The fundamental sequence of steps that a CPU performs. Also known as the "fetch-execute cycle," it is the process whereby a single instruction is executed. The first half of the cycle transfers the ...

The registers and key elements of the Von Neumann architecture all play a part in how an instruction is processed in the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

Designing a µP isn't very difficult. Designing a µP that executes the same instruction set as an existing device, but doesn't copy that device's circuitry or microcode, is far trickier. It's still ...