The von Neumann, Harvard, and modified Harvard architectures
In earlier chapters, we touched briefly on the history and modern applications of the von Neumann, Harvard, and modified Harvard processor architectures. In this section, we’ll examine each of these configurations in greater detail and look at the computing applications in which each of these architectures tends to be applied.
The von Neumann architecture
The von Neumann architecture was introduced by John von Neumann in 1945. This processor configuration consists of a control unit, an arithmetic logic unit, a register set, and a memory region containing program instructions and data. The key feature distinguishing the von Neumann architecture from the Harvard architecture is the use of a single area of memory for program instructions and the data acted upon by those instructions. It is conceptually straightforward for programmers, and relatively easier for circuit designers, to locate all the code and data...
