History of the Development and Use of Microprocessor Technology - Case Study Example

Investigation into use of microprocessors Brief history of the development of microprocessor technology A microprocessor is a processor on a single microchip, where the word micro stands for small. A processor is a device which has computing or a data processing capability. Over the years, the computing power of the microprocessor chip has increased steeply, along with the speed of processing, and this trend is continuing as newer applications are envisaged (Seitz, Frederick, and Norman G. Einspruch, 1998). The idea of a single chip computer was around even as early as the 1950s, but at that time, electronics and integrated circuit technology were still in their infancy (Chandler, Alfred D., Jr., 2001). By the end of the 1960s, things had changed and integrated circuit technology was still in their infancy. Around that time, there were many companies in the field trying to develop a single chip computer, and one of them was Intel. Intel released its 4-bitall-purpose chip, the Intel 4004 in November 1971 (Kumar, 2008). In April 1972 Intel and TI co-produced an 8 bit CPU with a 14-bit data bus that could address 16KB of memory. It was originally known as the 1201, and the chip was commissioned by Computer Terminal Corporation (CTC) to implement an instruction set designed for their Datapoint 2200 programmable terminal, but CDC dropped the project and allowed Intel the IP on the 1201, and Intel released it as the 8008 (Kumar, 2008).  This was quickly followed by the Intel 8080.  Both the 8008 and the 8080 operated from +5V, -5V and +12V supplies which used NMOS technology.  It had a clock speed of 108 KHz and 2300 transistors with ports for ROM, RAM and I/O. This was just the beginning of newer innovations (Kumar, 2008). In April, 1972, Intel came up with the 8008, which was just n 8-bit version of the 4004 (Faggin et al, 1996). Since it had nothing very spectacular to offer, this microprocessor did not do much for Intel or the microprocessor field. Meanwhile, other companies started making their presence felt by their own versions of microchips with computing abilities. Around 1974, Intel released the 8086 family, their first microcontroller family (Srinath, 2005). This was later followed by the Intel 8051 series of microcontrollers. Still later Intel released the 8096 family of microcontrollers. In the present day world, a variety of microcontrollers are being used in a variety of consumer products (Srinath, 2005). The first major break came with the introduction of the 8080 (again by Intel) in 1974. Intel put itself back on the map with the 8080, which used the same instruction set as the earlier 8008, but the 8080 generally considered being the first truly usable microprocessor (Das, 2010). The 8080 had a 16-bit address bus and an 8-bit data bus, a 16-bit stack pointer to memory, which replaced the 8-level internal stack of the 8008, and a 16-bit program counter. It also contained 256I/O ports so that the I/O devices could be connected without taking away or interfering with the addressing space. It also possessed a signal pin that allowed the stack to occupy a separate bank of memory. These features are what made this a truly modern computer (Das, 2010). Others in the market who had a significant piece of the pie included players like Motorola and AMD. The former, stated with the 6800 chip, which was followed by more advanced versions of this basic chip (Karam, Andrew P., 2000). In terms of computational capability, Motorola’s processors are as good (or in some cases better) as any Intel processor. The market segments, of both these companies, however are distinct and separate now (Das, 2010). In contrast the AMD is a company that did not go for original designs but worked on improving the 8080 design under license agreements. There was also this very popular microprocessor Z-80 developed by the Zilog Corporation. The 8-bit microprocessor was binary compatible with the 8080 and surprisingly, is still widespread use today in many embedded applications. It was suppose to be superior to the 8080. Though Zilog made improved versions of this microprocessor, the company did not take off as well as it should have because it could not handle the competition of th bigger players in the market. In 1976, Intel updated the 8080 design with the 8085, and it became very popular as a well designed and simple microprocessor, though it was never used in a PC. However, it is still very popular and used in various applications just as the Z-80 processor is. In 1978, Intel introduced the 16-bit 8086,a 16-bit processor which gave rise to the x86 architecture. In 1979, Intel also released the 8088, a microprocessor while being a 16-bit microprocessor internally (Bahadure, 2010). The real breakthrough for Intel came, when in 1981 IBM picked Intel’s 8088 for its personal computer. With this, the market segment of Intel grew by leaps and bounds. Intel kept on updating and improving the x86 architecture with newer and newer innovations and since x86 had already established its place in the PC world, PCs also became more and more sophisticated (Bahadure, 2010). With respect to the points at which the x86 family was revised, one has to remember that the 8088 was the first x86 processor used in a PC and it was a 16-bit architecture with an external data bus of 8 bits. Note also the fact that the 8086 was manufactured earlier with the same internal architecture as the 8088, but it had an external data bus of 16 bits which made it difficult to connect it to 8-bit peripherals and was costlier too. That is why it was not chosen for the PC (Bahadure, 2010). The 80186 was never used in PCs, but also had an external data bus of 16 bits. It marked a step upwards in the PC architecture as it brought into PCs, the concept of virtual memory and protected mode operations, all later PCs, have these features as well. The next major step came with the 80386, which was a 32-bit processor internally and externally. All x86 processors are still 32-bit internally but Pentium has a 64-bit external data bus (Bahadure, 2010). Typical applications of microprocessor–based systems in three areas Microprocessors based systems are today utilized in three typical applications, which are as i) systems for communication, ii) systems for instrumentation, and iii) systems for controls. The usage of microprocessors in the field of instrumentation a being central has increased excessively. Those who are today learning the subject have to learn not only the architecture of a typical microprocessor system but also comprehend the general working and information about a control system which is based on microprocessor. The main function that is performed by a microprocessor is that it helps incorporate all the functions that are carried out the CPU of a computer, that is, the Central Processing Unit of a computer on a few circuits which have been integrated together or most commonly on a single integrated circuit. The microprocessor is a prime example of digital logic in a sequential manner, due to the fact that it has an internal memory. It uses the instructions that have been stored in its memory to process the digital data that is provided to it, and based on it, it provides output in the form of results. Thus, this utility makes it programmable device which is multifunctional in its working. Microprocessors operate on the basis of the binary system which makes use of numbers and symbols to function. The modern society in the 21st century has been transformed with the introduction of the low costing computers which have been developed on the basis of microprocessors. The main functions that are carried out by a general Microprocessor include display of the multimedia, helping communicate over the internet, editing of the text and computation. In fact it has been observed that in the embedded systems, microprocessors are utilized to ensure that digital control is provided for. This is applied to many objects, such as automobiles, cellular phones and even in industrial process controllers. It has allowed for technological evolution in areas that were not open to man before. For example, it has allowed for the computerization of a number of objects which were earlier not related even remotely to computers, such as cars, car keys, toys, light switches, DVD Players, smoke alarms and other such big and small items of the public and private life. The introduction of the use of microprocessors in such items have made them not only more user friendly but also cheaper to produce and consume, ensuring better technological input in the social life today. The most effective characteristics of a microprocessor are that it is flexible and allows space for changes. The control system of a microprocessor of any product allows space for upgrading of the system so that the performance of the item can be enhanced and made more effective with a minimal amount of redesigning of the product. With the help of microprocessor an item can produced in different models with meagre production costs. It has to day allowed for a suitable substitute for electromechanical control system which would be difficult and costly to implement, and also would lead to more bulky products. Microprocessor use in instrumentation systems These uses are innumerable, but here a transition is being elaborated that vis-à-vis medical instrumentation system. In the 1970s the knowledge based medical consultations systems that were developed were mostly large scale in their characteristics and experimental prototypes. The system that was developed then was one which was based on hypothetical reasoning and this was supported by hundreds of observations (Weiss et al, 1978). Based on this diagnostics usually the problems that were faced were treated. This is supported by reasoning rules which string them together. It has been observed that with the adoption of a more symbolic reasoning method where the representations are more powerful than that of the traditional methods of mathematics that were adopted earlier in the decision making scheme, the knowledge based systems have produced results which have become more easy to analyse (Shortliffe, 1976). This also allows for the development of better explanations of the analysis and the updating has become more efficient under this system in comparison to the traditional systems of analysis (Pople et al, 1975). Over the years for the enhancement of the interaction with the expert system it has been deemed that human engineering is necessary and significant. Successful clinical experience with many of these systems has been reported in pilot demonstration projects, and the result is routine use of microprocessor-based technologies in medical instrumentation. Thus, it can be said that as the use increases the social as well as the technical factors contribute to the hurdles with the integration of a more expert system in the medical field of practice on a day to day basis. The larger systems require a slow rate for the manual data and this has been cited by most as one of the most significant technical hurdle by most. This problem can easily be resolved through the implementation of a system where most of the data can be read of the clinical instrument instead of being fed into the system, making the system time effective and less manual. Thus, only a certain amount of the data will have to be fed manually and the other can be directly recorded into the system. The use of microprocessor allows for greater amount of interaction and allows the data to be easily available and processed in the system as a whole. The availability of the technology in the commercial sphere and its automated electrocardiogram interpretation program allows for the refining of the knowledge base that already exists in an effective manner; allows also for the further development and research on the topic leading to an overall growth of the knowledge base in the long run; it also allows for the testing of the final model on much larger machine; and finally it allows for the interfacing of the language that is used in the assembly with the instrument that is utilized. It is important that the manufacturers are aware of the functioning and the structuring of the machines. Thus, the role of the microprograms are highly significant in ensuring that the overall interaction of the language and the instrument takes place in an effective manner, and that the overall analysis is carried out during the long term. Microprocessors in communications systems Effective communication is one the most significant needs of the global era, where everyone and everything is connected. The free flow of ideas, concepts and sharing of data is what has helped the globalised era to be realised in a highly effective manner. The development of the communication system has been very rapid and is very recent. When one looks at the changes that have occurred in the technology that have occurred in the past few years, it is realised that the IT revolution and growth has been assisted by a constant decline of the costs of production as well as a corresponding increase in the overall processing power of the digital technologies. This has been mainly assisted by the microprocessor that allows for alterations to the main item and object that change the applications of the object. The microprocessor is the most significant of the digital revolution that has taken place in the recent times, where it has been crucial in helping bring about the IT revolution around the globe. The microprocessor in the recent times have acted as the “brains” that have allowed for the growth to occur in the communication system around the world. They are the memory of the computers allowing for the gathering of the information and the storage of the information in an effective manner. The most significant aspect that has to be remembered is that the memory is expandable and this allows for greater assimilation of information over a period of time (Riordan, Michael, and Hoddeson.L, 1997) . Thus, this combined with the ever growing applications and devices has added greatly to the communication system. In fact estimates say that the processing power of the microprocessors has increased almost at a double rate every six months over the past two decades. One of the most significant factors that have contributed to the IT revolution is the rapid growth that has been experienced in the fiber optic technologies in the recent years. The technology allows for the data that has been gathered, and this is inclusive of the voices that have been recorded in the digital form, to be converted from their form into tiny pulses of light. Once this has been carried out it is transmitted through the glass fibres at high speeds into telecommunicating cables. Hundreds of thousands of miles of these cables were installed over the past ten years, boosting the speed and capacity of telecommunications networks. Advances in microprocessors, fiber optics, and a number of other complementary technologies, such as telecommunications switching devices and memory chips, have dramatically increased the speed, processing capacity, and storage space of computers and telecommunications networks themselves. References: Bahadure, (2010). Microprocessors : 8086/8088, 80186/80286, 80386/80486 And The Pentium Family. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Pp3-7 Chandler, Alfred D., Jr. (2001). Inventing the Electronic Century: The Epic Story of the Consumer Electronics and Computer Industries. New York: Free Press, A general history of electronics and its impact on consumer products. Das, L. B., (2010). The X86 Microprocessors: Architecture and Programming (8086 To Pentium). Pearson Education India. Pp2-5 Faggin, Federico; Hoff, Marcian E., Jr.; Mazor, Stanley; Shima, Masatoshi (December 1996). "The History of the 4004". IEEE Micro 16 (6): 10–20. Kumar, (2008). The 8085 Microprocessor: Architecture, Programming and Interfacing. Pearson Education India. Pp28-32 Karam, Andrew P. (2000). "Advances in Microprocessor Technology". In Schlager, Neil; Lauer, Josh. Science and Its Times. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gail Group. pp. 525–528. Pople, K, Myers, J, and Miller, R. (1995). "DIALOG A Model of Diagnostic Logic for Internal Medicine" In Proc. IJCAI-75. 841 Riordan, Michael, and Hoddeson L. (1997). Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age. New York: W.W. Norton, Looks specifically at the use of the transistor and computer technology in various applications. Shortliffe. (1976). Edward Hance Computer-Based Medical Consultations MYCIN. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. Inc. New York. Srinath, N. K., (2005). 8085 Microprocessor: Programming and Interfacing. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Pp15-17 Seitz, Frederick, and Norman G. Einspruch .(1998). Electronic Genie: The Tangled History of Silicon. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, Focuses on semiconductor electronics, although it contains some discussion of the vacuum tube age that preceded it. Weiss, S M, Kulikowski. C A, Safir, A and Amarel. S A. (1978). Model based Method for Computer aided Medical Decision-making' Artificial Intelligence. 11, 145-172. Read More