Unit 1 Introduction to Microcontroller
Dr. Lalchand B Patle
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Electronics
MGSM’s ASC College Chopda, Dist: Jalgaon
Introduction
A microcontroller is an electronic device belonging to the microcomputer family.
These are fabricated using the VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology on
a single chip.
Microcontroller is also known as “Computer-on-a-Chip”.
It is named so, because not only the CPU, but RAM, ROM, I/O ports,
Timer/Counter, Serial I/Os all are put together on a single microcontroller chip.
A microcontroller also called an embedded controller because the microcontroller
and its support circuits are often built into, or embedded in, the devices they
control.
A microcontroller is available in different word lengths like microprocessors (4bit,
8bit, 16bit, 32bit, 64bit and 128-bit microcontrollers are available today).
Block Diagram of Microcontroller
ROM/EPROM/ Parallel I/O
CPU RAM EEPROM Port
Timing &
Control Special Functioning Block
Timers and Interrupt
ADC DAC
Counters Control
Memory
Memory spaces such as RAM, ROM, EPROM or EEPROM
are there to store data and programs.
For data storage, volatile memory RAM is used while for the
program and operating parameter storage ROM and other
memory spaces are used.
A microcontroller usually has a certain amount of RAM and
ROM (EEPROM, EPROM, etc) or flash memories for storing
program source codes.
Timers/counters
This is the one of the useful function of a microcontroller.
A microcontroller may have more than one timer and counters.
The timers and counters provide all timing and counting functions inside the
microcontroller.
The major operations of this section are performed clock functions,
modulations, pulse generations, frequency measuring, making oscillations,
etc.
This also can be used for counting external pulses.
There is a watchdog timer. A watchdog timer is a portion of hardware that
can be used to automatically detect software anomalies/malfunctions and reset
the processor if any occur
Parallel input/output ports
Parallel input/output ports are mainly used to drive/interface
various devices such as LCD’S, LED’S, printers, memories,
etc to a microcontroller.
Serial ports
Serial ports provide various serial interfaces between a
microcontroller and other peripherals like parallel ports.
Interrupt control
The interrupt control used for providing interrupt (delay) for
a working program.
The interrupt may be external (activated by using interrupt
pin) or internal (by using interrupt instruction during
programming).
Special functioning block
Some microcontrollers used only for some special
applications (e.g. space systems and robotics) these
controllers containing additional ports to perform such
special operations.
This considered as special functioning block.
Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)
ADC converters are used for converting the analog signal to
digital form.
The input signal in this converter should be in analog form
(e.g. sensor output) and the output from this unit is in digital
form.
The digital output can be used for various digital applications
(e.g. measurement devices).
Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)
DAC perform reversal operation of ADC conversion. DAC
converts the digital signal into analog format.
It usually used for controlling analog devices like DC motors,
various drives, etc.
Advantages of microcontroller
The main advantages of microcontrollers are given.
Microcontrollers act as a microcomputer without any external digital parts.
As the higher integration inside microcontroller reduces cost and size of the
system.
Usage of a microcontroller is simple, easy to troubleshoot and system
maintaining.
Most of the pins are programmable by the user for performing different
functions.
Easily interface additional RAM, ROM, I/O ports.
Low time required for performing operations.
Disadvantages of Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers have got more complex architecture than
that of microprocessors.
Microcontrollers are used for dedicated application only.
Only perform a limited number of executions simultaneously.
Mostly used in micro-equipment.
Cannot interface high power devices directly.
Comparison between microprocessor
and microcontroller
Sr. No. Microprocessors Microcomputer
1 It is only a general purpose computer CPU It is a microcomputer itself
2 Memory, I/O ports, timers, interrupts are not available All are integrated inside the microcontroller chip
inside the chip
3 Systems become bulkier and expensive. Make the system simple, economic and compact
4 Microprocessors have many opcodes for moving the Microcontrollers have one or two opcodes for moving the data.
data from external memory to CPU.
5 Higher accessing time required Low accessing time
6 Very few number of bit handling instructions Many bit handling instructions
7 Very few pins are programmable Most of the pins are programmable
8 Widely Used in modern PC and laptops widely used in small control systems and dedicated
applications
9 E.g. INTEL 8086, INTEL Pentium series etc. E.g. INTEL8051, 89960, PIC16F877 etc.
Applications of microcontroller
1. Consumer Electronics Products:
Toys, Cameras, Robots, Washing Machine, Microwave Ovens etc. [any automatic home appliance]
2. Instrumentation and Process Control:
Oscilloscopes, Multi-meter, Leakage Current Tester, Data Acquisition and Control etc.
3. Medical Instruments:
ECG machine, Electronic Cardiac Monitor, Blood gas analyzer, Blood Glucose Monitor, MRI Machine etc.
4. Communication:
Cell Phones, Telephone Sets, Answering Machines etc.
5. Office Equipment:
Fax, Printers, etc.
6. Multimedia Application:
Mp3 Player, PDAs, optical players, digital camcorders etc.
7. Automobile:
Speedometer, Auto-breaking system etc.
8. Robotics:
Domestic or household robots, Industrial robots, Medical robots, Service robots, Military robots, Entertainment robots,
Space robots,
Thank You
