WHAT IS A MICROCONTROLLER?

A few years ago, the control functions of the system were implemented using logic components
and were generally large and heavy boxes. Later, microprocessors were used and the entire
controller was able to fit on a small circuit board. As time went by, different components were
added.

A typical microcontroller has bit manipulation instructions, easy and direct I / O access,
microcontrollers come in many varieties. Depending on the power and features needed, people
can choose a 4, 8, 16 or 32 bit microcontroller

ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is usually used to store program instructions.

Flash

Flash is an electrically erasable and programmable memory.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

During in the execution of a program, data have to be saved for later use.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

EEPROM is used to store data that must be saved through a power down cycle.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

It is the brain of the system that processes all data and their travel along the bus.

TIMERS

The timer or timing system makes it possible to measure and time external and internal events.

I / O (INPUT / OUTPUT) PORTS

Most microcontrollers have several digital I/O ports that are used to drive a LED or get input.

TYPICAL MICROCONTROLLER APPLICATIONS

Microcontrollers are frequently found in home appliances, computers and computer equipment,
cars and instrumentation, aerospace and thousands of other uses.

ADDITIONAL MICROCONTROLLER FEATURES

TIMERS

Watchdog timer: A watchdog timer provides a means of supple recovery from a system problem.

Auto Reload Timer: his timer automatically recharge its counting value when the count is over.

Pulse Width Modulator: A pulse train is generated and regulated with a low-pass filter to generate
a voltage.
Pulse Accumulator. A pulse accumulator is an event counter. Each pulse increments the pulse
accumulator register

Input Capture. Input Capture can measure external frequencies or period intervals by copying the
value from a free running timer

Output compare. you can time an external event by sending a value stored within the register.

DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSORS (DSP):

DSPs run intensive repetitive math algorithms. It can be applied in different electronic equipment
where the two different types of processors need, the most basic thing a DSP will do is a MACC
(Multiply and Accumulate).

ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS

Analog electronics is detecting continuously varying information, converting it to digital, and

reshaping the digital data to an analog signal on the other side, in order to utilize these complex
functions of high-speed telecommunications, or real-time data processing that require industrial
control systems and automotive systems

COMMUNICATION

CAN & J1850

CAN (Controller Area Network) is a multiplexed wiring scheme that was developed jointly by BOSH
and Intel for wiring in automobiles. J1850 is the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) multiplexed
automotive wiring standard that is currently in use in North America. These connectors were
developed for the creation of lower-priced microcontrollers.

BUS I2C - Inter-integrated circuit bus (PHILIPS).

Is an interface to develop 8-bit microcontrollers for industrial, automotive and consumer

electronics use.

USART (Universal Synchronous / Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter)

Is a serial port connector for either asynchronous or synchronous serial communications.

INTERRUPTS

Polling: It is a software technique whereby the controller continually asks a peripheral if it needs
servicing.

Interruptions are the data that enters our microprocessor, where each of the data entered goes to
the peripherals, when the peripherals receive this information the controller responds to that
data, the advantage is the speed of response to external events and the reduction of software
overload, and at least one microcontroller has an external interrupt.