As used in EE.SE, it describes the physical topology and techniques of routing power, ground, data and control lines across a given area. This could be a CPU/MPU, circuit board or the lighting of LED's around a pool. Electrical parameters and physical (object) constraints ultimately decide the most efficient and safe layout. The term 'architecture' has no scale (size) until it is defined by schematics, diagrams, blue prints.
Questions tagged [architecture]
65 questions
95
votes
10 answers
Why are there no 256-bit or 512-bit microprocessors?
In an 8-bit microprocessor its data bus consists of 8 data lines. In a 16-bit microprocessor its data bus consists of 16 data lines and so on.
Why is there neither a 256-bit microprocessor nor a 512-bit microprocessor? Why don't they simply…
Michael harris
- 1,155
- 2
- 9
- 8
59
votes
5 answers
Why does more transistors = more processing power?
According to Wikipedia, processing power is strongly linked with Moore's law:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law
The number of transistors that can be
placed inexpensively on an integrated
circuit has doubled approximately
every two…
Oli
- 693
- 1
- 5
- 7
44
votes
5 answers
How do I design my very own ARM based processors?
I have several questions about how I would design my own ARM-based CPU?
How does one start with an ARM license and end up with a package ready to be soldered on to a board?
What do I get from ARM (I am sure they have multiple license options to…
Lord Loh.
- 1,121
- 3
- 14
- 23
35
votes
2 answers
What's the purpose of this checkerboard pattern?
This gigabit Ethernet NIC has a checkerboard pattern out of copper etched on the PCB:
Each square is electrically isolated. What's the point of adding these? I guess that the PCB isn't filled with a copper plane due to cost concerns, but why don't…
Catherine
- 637
- 7
- 16
22
votes
7 answers
Identify processor type from raw binary code?
Not really related to chips, but hopefully I'll get some directions to follow from here.
I got a chunk of code, but I don't know what processor it intended for.
Are there tools available that can help me identify the code type?
What statistic…
mentalist
- 395
- 3
- 7
20
votes
4 answers
What are different types of computer architectures?
I am going through the book "Elements of computing systems". This book teaches how to build a whole computer from scratch. While I was just browsing the chapters on computer architecture, I noticed that it all focused on the Von Neumann…
Rick_2047
- 3,897
- 5
- 46
- 68
15
votes
3 answers
VHDL: Architecture naming and interpretation
Note: I am using Xilinx's ISE and have an FPGA board to work with (with switches and lights and so on), and I've hacked together some simple projects so far. At the same time I'm reading several tutorials to build a foundation for what I'm…
MartyMacGyver
- 704
- 1
- 8
- 19
12
votes
4 answers
How does the Harvard architecture help?
I was reading about arduino and the AVR architecture and got stuck at the point that how does pipeline stall or bubbling is solved by Harvard architecture introduction in the AVR.I mean what Harvard does is just provide different storage location to…
Ayush
- 127
- 1
- 8
12
votes
5 answers
PIC32 vs dsPIC vs ARM vs AVR, does the architecture matter when we are programming in C-language anyways?
We are currently using 32-bit PIC32 Microcontroller. It is working fine for our needs, but we are also exploring other microcontollers that can suite us better + we have other projects for which we are selecting MCU. For that purpose we have…
TheTechGuy
- 611
- 1
- 7
- 13
11
votes
3 answers
Why do we see one, unified memory address space in ARM Cortex-M core based MCUs even though they have Harvard architecture?
Most of the ARM Cortex-M core based MCUs have Harvard architecture (except for Cortex-M0 and M0+.)
The thing I do not understand is that why we see only one memory address space. For example, in tge STM32F4 we see only a unified memory address…
gvg
- 163
- 8
11
votes
2 answers
What type of processor in usual 8-digits pocket calculator?
There are a lot of +,-,*,/,CE,MC,M+,M-,MR buttons 8-digits calculators on market with keyboard layout like:
+----+----+----+----+
| ON | MRC| M+ | M- |
+----+----+----+----+
| 7 | 8 | 9 | ÷ |
+----+----+----+----+
| 4 | 5 | 6 | ×…
gavenkoa
- 385
- 1
- 4
- 13
10
votes
7 answers
How do 16-bit addresses work inside 8-bit data bus processors?
As a project I am building a small 8-bit RISC processor out of discrete ICs. I have 17 instructions and cannot fit all information into instructions that are only one byte, so I have been thinking about using a 16-bit address bus, instruction set…
David777
- 1,548
- 12
- 29
9
votes
3 answers
Advantages of 32-bit 48-96 Mhz microprocessors (such as in Arduino Due)
It seems Arduino Due ( 32-bit, 84 Mhz, ARM-Cortex-M3-based SAM3X8E ) was released today.
In addition, clearly there is a myriad of processors in this category ( 32-bit / 48-96 Mhz / ARM ) as well as corresponding prototyping boards:
NXP LPC1768 /…
Thomas E
- 715
- 6
- 16
9
votes
4 answers
What are the properties of an N-bit microcontroller?
I've heard of 8 bit microcontrollers and 16-bit microcontrollers. I've even heard about 7 bit microcontrollers and 1 bit microcontrollers.
What are the general attributes of these groups? How do I choose which type to use for a project?
Jacob Harding
- 91
- 1
- 1
- 2
8
votes
7 answers
Why is a datapath in microcontrollers always a power of 2 wide?
Microcontrollers data paths are always a power of 2 wide: 4 bit, 8, 16, 32 bit, etc. Even PICs which use 12-bit wide instructions are 8-bit controllers. Why? Is there any design advantage to this? What's wrong with a 12-bit databus, or a 7-bit…
Federico Russo
- 9,658
- 17
- 68
- 117