Updated April 5, 2023

Introduction to Microprocessor Interview Questions And Answers

A microprocessor is a controlling unit of a micro-computer fabricated on a small chip capable of performing ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) operations and communicating with other devices connected to it. Microprocessor consists of register, control array, and control unit. ALU performs arithmetical and logical operations on the data received from the memory or an input device. Register array consists of registers identified by letters like B, C, D, E, H, L, and accumulator. The control units control the flow of data and instructions within the computer.

How Does a Microprocessor Work?

The microprocessor follows a sequence: Fetch, decode and then execute.
The instructions are stored in the memory in sequential order. The microprocessor fetches those instructions from memory, then decodes them and executes those instructions till STOP instruction is reached. It then sends the result in binary to the output port. The task of the register is to store data temporarily, and ALU performs the computing functions.

Features of Microprocessor

Cost-effective: the microprocessor chips are available at low prices and results in its low cost.
Size: it is a small size chip and hence portable.
Low power consumption: microprocessors are manufactured by using metaloxide semiconductor technology, which has low power consumption.
Versatility: the microprocessors are versatile as we can use the same chip in several applications by configuring the software program.
Reliability: the failure rate of IC in microprocessors is very low; hence it is reliable.

Types of Microprocessor

RISC Processor: – Reduced Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to reduce the execution time by simplifying the instruction set of the computer.
CISC Processor: – Complex Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to minimize the number of instructions per program, ignoring the number of cycles per instruction.
Special Processor: – These processors are designed for special purposes. Some of the special processors are as follows
o Coprocessor
o Input/output Processor
o Transputer
o Digital Signal Processor

If you are looking for a job related to the microprocessor, you need to prepare for the 2022 Microprocessor Interview Questions. Every interview is indeed different as per the different job profiles. Here, we have prepared the important Microprocessor Interview Questions and Answers, which will help you succeed in your interview.

Below are the 10 important 2022 Microprocessor interview questions and answers that are frequently asked in an interview. These questions are divided into two parts are as follows:

Part 1 –Microprocessor Interview Questions (Basic)

This first part covers basic Interview Questions and Answers.

1. What Is a Microprocessor?

Answer: The microprocessor is a program-controlled device, which reads a set of steps to be executed from memory and executes them.

2. What Are the Flags In 8086?

Answer: These are the common Microprocessor Interview Questions asked in an interview. In 8086, carry flag, parity flag, auxiliary carry flag, zero flags, an overflow flag, trace flag, interrupt flag, direction flag, and sign flag are present.

3. Why Crystal Is Preferred for A Clock Source?

Answer: The main reason to use crystal is high stability, large O, and accurate frequency, which remains constant all the time.

4. What is the program Counter?

Answer: Program counter holds a location in memory of the next step to be performed or the ‘s locationnext step’s location in a set of steps in case of multistep instruction. In all cases, the counter is increased by one as steps are progressed. Also, the program register keeps the address of the next instruction.

Let us move to the next Microprocessor Interview Questions.

5. What Is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Generation Processor?

Answer: The processor made of PMOS / NMOS/ HMOS/ HCMOS technology is called 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation processor, and it contains 4/8/16/32 bits.

6. What Is Tri-State Logic?

Answer: Tri-state logic is the three logic levels used; they are High, Low, High impedance state. High impedance is electrical open circuit conditions in which high and low are normal logic levels.

Part 2 – Microprocessor Interview Questions (Advanced)

Let us now have a look at the advanced Interview Questions.

7. Classify Interrupts Based on The Signal. State Their Differences?

Answer: Based on levels, there are two types of signals.

Single level interrupts
Multi-level interrupts

The differences between them are as follows.

Single interrupts are managed with a single ping, whereas multi pins manage multi interrupts.
For single interrupts, polling is essential, while for multi, it is not necessary.
Multi-level interrupts are relatively faster than single-level interrupts.

8. Explain the Trap Input for 8085 Briefly?

Answer:

Trap responds to both edge and level.
The pulse width for trap input should be more than the normal noise width.
The second trap never responds the second time as the first trap goes from high to low transition.
To prevent unwanted false triggers, the pulse width should be wider than normal widths.

Let us move to the next Microprocessor Interview Questions.

9. Explain the differences Between the Hlt and Hold States?

Answer:

When the HLT state is executed, the processor stops functioning; buses go into tri-state. The processor gives no acknowledgment in any form.
In the case of Hold, the processor goes into a hold state, but the buses are not driven to tri-state.
On other hands-on Hold, the state processor gives out the HLDA signal. This signal can be made to use by other devices.

10. Briefly Explain the Steps Involved in A Fetch Cycle?

Answer: This is the advanced Microprocessor Interview Questions asked in an interview. A fetch cycle is the time taken to retrieve an operation code from a specific location in memory.

General fetch cycles consist of 3T states.
In the first T state, the memory address stored in the program counter is sent to memory.
In the second T state, the contents of the specified memory location from the program counter are read.
In the 3rd T state, the operation code is sent to the instruction register for execution via a data bus.
In the case of memories with slow execution speed, there is provision for WAIT cycles.

11. Explain briefly what happened when the Intr signal goes High in 8085?

Answer: The INTR is the lowest priority, non-vectored, and masks able interrupt for 8085. This INTR signal goes into a High state in many instances; whenever this condition occurs, the following things occur.

For every step in the set of instructions that happens, the 8085 checks the status of INTR interrupt if it has occurred.
Until completion of every step, the status of the INTR signal remains High. As soon as this instruction is completed, the processor sends the completion signal to INTR.
As the INTR signal receives this completion signal, a new operation code is placed on a data bus to transfer it for execution.
The processor receives this new operation code address, saves this address on STACK, and the new interrupt service subroutine begins.

12. Where does CPU Enhanced mode Originate From?

Answer: Intel’s 80386 was the first 32-bit processor, so the company had to support 8086 backward. All the modern Intel-based processors run in the enhanced mode, capable of switching between real and protected mode, which is the current mode of operation.

13. What Is Microprocessor and Its Related to Components that Makes Microprocessor a Logical Unit?

Answer: The most probable answer lies in the fact that it can be used in making all electronic devices logical whether it is a diode, register, or anything. It mostly controls the entire logical unit of any electronic device. It has the capability to operate over any network element with the fact that both arithmetic or logical unit combine can perform endpoint connection and communication streamlined. Components involve mainly three elements:

Register Array: This is mostly used to make the entire accessing and storage of elements in any of the registers with some of the instructions stored in the form of bit operations making the entire memory allocation also streamlined. It mainly contains registers assembled in a hierarchical manner ranging from B, C, D, E, H, L.
Control Unit: As mentioned entire logical flow is controlled using this controller especially it includes the arithmetic logical operator within it that takes care of the entire microprocessor behavior.
Arithmetic Logical Unit: Any memory with the set of input and output is taken care by this element of the microprocessor making the entire manipulation logical with the input data.

14. What Is the Significance of Interrupt in Any Microprocessor?

Answer: There is an utmost significance of interrupt in any microprocessor especially when it comes to generate signals using external nodes or say peripherals. These external nodes or peripherals are mostly used for performance with the current task with start and stop triggers having another usage it mostly has five interrupts starting from 5.5, 6.5, INTR, 7.5, TRAP, and RST.

15. What Is the Relevance of Bus in Any Microprocessor?

Answer: Bus is a common component in any of the microprocessors used mostly for transmission of data over the network, therefore, establishing streamlined communication. The bus within the system is mostly used as a centralized concentrator which contains all the wires bundled together in the pattern where one wire per binary bit is used for processing. There are basically three types of the bus starting from Databus, control bus and address bus further having its own importance.

Address bus: It is a one-directional bus that includes the address of any memory in a binary format making the memory flow or communication with proper input and output.
Control bus: This bus has another significance in that it is used for mainly making the external peripherals transfer required and necessary information to the destined location.
Data Bus: As its name signifies it is mostly used for making the informational flow two-directional making memory flow with input to output in one way or vice-versa is also possible.

16. Why Registers Are Used Inside of Microprocessors?

Answer: Registers play an important role in microprocessor as it makes some of the temporary locations for storage within CPU. This register is then used for making the data and addresses with operations optional.

17. What Is the Relevance of Subroutine in Microprocessor?

Answer: Subroutines are used within microprocessor as a sequence of programs with some of the instructional code that performs that defined task as per task defined and managed. This entire subroutine is used as a unit for tasks that can be used for multiple locations with multiple tasks. It is having mostly four types of subroutines within the microprocessor which are as follows:

Unconditional call instruction
Conditional instruction with return
Conditional call instruction
Unconditional instructional return

18. What Is the Significance of Interfacing in Microprocessor Type 8086?

Answer: Interface acts as a medium between two entities so do it does in microprocessor type 8086 referring to the path of two components communicate and linked with each other. There are two types of interfacing that exist within this microprocessor type 8086 one is known as memory interfacing having access to a memory location with the ability to read and write both privileges. Another type of interfacing is known as IO interfacing which indicates communication with other communication devices like keyboard, printer, mouse, etc. helps a lot in many ways.

19. What Is Macro in A Microprocessor?

Answer: Macro in any microprocessor has some set of instructions that is used as a single unit within a group. The macro has a relevance where it is mostly used for and works very little for ten instructional sets at most.

20. What Is Memory Mapping with Relation to Microprocessor?

Answer: All the logical address spacing in physical memory is carried out using transfer of the logical address spacing in physical memory using smaller size microprocessor which in turn have some of the microprocessor setting and relevancy with external memory sizing.

21. What Are Mnemonics in Microprocessor?

Answer: It is basically any abbreviation or acronym related to the operation. It is used for making the instruction code easy and standardized for suitable coding and enhancement in the entire mesh of the microprocessor.

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