Chapter 5 Microcontrollers and Microprocessors 5.1 Introduction In the previous chapters we studied an introduction to the ‘embedded systems. In this chapter however we are going to Study about microcontrollers, which are the heart of any ‘embedded system working independently or dependently ‘An integrated circuit with a central processing unit (CPU), ‘memory, and inpuvoutput ports iscalled a microcontroller It ‘can be configured to cary out a number of activities and is intended to control a particular funetion in an embedded system, Microcontrollers are frequently utilized in a variety of applications, such as consumer electronics, appliances, tuomotive systems, and industrial control systems, “A microcontoller iss single Integrated Circuit (I) tht is foften used fora specific application and ereated to ear out specified functions I is sometimes referred to as an ICU ‘or Microcontroller Uni. 5.2 Microcontroller Architecture ‘A. microcontroller, commonly known as an MCU (iicracontoler unit) is tiny computer tha is housed on 3 single VLST integrated cireuit (IC) chip. One o more CPUs {processor cores) memory, and programmable iapaouipat peripherals areal included ina microcontroller. ‘The foundational layout of @ microcomtoler i called the ‘microcontoller architecture. The Harvard architecture of Inierocontoller often means tht it contains separate memory or data storage and program instructions (ROM oF ash memory) RAM). This layout makes it posible to digest dala and carry out instctions effectively. The instructions ‘econded inthe memory must be cased out by the Cena Processing Unit CPU, which is the brains. of the ‘microcontroller. n onder to synchronize the CPU's ations it also has.a clock osillaor that produces a clock signal In addition o the CPU and memory. microconllrs also hve a variety of inpuvoutput (VO) pons for communicating with athe devices. These pots can inch digital and analog inputs, serial communication interfaces, and. pulse-width ‘modulation (PWM) outputs. The microcontroller aso often includes a variety of builtin peripheral devices such as timers, analog-o-digital converters (ADCS), igitalto- analog converters (DAC), and inerrptcontoles. Depending on the company and parcular product, a sicrocontoller's architecture can change. ADCs, DAS, and ‘communication interfaces ike CAN, USB, etc. incorporated fimo some microcontrollers are examples of optional functionality. In general, microcontroller architectures are categorized secording to the size of the CPU, suchas bi, Tei, o 32-bit microcontrollers ‘The most basic form. 8-bit microcontrollers are frequently uilized in straightforward applications where cost and power‘consumption are the key considerations. They jut have afew VO ports and a modest quantity of memory. In comparison vo S-bit microcontrollers, 16-bit microcontrollers are more ‘capable and have more memory and LO pons. They are generally employed in more sophisticated applications like Indus consol systems and automobile systems. The most Powerful and equipped with the greatest namber of memory nd VO ports are 32-bit microcontrollers. High-performance apps like thse found in smartphones and tablets frequently ‘employ them 5.3 Microcontroller History & Invention Ja the 1970s, Intel Corporation created the fest microcontroller. A 4bit microprocessor known 3 the Intel 4008 was created for use in calculators and oer compact systems. On a singe chip. it combined a processing core, memory, and inpuvoutput ports. The microcontroller business was launched with this, and thas since developed to encompass numerous varieties of microcontollers ftom ‘various producers. Figure $1: Inet 4004 Microcontroller Federico Fagin and Ted Hoff led team that designed the hip, which was produced using a 10-micrometer technique ‘The 4004 could’ do approximately 92,000 operations per second a clock rate of 740 KH. It could adress up to 040 ‘bytes of memory and contained 2,300 wansistos. The chip was created with the intention of being used in ealulators, but it quickly spread to a variety of devices, including watches, cash repistrs, and even ttf lights. The 4004 marked the beginning ofthe microprocessor revolution that ‘would eventually give rise tothe potent processors found in modem computers and mobile devices. The introduction of ‘the 408 signalled the str ofthe microprocessor evolution, which teansformed how we live and work by enabling smaller, more inexpensive, and mere widely available ‘computers. [New microcontroller families, such the Motorola 68HCIT and Inel 8051, rose to prominence inthe 1980s ina variety ‘of industries, including automotive, industrial contol, and ‘consumer oleconies. Microcontrollers with more sophisticated capabiliies and ‘more memory started o arrive inthe 19905. One example i the PIC microcontroller from Microchip Technology, which ‘has builtin pulse width modulation (PWM) and other Petipherals. ‘The Internet of Things (oT) gadgets, medical equipment, industrial automation, and consumer electronics are just a few ofthe modem uses fr microcontrollers, They come in wide range of form factors, from small, suriace-mount devices to massive, Uhough-hole components, and are ‘offered by «number of vendors Digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities, enhanced power management, and ‘advanced communication interfaces ate just a few of the ae now present in many microcontroller54 Microcontroller Types In the above paragraphs we looked atthe microcontrollers ain also understood the basic eateories like 8 bt 16 bit et Tn this paragraph we'll look indepth inthe categories and various types of erocontrllrs, ‘There are hundeeds of microcontrollers available in the ‘marke, each with ther unigoe functional expats and set ‘of featres, However all the microcontrollers that ae Build re bil under the follwing categories 54.1 bit microcontrollers ‘These microcontrollers havea small amount of memory and are made to procese bit data. In straightforward contol pplication like remote controls an alarm system they sre frequenly employed. ‘The PIC microconsoller_ rom Microchip Technology and the 80S1 from Intel are two ‘examples of bit microcoavolles. 54.2 16-bit microcontrollers ‘These micrconollers have greater memoey than bit microcontrollers and are made to process 6-bit data, They ae ftequenly uilized in applications that call for more Sophisticated processing, such as industrial automation and automotive systems. Microchip Technology's dsPIC and Motorola’ GSHCII are two examples of IG-bit rcrocotollers 54.3 32-bit microcontrollers ‘These microcontrollers, which have greater memory and Sophisticated functions than S-bit and Git microcontrollers, are made to process 32-it dita, Tey are frequently utilized in applications that call for high- performance processing, such a industrial automation and ‘medical equipment. The PIC32 fom Microchip Technology snd the ARM Cortex-M from ARM are two examples of 32 bit microcontrollers. Se 64-bit microcontrollers ‘These microcontrollers are a newer ype of mierocontoler that are designed to process 64-bit data. Compared to Sit 16-bit, and 32-it microcomoller, they have a significantly greater memory capacity and more sophisested functions, High-performance applications including servers. industial aviomation, and medical equipment frequently wse them. Based on Gi-bit processors like the ARM Cortex-A and x86 processor, which have mere poten insiruction sets and can handle bigger data sets, 64-bit microcontrollers can manage larger data sets. Compared to their 32-bit equivalents, this {enables them to execute more complicated algorithms and accomplish sophisticated. jobs. Additionally, they have ‘cess to more memory, which enables them to store bigger datasets and perform more sophisticated programs, [5445 Microcontoller with built-in memory ‘These microcontrollers are perfect for applications that need to save data since they have builtin memory. They are ‘roquently used in consumer eletronics, 1oT applications, and ober gadgets where dita storage is crucial. The AVR and PIC microcontroller families are two. examples of ‘microcontrollers having integrated memory 5.4.6 Microcontroller wit builtin peripheral ‘These microcontrollers have builtin communication inerfaces like USB, Ethernet, and others, They ate ‘requently utilized in applications where communication is, crucial, such as in consumer electrons and Intemet of “Things (oT) devices, STMS2 and ESPS2 are two examples ‘of microcontrollers wit integrated peripherals.5 Microcontrollers Working, ‘The working of any microcontroller ether 8, 16,32 oF 64 bit can he broadly classified into three main stages input, processing noua. 55.1 Input During this phase, the microcontroller’. inpuourpat pons allow eo reoeve input data from a varey of sensor and ‘nadges. The microcontroller fs the capacity to transform ‘analog signa int digital signal using an analog-o-digial converter. The input data ean be inte form of either digital and analog signals (ADC). oD NI a Figure $2: Input Representation to Microcontroll Here wtrasonic sensor will sense some object and send the fouiput as analog. signal to the input pits of the Iierocontoller From the input pins this signal wil be sent to the ADC sehich will conse this analog sigal to digital signal, This signal will then be processed by the rmerocontoler 5.52 Procesing After eceving the input data the microcontroller processes itn accordance withthe stored program. The program is often kept in the read-only memory of the microcontroller and is written in a pancular programming language (ROM). ‘The processing stage involves applying complex mathematical, logical, and other processes to the input data 553 Output ‘The microcontroller transmits the outpat data to. various devices through its output ports after processing the input data, The ouput data can also take the form of di ‘analogue signals, and the microcontroller can use a digital ‘o-analog convener to vansform the digital signals into analogue form (DAC). ‘The ability of a microcontroller vo run a programme stored in its memory is one of its essential charaterstics. This programme is often kept in the read-only memory of the ‘microcontroller and is written in a particular programming language, such as Cor assembly (ROM). The microcontroller receives instructions from the programme on how to handle the input data and process it to produce the intended output 5.6 Microcontroller and Microprocessors People are often confused with the tem “microcontroller” \J"*microprocesson” and consider that they both are same ings. However, they are not same. We very well know s0 far that a microcontroller is small computer on a single integrated circuit that contains a microprocessor, memory and inpuvoutput (VO) peripherals. On the other hand. & microprocessor is a CPU (central processing unit) that ison ‘amierochip. In order to better understand the concept, se the ‘igure below.cu a=) my ora Figure 5.3 (Let) Microcontroller and (Righ) Microprocessor In the above figure itis lear that a microcontroller has CPU, 1O pons and memory, wheress 4 microprocessor his only (CPU, memery and 10 ports are externally connected with he microprocessor Microprocessors and microcontrollers ate both integrated circuits “(UCS) that ‘contain a procesor cor, but ‘microconrllers are mae for embeded system and have ‘on chip peripheral futons like 10 interfaces and meer. Whereas microprocessors are mde for general-purpose computing and typically nced extemal memory and LO ‘components In conclusion, a microprocessor isa CPU on a chip tha is used for general-purpose computing in pessoal computers land servets, whereis «microcontroller is a compl ‘computer ona single chip dt is used for specific askin ‘nade system, ‘5.7 Advantages of Microcontrollers “The low power consumption of mierecontoles is one of their hey benefits. They are perfect for porable and mobile applications because they are bull 10 operate on ile mount of electricity and may be supplied by batteries. They cam be used in a variety of applications hecause they ae also reasoaahly pied ‘The adaptaily of microcontolesis another benefit. They can be programmed to carry out a variety of tasks, from Straightforward control operations to inca algorithns, ‘They can also easily interact with other devices, such 3s actuators and sensor, enabling data collection and physical ‘tem contol Microcontrollers ar uilized in many diferent automobile applications, including safety systems, transmission conto land powertain contol. They monitor and operate ‘vehicles safety systems, inclading the srbags and the ABS. bakes, in ation to controlling the engine, transmission, and oder systems in the car Microcontollers are otilized in industial contol systems to ‘monitor an contol a variety of industrial proveses, They fare used to regulate the flow of fluids and pases, to monitor temperature and pressure, and to control the’ speed and Position of motors. Additionally, they ae utized regulate tnd keep track of the operation of devices and machinery ke ‘conveyors and robots Microcontrollers are used to operate a broad variety of appliances ia tbe household, including microwaves, relrigeratos, and. washing machines. They are used (0 regulate the iemperature and timing ofthese devices, as well, ‘810 keep an eye on ther opertion and offer diagnose dt, A variety of embedded systems can benefit from using ‘microcontrollers hecause they offer a flexible an affordable solution, They may be programmed to carry outa vanety of tasks, fram straightforward contol operations #0 itiate algorithms, as they are low-power devices. They are widely ttlized in/a variety of industries, including automotive,industrial controls, and consumer electronics, and are now a necessary part of many objects we use every day 5.8 Microcontroller Companies ‘There are many microcontroller manufacturing companies that produce microcontrollers for various applications. Some ‘of the leading microcontroller manufacturers include: Microchip Technotogy Ine. Texas Instruments Ine. Arduino CC NXP Semiconductors 'STMicroelectronies ‘Aume! (now owned by Microchip) Renesas Electronics Corporation Cypress Semiconductor (now part of Infineon Technologies AG) Silicon Laboratories In, Broadcom Ine. (formerly Avago Technologies) “Maxim Integrated Products Ine. ‘These companies offer a wide range of microcontrollers, including S-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit microcontrollers, for ‘various applications such as automotive, industrial, ‘consumer, and communication systems. Microcontroller ‘manufacturers conapet inthe market onthe basis of factors such as performance, power consumption, cost, and feature sets, In this book we are going in depth understanding of ‘microcontrollers designed by Arduino company and will be using fr the rest of designing embedded systems.