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Difference between revisions of "4-bit architecture"

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(4-bit microcontrollers)
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== 4-bit microcontrollers ==
 
== 4-bit microcontrollers ==
* {{ami|S2000 series|AMI S2000}}
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* {{ami|S2000|AMI S2000}}
 
* {{epson|S1C60|Epson S1C60}}
 
* {{epson|S1C60|Epson S1C60}}
 
* {{epson|S1C63|Epson S1C63}}
 
* {{epson|S1C63|Epson S1C63}}
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* {{nec|μPD751|NEC μPD751}}
 
* {{nec|μPD751|NEC μPD751}}
 
* {{nec|μPD707|NEC μPD707}}
 
* {{nec|μPD707|NEC μPD707}}
* {{matsushita|MN1400 series|Matsushita MN1400}}
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* {{matsushita|MN1400|Matsushita MN1400}}
* {{matsushita|MN1500 series|Matsushita MN1500}}
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* {{matsushita|MN1500|Matsushita MN1500}}
 
* {{mitsu|MELPS 4|Mitsubishi MELPS 4}}
 
* {{mitsu|MELPS 4|Mitsubishi MELPS 4}}
 
* [[MARC4]]
 
* [[MARC4]]

Revision as of 07:49, 22 January 2016

Architecture word sizes
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The 4-bit architecture is a microprocessor or computer architecture that has a datapath width or a highest operand width of 4 bits or a nibble. These architectures typically have a matching register file with registers width of 4 bits and 4-8-bit wide addresses.

Industry

Most of the first microprocessors during the early 1970s had 4-bit word sizes. Both the Intel 4004, the first commercial microprocessor, and the 4040 had a 4-bit word length, but had 8-bit instructions. Some of the first microcontrollers such has the TMS1000 made by Texas Instruments and NEC's μPD751 also had 4-bit words.

4-bit word were proven to be very limiting and by 1974 there was a shift to larger architectures such as 8- and 12- bit architectures. Some 4-bit chips are still made to date such as the Epson's S1C60 and S1C63 MCU families. Modern 4-bit microprocessors, however, are much different to the first generation microprocessors of the 1970s - in terms of architecture, performance, and overall capabilities.

Applications

Most 4-bit microprocessors were used almost exclusively in calculators and toys, later on for various utilities, video games, controllers, and early computers. 4 bits was a logical choice for many calculators that used BDC numbers representation.

Today, 4-bit chips such as S1C60 family are still manufactured are used in many low-power devices, wireless tools, and internet of things.

4-bit microprocessors

4-bit microcontrollers