Fundamentals of Microprocessors

Course Description

CET2123C – Fundamentals of Microprocessors is a combined lecture/laboratory course (the 'C' suffix denotes integrated lab) intended for students majoring in Electronics or Computer Engineering Technology. Students learn to apply digital principles to the understanding of microprocessor parameters and characteristics — including addressing range and models, instruction set, architecture, input/output, interrupts, and programming — and build practical microprocessor and/or microcontroller based systems to perform a variety of engineering applications. Coursework typically includes hands-on laboratory exercises in which students assemble, program, and troubleshoot microprocessor-based systems and write assembly-language programs.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Outline the history of computers and explain the role of computers in business, scientific, control-system, and military applications.
• Draw the block diagram and describe the basic architecture of a microcomputer.
• Identify and give functional descriptions of the data, address, and control buses and explain their role in microprocessor operation.
• Describe the internal architecture of a representative microprocessor (e.g., 8085) and explain the function and operation of each register.
• Describe the sequence of operations in the execution of a microprocessor instruction.
• Define assembly language and high-level language and explain the advantages of assembly language; explain the function of each component: microprocessor, memory, and input/output (I/O) devices.
• Use assembly-language mnemonics to write programs and code assembly-language instructions in binary, including data-handling and arithmetic instructions.
• Apply digital principles to addressing modes, instruction sets, I/O, and interrupt handling.
• Build, program, and troubleshoot a working microprocessor- or microcontroller-based system in the laboratory.

Optional / Extended Outcomes

• Compare and contrast microprocessors and microcontrollers, describe the advantages of microcontrollers for some applications, and explain the concept of embedded systems.
• Interface microcontrollers with sensors, actuators, displays, and communication peripherals (I²C, SPI, UART).
• Develop firmware in C as well as assembly language.
• Introduction to ARM Cortex-M class processors and modern embedded development boards (e.g., Arduino, PIC, MSP432).
• Introduction to real-time and IoT applications of embedded microprocessors.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• History and Evolution of Microprocessors – generations of processors, large-scale integration, and the role of computers in industry, science, and control systems.
• Microcomputer Architecture – CPU, memory, I/O, and the system block diagram.
• Bus Structures – data, address, and control buses and their functions.
• Internal Microprocessor Architecture – ALU, registers, program counter, stack pointer, flags (illustrated with an instructional CPU such as the 8085).
• Number Systems and Codes – binary, hexadecimal, BCD, two's complement.
• Instruction Set and Addressing Modes – data movement, arithmetic, logical, branch, and control instructions.
• Assembly Language Programming – mnemonics, hand-assembly to machine code, subroutines, and stack operations.
• Memory Systems – RAM, ROM/EEPROM/Flash, memory mapping, and decoding.
• Input/Output – parallel and serial I/O, polled vs. interrupt-driven I/O.
• Interrupts – maskable/non-maskable interrupts, vectoring, and service routines.
• Laboratory Practice – building and testing microprocessor/microcontroller circuits and writing/debugging programs.

Optional Topics

• Microcontroller Platforms – PIC, AVR/Arduino, 8051, ARM Cortex-M.
• Embedded C Programming and cross-compiler toolchains.
• Peripheral Interfacing – timers/counters, PWM, A/D and D/A conversion.
• Serial Communication Protocols – UART, SPI, I²C.
• Real-Time and IoT Applications of embedded microprocessors.
• Comparison of CISC and RISC architectures.

Resources & Tools

• Trainers / Development Boards: 8085 trainers, Arduino, PIC development kits, MSP432/ARM Cortex-M boards.
• Software: Assemblers/simulators (e.g., 8085 simulator, MPLAB X, Atmel/Microchip Studio, Arduino IDE), text editors, and oscilloscope/logic analyzer software.
• Lab Equipment: Digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, breadboards, and prototyping accessories.
• Common Texts: Microprocessor Architecture, Programming, and Applications with the 8085 (Gaonkar); The 8051 Microcontroller and Embedded Systems (Mazidi); Digital Electronics with VHDL (Kleitz).

Career Pathways

This course supports students pursuing the A.S. in Electronics Engineering Technology or Computer Engineering Technology and prepares them for technician-level roles such as:

• Electronics / Embedded Systems Technician
• Computer Engineering Technician
• Industrial Controls / Automation Technician
• Test & Measurement Technician
• Field Service Engineer (embedded / instrumentation)

It also provides foundational skills for students transferring into B.S. programs in Computer or Electrical Engineering Technology.

Special Information

Credit / Contact Hours: Most Florida colleges offer CET2123C as a 3-credit course; some institutions (e.g., Miami Dade College, State College of Florida) offer the equivalent course as 4.00 credits with additional laboratory time. Verify credit value with the offering institution.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites vary by institution. Examples include CET1110C and COP2270 (Miami Dade College) and CET 1114C (State College of Florida). Students should have prior coursework in digital fundamentals and an introductory programming course.

Certification / Workforce Alignment: The skills developed in this course align with industry-recognized certifications such as the ETA International Associate Electronics Technician (CETa), ETA Electronic Systems Associate (ESA), and entry-level vendor certifications for embedded platforms (e.g., Arduino Certification, Microchip MPLAB Certification).