Hardwired Vs.

Micro-programmed Control Unit

In a system or computer, most of the tasks are controlled with the help of
a processor or CPU (Central processing unit), which is the main
component of a computer. The CPU usually has two main
systems: control unit (CU) and arithmetic and logic unit (ALU). The
control unit (CU) is used to synchronize the tasks with the help of sending
timings and control signals. On the other hand, mathematical and logical
operations can be handled with the help of ALU. Micro programmed
control units and hardwired control units can be called two types of
control units. We can execute an instruction with the help of these two
control units.

In the hardwired control unit, the execution of operations is much

faster, but the implementation, modification, and decoding are difficult. In
contrast, implementing, modifying, decoding micro-programmed
control units is very easy. The micro-programmed control unit is also
able to handle complex instructions. With the help of control signals
generated by micro-programmed and hardwired control units, we are able
to fetch and execute the instructions.

Control Signals
In order to generate the control signals, both the control signals were
basically designed. The functionality of a processor's hardware is
operated with the help of these control signals. The control signals are
used to know about various types of things, which are described as
follows:

o Control signals are used to know what operation is going to be

performed.
o It is used to know about the sequence of operations that are
performed by the processor.
o It is used to know about the timing at which an operation must be
executed and many other types of things.

Hardwired Control Unit

With the help of generating control signals, the hardwired control unit is
able to execute the instructions at a correct time and proper sequence. As
compared to the micro-programmed, the hardwired CU is generally faster.
In this CU, the control signals are generated with the help of PLA circuit
and state counter. Here the Central processing unit requires all these
control signals. With the help of hardware, the hardwired control signals
are generated, and it basically uses the circuitry approach.

The image of a hardwired control unit is described as follows, which

contains various components in the form of circuitry. We will discuss them
one by one so that we can properly understand the "generation of control
signals".

o The instruction register is a type of processor register used to

contain an instruction that is currently in execution. As we can see,
the instruction register is used to generate the OP-code bits
respective of the operation as well as the addressing mode of
operands.
o The above generated Op-code bits are received in the field of
an instruction decoder. The instruction decoder interprets the
operation and instruction's addressing mode. Now on the basis of
 the addressing mode of instruction and operation which exists in the
instruction register, the instruction decoder sets the corresponding
Instruction signal INSi to 1. Some steps are used to execute each
instruction, i.e., instruction
fetch, decode, operand fetch, Arithmetic and logical unit,
and memory store. Different books might be contained different
steps. But in general, we are able to execute an instruction with the
help of these five steps.
o The information about the current step of instruction must be known
by the control unit. Now the Step Counter is implemented, which is
used to contain the signals from T1,…., T5. Now on the basis of the
step which contains the instruction, one of the signals of a step
counter will be set from T1 to T5 to 1.
o Now we have a question that how the step counter knows about the
current step of instruction? So to know the current step, a Clock is
implemented. The one-clock cycle of the clock will be completed for
each step. For example, suppose that if the stop counter sets T3 to
1, then after completing one clock cycle, the step counter will set T4
to 1.
o Now we have a question, i.e., what will happen if the execution of
an instruction is interrupted for some reason? Will the step counter
still be triggered by the clock? The answer to this question is No. As
long as the execution is current step is completed, the Counter
Enable will "disable" the Step Counter so that it will stop then
increment to the next step signal.
o Now we have a question, i.e., what if the execution of instruction
depends on some conditions? In this case, the Condition
Signals will be used. There are various conditions in which the
signals are generated with the help of control signals that can be
less than, greater than, less than equal, greater than equal, and
many more.
 o The external input is the last one. It is used to tell the Control
Signal Generator about the interrupts, which will affect the
execution of an instruction.

So, on the basis of the input obtained by the conditional signals, step
counter, external inputs, and instruction register, the control signals will
be generated with the help of Control signal Generator.

Micro-programmed Control Unit

A micro-programmed control unit can be described as a simple logic
circuit. We can use it in two ways, i.e., it is able to execute each
instruction with the help of generating control signals, and it is also able
to do sequencing through microinstructions. It will generate the control
signals with the help of programs. At the time of evolution of CISC
architecture in the past, this approach was very famous. The program
which is used to create the control signals is known as the "Micro-
program". The micro-program is placed on the processor chip, which is a
type of fast memory. This memory is also known as the control store or
control memory.

A micro-program is used to contain a set of microinstructions. Each

microinstruction or control word contains different bit patterns. The n bit
words are contained by each microinstruction. On the basis of the bit
pattern of a control word, every control signals differ from each other.

Like the above, the instruction execution in a micro-programmed control

unit is also performed in steps. So for each step, the micro-program
contains a control word/ microinstruction. If we want to execute a
particular instruction, we need a sequence of microinstructions. This
process is known as the micro-routine. The image of a micro-programmed
control unit is described as follows. Here, we will learn the organization of
micro-program, micro-routine, and control word/ microinstruction.
Now we will learn about the organization of Micro-program CU. Then we
will learn about the flow of instruction execution with the help of
instruction execution steps, which are described as follows:
o Instruction fetch is the first step. In this step, the instruction is
fetched from the IR (Instruction Register) with the help of a
Microinstruction address register.
o Decode is the second step. In this step, the instructions obtained
from the instruction register will be decoded with the help of a
microinstruction address generator. Here we will also get the
starting address of a micro-routine. With the help of this address,
we can easily perform the operation, which is mentioned in the
instruction. It will also load the starting address into the micro-
program counter.
o Increment is the third step. In this step, the control word, which
corresponds to the starting address of a micro-program, will be
read. When the execution proceeds, the value of the micro-program
 counter will be increased so that it can read the successive control
words of a micro-routine.
o End bit is the fourth step. In this step, the microinstruction of a
micro-routine contains a bit, which is known as the end bit. The
execution of the microinstruction will be successfully completed
when the end bit is set to 1.
o This is the last step, and in this step, the micro-program address
generator will again go back to Step 1 so that we can fetch a new
instruction, and this process or cycle goes on.

So in the micro-programmed control unit, the micro-programs are stored

with the help of Control memory or Control store. The implementation of
this CU is very easy and flexible, but it is slower as compared to the
Hardwired control unit.

Differences between Hardwired Control unit and Micro-

programmed Control unit
There are various differences between Micro-programmed CU and Hardwired CU, which are described
as follows:

Hardwired Control Unit Micro-programmed Control Unit

With the help of a hardware circuit, we can While with the help of programming, w
implement the hardwired control unit. In can implement the micro-programme
other words, we can say that it is a control unit.
circuitry approach.

The hardwired control unit uses the logic The micro-programmed CU use
circuit so that it can generate the control microinstruction so that it can generat
signals, which are required for the the control signals. Usually, contro
processor. memory is used to store thes
microinstructions.

In this CU, the control signals are going to It is very easy to modify the micro
be generated in the form of hard wired. programmed control unit because th
That's why it is very difficult to modify the modifications are going to be performe
hardwired control unit. only at the instruction level.

In the form of logic gates, everything has The micro-programmed control unit is les
to be realized in the hardwired control costly as compared to the hardwired CU
unit. That's why this CU is more costly as because this control unit only requires th
compared to the micro-programmed microinstruction to generate the contro
control unit. signals.

The complex instructions cannot be The micro-programmed control unit i

handled by a hardwired control unit able to handle the complex instructions.
because when we design a circuit for this
instruction, it will become complex.

Because of the hardware implementation, The micro-programmed control unit i

the hardwired control unit is able to use a able to generate control signals for man
limited number of instructions. instructions.

The hardwired control unit is used in those The micro-programmed control unit i
types of computers that also use the RISC used in those types of computers tha
(Reduced instruction Set Computers). also use the CISC (Complex instructio
Set Computers).

In the hardwired control unit, the hardware In this CU, the microinstructions are use
is used to generate only the required to generate the control signals. That'
control signals. That's why this control unit why this CU is slower than the hardwire
is faster as compared to the micro- control unit.
programmed control unit.

Some Other differences between Micro-programmed control unit

and Hardwire control unit
Now we will describe these differences on the basis of some parameters,
such as speed, cost, modification, instruction decoder, control memory,
etc. These differences are described as follows:

Speed

In the hardwired control unit, the speed of operations is very fast. In

contrast, the micro-programmed control unit needs frequent memory
access. So the speed of operation of a micro-programmed control unit is
slow.

Modification

If we want to do some modifications to the Hardwired control unit, we

have to redesign the entire unit. In contrast, if we want to do some
modification in the micro-programmed control unit, we can do that just by
changing the microinstructions in the control memory. In this case, the
more flexible control unit is a micro-programmed control unit.

Cost

The implementation of a Hardwire control unit is very much compared to

the Micro-programmed control unit. In this case, the micro-programmed
control unit will save our money at the time of implementation.

Handling Complex Instructions

If we try to handle the complex instructions with the help of a hardwired

control unit, it will be very difficult for us to handle them. But if we try to
handle the complex instructions with the help of micro-programmed
control unit, it will be very easy for us to handle them. In this case also,
the Micro-programmed control unit is better.

Instruction decoding

In the hardwired control unit, if we want to perform instruction decoding,

it will be very difficult. But if we do the same thing in a micro-
programmed control unit, it will be very easy for us.

Instruction set size

A small instruction set is used by the hardwired CU. On the other hand, a
large instruction set is used by the micro-programmed control unit.

Control Memory

The hardwired control unit does not use the control memory to generate
the control signals, but the micro-programmed CU needs to use the
control memory to generate the control signals.

Applications

The hardwired control unit is used in those types of processors that

basically use a simple instruction set. This set is called a Reduced
Instruction Set Computer. On the other hand, a micro-programmed
control unit is used in those types of processors that basically use a
complex instruction set. This set is called a Complex Instruction Set
Computer.
Computer Organization | Hardwired v/s
Micro-programmed Control Unit
Hardwired Control Unit: The control hardware can be viewed as a
state machine that changes from one state to another in every clock
cycle, depending on the contents of the instruction register, the
condition codes, and the external inputs. The outputs of the state
machine are the control signals. The sequence of the operation carried
out by this machine is determined by the wiring of the logic elements
and hence named “hardwired”.
 Fixed logic circuits that correspond directly to the Boolean
expressions are used to generate the control signals.
 Hardwired control is faster than micro-programmed control.
 A controller that uses this approach can operate at high speed.
 RISC architecture is based on the hardwired control unit

Micro-programmed Control Unit –

 The control signals associated with operations are stored in
special memory units inaccessible by the programmer as Control
Words.
 Control signals are generated by a program that is similar to
machine language programs.
 The micro-programmed control unit is slower in speed because of
the time it takes to fetch microinstructions from the control
memory.
Some Important Terms
1. Control Word: A control word is a word whose individual bits
represent various control signals.
2. Micro-routine: A sequence of control words corresponding to
the control sequence of a machine instruction constitutes the micro-
routine for that instruction.
3. Micro-instruction: Individual control words in this micro-routine
are referred to as microinstructions.
4. Micro-program: A sequence of micro-instructions is called a
micro-program, which is stored in a ROM or RAM called a Control
Memory (CM).
5. Control Store: the micro-routines for all instructions in the
instruction set of a computer are stored in a special memory called
the Control Store.

Types of Micro-programmed Control Unit – Based on the type of

Control Word stored in the Control Memory (CM), it is classified into
two types :
1. Horizontal Micro-programmed Control Unit :
The control signals are represented in the decoded binary format that
is 1 bit/CS. Example: If 53 Control signals are present in the processor
then 53 bits are required. More than 1 control signal can be enabled at
a time.
 It supports longer control words.
 It is used in parallel processing applications.
 It allows a higher degree of parallelism. If degree is n, n CS is
enabled at a time.
 It requires no additional hardware(decoders). It means it is faster
than Vertical Microprogrammed.
 It is more flexible than vertical microprogrammed
2. Vertical Micro-programmed Control Unit :
The control signals are represented in the encoded binary format. For
N control signals- Log2(N) bits are required.
 It supports shorter control words.
 It supports easy implementation of new control signals therefore
it is more flexible.
 It allows a low degree of parallelism i.e., the degree of parallelism
is either 0 or 1.
 Requires additional hardware (decoders) to generate control
signals, it implies it is slower than horizontal microprogrammed.
 It is less flexible than horizontal but more flexible than that of a
hardwired control unit.