Microprocessors
Terms related to microprocessors, including definitions about silicon chips and words and phrases about computer processors.K7 - THE
- K7 - K7 was the development name for the Athlon personal computer microprocessor from AMD, the microprocessor and flash memory maker.
- Langmuir-Blodgett film (LB film) - A Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film is a set of monolayers, or layers of organic material one molecule thick, deposited on a solid substrate.
- logic analyzer - A logic analyzer (occasionally called a logical analyzer) is a laboratory test instrument designed to display and evaluate digital signals.
- logic level - A logic level is one of several states that a digital signal can possess, expressed as a DC (direct-current) voltage with respect to electrical ground.
- megachips per second (Mcps) - Megachips per second (Mcps) is a measure of the speed with which encoding elements, called chips (not to be confused with microchips), are generated in Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) signals.
- memory coherence - Memory coherence is a desirable condition in which corresponding memory locations for each processing element in a multi-core processor always contain the same cached data.
- memory management unit (MMU) - A memory management unit (MMU) is a computer hardware component that handles all memory and caching operations associated with the processor.
- mezzanine - Mezzanine is a term used to describe the stacking of computer component cards into a single card that then plugs into the computer bus or data path.
- MicroBlaze - MicroBlaze is the trade name for a soft processor core designed for Xilinx FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays).
- microchip - A microchip (sometimes just called a "chip") is a unit of packaged computer circuitry (usually called an integrated circuit) that is manufactured from a material such as silicon at a very small scale.
- microchip art - Microchip art is a microscopic non-functioning drawing impressed on the surface of the design mask used in the production of microchip s.
- microfluidics - Microfluidics is the science of designing, manufacturing, and formulating devices and processes that deal with volumes of fluid on the order of nanoliters (symbolized nl and representing units of 10 -9 liter) or picoliters (symbolized pl and representing units of 10 -12 liter).
- micrometer - A micrometer (sometimes expressed using the obsolete term, micron), is one-millionth of a meter and can also be expressed as:10 -6 meterOne thousandth of a millimeterOne 25-thousandth of an inchThe micrometer is a unit of measure for the core in optical fiber, for which the most common diameter is 62.
- micron - The micron, officially obsolete as a term of measurement, is sometimes used by microchip and wiring manufacturers in place of micrometer, one-millionth of a meter.
- microprocessor (logic chip) - A microprocessor is a computer processor on a microchip.
- microrobot - A microrobot is a miniaturized, sophisticated machine designed to perform a specific task or tasks repeatedly and with precision.
- MMX - MMX is a Pentium microprocessor from Intel that is designed to run faster when playing multimedia applications.
- monostable circuit - A monostable circuit is an electronic device called a multivibrator that has two distinct states, one of them stable (having a steady voltage) and the other one unstable (having an unsteady or variable voltage).
- motherboard tattoo - A motherboard tattoo is a unique code that can be written in the basic input/output system (BIOS) of a computer to ensure that system restore or diagnostic compact discs (CDs) will work only on the machine or line of machines with which the CDs are sold.
- multi-core processor - A multi-core processor is an integrated circuit (IC) to which two or more processors have been attached for enhanced performance, reduced power consumption, and more efficient simultaneous processing of multiple tasks.
- nanoanalysis - Nanoanalysis refers to techniques for determining the atomic structures of materials, especially crystals.
- nanochip - A nanochip is an integrated circuit (IC) that is so small, in physical terms, that individual particles of matter play major roles.
- nanocomputer - A nanocomputer is a computer whose physical dimensions are microscopic.
- nanofabrication - Nanofabrication is the design and manufacture of devices with dimensions measured in nanometers.
- nanolithography - Nanolithography is the art and science of etching, writing, or printing at the microscopic level, where the dimensions of characters are on the order of nanometers (units of 10 -9 meter, or millionths of a millimeter).
- nanomachine (nanite) - A nanomachine, also called a nanite, is a mechanical or electromechanical device whose dimensions are measured in nanometers (millionths of a millimeter, or units of 10 -9 meter).
- nanomedicine - Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology (the engineering of tiny machines) to the prevention and treatment of disease in the human body.
- nanorobot - A nanorobot is a tiny machine designed to perform a specific task or tasks repeatedly and with precision at nanoscale dimensions, that is, dimensions of a few nanometers (nm) or less, where 1 nm = 10-9 meter.
- nanoscale technology - Nanoscale technology is a branch of nanotechnology in which standard size tools are used to manufacture simple structures and devices with dimensions on the order of a few nanometers or less, where one nanometer (1 nm) is equal to a billionth of a meter (10 -9 m).
- nanotransistor - A nanotransistor is a transistor - the component that acts as an electronic signal switch or amplifier - that is near the scale of a billionth of a meter (or nanometer) in size.
- nanotube (carbon nanotube) - A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a miniature cylindrical carbon structure that has hexagonal graphite molecules attached at the edges.
- neural net processor - A neural net processor is a CPU that takes the modeled workings of how a human brain operates onto a single chip.
- neuromorphic chip - A neuromorphic chip is an analog data processor inspired by the biological brain.
- neurosynaptic chip (cognitive chip) - A neurosynaptic chip, also known as a cognitive chip, is a computer processor that functions more like a biological brain than a typical CPU does.
- Northbridge - Northbridge is an Intel chipset that communicates with the computer processor and controls interaction with memory, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, Level 2 cache, and all Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) activities.
- octal latch - An octal latch is an integrated circuit (IC) that contains eight binary digital circuits called latches.
- OpenPower Foundation - The OpenPower Foundation is an organization in which IBM shares its Power microprocessor technology with licensed members.
- optical transceiver chip - An optical transceiver chip is an integrated circuit (IC) that transmits and receives data using optical fiber rather than electrical wire.
- overclocking - Overclocking is resetting some computer component so that it runs faster than the manufacturer-specified speed.
- Palladium - Palladium is a plan from Intel, AMD, and Microsoft to build security into personal computers and servers at the microprocessor level.
- parallel presence detect (PPD) - Parallel presence detect (PPD) is a method of using resistors to communicate a memory module's speed and density to the basic input/output system (BIOS) when a computer boots (starts or restarts).
- PDP-11 (Programmed Data Processor-11) - PDP-11 (Programmed Data Processor-1 is one of the most famous computers in computing history, one of a series manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from the early 1960s through the mid-1990s.
- Pentium - Also see the Pentium MMX and the Pentium 3.
- Pentium 3 - The Pentium III is a microprocessor designed by Intel as a successor to its Pentium II.
- petaflop - A petaflop is a measure of a computer's processing speed and can be expressed as a quadrillion (thousand trillion) floating point operations per second (FLOPS).
- photolithography - Photolithography is the standard method of printed circuit board (PCB) and microprocessor fabrication.
- PIC microcontrollers - PIC microcontrollers are a family of specialized microcontroller chips produced by Microchip Technology in Chandler, Arizona.
- positional assembly - Positional assembly is a technique that has been suggested as a means to build objects, devices, and systems on a molecular scale using automated processes in which the components that carry out the construction process would follow programmed paths.
- power-on reset (PoR) - A power-on reset (PoR) is a circuit that provides a predictable, regulated voltage to a microprocessor or microcontroller with the initial application of power.
- PowerPC - PowerPC is a microprocessor architecture that was developed jointly by Apple, IBM, and Motorola.
- PPGA (plastic pin grid array) - PPGA (plastic pin grid array) is a microchip design from Intel that has the silicon core of the microchip facing down toward the computer motherboard.
- predication (branch predication) - Predication (also called branch predication) is a process implemented in Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC)-based processors and their compilers to increase performance by eschewing branch prediction (a common technique used in modern processors), where a wrong guess by the processor brings a performance penalty.
- pressure sensing - Pressure sensing is the capacity for some system to sense the force exerted on a surface per unit area and express that force in the strength of an electric signal.
- printed circuit board (PCB) - A printed circuit board (PCB) is the board base for physically supporting and wiring surface-mounted and socketed components in most electronics.
- processing in memory (PIM) - Processing in memory (PIM, sometimes called processor in memory) is the integration of a processor with RAM (usually DRAM or SRAM) on a single chip.
- processor (CPU) - A processor is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.
- processor serial number (PSN) - A PSN (processor serial number) is a software-readable unique serial number that Intel has stamped into its Pentium 3 microprocessor.
- ProLiant - ProLiant, an "industry standard" computer server from Compaq, typifies the popularly-priced server that is designed to satisfy general computing needs at various levels in an enterprise.
- proximity sensing - Proximity sensing is the ability of a robot to tell when it is near an object, or when something is near it.
- quad gate - A quad gate is an IC (integrated circuit or chip) containing four logic gates.
- quad-core processor - A quad-core processor is a chip with four independent units called cores that read and execute central processing unit (CPU) instructions such as add, move data, and branch.
- quantum dot - A quantum dot is a particle of matter so small that the addition or removal of an electron changes its properties in some useful way.
- quantum mirage - The term quantum mirage refers to a phenomenon that may make it possible to transfer data without conventional electrical wiring.
- RAMDAC (random access memory digital-to-analog converter) - RAMDAC (random access memory digital-to-analog converter) is a microchip that converts digital image data into the analog data needed by a computer display.
- real-time clock (RTC) - A real-time clock (RTC) is a battery-powered clock that is included in a microchip in a computer motherboard.
- reconfigurable processor - A reconfigurable processor is a microprocessor with erasable hardware that can rewire itself dynamically.
- recordable DVD (writable DVD) - Recordable DVD (sometimes called writable DVD) is a DVD technology that allows a PC user to write data one or more times to a DVD with the PC's DVD drive.
- register (processor register, CPU register) - A processor register is one of a small set of data holding places that are part of the computer processor.
- replicator - A replicator is an object or organism that can make copies of itself.
- RIMM - In a computer, a RIMM is a memory module developed by Kingston Technology Corp.
- Ryzen (AMD Ryzen) - Ryzen (pronounced RYE zen) is an AMD CPU aimed at the server, desktop, workstation, media center PC and all-in-one markets.
- SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) - SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) is a generic name for various kinds of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) that are synchronized with the clock speed that the microprocessor is optimized for.
- segmented memory - Segmented memory is a system of addressing computer memory, which may be physical or virtual and may be operating in real or protected mode.
- selenium - What is selenium?Selenium is a non-metallic element that is often used as a semiconductor material, as a rectifier or in xerography.
- self-assembly - Self-assembly is a branch of nanotechnology in which objects, devices, and systems form structures without external prodding.
- semiconductor fab - A semiconductor fab is a manufacturing plant in which raw silicon wafers are turned into integrated circuits.
- SerDes (serializer/deserializer) - A SerDes or serializer/deserializer is an integrated circuit (IC or chip) transceiver that converts parallel data to serial data and vice-versa.
- serial communications interface (SCI) - A serial communications interface (SCI) is a device that enables the serial (one bit at a time) exchange of data between a microprocessor and peripherals such as printers, external drives, scanners, or mice.
- serial peripheral interface (SPI) - In a computer, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) is an interface that enables the serial (one bit at a time) exchange of data between two devices, one called a master and the other called a slave.
- shift register - A shift register is a digital memory circuit found in calculators, computers, and data-processing systems.
- silicon photonics - Silicon photonics is an evolving technology in which data is transferred among computer chips by optical rays.
- SIMM (single in-line memory module) - A SIMM (single in-line memory module) is a module containing one or several random access memory (RAM) chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect to the computer motherboard.
- smart card - A smart card is a physical card that has an embedded integrated chip that acts as a security token.
- SoC testing (system-on-a-chip testing) - SoC (system-on-a-chip) testing is the testing of system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices.
- Socket 7 - Socket 7 is the descriptive term for the way certain Intel Pentium microprocessors plug into a computer motherboard so that it makes contact with the motherboard's built-in wires or data bus.
- softcooling (software cooling) - Softcooling is a software-based method of computer component cooling, conducted either by adjusting component settings or by using softcooling products.
- Southbridge - Southbridge is an Intel chipset that manages the basic forms of input/output (I/O) such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, audio, Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) I/O in a computer.
- SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) - SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) is a 32- and 64-bit microprocessor architecture from Sun Microsystems that is based on reduced instruction set computing (RISC).
- speculation (speculative loading) - Speculation (also known as speculative loading), is a process implemented in Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) processors and their compilers to reduce processor-memory exchanging bottlenecks or latency by putting all the data into memory in advance of an actual load instruction.
- stack pointer - A stack pointer is a small register that stores the address of the last program request in a stack.
- stepper - A stepper is a machine used to project the image of a circuit in photolithographic semiconductor fabrication.
- stepping - Stepping is a number used by Intel to identify what level of design change a microprocessor was built to.
- stretchable silicon - Stretchable silicon is a flexible form of silicon manufactured in thin, wavelike ribbons that can be expanded and compressed like accordion bellows.
- substrate - A substrate is a solid substance or medium to which another substance is applied and to which that second substance adheres.
- superscalar - Superscalar describes a microprocessor design that makes it possible for more than one instruction at a time to be executed during a single clock cycle.
- system-on-a-chip (SoC) - System-on-a-chip (SoC) technology is the packaging of all the necessary electronic circuits and parts for a "system" (such as a cell phone or digital camera) on a single integrated circuit (IC), generally known as a microchip.
- teraflop - A teraflop is a measure of a computer's speed and can be expressed as: A trillion floating point operations per second 10 to the 12th power floating-point operations per second 2 to the 40th power flops Today's fastest parallel computing operations are capable of teraflop speeds.
- terahertz (THz) - The terahertz, abbreviated THz, is a unit of electromagnetic (EM) wave frequency equal to one trillion hertz (1012 Hz).
- texture sensing - Texture sensing is the ability of a robot end effector to determine whether a surface is smooth or rough.
- thermal grease (thermal paste or thermal compound) - Thermal grease, also called thermal paste or thermal compound, is a substance used to promote better heat conduction between two surfaces and is commonly used between a microprocessor and a heatsink.