Microcontroller and Embedded Systems Test
Instructions:
1. Answer all the questions.
2. For MCQs, circle the correct answer.
3. For programming tasks, write your code clearly and concisely.
4. For design and analysis questions, explain your reasoning step by step.
Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions
What is the primary function of a microcontroller?
a) Perform arithmetic operations
b) Control external devices and systems
c) Display text on screen
d) Store data
Answer: b) Control external devices and systems
Which of the following is NOT a microcontroller family?
a) AVR
b) ARM
c) MIPS
d) Intel 8080
Answer: d) Intel 8080
What does SPI stand for in serial communication?
a) Serial Peripheral Interface
b) Single Peripheral Interface
c) Synchronous Peripheral Interface
d) System Peripheral Interface
Answer: a) Serial Peripheral Interface
Which type of memory is non-volatile and retains data even after power is turned off?
a) RAM
b) EEPROM
c) Flash memory
d) ROM
Answer: d) ROM
What is the function of an interrupt in a microcontroller?
a) To halt the system completely
b) To allow immediate execution of high-priority tasks
c) To restart the system
d) To prevent memory access
Answer: b) To allow immediate execution of high-priority tasks
Which of the following is NOT a type of memory mentioned in the text?
a) DRAM
b) SRAM
c) EEPROM
d) Blu-ray ROM
Answer: d) Blu-ray ROM
Which programming language is commonly used to program microcontrollers?
a) Python
b) Assembly
c) Java
d) C++
Answer: b) Assembly
What is the primary difference between EEPROM and Flash memory?
a) EEPROM can be erased byte-by-byte, Flash memory cannot
b) Flash memory can be erased byte-by-byte, EEPROM cannot
c) Flash memory is slower than EEPROM
d) EEPROM is volatile, Flash is non-volatile
Answer: a) EEPROM can be erased byte-by-byte, Flash memory cannot
What is the term used for a microcontroller's ability to interact with external hardware
components?
a) Communication protocol
b) Interfacing techniques
c) Memory management
d) Power regulation
Answer: b) Interfacing techniques
Which memory type is most commonly used for BIOS storage in computers?
a) DRAM
b) SRAM
c) Flash PROM
d) EEPROM
Answer: c) Flash PROM
Section 2: Write a Program
Task 1: Write an AVR Assembly program to add two 8-bit numbers and store the result in a register.
Task 2: Write a C program to read data from a serial port using USART in AVR microcontroller and
send it back to the computer.
Section 3: Design and Analysis
Task 1: Design a simple microcontroller-based system that reads input from a temperature sensor
and controls a fan based on the temperature. Explain your design decisions, including the
microcontroller choice, peripherals, and logic.
Task 2: Explain the difference between RISC and CISC architectures. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of each in the context of microcontrollers.