FOR 201 Microcomputer applications

1. FOR201Microcomputer applications Hardware

2. Digital world - review • Data representation refers to the form in which data is stored, processed, and transmitted • Digital devices work with distinct and separate data • Analog devices work with continuous data • Digitizing - the process of converting analog data into digital format • Numeric data • Decimal system (0, 1, .., 9) • Binary system (0 and 1)

3. Microprocessors • A microprocessor is an integrated circuit designed to process instructions • Interprets the instructions of a computer program and processes data The fundamental operation is to execute a sequence of stored instructions, called a program.

4. Microprocessors

5. Today’s Microprocessors

6. Memory • Random Access Memory (RAM) • Random Access Memory is a temporary holding area of data, programs, and the operating system • Microscopic capacitors hold bits representing data • Most RAM is volatile

7. Memory • Read-Only Memory (ROM) • Type of memory that holds the computer startup routine • Permanent and non-volatile

8. Storage devices • A storage medium contains data • A storage device records and retrieves data from a storage medium • Data gets copied from a storage device into RAM, where it waits to be processed • Processed data is held temporarily in RAM before it is copied to a storage medium

9. Storage devices • Magnetic storage stores data by magnetizing microscopic particles on the disk or tape surface

10. Storage devices Hard disk platters and read-write heads are sealed inside the drive case to screen out dust and other contaminants.

11. Storage devices • Optical storage stores data as microscopic light and dark spots on the disk surface • CD and DVD storage technologies

12. Storage devices • Today’s DVD drives typically have 16X speeds for a data transfer rate of 177.28 Mbps • Three categories of optical technologies • Read-only (ROM) • Recordable (R) • Rewritable (RW)

13. Solid State Storage • Solid state storage technology stores data in an erasable, rewritable circuitry • Non-volatile • Card reader / interface is required to read data on solid state storage

14. Solid State Storage • A USB flash drive is a portable storage device that plugs directly into a computer’s USB port using a built-in connector

15. Storage devices - obsolete • A floppy disk is a round piece of flexible Mylar plastic covered with a thin layer of magnetic oxide and sealed inside a protective casing • A tape drive is a device that reads data from and writes data to a long stream of recordable media • A tape is a SEQUENTIAL storage medium

16. Basic input devices • Keyboard • Pointing device • Pointing stick • Trackpad • Trackball • Joystick • Touch screen

17. Display devices • A CRT display device uses a bulky glass tube • An LCD manipulates light within a layer of liquid crystal cells • Plasma screen technology illuminates lights arranged in a panel-like screen

18. Display devices - properties • Viewable image size • Dot pitch • Viewing angle width • Refresh rate • Color depth • Resolution • VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA or WUXGA

19. Printers • An ink-jet printer has a nozzle-like print head that sprays ink onto paper • A laser printer works like a photocopier • Dot matrix printers produce characters and graphics by using a grid of fine wires

20. Printers • Printer features • Resolution • Print speed • Operating costs • Duplex capability • Memory

21. Glossary • LCD: liquid crystal display • CRT: cathode ray tube • Dot pitch: distance between dots of the same color • Viewing angle width: angle at which you can clearly see the screen image from the side • Refresh rate: speed at which the screen is repainted • Color depth: number of bits determining the range of possible colors that a pixel can have • Resolution: grid’s density used to display/print