Scribd
Upload
120 views

16 Micro-Programmed Control

This document discusses microprogrammed control in computer architecture. It describes how control units can be implemented using microcode - sequences of microinstructions that generate control signals. Microinstructions are stored in control memory and each specifies one or a few microoperations. The document covers vertical and horizontal microprogramming, typical microinstruction formats, organization of the control memory and unit, sequencing techniques, and improvements made over early designs like Wilkes' control unit. It also discusses encoding techniques that allow microinstructions to use fewer bits while supporting more control signals and operations.

Uploaded by

John Paul Cordova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
120 views

16 Micro-Programmed Control

This document discusses microprogrammed control in computer architecture. It describes how control units can be implemented using microcode - sequences of microinstructions that generate control signals. Microinstructions are stored in control memory and each specifies one or a few microoperations. The document covers vertical and horizontal microprogramming, typical microinstruction formats, organization of the control memory and unit, sequencing techniques, and improvements made over early designs like Wilkes' control unit. It also discusses encoding techniques that allow microinstructions to use fewer bits while supporting more control signals and operations.

Uploaded by

John Paul Cordova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 36

William Stallings

Computer Organization
and Architecture
8th Edition
Chapter 16
Micro-programmed Control

Control Unit Organization

Micro-programmed Control
Use sequences of instructions (see earlier
notes) to control complex operations
Called micro-programming or firmware

Implementation (1)
All the control unit does is generate a set
of control signals
Each control signal is on or off
Represent each control signal by a bit
Have a control word for each microoperation
Have a sequence of control words for each
machine code instruction
Add an address to specify the next microinstruction, depending on conditions

Implementation (2)
Todays large microprocessor
Many instructions and associated register-level
hardware
Many control points to be manipulated

This results in control memory that


Contains a large number of words
co-responding to the number of instructions to be
executed

Has a wide word width


Due to the large number of control points to be
manipulated

Micro-program Word Length

Based on 3 factors
Maximum number of simultaneous microoperations supported
The way control information is represented or
encoded
The way in which the next micro-instruction
address is specified

Micro-instruction Types
Each micro-instruction specifies single (or
few) micro-operations to be performed
(vertical micro-programming)

Each micro-instruction specifies many


different micro-operations to be
performed in parallel
(horizontal micro-programming)

Vertical Micro-programming

Width is narrow
n control signals encoded into log2 n bits
Limited ability to express parallelism
Considerable encoding of control
information requires external memory
word decoder to identify the exact control
line being manipulated

Horizontal Micro-programming

Wide memory word


High degree of parallel operations possible
Little encoding of control information

Typical Microinstruction Formats

Compromise
Divide control signals into disjoint groups
Implement each group as separate field in
memory word
Supports reasonable levels of parallelism
without too much complexity

Organization of
Control Memory

Control Unit

Control Unit Function


Sequence login unit issues read command
Word specified in control address register is read
into control buffer register
Control buffer register contents generates control
signals and next address information
Sequence login loads new address into control
buffer register based on next address information
from control buffer register and ALU flags

Next Address Decision


Depending on ALU flags and control buffer
register
Get next instruction
Add 1 to control address register

Jump to new routine based on jump


microinstruction
Load address field of control buffer register into
control address register

Jump to machine instruction routine


Load control address register based on opcode in IR

Functioning of Microprogrammed
Control Unit

Wilkes Control
1951
Matrix partially filled with diodes
During cycle, one row activated
Generates signals where diode present
First part of row generates control
Second generates address for next cycle

Wilkes's Microprogrammed Control Unit

Advantages and Disadvantages of


Microprogramming
Simplifies design of control unit
Cheaper
Less error-prone

Slower

Tasks Done By Microprogrammed


Control Unit
Microinstruction sequencing
Microinstruction execution
Must consider both together

Design Considerations
Size of microinstructions
Address generation time
Determined by instruction register
Once per cycle, after instruction is fetched

Next sequential address


Common in most designed

Branches
Both conditional and unconditional

Sequencing Techniques
Based on current microinstruction,
condition flags, contents of IR, control
memory address must be generated
Based on format of address information
Two address fields
Single address field
Variable format

Branch Control Logic:


Two Address Fields

Branch Control
Logic: Single
Address Field

Branch Control
Logic: Variable
Format

Address Generation
Explicit

Implicit

Two-field

Mapping

Unconditional Branch

Addition

Conditional branch

Residual control

Execution
The cycle is the basic event
Each cycle is made up of two events
Fetch
Determined by generation of microinstruction
address

Execute

Execute
Effect is to generate control signals
Some control points internal to processor
Rest go to external control bus or other
interface

Control Unit
Organization

A Taxonomy of Microinstructions

Vertical/horizontal
Packed/unpacked
Hard/soft microprogramming
Direct/indirect encoding

Improvements over Wilkes


Wilkes had each bit directly produced a
control signal or directly produced one bit
of next address
More complex address sequencing
schemes,
using fewer microinstruction bits, are
possible
Require more complex sequencing logic
module
Control word bits can be saved by
encoding and subsequently decoding
control information

How to Encode
K different internal and external control signals
Wilkess:
K bits dedicated
2K control signals during any instruction cycle

Not all used


Two sources cannot be gated to same destination
Register cannot be source and destination
Only one pattern presented to ALU at a time
Only one pattern presented to external control bus at a time

Require Q < 2K which can be encoded with log2Q < K bits


Not done
As difficult to program as pure decoded (Wilkes) scheme
Requires complex slow control logic module

Compromises
More bits than necessary used
Some combinations that are physically allowable are not
possible to encode

Specific Encoding Techniques

Microinstruction organized as set of fields


Each field contains code
Activates one or more control signals
Organize format into independent fields
Field depicts set of actions (pattern of control
signals)
Actions from different fields can occur
simultaneously

Alternative actions that can be specified


by a field are mutually exclusive
Only one action specified for field could occur
at a time

Microinstruction Encoding
Direct Encoding

Microinstruction Encoding
Indirect Encoding

Required Reading
Stallings chapter 16

You might also like