Microprocessor: The most complex product that has ever been made.

The microprocessor, also known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), is the brain of
all computers and many household and electronic devices. Multiple microprocessors,
working together, are the "hearts" of datacenters, super-computers, communications
products, and other digital devices. Microprocessor has turned into the brain of millions
of gadgets, since year 1971. Without microprocessors these wonderful innovations of
millions of gadgets would have not been possible.
The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. The 4004 was not very
powerful; it was primarily used to perform simple mathematical operations in a calculator
called Busicom.Just like microwaves or telephones, devices with microprocessors have
become so integrated into our daily lives, that we cannot imagine a life without them. Its
sometimes hard to believe that only 60 years ago, computers were rare and were not
available for the wider public. It wasn't until the '80s that computers entered our homes
and - thanks to the microprocessor - really made an impact on the average person's life.
The impact of microprocessor in different lures of fields is significant. The
availability of low cost, low power and small weight, computing capability makes it
useful in different applications. Nowadays, modern microprocessors can perform
extremely sophisticated operations in areas such as meteorology, aviation, nuclear
physics, engineering, control, instrumentation, communication and consumer, and take
up much less space as well as delivering superior performance.
Over the past 40 years, microprocessors have become faster and more powerful, yet
increasingly smaller and more affordable. The manufacturing of a CPU is a highly
complex and demanding process involving multiple hundreds of steps in cleanrooms.
Cleanrooms or manufacturing plants, contain air which is 1,000 times cleaner than a
hospitals operation theater.
What
is
the
difference
between
Microprocessor and Microcontroller?
A microprocessor generally does not have
Ram, ROM and IO pins. A microcontroller is
'all in one', the processor, ram, IO all on the one
chip. This means that a microprocessor is
generally capable of being built into bigger
general purpose applications than a
microcontroller. The microcontroller is usually
used for more dedicated applications.
How do they work? Transistors are microscopic electronic switches that turn on and off
billions of times a second. Its hard to believe that basically that is all a computer does
it either says Yes or No. To process the words, images, and sounds we use every day,
computers and other devices (such as CD players) transform these communications into
a simple code that uses the numerals 0 and 1 to represent the on and off states of a
transistor. This language of 0s and 1s is known as digital information.
MICROPROCESSORS

XAVIER PACHECO PAULINO 2012-1888 ILE-302