Basic and Historical Definitions

Summary

This chapter presents the basic definition of the microprocessor. From a logical point of view, a microprocessor is a sequential system which executes a program stored in a so‐called central, main or primary memory. By extension, a processor is a reduction of a microprocessor in the sense that it contains at least one control unit, a calculation unit and registers. The chapter provides a brief history of the development of microprocessors by specifying, in particular, the different generations of components. The microprocessor was created in California in Silicon Valley. It was originally designed to meet the needs of a Japanese manufacturer of desktop calculators, the Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation. Microelectronic technology for manufacturing integrated circuits has evolved over time. Initially of the bipolar type, it slowly evolved towards unipolar technologies, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS), and complementary MOS.