Department of ECE

23EC1202
DIGITAL DESIGN & COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Session – 27 & 28

Hardwired Realization Vs Micro-programmed realization,

Multicycle Implementation
 AIM OF THE SESSION

To familiarize students with the basic concept of Hardware Realization Vs Micro Progrmmed Realization and
Mutlicycle Implementation

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

This Session is designed to:

1. Demonstrate the concepts of the computer architetcture and its basics concepts.
2. Describe the realization and its basics introduction.
3. List out the the different steps involue in the realization.
4. Describe the the concept of multicycle implementation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this session, you should be able to:
1. Define the realization and its importance.
2. Describe the Multicycle implementation.
3. Summarize the overall concepts of Hardware Realization Vs micro programmed realization and muticycle
implementation.
 Introduction

• In computer architecture, the control unit is responsible for directing the flow of data and
instructions within the CPU.
• There are two main approaches to implementing a control unit: hardwired and micro-programmed.
• The Hardwired and Microprogrammed control unit generates the control signals to fetch and
execute instructions.
• In the hardwired control unit, the execution of operations is much faster, but the implementation,
modification, and decoding are difficult.
• In contrast, implementing, modifying, decoding micro-programmed control units is very easy. The
microprogrammed control unit is also able to handle complex instructions.
 HardWired Control Unit

• In the hardwired control unit, the control logic is implemented with gates, flipflops, decoders, and

other digital circuits.

• The control signals for each instruction are hardwired into the control unit, so the control unit has

a dedicated circuit for each possible instruction.

• The hardwired control unit is designed for the RISC style instruction set.

• Hardwired control units are simple and fast, but they can be inflexible and difficult to modify.
Block Diagram of HardWired Control Unit
 HardWired Control Unit (Cont.)
• The instruction register is a processors register that has the ‘instruction’ which is currently in execution.

• The instruction register generates the opcode bits w.r.t the operation and the addressing modes of the

operands, mentioned in the instruction.

• Instruction decoder receives the opcode bits generated by the instruction register and interprets the

operation and addressing modes of the instruction. Based on operation and addressing mode of the

instruction in instruction register, it set the corresponding Instruction signal INSi to 1.

• Each instruction is executed in step-like, instruction fetch, decode, operand fetch, ALU, and memory store.

• The step counter sets one of the signals T1 to T5 to 1 on the basis of the step, the instruction is in.
 HardWired Control Unit (Cont.)

• Conditional signals determines the branch instruction or some condition. The Condition signals

generate the signals for the conditions greater than, less than, equal, greater than equal, less than

equal, etc.

• The remaining is external inputs, it acknowledges the control signal generator of interrupts which

affects the execution of the instruction.

• Control Signal Generator generates the control signals, based on the inputs obtained by the

Instruction register, Step counter, Condition signals and External inputs.

 Micro-programmed Control Unit

• Microprogrammed control unit also produces the control signal but using the programs.
• The program that creates the ‘control signals’ is called microprogram. This microprogram is stored in a
control memory.
• A microprogram has a set of microinstructions, or it is also termed as control word. Each
microinstruction is ‘n’ bit word.
• Each control signal differs from other control signal depending on the bit pattern of the control word.
Each control word/microinstruction has a different bit pattern.
• Instruction execution is performed in steps. For each step there is a control word/ microinstruction in
the microprogram.
• A sequence of microinstructions required to execute a particular instruction is called microroutine.
Micro-programmed Control Unit
 Hardwired Realization Vs Micro-programmed realization
Hardwired Micro-programmed
It is a circuitry approach. This control unit is implemented by programming

Modification is difficult as the control unit is hardwired. Modifying it Modifications are easy in case of microprogrammed control unit as it
will require the change in hardware. will require the in change in the code only.

It works well for simple instructions. It works well for complex instructions also.

Implementing hardwired structure requires a cost. Implementing microprograms is not costly.

Faster execution. Comparatively slow.

No control memory is required. Control memory is required.

Designed for RISC style instruction set. Designed for CISC style instruction set
 Multicycle Implementation

• The basic idea of the multicycle implementation is to divide the one long cycle of the single cycle

implementation into 3 to 5 shorter cycles. The number of cycles depends on the instruction.

• Unlike pipelining, where different instructions are executed in parallel stages, a multicycle approach executes

different parts of a single instruction in each cycle.

• This approach aims to optimize the use of hardware by reusing the same set of resources for different stages of

instruction execution, rather than dedicating separate hardware for each stage.

• The control unit generates signals for the instruction’s current step and keeps track of the current step.

• Extra registers are required to hold results from one step for use in the next step.
 Key Characteristics of Multicycle Implementation

• Reuse of Hardware Components

• Variable Execution Time

• Control Logic Complexity

• Efficiency and Performance

 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
1. What is the primary characteristic of a hardwired control unit?

A) Indirect control signal generation

B) Direct control signal generation through combinational logic
C) Microinstruction sequencing
D) Extensive use of control memory

2. Which of the following is a drawback of hardwired realization?

A) Limited flexibility
B) Slower execution speed
C) Requires additional memory
D) Well-suited for evolving instruction sets
 REFERENCES FOR FURTHER LEARNING OF THE SESSION

Reference Books:
1. Computer Organization by Carl Hamacher, Zvonko Vranesic and Saftwat Zaky.
2. Computer System Architecture by M. Morris Mano
3. Computer Organization and Architecture by William Stallings

Sites and Web links:

1. https://www.eecg.toronto.edu/~moshovos/ECE243-07/l20-multicycle.html
2. https://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~wl/teachlocal/arch/HP05/multi-cycle-datapath.pdf
 THANK YOU

Team – Digital Design & Computer Architecture