The von Neumann Model for Computing Machines

At the highest level, the major hardware components of most boards can be classifi ed into fi ve major categories:

• Central processing unit (CPU). The master processor.
• Memory. Where the system’s software is stored.
• Input device(s). Input slave processors and relative electrical components.
• Output device(s). Output slave processors and relative electrical components.
• Data pathway(s)/bus(es). Interconnects the other components, providing a “highway” for data to travel on from one component to another, including any wires, bus bridges, and/or bus controllers.

These fi ve categories are based on the major elements defi ned by the von Neumann model, a tool that can be used to understand any electronic device’s hardware archi- tecture. The von Neumann model is a result of the published work of John von Neumann in 1945, which defi ned the requirements of a general-purpose electronic computer. Because embedded systems are a type of computer system, this model can be applied as a means of understanding embedded systems hardware. EMBEDDED

Ken Arnold, Fred Eady, Lewin Edwards, Jack Ganssle, Rick Gentile, Kamal Hyder, David J. Katz, Tammy Noergaard, Bob Perrin, Embedded Hardware: Know It All (2007-09-14)

• computing
• electronics
• history