Content (Syllabus outline)
• • Introduction: computer architecture and organization, structural and functional view of the computer, a brief history of computers, evolution of the Intel x86 architecture, embedded systems and ARM, comparison of CISC and RISC architectures, cloud computing.
• Performance: trends in designing for performance, multicore processors, graphics processing units, performance assessment, SPEC benchmarks, Amdahl’s law.
• A top-level view of computer function: computer components, program execution, instruction cycle, machine cycles, interrupts, interconnection structures, buses, point-to-point interconnect.
• Memory: memory hierarchy, cache, random access memory (DRAM, SRAM), read-only memory (ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM), flash memory (FLASH), advanced DRAM organizations.
• Central processing unit: instruction sets, machine instruction characteristics, types of operands and operations (detailed for Intel x86 and ARM), addressing modes and instruction formats (detailed for Intel x86 and ARM).
• Tools for microcomputer hardware designing and testing: logical analyzers, simulators, emulators.
• Tools for microcomputer software designing and testing: assembler, higher-level computer language compilers, linkers, loaders, debuggers.
• Examples of microprocessor system design with the emphasis on communication between a microprocessor and real environment and the integration of hardware and software written either in assembler or higher-level programming language.
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures,
• tutorial,
• lab work,
• homework assignments
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
• explain the historical development of microcomputer architectures,
• write software for a microprocessor-based system in assembler and high-level programming language,
• analyze and design hardware of the small microprocessor-based system,
• explain the principles of microcomputer system hardware,
• calculate and evaluate the performance of the microprocessor system
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
• Communication skills: oral lab work defense, manner of expression at written examination.
• Use of information technology: programming and use of program tools for hardware and software development of microprocessor-based systems.
• Problem solving: designing and implementing simple microprocessor-based systems.
• Working in a group: collaboration at lab work.
Readings
• W. Stallings: Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance, Eleventh Edition, Pearson Education Inc, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2019.
• Y. Zhu: Embedded Systems with ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers in Assembly Language and C, Second Edition, E-Man Press LLC, 2015.
