11-09-2014, 10:43 AM
SELECTING THE RIGHT MICROCONTROLLER UNIT
[attachment=67811]
Abstract:
Selecting the proper microcontroller unit (MCU) for a given application is one of the critical
decisions which control the success or failure of the task. There are numerous criteria to consider
when choosing an MCU, or in general the processor technology. This paper is numerating and
explaining most of the metrics to consider during the phase of selecting the right MCU. It
presents an outline of the thought guiding this decision.
. Introduction –
1.1 Technologies Involved in
Design Process
We can define technology as a manner of
accomplishing a task, especially using technical
processes, methods, or knowledge. Three types
of technologies are central to embedded system
design:
i. Design technologies: Design technology
involves the manner in which we convert our
concept of desired system functionality into an
implementation.
ii. IC technologies: Every processor must be
eventually be implemented on an integrated
circuit (IC). IC technology involves the manner
in which we map a digital (gate-level)
implementation onto an IC. IC technologies
differ by how customized the IC is for particular
design. In other words it differs from one
another by who is responsible to connect the
three groups of layers of any IC; the bottom
layers or the transistor layers, the middle layers
or the logic components layer and the top layers
that connect these components with wires. Three
IC technologies can be identified
Choosing the Right Processor
Technology
The system analysis phase of the project will
result in identifying the subsystems required to
implement the given task and also the function
and the specifications of each subsystem. As a
matter of fact any of the above mentioned three
processor technologies can be used to implement
any of the subsystems. With each processor
technology has its own strength and weakness, it
is important to quantify the suitability of each
technology to implement the subsystems. In
most applications the following metrics can be
used to quantify the suitability of processor
technology (accordingly, they are needed to be
considered before selecting the processor
technology) [3-5]
[attachment=67811]
Abstract:
Selecting the proper microcontroller unit (MCU) for a given application is one of the critical
decisions which control the success or failure of the task. There are numerous criteria to consider
when choosing an MCU, or in general the processor technology. This paper is numerating and
explaining most of the metrics to consider during the phase of selecting the right MCU. It
presents an outline of the thought guiding this decision.
. Introduction –
1.1 Technologies Involved in
Design Process
We can define technology as a manner of
accomplishing a task, especially using technical
processes, methods, or knowledge. Three types
of technologies are central to embedded system
design:
i. Design technologies: Design technology
involves the manner in which we convert our
concept of desired system functionality into an
implementation.
ii. IC technologies: Every processor must be
eventually be implemented on an integrated
circuit (IC). IC technology involves the manner
in which we map a digital (gate-level)
implementation onto an IC. IC technologies
differ by how customized the IC is for particular
design. In other words it differs from one
another by who is responsible to connect the
three groups of layers of any IC; the bottom
layers or the transistor layers, the middle layers
or the logic components layer and the top layers
that connect these components with wires. Three
IC technologies can be identified
Choosing the Right Processor
Technology
The system analysis phase of the project will
result in identifying the subsystems required to
implement the given task and also the function
and the specifications of each subsystem. As a
matter of fact any of the above mentioned three
processor technologies can be used to implement
any of the subsystems. With each processor
technology has its own strength and weakness, it
is important to quantify the suitability of each
technology to implement the subsystems. In
most applications the following metrics can be
used to quantify the suitability of processor
technology (accordingly, they are needed to be
considered before selecting the processor
technology) [3-5]