Abstract

The aim of this study is the design and simulation of a simple 8-bit microprocessor architecture dedicated for educational purposes, using Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL). In fact, the existing commercial microprocessors are provided as black box units, with which users are unable to monitor internal signals and operation process, neither can they modify the original structure. So they are unsuitable for education. In order to solve this problem, the present paper involves the design method of a simple microprocessor, from analysis to programming, passing by the choice and the wiring of the microprocessor components. Moreover, the processor contains a number of the basic modules. These modules are a sequencer, an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and registers, which are studied and designed. All of these units or modules are assembled together and communicate through an 8-bit data bus. The proposed educational microprocessor worked successfully since it was verified using VHDL simulation results.

Keywords:

Arithmetic logic unit, 8-bit data bus, educational microprocessor, hardware level, sequencer, VHDL,

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Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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