12.2.3. Control Signal Summary

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is a control signal?

   Hint

   Think about how the CPU gets commands.

2. 2.

   What does the program counter do?

   Hint

   Consider what the CPU needs to know next.

3. 3.

   What is the main purpose of control signals?

   • To provide data storage
   • To direct component actions
   • To execute instructions

   Hint

   Think about which part of the computer architecture commands operations.

4. 4.

   True or False: All instructions will have the same control signal sequence during execution.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider if an addition operation is the same as a memory fetch.

5. 5.

   Design a control signal sequence for an instruction cycle that includes both arithmetic and memory access operations. Detail each step and the corresponding control signal.

   Hint

   Follow the execution cycle closely for each instruction step.

6. 6.

   Critically analyze how the addition of an immediate value to an instruction might change the fetch-execute cycle. Explain how control signals will differ.

   Hint

   Consider how immediate values change how the CPU interacts with memory.