Question

For the Raspberry Pi computer which you used in ELEN 4486 Microcomputers-I course, please study its memory subsystem and then illustrate its design for both RAM and ROM. In details,

(1)Make sure to identify the total memory size of each type of memory (RAM and ROM).
(2) Determine the number of memory chips used for each RAM and ROM and the size of each memory chip.
(3) Please draw the memory chips layout and their connections to address bus and data bus, and explain them.
(4) Determine the address range (the starting address and ending address) of each memory chip and label them on the individual chip as we did for Problem 4.19 in class.
(5) Pleases ignore the chip enabling using a decoder.

Answer 1

The Raspberry Pi contains integrated RAM and uses a microSD card as ROM, with varying amounts of memory depending on the model.

Step-by-step explanation:

Memory Subsystem of Raspberry Pi

To discuss the memory subsystem of the Raspberry Pi, used in the ELEN 4486 Microcomputers-I course, we must explore the RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory). The Raspberry Pi typically includes a certain amount of integrated RAM, which varies by model (for instance, the Raspberry Pi 4 can come with 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB RAM). The ROM, more often referred to as firmware or bootloader, is usually incorporated in the SoC (System on a Chip) itself or within a small EEPROM chip depending on the model.

Determining the exact number of memory chips that are used requires disassembling the specific Raspberry Pi model. A single Raspberry Pi usually has one RAM chip that is integrated with its main processor and does not utilize separate ROM chips; its bootloader is stored on the microSD card which acts as the boot device.

The address range for RAM and ROM will depend on the specific configuration and mapping defined by the Raspberry Pi's system architecture. Without specific details from a particular Raspberry Pi device, we can't provide accurate address ranges. However, these would typically be detailed within the processor's technical documentation and would follow a linear progression from a starting address to an ending address, which would be labeled on a schematic if one were provided.

Due to the highly integrated nature of modern single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, the layout and connections to the address bus and data bus would also be specific to that device's design, generally involving a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) where these buses are internally routed to the processor and memory chips.