02-09-2017, 12:30 PM
A microcontroller (or MCU for the microcontroller unit) is a small computer in a single integrated circuit. In modern terminology, it is a system on a chip or SoC. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs (processor cores) along with memory and programmable I / O peripherals. The program memory in the form of RAM Ferroelectric, NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included in the chip, as well as a small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers are designed for embedded applications, in contrast to microprocessors used in personal computers or other general purpose applications that consist of several discrete chips.
Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices such as automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office machines, electrical appliances, power tools, toys and other embedded systems. By reducing size and cost compared to a design that uses a microprocessor, memory and separate input / output devices, microcontrollers make it economical to digitally control even more devices and processes. Mixed signal microcontrollers are common, integrating analog components needed to control non-digital electronic systems.
Some microcontrollers can use four-bit words and operate at frequencies as low as 4 kHz, for low power consumption (milliwatts or micro-watts in a single digit). They will usually have the ability to retain functionality while waiting for an event such as a button press or other interrupt; Power consumption while sleeping (the CPU clock and most peripherals off) can be simply nano-watts, making many of them well suited for long battery life applications. Other microcontrollers may play performance-critical roles, where they may need to act more like a digital signal processor (DSP), with higher clock speeds and power consumption.
Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices such as automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office machines, electrical appliances, power tools, toys and other embedded systems. By reducing size and cost compared to a design that uses a microprocessor, memory and separate input / output devices, microcontrollers make it economical to digitally control even more devices and processes. Mixed signal microcontrollers are common, integrating analog components needed to control non-digital electronic systems.
Some microcontrollers can use four-bit words and operate at frequencies as low as 4 kHz, for low power consumption (milliwatts or micro-watts in a single digit). They will usually have the ability to retain functionality while waiting for an event such as a button press or other interrupt; Power consumption while sleeping (the CPU clock and most peripherals off) can be simply nano-watts, making many of them well suited for long battery life applications. Other microcontrollers may play performance-critical roles, where they may need to act more like a digital signal processor (DSP), with higher clock speeds and power consumption.