Microcontroller

Lecture-3
Dr. Naushin Nower

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 Contents
• Microcontroller
• Types of microcontroller
• RISC and CISC based microcontroller
• Ardunio

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 Microcontroller (MCU)
• is a small computer on a single integrated circuit that is
designed to control specific tasks within electronic systems.
• It combines the functions of a central processing unit (CPU),
memory, and input/output interfaces, all on a single chip.
• A typical microcontroller consists of a processor core, volatile
and non-volatile memory, input/output peripherals, and
various communication interfaces.

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 Microcontroller vs. microprocessor
• A microprocessor is a single integrated chip that
contains a device’s CPU. However, it doesn’t
contain any RAM or ROM memory, or any other
peripherals a device may have. The chip instead
relies on inputs/outputs (I/Os) to connect to
memory and peripherals.
• On the other hand, a microcontroller has the
CPU, RAM and ROM, as well as peripherals all
embedded onto a single chip, effectively making
it a computer itself.

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Types of Microcontroller

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 Classification of Microcontrollers by
Number of Bits
• 8-bit Microcontrollers
– The internal bus is 8-bits wide.
– The ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) performs operations
on 8 bits at a time.
– Intel 8031/8051, PIC1x, Motorola MC68HC11.
• 16-bit Microcontrollers
– The internal bus is 16-bits wide, providing better precision and performance than 8-
bit.
– A 16-bit microcontroller can handle a wider range of numbers (0x0000 to 0xFFFF, or
0 to 65535) compared to the 8-bit range (0x00 to 0xFF, or 0 to 255).
– Example microcontrollers: Extended 8051XA, PIC2x, Intel 8096, Motorola
MC68HC12.
• 32-bit Microcontrollers
– These microcontrollers use 32-bit instructions for operations.
– Used in advanced applications like medical devices, engine control systems, office
machines, and other embedded systems.
– Example microcontrollers: Intel/Atmel 251 family
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 Classification of Microcontrollers by
Memory Type
• Embedded Memory Microcontroller
– All functional blocks are built into the chip.
– Includes program memory, data memory, I/O ports, serial
communication, counters, timers, and interrupts.
– Example: 8051 microcontroller (has everything on the
chip).
• External Memory Microcontroller
– The microcontroller does not have all functional blocks on
the chip.
– Some components, like program memory, need to be
connected externally.
– Example: 8031 microcontroller (does not have program
memory on the chip).
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 Classification of Microcontrollers by
Memory Architecture
• Harvard Memory Architecture Microcontroller
– Has separate memory for program and data.
– Allows simultaneous access to both program and data
memory, improving efficiency.
– Common in microcontrollers that require faster data
processing.
• Von Neumann Memory Architecture
Microcontroller
– Uses shared memory for both program and data.
– Simplifies design but can be slower since the program and
data share the same bus.
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 Architecture
• The majority of MCUs use one of the following architectures:
• ARM, MIPS, or X86, RISC-V etc
• Different instruction set architectures (ISAs). The ISA of microcontroller
architecture dictates the format of instructions managed by the CPU.
❖ ARM, MIPS, and RISC-V all have reduced instruction set computer (RISC)
ISAs,
❖ while X86 uses complex instruction set computers (CISC), which supports
more complex and flexible instructions.
• Different processing power. Overall, X86 has more processing power and
high performance. In contrast, ARM, RISC-V, and MIPS don’t require as
much processing power due to simpler, set-length instructions dictated
by RISC architecture, lending themselves to applications that don’t
require high performance.
• Different energy consumption. X86 uses more energy to function and
support higher processing power. MIPS uses less power and ARM has
even greater efficiency.

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 Instruction set architectures (ISAs)
• Informally ISA as a “language” that is used to communicate with
the CPU
• RISC and CISC are popular processor architectures that utilize
different data processing instruction sets to perform basic
logical and input/output operations
• As per this equation, CPU performance depends on the number
of instructions in a computer program. This implies that the
more instructions, the more time is needed to execute them. It
can further be simplified into the number of clock cycles per
instruction and time per cycle.
• Thus, the CPU performance can be optimized in either of two
ways:
– Reduce the number of instructions per program, or
– Minimize cycles per instruction.

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 What Is RISC?
• RISC stands for ‘Reduced Instruction Set Computer.’
• These were introduced in the 1980s to overcome the complexities of CISC processors.
• RISC processors work with more instructions; however, the number of cycles an
instruction may take to execute is minimized.
• In general terms, a RISC machine takes one CPU cycle to complete one instruction.
• Let’s consider the same ADD instruction and look at how RISC devices accomplish it.

Load X, 1600
Load Y, 1601
ADD X, Y
Store 1600, X
RISC processors use simpler instruction sets, complex and high-level instructions need to be
divided into multiple, simple instructions.

ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) is a well-known example of the RISC framework. Its
processors are observed in desktops, laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, and several
other smart IoT devices that are battery-operated where energy efficiency is essential.

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 CISC
• Complex Instruction Set Computer.
• This architecture was introduced in the 1970s by Intel Corporation when
the earliest computers focused on enhancing CPU speed by minimizing
the number of instructions per program (as per equation 1).
• This objective was achieved by combining multiple simple commands
into one complex instruction.
• Let’s understand this with a simple CISC ADD instruction, which requires
two inputs:
– Memory locations of two numbers essential for an addition
– Perform addition and store the result in the first memory location
ADD 1800, 1801
The ADD instruction picks up numbers from memory locations 1800 and
1801 or registers. Later, the picked-up numbers are added and eventually
stored in location 1800.
AMD, Intel x86, VAX, and System/360.

https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/tech-
general/articles/risc-vs-cisc/ 12
CISC vs RISC

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 Note:

What is Arduino? Most Arduino

boards use the
• At the heart of the Arduino is the microcontroller. A Atmel 8-bit AVR
microcontroller is a standalone, single chip integrated microcontroller.
circuit that contains a CPU, read-only memory, random
access memory and various I/O busses. The Arduino
UNO R3 which we will be using uses the ATmega328 EEPROM:
chip. Electrically
• Specs are: Erasable
Programmable
32 KB (ATmega328P) of
Flash Memory which 0.5 KB used by
Read-Only Memory
bootloader Non-volatile
memory.
SRAM 2 KB (ATmega328P)
Can be erased and
EEPROM 1 KB (ATmega328P) reprogrammed
Clock Speed 16 MHz using a pulsed
• However do not be too concerned if you do not voltage

understand all those specifications because we will be

interacting with the microcontroller using the interface
that the Arduino board provides us.
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 What is Arduino?
• The Arduino is an open source hardware and software platform that is
incredibly powerful yet easy to use.
• You can look at and download the code from any of the Arduino repositories
on GitHub here:
– https://github.com/arduino
• Projects can range from simply making an LED blink or recording the
temperature to controlling 3D printers or making robots.
• While there are numerous models of the Arduino, in this course we will
primarily be using the very popular Arduino UNO board.

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•
Arduino
An Arduino shield is a modular
shields
circuit board that plugs directly
into the pin headers of the
Arduino board.
• These shields will add extra
functionality to the Arduino board.
• If we are looking to connect to the
internet, do speech recognition,
control DC motors or add other
functionality to the Arduino, there
is probably a shield that can help
us.
• While you don’t have to use
shields, they do make adding extra
functionality to our Arduino 16
boards very easy.
Arduino looks with two shields attached:

• A shield fits on top

of the Arduino by
plugging directly
into the pin
headers.
• We can also stack
one shield on top
of another if they
do not use the
same resources.
Here is how an

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 Arduino pin

• There is a
total of 31
pins in the
Arduino Uno
pin headers.
• Most of
these pins
can be
configured
to perform
different
functions.

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 Digital pins
• Used to connect
external sensors.
• These pins can be
configured for
either input or
output.
• These pins default
to an input state
• The digital pins
will have one of
two values: HIGH
(1), which is 5V, or
LOW (0), which is
0V.

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 Analog input pins
• The Arduino Uno contains a
built-in Analog-To-Digital
(ADC) converter with six
channels, which gives us six
analog input pins. The ADC
converts an analog signal
into a digital value.
• While the digital pins have
two values, either high or
low, the analog input pins
have values from 0 to 1023
relative to the reference
value of the Arduino.
• The Arduino Uno has a
reference value of 5V.
• Used to read analog
sensors such as
rangefinders and
temperature sensors.
• The six analog pins can also
be configured as digital
pins if we run out of digital
pins in our project.

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 PWM pins
• Where the analog
input pins are
designed to read
analog sensors (input),
the PWM pins are
designed for output.
PWM is a technique
for obtaining analog
results with digital
output.
• Since a digital output
can be either on or off,
to obtain the analog
output the digital
output is switch
between HIGH and
LOW rapidly.
• The percentage of the
time that the signal is
high is called the duty
cycle.

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 Duty cycle

• We have the ability to set

the frequency of how fast
the signal can switch
between HIGH and LOW.
• This frequency is measured
in Hertz and sets how many
times the signal can switch
per second.
• For example, if we set the
frequency to 500 Hz, that
would mean that the signal
could switch 500 times a
second.

• This will be come clearer as

we use the pins.

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Power pins
• VIN: This pin is used when
we power the Arduino
board using an external
power supply.
• GND: These are the ground
pins.
• 5V: This is 5V out and is
used to power most
sensors.
• 3.3V: This is 3.3V out and
can be used to power
sensors that are compatible
with 3.3V.
• Reset: This pin can be used
to reset the Arduino board
by an external source.
• ioref: This is the reference
voltage for the board. For
the Arduino, this will be 5V.

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 Serial pins
• Used for serial
communication.
• The RX (digital
pin 0) is used to
receive.
• TX (digital pin 1)
is used to
transmit.
• Serial
communications
work on binary
(1’s and 0’s).
• Provided for
legacy reasons
primarily.
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 SPI pins
• The Serial Peripheral Interface
(SPI) pins are used for a
synchronous serial data
protocol that is used by
microcontrollers for
communicating with peripheral
devices.
• This protocol always has one
master with one or more slave
devices.
• MISO: The Master in Slave out
pin is used to send data from
the slave to the master device.
• MOSI: The Master out Slave in
the pin is used to send data
from the master to the slave
device.
• SCK: The serial clock
synchronizes the data
transmission and is generated
by the master.
• SS: The slave select pin tells the
slave to go active or to go to
sleep. This is used to select
which slave device should
receive the transmission from
the master.

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 Installing the IDE
• The first step in programming an Arduino board
install the Arduino IDE (integrated development
environment).
• Linux/Raspberry PI
• This program checks code and loads it onto the
Arduino. Install the latest version of Arduino
IDE using apt:
– sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
– sudo apt-get install Arduino
• Windows
• Download from:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

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 setup() and loop() functions

• setup(): This function is called once when a sketch

starts after power-up or reset. It is used to
initialize variables, input and output pin modes,
and other libraries needed in the sketch

• loop(): After setup() has been called,

function loop() is executed repeatedly in the main
program. It controls the board until the board is
powered off or is reset.

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 Arduino IDE

See: http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Environment for more information28

ALWAYS: Select Serial Port and
Board

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Programming in for ArduinoThe setup function is the
Basic code first to execute when the
structure program is executed, and
this function is called only
void once.
setup( )
• The Arduino programming {
language is based on a very Used to initialize the pin
simple hardware statement modes and start serial
programming language called s; communication. This
processing, which is similar to } function has to be included
the C language. even if there are no
• You create sketches which void loop( statements to execute.
contain your code )
• After the sketch is written in { The execution block runs
the Arduino IDE, it should be statement after setup and hosts
uploaded on the Arduino ; statements like reading
board for execution. } inputs, triggering outputs,
checking conditions etc..

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 int led = 9; // The digital pin to which the LED is connected
int brightness = 0; // Brightness of LED is initially set to 0
int fade = 5; // By how many points the LED should fade
Example void setup()
program {
pinMode(led, OUTPUT); //pin 10 is set as output pin
}

LED fade-in void loop() // The loop function runs again and again
and fade-out {
analogWrite(led, brightness); // set the brightness of LED

brightness = brightness + fade; //Increase the brightness of LED by 5 points

if (brightness <= 0 || brightness >= 255) // check the level of brightness

fade = -fade;

}
delay(30); // Wait for 30 milliseconds
}
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