Hardware

3.1 Computers and their components

Candidates should be able to:

1. Show understanding of the need for input, output, primary memory and secondary (including removable) storage
2. Show understanding of embedded systems Describe the principal operations of hardware devices

   Notes and guidance

   Including: benefits and drawbacks of embedded systems

3. Show understanding of the use of buffers
4. Explain the differences between Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM)

   Notes and guidance

   Including their use in a range of devices and systems

5. Explain the differences between Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

   Notes and guidance

   Including the use of SRAM and DRAM in a range of devices and systems and the reasons for using one instead of the other depending on the device and its use

6. Explain the difference between Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM) and Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM)
7. Show an understanding of monitoring and control systems

   Notes and guidance

   Including:

8. difference between monitoring and control
9. use of sensors (including temperature, pressure, infra-red, sound) and actuators
10. importance of feedback :::

3.2 Logic Gates and Logic Circuits

Candidates should be able to:

1. Use the following logic gate symbols:

2. Understand and define the functions of : NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR and XOR (EOR) gates

Notes and guidance

All gates except the NOT gate will have two inputs only.

3. Construct the truth table for each of the logic gates above

4. Construct a logic circuit

Notes and guidance

From:

• a problem statement
• a logic expression
• a truth table

5. Construct a truth table

Notes and guidance

From:

• a problem statement
• a logic circuit
• a logic expression

6. Construct a logic expression

Notes and guidance

From:

• a problem statement
• a logic circuit
• a truth table