ABSTRACT
Some manufacturers use a programmable logic device to emulate a microprocessor and the supporting peripherals with software instead of dedicated hardware. Stage-lighting manufacturers have always relied on computer chip and component manufacturers to develop the enabling technology that allows them to advance their products. In order to understand how stage lighting works and interacts with a controller, it helps to understand the three major parts of a computer system, which are the central processing unit (CPU), the input/output ports, and the memory. A central processing unit (CPU) is an integrated circuit chip that is responsible for receiving data, performing operations, executing instructions, and outputting data. It combines a CPU with on-board memory and all the input/output interfaces required, and is a lower-cost alternative to a microprocessor. The memory is the part of the computer that stores information such as data and instructions. There are several different types of memory devices but they each function in a similar manner.
