About the subject
What Microprocessors is for
This course opens the processor itself. It starts with the stored program idea behind every computer, then studies two real Intel processors in detail: the 8-bit 8085, simple enough to understand completely, and the 16-bit 8086, whose segmented memory and instruction set are the ancestors of the processors in today's laptops.
Students write assembly language for both, learn how a processor talks to memory and devices over its buses, and see how interrupts let hardware get the processor's attention. It is the bridge between Digital Logic and the architecture and embedded systems courses that follow.
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with assembly language programming, hardware and applications of microprocessors. The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of microprocessor architecture, programming, and interfacing techniques, with a focus on the Intel 8085 and 8086 microprocessors. Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of microprocessor-based systems, covering essential topics such as computer organization, instruction sets, memory and I/O interfacing, interrupt mechanisms, and advanced architectural concepts.
IOE's course objective for ENEX 201
- Taught to
- BCT, Semester 3 (Year II, Part I) and BEI, Semester 3 (Year II, Part I)
- Weekly
- 3 lecture, 1 tutorial, 3 practical hours
- Marks
- Theory 40 internal + 60 final (3-hour exam); practical 50 internal; 150 in total
Where the marks are
ENEX 201 chapters, hours and final exam marks
IOE's evaluation scheme for the 60-mark final. IOE notes there may be minor deviation.
Scroll the table sideways for hours, marks and share.
Full syllabus
The complete ENEX 201 outline, with how to study each chapter
All 6 chapters and 48 topics as IOE lists them, each with ICE's advice on approaching it.
1Introduction4 hours
Microprocessor history, bus organisation and the Von Neumann stored program concept.
- 1.1 Introduction to microprocessors
- 1.2 History of microprocessors
- 1.3 Basic block diagram of a digital computer
- 1.4 Microcomputer and microcontroller
- 1.5 Bus organization of computer system
- 1.6 Stored program concept (Von Neumann’s architecture)
- 1.7 Processing cycle of a stored program computer
2Intel 8085 Microprocessor12 hours
The Intel 8085, 12 hours and 15 of 60 marks: architecture, pins, addressing modes, the instruction set, and timing diagrams. Timing diagrams are easier once you can name every machine cycle of an instruction.
- 2.1 Features of 8085
- 2.2 Internal architecture of 8085
- 2.3 Pin configurations of 8085
- 2.4 Instruction format and data format
- 2.5 Addressing modes of 8085
- 2.6 Instruction set of 8085
- 2.7 Various programs in 8085
- Simple programs with arithmetic and logical operations
- Conditions and loops
- Array and table processing
- Decimal - BCD conversion
- Multiplication and division
- 2.8 Instruction cycle, machine cycle and T-cycle
- 2.9 Timing diagrams of bus operations
3Intel 8086 Microprocessor14 hours
The Intel 8086, the largest chapter at 14 hours and 18 marks: segment and offset addressing, assembly language, the assembler and linker, and DOS and BIOS services through INT 21H and INT 10H. Write and run real programs, not only on paper.
- 3.1 Features of 8086
- 3.2 Internal architecture of 8086
- BIU and components
- EU and components
- EU and BIU operations
- 3.3 Segment and offset address
- 3.4 Pin configurations of 8086
- 3.5 Addressing modes of 8086
- 3.6 Assembly language programming
- 3.7 High level versus low level programming
- 3.8 Assembly language syntax
- Comments
- Reserved words
- Identifiers
- Statements
- Directives
- Operators
- Instructions
- 3.9 EXE and COM programs
- 3.10 Assembling, linking and execution
- 3.11 One pass and two pass assemblers
- 3.12 Interrupt services: INT 21H and INT 10H
- 3.13 Various programs in 8086
- Simple programs for arithmetic, logical, string and input/output
- Conditions and loops
- Array and string processing
- ASCII and decimal numbers operation
- Displaying numbers in decimal, binary and hexadecimal formats
4Microprocessor System7 hours
Memory hierarchy and interfacing memory and I/O devices with the 8085, including parallel and serial interfaces, 12 marks. Address decoding is the key skill.
- 4.1 Memory classifications and hierarchy
- 4.2 Interfacing I/O devices and memory with 8085
- Address decoding
- Unique and non-unique address decoding
- I/O mapped I/O and memory mapped I/O
- I/O address decoding with NAND and block decoders
- Memory address decoding
- 4.3 Parallel Interface
- Modes: Simple, wait, single handshaking and double handshaking
- Introduction to programmable peripheral interface (PPI)
- 4.4 Serial Interface
- Synchronous and asynchronous transmission
- Serial interface standards: RS232, USB
- Introduction to USART
5Interrupt Operations5 hours
Interrupts in the 8085 and 8086, interrupt service routines, the programmable interrupt controller and the interrupt vector table.
- 5.1 Interrupt and its importance
- 5.2 Polling vs interrupt
- 5.3 Types of interrupts
- 5.4 Interrupts in 8085 and interrupt instructions
- 5.5 Interrupt service routine
- 5.6 Interrupt processing in 8085
- 5.7 Using programmable interrupt controllers (PIC)
- 5.8 Interrupt in 8086 and interrupt vector table
- 5.9 Interrupt processing in 8086
6Advanced Topics3 hours
A three-hour survey: Harvard architecture, RISC and CISC, hardwired and microprogrammed control, and digital signal processors.
- 6.1 Harvard architecture
- 6.2 Accumulator based and register based architecture
- 6.3 Hardwired and microprogrammed control unit
- 6.4 RISC and CISC
- 6.5 Introduction to multiprocessing/multitasking
- 6.6 Digital signal processor
Laboratory
The ENEX 201 practical
The practical is three hours a week and follows the processors: entering programs on an 8085 kit, data transfer, arithmetic, logical, branching and stack instructions, then the DEBUG tool and 8086 programs using INT 21H for input and output and INT 10H for display, ending with a lab test. Keep a notebook of working programs; they become templates for later ones.
- Familiarization to programming kit and program entry/execution in kit
- 8085 assembly language programming with data transfer instructions
- 8085 assembly language programming with arithmetic instructions
- 8085 assembly language programming with logical instructions
- 8085 assembly language programming with branching and stack instructions
- Miscellaneous and practical programming with 8085 such as multiplication/division
- Familiarization with DEBUG and entry/executing programs
- 8086 assembly language programming with simple programs and assemble link and execute programs
- 8086 assembly language programming for input and output using INT 21H service
- 8086 assembly language programming for display using INT 10H service
- 8086 assembly language programs for various conditions and I/O operations
- Lab test
Before and after
How Microprocessors connects to other courses
Builds on
Leads to
Computer organisation and architecture comes next for both programmes, embedded systems for BEI, and operating systems for Computer.
Reference books
Books IOE lists for ENEX 201
- Gaonkar, R. S. (2002). Microprocessor Architecture, Programming and Applications with the 8085. United Kingdom: Prentice Hall.
- Abel, P. (2000). IBM PC Assembly Language and Programming (5th edition). United Kingdom: Prentice Hall.
- Hall, D. V. (1999). Microprocessors and Interfacing: Programming and Hardware (2nd Edition). Tata McGraw Hill.
- Stalling, W. (2009). Computer Organization and Architecture. Prentice Hall.
Quick answers
Microprocessors questions
Which microprocessors are in the IOE Microprocessors syllabus?
The Intel 8085 (chapter 2) and Intel 8086 (chapter 3), with interfacing and interrupts covered for both.
Which chapter of Microprocessors carries the most marks?
Intel 8086 Microprocessor, with 18 of the 60 final marks, then Intel 8085 with 15 and Microprocessor System with 12.
Is there a lab test in Microprocessors?
Yes. The IOE practical list ends with a lab test after the 8085 and 8086 programming sessions.
How many credits and marks is ENEX 201 Microprocessors?
3 credits and 150 marks: 40 internal and 60 in a 3-hour IOE final for theory, plus 50 marks of practical assessed internally. It is taught 3 lecture, 1 tutorial and 3 practical hours a week.
Source
Checked against IOE
The outline, references and marks are IOE's own, from the ENEX 201 syllabus PDF and IOE's curriculum structure. The study advice is ICE's. If IOE revises the course, its syllabus is what counts. IOE's BCT curriculum page.
