Outline three microprocessor system buses, citing their functions. (6 marks)June/July 2020

A bus is a communication system that allows different components of a computer to communicate with each other. In a microprocessor system, there are several different types of buses that perform different functions.

1. The data bus is used to transfer data between the microprocessor, memory, and peripherals. It is a bi-directional bus, which means that data can be transferred in either direction between the microprocessor and other devices.
2. The address bus is used to specify the location of data being transferred on the data bus. It is a unidirectional bus, meaning that it only carries addresses from the microprocessor to other devices.
3. The control bus is used to control the flow of data and the transfer of information between devices. It consists of several signals that are used to initiate and terminate data transfers, and to control the flow of data between devices.
4. The power bus is used to provide power to the various components of the system. It consists of voltage and ground lines that are used to power the microprocessor and other devices.
5. The clock bus is used to synchronize the operation of the different components in the system. It consists of a clock signal that is generated by a clock generator, and is used to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor and other devices.
6. The memory bus is used to transfer data between the microprocessor and main memory. It is a bi-directional bus that is used to read and write data from main memory.