Introduction to Microcontroller
remote controls, office machines, appliances, power
REVIEW ON THE BASIC TERM
USB - Universal Serial Bus
RAM - Random Access Memory
ROM - Read Only Memory
SoC - System On a Chip
USB-A, USB-B, USB-C PORT TYPES
USB-B (Type B) – This rectangular connector
approximately 1.4 cm (9/16 in) length by 0.65 cm (1/4
in) height is commonly found on routers, computers,
printers and game consoles. USB sticks normally feature
USB-B connectors also.
USB-A (Type A) – Less common than type B, USB
A devices are nearly square in shape and are typically
used for wired mice and keyboards.
Micro USB – So-called Micro USB versions of
both USB-A and USB-B also exist – smaller versions than
their base counterparts, popular on mobile devices.
(Older but now obsolete “mini USB” versions can also
be found on some old devices.)
USB-C (Type C) – With dimensions of 0.84 cm by
0.26 cm, this newer standard is designed to replace
both A and B with smaller ports to better support the
thinner form factors of mobile devices.
WHAT IS A RAM?
A type of computer memory that can be
accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be
accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is
the most common type of memory found in computers
and other devices, such as printers.
WHAT IS A ROM?
ROM is “built-in” computer memory containing
data that normally can be read, not written to. ROM
contains the programming that allows your computer to
be “booted up” or regenerated each time you turn it on.
Unlike a computer’s random access memory (RAM), the
data in ROM is not lost when the computer power is
turned off. The ROM is sustained by a smaller long-life
battery in your computer.
RAM, MAIN MEMORY AND ROM EXPLAINED
In common usage, the term RAM is synonymous
with main memory, the memory available to programs.
For example, a computer with 8MB RAM has
approximately 8 million bytes of memory that
programs can use. In contrast, ROM refers to special
memory used to store programs that boot the
computer and perform diagnostics. Most personal
computers have a small amount of ROM (a few
thousand bytes). In fact, both types of memory (ROM
and RAM) allow random access. To be precise,
therefore, RAM should be referred to as read/write
RAM and ROM as read-only RAM.
WHAT IS A MICROCONTROLLER?
A microcontroller (MCU for microcontroller
unit) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit.
Microcontrollers are used in automatically
controlled products and devices, such as automobile
engine control systems, implantable medical devices,
tools, toys and other embedded systems.
Microcontrollers were originally programmed
only in assembly language, but various high-level
programming languages, such as C, Python, and
JavaScript, are now also in common use to target
microcontrollers and embedded systems. Theses
languages are either designed specially for the purpose,
or versions of general-purpose languages such as the C
programming language. Compilers for general purpose
languages will typically have some restrictions as well as
enhancements to better support the unique
characteristics of microcontrollers. Some
microcontrollers have environment to aid developing
certain types of applications. Microcontroller vendors
often make tools freely available to make it easier to
adopt their hardware.
Microprocessor
WHAT IS A MICROPROCESSOR?
The word comes from the combination micro
and processor.
- Processor means a device that
processors whatever. In this context
processor means a device that
processes numbers, specifically
binary numbers, 0’s and 1’s.
To process means to manipulate. It is a general
term that describes all manipulation. Again in this
content, it means to perform certain operations on the
numbers that depend on the microprocessor’s design.
A microprocessor incorporates most or all of
the functions of a computer’s central processing unit
(CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC, or microchip)
A silicon chip that contains a CPU. In the world
of personal computers, the terms microprocessor and
CPU are used interchangeably. It is the heart if
computer.
A microprocessor, sometimes called a logic chip,
is a computer processor on a microchip. The
microprocessor contains all, or most of, the central
processing unit (CPU) functions.