What is a microcontroller?

A microcontroller is a microprocessor system but

smaller and usually have additional features built for
a specific task.

What are some examples of devices that use Some examples of devices that use
microcontrollers? microcontrollers are robots, calculators, traffic lights,
security systems, washing machines, electronic
billboards, and microwave ovens.

What is a microprocessor system? A microprocessor system is a computer system that

comprises of many elements, including a Central
Processing Unit (CPU), Storage Elements,
Read-only Memory (ROM), Random Access
Memory (RAM), Input/Output Module (IO),
Serial/Parallel Communication Ports, and
Timer/Interrupt Modules.

What is the difference between a microprocessor A microprocessor system is a general-purpose

system and a microcontroller? microprocessor, while a microcontroller is a
microprocessor system but smaller and usually has
additional features built for a specific task.

What are the additional features that a The additional features that a microcontroller has
microcontroller has? are integrated altogether into one single chip.

ware that is typically burned into the A microcontroller has on-chip RAM, ROM, and I/O
microcontroller's ROM •Examples of embedded ports, while a general-purpose microprocessor
products include o Microwave o VCR o TV remote requires external RAM, ROM, and I/O ports to
control o Telephone o Digital camera o Automobile function.
o Washing machine o Printer What is the difference
between a microcontroller and a general-purpose
microprocessor?

What are the advantages of using a microcontroller The fixed amount of on-chip ROM, RAM, and
in applications where cost and space are critical number of I/O ports makes them ideal for many
considerations? applications in which cost and space are critical.

What is an embedded product? An embedded product uses a microprocessor (or

microcontroller) to do one task and one task only.

What is the typical application software burned into There is only one application software that is
a microcontroller's ROM in an embedded product? typically burned into the microcontroller's ROM in an
embedded product.
What are some examples of embedded products? Examples of embedded products include a
microwave, VCR, TV remote control, telephone,
digital camera, automobile, washing machine, and
printer.

al, Binary, Octal, and Hexadecimal What is an An embedded system uses a microprocessor (or
embedded system? microcontroller) to do one task and one task only.

What is the difference between an embedded A PC can be used for any number of applications,
system and a PC? while an embedded system has only one
application software that is typically burned into
ROM.

What is the purpose of RAM memory in a PC? RAM memory in a PC allows the operating system
to load a variety of applications into RAM and lets
the CPU run them.

What is the function of a microcontroller in a Each peripheral has a microcontroller inside it that
peripheral? performs only one task.

What topics are considered pre-learned in this Numbering systems, binary/octal/hexadecimal

subject? numbers, decimal to binary/octal/hexadecimal
conversions, binary data, standard data codes,
combinational logic circuits and its operations,
adder, decoder, multiplexer, electronic operating
characteristics, input switch, keypad matrix,
common anode/cathode LEDs, and 7 segment
display.

What is the Intel 8051 microcontroller? The Intel 8051 is a microcontroller discussed in this
chapter.

What are the four numbering systems covered in Decimal, Binary, Octal, and Hexadecimal.
the pre-learned topics?

What is the purpose of representing binary numbers To make negative numbers possible.
in a certain data magnitude?

What is the difference between signed number Signed number representation uses the leftmost bit
representation and magnitude representation? to represent the number as positive or negative,
while magnitude representation uses a certain
number of bits to represent the value.
What is Gray Code? A code used to control analog power switching by
coding binary values.

What is ASCII Code? A code that assigns unique binary data values to
characters and is 7 bits wide.

What is EBCDIC Code? A code that assigns unique binary data values to
characters and is called Extended Binary Coded
Decimal Interchange Code.

What is the EBCDIC Code? The EBCDIC Code is the Extended Binary Coded
Decimal Interchange Code, which is widely used by
IBM systems and is 8 bits wide.

What is a half adder? A half adder is a combinational logic system that

adds two single binary digits and produces a sum
and a carry output.

What is a decoder? A decoder is a combinational logic system that

converts a binary code into a specific output.

What is an input switch? An input switch is an electronic operating

characteristic that is a two or three-pin device used
to control the flow of current in a circuit.

What is a keypad matrix? A keypad matrix is an electronic operating

characteristic that is a grid of buttons used to input
data into a microcontroller or microprocessor.

What is a common anode/cathode display? A common anode/cathode display is an electronic

operating characteristic that is a type of light
emitting diode (LED) 7-segment display.

What are the four digital components that a Registers, Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit
processor can be built on? (CU), and Internal Interconnections.

What is the function of Registers in a processor? Registers are internal storage components for
temporary data access and processing.

What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a The ALU is the component where data are
processor? processed arithmetically or logically.
What is the Control Unit (CU) in a processor? The CU is the component where instructions are
defined for the data to be processed.

What is the function of Internal Interconnections in a Internal Interconnections provide the

processor? communication between registers, ALU, and CU.

What is the Program Counter (PC) register in a The PC points to the memory address location of a
processor? program code due to be fetched.

What are General Purpose Registers in a General Purpose Registers support internal storage
processor? for process, control, reference, etc.

What is the Accumulator (ACC) register in a The ACC is the main register for storing ALU
processor? resulting data and can shift, rotate, add, subtract,
and invert.

What is the Program Status Word (PSW) register in The PSW is a register that contains control bits for a
a processor? processor and also contains flag signals of the
Accumulator status such as Zero, Parity, Overflow,
Sign, etc.

What is the purpose of the flag signals in a They indicate the status of Zero, Parity, Overflow,
processor's accumulator status? Sign, etc.

What is the Stack Pointer (SP)? It is a register that stores the specific address for
stacking data.

What happens every time an address is used for the The stack register will update a new pointer
stack? address.

Is initializing and enabling the stack pointer required Yes.

in certain processor architectures?

What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)? It is the fundamental building block of the processor
designed to perform arithmetic, logic, and shift
operations.

What kind of operations can the ALU perform? It can perform arithmetic operations such as
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division,
logic operations such as AND, OR, XOR, and shift
operations such as rotate, shift, and swap.
What are the status signals generated by the ALU They are stored in the PSW register.
operations stored in?

What is the Control Unit (CU)? It is the brain of the processor that directs the
processor's operation and tells the memory, ALU,
and input/output peripherals how to respond to a
program instruction.

What does the Control Unit consist of? It consists of multiple levels of sequences and
events that interpret the program code and transmit
and receive control signals throughout the
processor.

What is the purpose of the program counter (PC) The program counter register points to the memory
register in a processor? address location for the processor to fetch and
execute program instructions.

What is the default value of the program counter The default value of the program counter register is
(PC) register when a processor is powered up or 00H.
reset?

What is the stack in a processor or microcontroller? The stack is a place to temporarily store important
data when a subroutine or interrupt program is
executed.

What are program instructions in a processor or Program instructions are binary codes, also known
microcontroller? as machine codes or hex codes, that are read from
memory and executed by the processor.

What is the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle in a The Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle is the process by

processor or microcontroller? which the processor fetches program instructions
from memory, decodes them, and executes them.

What is the hexadecimal radix used for in program The hexadecimal radix is used to describe program
instructions? instructions in a more human-readable format.

What is the purpose of the DIV AB instruction in the The DIV AB instruction divides the values stored in
assembly code example provided? registers A and B and stores the result in register A.

What is the purpose of the END instruction in the The END instruction marks the end of the program.
assembly code example provided?

What is the purpose of the ORG 00H instruction in The ORG 00H instruction sets the memory location
the assembly code example provided? where the program will be stored to 00H.
What is the purpose of the MOV A,24H instruction
in the assembly code example provided?
What is the purpose of the MOV B,34H instruction
in the assembly code example provided?
What is the purpose of the stack in
microcontrollers?
What does the value shown by the stack pointer
register represent?
What is the concept used by the stacking operation
in microcontrollers?
What is the term used for putting data into the stack
in microcontrollers?
What is the term used for getting data out of the
stack in microcontrollers?
What are the key factors that a microcontroller
should have?
What are some additional features that may be
taken into consideration for microcontrollers?
What is the Z80 processor architecture based on?
What are the features of the MC6811 processor?
The MOV A,24H instruction moves the value 24H
into register A.
The MOV B,34H instruction moves the value 34H
into register B.
It operates as a reserved area to store current
important values such as program counter,
accumulator, program status word and others.
It represents the address in the RAM.
Last In First Out (LIFO) concept.
PUSH.
POP.
Ability to detect or sense the surrounding (input
feature), ability to provide a certain amount of
response (output feature), ability to exploit the
response frequency (timer/delay feature), ability to
provide prioritize response (interrupt feature),
contain storage for program (non-volatile memory
feature), contain storage for temporary data
processing (RAM feature).
ADC/DAC module, IP module, GSM module.
The Z80 processor architecture is based on the
Intel 8080 architecture.
The MC6811 processor has a stack-based
architecture, built-in EEPROM and RAM, digital I/O,
a timer, and an ADC.
What is the MCS-51 processor architecture? The MCS-51 processor architecture is an 8-bit
Harvard architecture with 4KByte ROM on-chip and
64KByte ROM external, RAM, 2 timers, 1 serial,
and 4 8-bit parallel ports.

What is the most widely used microcontroller family The MCS-51 is currently the most widely used
currently? microcontroller family.

What is the 8051 microcontroller? The 8051 microcontroller is the original member of
the Intel MCS-51 family of microcontrollers.

What are the two types of memory in the 8051 The two types of memory in the 8051
microcontroller? microcontroller are program memory (ROM) and
data memory (RAM).