Lecture 1

Introduction to Microcontrollers

What is a Microcontroller?

A Microcontroller is a programmable digital processor with

necessary peripherals. Both microcontrollers and microprocessors
are complex sequential digital circuits meant to carry out job
according to the program / instructions. Sometimes analog
input/output interface makes a part of microcontroller circuit of
mixed mode(both analog and digital nature).

A microcontroller can be compared to a Swiss knife with multiple

functions incorporated in the same IC.

Why the Name is Micro-controller?

It is small on chip microcomputer which has processor, memory, I/O
pins for input and output, etc. It is used to control the operation of
machine using fixed Program that is stored in ROM/EPROM and that
does not change over the life time.
It is named so because it is basically used for control actions. The
name itself specifies its meaning by splitting the word micro-controller
into two MICRO is derived from a Greek word Micros which means
small (in size, quantity, number and dignity) and Controller is the logic
circuitry that does the control action based on the program written.
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What is microcontroller?
Term 8051 refers to MCS 51 family of microcontroller ICs introduced by intel
corporation in 1971. A microcontroller is a computer with most of the necessary
support chips on board. All computers have several things in common, namely:
A central processing unit (CPU) that executes programs.
Some random-access memory (RAM) where it can store data that is variable.
Some read only memory (ROM) where programs to be executed can be
stored.
Input and output (I/O) devices that enable communication to be established
with the outside world i.e. connection to devices such as keyboard, mouse,
monitors and other peripherals
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Components of a
microprocessor/controller

CPU: Central Processing Unit

I/O: Input /Output
Bus: Address bus & Data bus
Memory: RAM & ROM
Timer
Interrupt
Serial Port
Parallel Port
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General-purpose
microprocessor:

CPU for Computers

Commonly no RAM, ROM, I/O on CPU chip itself

CPU
GeneralPurpose
Microprocessor

Many chips on motherboard

Data Bus

RAM

ROM

I/O
Port

Timer

Serial
COM
Port

Address Bus

Microcontroller :
A single-chip computer
On-chip RAM, ROM, I/O ports...
Example Motorolas 6811, Intels 8051, Zilogs Z8 and PIC 16X

CPU
I/O
Port

RAM ROM
Serial
Timer COM
Port

A single chip
Microcontroller
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Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller

Microprocessor
CPU is stand-alone, RAM,
ROM, I/O, timer are separate
designer can decide on the
amount of ROM, RAM and
I/O ports.
expensive
versatility
general-purpose
High processing power
High power consumption
Instruction sets focus on
processing-intensive
operations
Typically 32/64 bit
Typically deep pipeline (5-20
stages)

Microcontroller

CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O and timer

are all on a single chip
fixed amount of on-chip ROM,
RAM, I/O ports
for applications in which cost,
power and space are critical
single-purpose (control-oriented)
Low processing power
Low power consumption
Bit-level operations
Instruction sets focus on control
and bit-level operations
Typically 8/16 bit
Typically single-cycle/two-stage
pipeline
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Some Popular Microcontrollers

8051
Microchip Technology PIC
Atmel AVR
Texas Instruments MSP430 (16-bit)

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Review questions
What are the main differences between a
microprocessor and a microcontroller in
terms of
Architecture
Applications
Instruction set

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