how to program embedded ARM M4 microcontrollers using both assembly and C.
  • Learn about embedded systems and how they are used.
  • Learn about peripherals and interfaces.
  • Learn about microprocessor architectures in general.

Course learning outcomes

What are the learning outcomes for ECE 330?
The learning outcomes for ECE 330 are to:

  • Use the STM32F4 toolchain and STM32 Cube IDE to write, edit, compile, and debug code written in assembly and C.
  • Program target hardware to execute and test programs.
  • Perform conversions between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal number systems.
  • Understand the architecture of the ARM processor family.
  • Understand the hardware blocks inside the STM32F4 including GPIO ports, ADC function, interrupts, DAC function, timers and PWM generation, and communication protocol blocks for UART, USART, I2C, SPI, and USB.

Reference books

What are the two reference books for ECE 330?
The two reference books for ECE 330 are:

  1. Embedded Systems with ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers in Assembly Language and C (Third Edition) by Dr. Yifeng Zhu.
  2. Applications Programming in ANSI C (Third Edition) by Richard Johnsonbaugh and Martin Kalin.

Lecture grading

What are the percentages that make up the grade for the course?
The percentages that make up the grade for the course are:

Coursework Percentage
Exam 1 17.5%
Exam 2 17.5%
Homework and assignments 35%
Final Exam 30%

...

Attendance and grading

What three things will happen during in-person lectures?
Three things that will happen during in-person lectures include:

  1. Demonstrations using hardware.
  2. Showing example problems and code.
  3. Taking regular quizzes.

Course expectations

...

Electrical conventions

How is the flow of electrical current defined?
The flow of electrical current is defined as flowing from positive to negative.

How do electrons actually flow?
Electrons actually flow from negative to positive.

Diodes: One-way gates (electrical turnstile)

...

Diodes: Silicon type vs LEDs

What is the barrier voltage of a silicon diode?
The barrier voltage of a silicon diode is 0.7 volts.

What material are silicon diodes made from?
Silicon diodes are made from silicon.

What is the barrier voltage of blue, green, and white LEDs?
The barrier voltage of blue, green, and white LEDs is 3 volts.

What material are blue, green, and white LEDs made from?
Blue, green, and white LEDs are made from Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN).

What is the barrier voltage of red and yellow LEDs?
The barrier voltage of red and yellow LEDs is 1.8 volts.

What material are red and yellow LEDs made from?
Red and yellow LEDs are made from Aluminum Indium Gallium Phosphide (AlInGaP).

From ChatGPT

The barrier voltage of a diode, also called the forward voltage, is the minimum voltage required for the diode to conduct current in the forward-biased direction. This voltage varies based on the diode's material and its construction.

What is the range for the energy of light?
The range for the energy of light is between 1.8 and 3.2 electron volts (eVs).

When do free electrons recombine with holes?
Free electrons recombine with holes when voltage equal to the barrier voltage is applied.

From ChatGPT

In semiconductors, holes (positive charge carriers in the valence band) and electrons (negative charge carriers in the conduction band) are the primary carriers of electric current.

When a free electron (in the conduction band) recombines with a hole (in the valence band), energy is released. When an electron-hole pair recombines, it releases energy equal to the bandgap energy, emitting a photon with energy between 1.8–3.2 eV for visible light.

If this energy is released in the form of a photon, the semiconductor emits light. This process is the basis of LEDs.

Transistor switches for logic

...