TOPIC ON

MICRO CONTROLLER AND IT’S APPLICATION

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit. In modern

terminology, it is similar to, but less sophisticated than, a system on a chip or SoC; an
SoC may include a microcontroller as one of its components. A microcontroller contains
one or more along with memory and programmable input/output peripherals. Program
memory in the form of Ferroelectric RAM, NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included
on chip, as well as a small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers are designed
for embedded applications, in contrast to the microprocessors used in personal
computers or other general purpose applications consisting of various discrete chips.
Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices, such as
automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office
machines, appliances, power tools, toys and other embedded systems. By reducing the
size and cost compared to a design that uses a separate microprocessor, memory, and
input/output devices, microcontrollers make it economical to digitally control even more
devices and processes. Mixed signal microcontrollers are common, integrating analog
components needed to control non-digital electronic systems.
The Microcontroller
Common component in modern electronic systems. Single-chip computer,
Microprocessor-based device and Completely self-contained with memory and I/O
Primary role: provide inexpensive, programmable logic control and interfacing to
external devices
e.g., turn devices on/off, monitor external conditions
Microcontrollers used in a wide number of electronic systems such as:

Engine management systems in automobiles

Keyboard of a PC
Electronic measurement instruments (e.g., digital multimeters, frequency
synthesisers, and oscilloscopes)
Printers
Motor controls
Security systems
Cordless and cellular phones
Televisions, radios, CD players, tape recording equipment
Hearing aids
Security alarm systems, fire alarm systems, and building services systems
Microwave ovens
Handheld tools
Remote control devices

What is a microcontroller?
Basically, a device which integrates a number of the components of a microprocessor system
onto a single chip
Only need to be supplied power and clocking
Microcontroller combines on the same chip:

The CPU core

I/O
Memory
PROM/EPROM/EEPROM/Flash memory
Variable RAM memory
What is I/O?
I/O is Input/Output. It can be:
A number of digital bits formed into a number of digital inputs or outputs
called a port

usually eight bits wide

referred to as a BYTE wide port

A serial line from/to the microprocessor

(Transmit or TX) and a serial line to the microprocessor (Receive or RX)

Allows serial data (bit stream) to be transmitted/received via a two-wire interface

Other I/O devices

Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) and Digital to AnalogConverters (DAC)

Timer modules
Interrupt controllers

Relatively complex subsystems

Can be obtained as separate ICs (e.g., Intel 8255 PPI, 8259 PIC, 8254 PIT)
Connected to microprocessor in a similar manner to that of the memory devices
Often contain their own memory to support internal operations (ie. registers).

Types of Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers are divided into various categories based on memory, architecture, bits and
instruction sets. Following is the list of their types −

Bit
Based on bit configuration, the microcontroller is further divided into three categories.

 8-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is used to execute arithmetic

and logical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication division, etc. For
example, Intel 8031 and 8051 are 8 bits microcontroller.

 16-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is used to perform arithmetic

and logical operations where higher accuracy and performance is required. For
example, Intel 8096 is a 16-bit microcontroller.
  32-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is generally used in
automatically controlled appliances like automatic operational machines, medical
appliances, etc.

Memory
Based on the memory configuration, the microcontroller is further divided into two
categories.

 External memory microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is designed in

such a way that they do not have a program memory on the chip. Hence, it is named
as external memory microcontroller. For example: Intel 8031 microcontroller.

 Embedded memory microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is designed in

such a way that the microcontroller has all programs and data memory, counters and
timers, interrupts, I/O ports are embedded on the chip. For example: Intel 8051
microcontroller.

Instruction Set
Based on the instruction set configuration, the microcontroller is further divided into two
categories.

 CISC − CISC stands for complex instruction set computer. It allows the user to insert
a single instruction as an alternative to many simple instructions.

 RISC − RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computers. It reduces the
operational time by shortening the clock cycle per instruction.

Applications of Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers are widely used in various different devices such as −

 Light sensing and controlling devices like LED.

 Temperature sensing and controlling devices like microwave oven, chimneys.

 Fire detection and safety devices like Fire alarm.

 Measuring devices like Volt Meter.

Most microcontrollers will also combine other devices such as:

A Timer module to allow the microcontroller to perform tasks for certain

time periods.
Serial I/O (UART) for data flow between microcontroller and devices such
as a PC or other microcontroller.
Analog input and output (e.g., to receive data from sensors or control motors)
Interrupt capability (from a variety of sources)
Bus/external memory interfaces (for RAM or ROM)
Built-in monitor/debugger program
Support for external peripherals (e.g., I/O and bus extenders)

A typical microcontroller; the different sub units integrated onto the microcontroller chip.

The heart of the microcontroller is the CPU core

Traditionally based on an 8-bit microprocessor unit

e.g., Motorola uses basic 6800 microprocessor core in M68HC11 microcontroller
devices

Some examples of Microcontrollers

 Intel 8051
 Microchip's PICmicro
 Motorola 68HC11
 Hitachi H8 (used in the LEGOS RIS RCX)

Intel 8051

Introduced in late 70s

At the heart of the biggest variety of micros on earth
Biggest player now Philips Electronics (Intel concentrating on PC CPU chipset)

General pros: Powerful bit manipulation instructions

part of RAM and many special registers are bit-addressable.
Multiply and divide instructions.
At least two 16-bit timers.
UART capable of 500kb/s at 16MHz on all but very small parts.
Plentiful internal RAM.
Straightforward code addressing - always starts at zero.
I/O design makes bi-directional I/O easy.
Excellent free assembler from Metalink
Free C compiler available
 General cons:Very quirky instruction set
Confusing variety of internal and external memory spaces.
I/O design prevents true floating inputs, and pins are always high after reset.
Not very fast due to clock division.
Access to external data very weak - single pointer register only.
Poor compiler support - no stack-relative access.
Watchdog not standard

Microchip's PICmicro

Modern PIC16F452 trainer used in first half of this course

Some pros:Simple instruction set

Robust hardware
Excellent support
Microchip's MPLAB free development environment
Wide range of sizes and peripheral choices
Many language and tool choices

Some cons:4 times slower at same clock speed

Relatively weak instruction set
Limited code and data addressing
Complex "banked" addressing
Accumulator-based data processing
Single "working" acculumulator

Motorola 68HC11

Some pros:Competetive with 8051

Von Neumann architecture is easy to understand
Powerful, easy-to-use instruction set
Popular parts are good value
Good support for C compilers
Good support from Motorola

Some cons:Weak timers

No consistency within family - many variants specialised
Evaluation board (EVB) is expensive, unreliable
Not price-competitive
Slow
Old technology

Hitachi H8

Used in LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System RCX

Similar architecture to the HC11
 Some pros:Many devices with flash.
Powerful instruction set with good C support
Wide range of 8 and 16-bit devices
Good free C compiler
Nice evaluation/programming boards available
Abundant timers and interrupts

Some Cons:Most packages surface-mount

Emulation expensive

Reference:
1. https://www.tutorialspoint.com
2. file:///C:/Users/eti/Documents/microcontrollers%20(1).pdf
3. https://www.elprocus.com
4. Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller