Al-Kitab University

Department of Medical Instrumentations

Engineering Technique
Subject: Microprocessor
Third stage

Introduction of computer components

The Computer consists of the following parts:
1-Memory
Memory applies to any electronic component capable of
temporarily storing data. There are two main categories of
memories:
 Internal memory
Temporarily memories that storing data while programs
are running. Internal memory uses micro conductors, i.e.
fast specialized electronic circuits. Internal memory
corresponds to what we call (RAM).
 Auxiliary memory

(Also called physical memory or external memory) that
stores information over the long term, including after the
computer is turned off. Auxiliary memory corresponds to
magnetic storage devices such as the hard drive, optical
storage devices such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, as
well as read-only memories (ROM).

Lecturer
Dr. Noora Alallaq 2021-2022
- RAM
Even if your program resides entirely in ROM, your
application is likely to require some random access memory.
Any time your program attempts to write any data to memory
that memory must be RAM. Also, if your program uses the
stack, you need RAM.

- ROM
As the name implies, the processor can only read
instructions and data from ROM; it cannot alter the contents
of ROM. By contrast, the processor can both read from and
write to RAM. Instructions and unchanging data are
permanently fixed into ROM and remain intact whether or
not power is applied to the system. For this reason, ROM is
typically used for program storage in single-purpose
microprocessor applications. With ROM you can be certain
that the program is ready for execution when power is
applied to the system.

NOTE: The mix of ROM and RAM in an application is

important to both the system designer and the programmer.

Lecturer
Dr. Noora Alallaq 2021-2022
2- CPU:
A central processing unit (CPU), is the hardware within a
computer that carries out the operations of the system, it is
used to process much of the information needed by the
computer, just like our brain thinks and processes
information and gives orders to our other body parts.

CPU Processing
The CPU processes only binary data. This means that all of
the data, such as numbers, letters, colors, or actions to be
performed, are stored in bits and bytes.

- To process data, a CPU really only needs 6 basic parts to

do its job:

Instruction Pointer
This tells the CPU where the instruction or data is stored.
Before a CPU can process data, it needs to know where the
information should be taken from.

Lecturer
Dr. Noora Alallaq 2021-2022
Instruction Fetch
Takes the instruction and data from the part of the memory
that the instruction pointer specifies.

Instruction Decoder
One of the more basic parts of memory where the data is
stored. It can store data which has been processed or will be
processed.

ALU
Arithmetic Logic Unit- used by the CPU to perform the
calculations; completes the functions that the instructions tell
it to perform.

Control Unit
It specifies when the different operations on the CPU are to
be done. For example, it tells the instruction fetch when to
fetch data, or the instruction decoder when to decode data.

Lecturer
Dr. Noora Alallaq 2021-2022
Input/Output units (I/O)
Input Unit is responsible for input information which that
need to process, output unit is responsible for output data
which has been processed.

 The simple computer model as :

The system bus connects the various components of a

computer.
The CPU is the heart of the computer, most of computations
occur inside the CPU.
RAM is a place to where the programs are loaded in
order to be executed.

Lecturer
Dr. Noora Alallaq 2021-2022