| 34 | | <li>Read and familiarize ourselves with the components of the breadboard computer.</li> |
| 35 | | <li>Learned about the components of computers |
| 36 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 37 | | <li>Fetch-Execute Cycle</li> |
| 38 | | <li>CPU</li> |
| 39 | | <li>Random Access Memory (RAM)</li> |
| 40 | | <li>Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)</li> |
| 41 | | <li>BUS</li> |
| 42 | | </ul> |
| 43 | | </li> |
| 44 | | </ul> |
| 45 | | <h1 style="font-size: 35px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"> |
| 46 | | What We Worked On |
| 47 | | </h1> |
| 48 | | <h2 style="font-size: 25px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 49 | | Component Familiarization |
| 50 | | </h2> |
| 51 | | <p style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 25px;">We began by reading and familiarizing ourselves with the various components required for the breadboard computer, such as:</p> |
| 52 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 53 | | <li>Integrated Circuits (ICs)</li> |
| 54 | | <li>Logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, etc.)</li> |
| 55 | | <li>Registers</li> |
| 56 | | <li>Breadboards</li> |
| 57 | | <li>Wires and Connectors</li> |
| 58 | | </ul> |
| 59 | | |
| 60 | | <h2 style="font-size: 25px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 61 | | Computer Components Learning |
| 62 | | </h2> |
| 63 | | <p style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 25px;">We delved into understanding the fundamental components of computers and their functions. This included studying:</p> |
| 64 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 65 | | Fetch-Execute Cycle |
| 66 | | </h2> |
| 67 | | <p style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 25px;">Understanding the core cycle through which a CPU processes instructions:</p> |
| 68 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 69 | | <li><b>Fetch: </b> CPU loads instructions into the registers from RAM.</li> |
| 70 | | <li><b>Decode: </b> Instruction and its address are sent to the instruction register to be interpreted.</li> |
| 71 | | <li><b>Execute: </b> The CPU executes the instruction and stores the result in the accumulator.</li> |
| 72 | | </ul> |
| 73 | | |
| 74 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 75 | | Central Processing Unit (CPU) |
| 76 | | </h2> |
| 77 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 78 | | <li><b>Function:</b> Executes instructions from programs by performing basic arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations.</li> |
| 79 | | <li><b>Parts: </b> |
| 80 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 81 | | <li><b>Clock:</b> Generates timing signals to coordinate CPU activities. With each tick, the CPU performs steps of the fetch-execute cycle.</li> |
| 82 | | <li><b>Registers:</b> Temporary storage for data and instructions within the CPU.</li> |
| 83 | | <li><b>ALU:</b> Executes arithmetic and logical operations.</li> |
| 84 | | </ul> |
| 85 | | </li> |
| 86 | | </ul> |
| 87 | | |
| 88 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 89 | | Random Access Memory (RAM) |
| 90 | | </h2> |
| 91 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 92 | | <li><b>Function:</b> Stores data and machine code currently being used. It allows for quick read and write operations.</li> |
| 93 | | <li><b>Characteristics: </b> |
| 94 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 95 | | <li><b>Volatile Memory:</b> Data is lost when power is turned off.</li> |
| 96 | | <li><b>Direct Access:</b> Any memory location can be accessed directly and quickly.</li> |
| 97 | | </ul> |
| 98 | | </li> |
| 99 | | </ul> |
| 100 | | |
| 101 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 102 | | Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) & BUS |
| 103 | | </h2> |
| 104 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 105 | | ALU |
| 106 | | </h2> |
| 107 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 108 | | <li><b>Functions:</b> |
| 109 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 110 | | <li>Performs arithmetic operations: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division.</li> |
| 111 | | <li>Executes logical operations: NOT, OR, AND.</li> |
| 112 | | </ul> |
| 113 | | </li> |
| 114 | | <li><b>Importance: </b> Central to performing computations required by programs.</li> |
| 115 | | </ul> |
| 116 | | |
| 117 | | <h2 style="font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 118 | | BUS |
| 119 | | </h2> |
| 120 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 121 | | <li><b>Purpose: </b> Facilitates communication between the CPU, memory, and other peripherals.</li> |
| 122 | | <li><b>Types: </b> |
| 123 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 124 | | <li><b>Data Bus: </b> Carries data between components.</li> |
| 125 | | <li><b>Address Bus: </b> Carries memory addresses that the CPU wants to access.</li> |
| 126 | | <li><b>Control Bus: </b> Carries control signals from the CPU to other components.</li> |
| 127 | | </ul> |
| 128 | | </li> |
| 129 | | </ul> |
| 130 | | |
| 131 | | <h1 style="font-size: 35px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"> |
| 132 | | Goals For Next Week |
| 133 | | </h1> |
| 134 | | <h2 style="font-size: 25px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 25px;"> |
| 135 | | Tasks |
| 136 | | </h2> |
| 137 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 35px;"> |
| 138 | | <li><b>Model and Test ALU:</b> |
| 139 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 140 | | <li>Utilize TinkerCad to model and simulate the ALU component of the computer.</li> |
| 141 | | <li>Ensure correct functioning through testing various arithmetic and logical operations.</li> |
| 142 | | </ul> |
| 143 | | </li> |
| 144 | | |
| 145 | | <li><b>Documentation:</b> |
| 146 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 147 | | <li>Begin detailed documentation of each part of the computer.</li> |
| 148 | | <li>Include schematics, notes, and images for clarity.</li> |
| 149 | | </ul> |
| 150 | | </li> |
| 151 | | |
| 152 | | <li><b>Clock Monitor:</b> |
| 153 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 154 | | <li>Start and complete the construction of the clock monitor, which will manage the timing signals within the CPU.</li> |
| 155 | | </ul> |
| 156 | | </li> |
| 157 | | |
| 158 | | <li><b>Registers</b> |
| 159 | | <ul style="font-size: 20px; margin-left: 45px;"> |
| 160 | | <li>Initiate the building of the registers, essential for temporary data storage within the CPU.</li> |
| 161 | | </ul> |
| 162 | | </li> |
| 163 | | |
| 164 | | |
| | 34 | <li>Familiarized with breadboard computer components: <b>ICs, logic gates, registers, breadboards, wires, and connectors.</b></li> |
| | 35 | <li>Learned about fundamental computer components: <b>Fetch-Execute Cycle, CPU, RAM, ALU, and BUS.</b></li> |
| | 36 | <li>Explored the Fetch-Execute Cycle: <b>Fetch, Decode, Execute.</b></li> |
| | 37 | <li>Studied the CPU: <b>functions, clock, registers, and ALU.</b></li> |
| | 38 | <li>Understood RAM: <b>its function, volatility, and direct access capabilities.</b></li> |
| | 39 | <li>Examined the ALU: <b>performs arithmetic and logical operations.</b></li> |
| | 40 | <li>Investigated the BUS: <b>facilitates communication between CPU, memory, and peripherals.</b></li> |
| | 41 | <li>Planned tasks for next week: <b>model and test the ALU using TinkerCad, begin detailed documentation, construct the clock monitor, and build the registers.</b></li> |