MICROCONTROLLER

BY:
LORLIE B. ANDRES, ME-COE
What is Microcontroller
  A microcontroller is a small and low-cost
microcomputer, which is designed to perform the
specific tasks of embedded systems like displaying
microwave’s information, receiving remote signals,
etc.
 A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit

designed to govern a specific operation in an

embedded system.
 A typical microcontroller includes a processor,

memory and input/output (I/O) peripherals on a

single chip.
Difference between Microprocessor
and Microcontroller
Categories of Microcontroller
 Microcontrollers are divided into various
categories based on:
◦ Bits
◦ Memory
◦ Instruction sets
◦ Architecture
Bit
 Based on bit configuration, the microcontroller is
further divided into three categories.
◦ 8-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is
used to execute arithmetic and logical operations like
addition, subtraction, multiplication division, etc. For
example, Intel 8031 and 8051 are 8 bits microcontroller.
◦ 16-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is
used to perform arithmetic and logical operations where
higher accuracy and performance is required. For
example, Intel 8096 is a 16-bit microcontroller.
◦ 32-bit microcontroller − This type of microcontroller is
generally used in automatically controlled appliances like
automatic operational machines, medical appliances, etc.
 Memory
 Based on the memory configuration, the
microcontroller is further divided into two
categories.
◦ External memory microcontroller − This type of
microcontroller is designed in such a way that they
do not have a program memory on the chip. Hence, it
is named as external memory microcontroller. For
example: Intel 8031 microcontroller.
◦ Embedded memory microcontroller − This type of
microcontroller is designed in such a way that the
microcontroller has all programs and data memory,
counters and timers, interrupts, I/O ports are
embedded on the chip. For example: Intel 8051
microcontroller.
 Instruction sets
 Based on the instruction set configuration,
the microcontroller is further divided into two
categories.
◦ CISC − CISC stands for complex instruction set
computer. It allows the user to insert a single
instruction as an alternative to many simple
instructions.
◦ RISC − RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set
Computers. It reduces the operational time by
shortening the clock cycle per instruction.
Architecture
 Classification According to Memory
Architecture
◦ Harvard Memory Architecture Microcontroller: The
point when a microcontroller unit has a dissimilar
memory address space for the program and data
memory, the microcontroller has Harvard memory
architecture in the processor.
◦ Princeton Memory Architecture Microcontroller: The
point when a microcontroller has a common
memory address for the program memory and data
memory, the microcontroller has Princeton memory
architecture in the processor.
Applications of Microcontrollers
 Microcontrollers are widely used in various
different devices such as −
◦ Light sensing and controlling devices like LED.
◦ Temperature sensing and controlling devices like
microwave oven, chimneys.
◦ Fire detection and safety devices like Fire alarm.
◦ Measuring devices like Volt Meter.
4 Types of Microcontrollers
 Microcontroller 8051
 Renesas Microcontroller
 AVR Microcontrollers
 PIC Microcontroller
Microcontroller 8051
 The 8051 Microcontroller is designed by Intel
in 1981.
 It is 40 pin DIP IC.
 an 8-bit microcontroller.
 a very famous Microcontroller of Intel family.
 contains the RAM and ROM, IO ports inside it.
 Treated as the second generation

microcontroller.
 These kinds of microcontrollers are used in
different appliances like
◦ Televisions
◦ washing machines
◦ Telephones
◦ some other electronic gadgets.
Memory Architecture of 8051
 The memory of 8051 is
divided to two parts.
◦ Program Memory
 stores the program being executed
◦ Data Memory.
 temporarily stores the data and the
results.
Renesas Microcontroller
 Renesas is latest automotive microcontroller
family that offers high performance feature with
exceptionally low power consumption over a wide
and versatile extend of items.
 This microcontroller offers rich functional security
and embedded safety characteristics required for
new and advanced automotive applications.
 The core structure of microcontroller CPU support
high reliability and high performance
requirements.
 It is a 20 pin microcontroller.
Pin arrangement of Renesas
microcontroller
Features and Benefits of the RX
Microcontrollers
 Low power consumption is realized using multi-core
technology
 Support for 5V operation for industrial and appliance
designs
 Scalability from 48 to 145 pins and from 32KB to 1MB
flash memory, with 8KB of data flash memory
included
 Integrated safety feature
 An integrated rich function set of 7 UART, I2C, 8 SPI,
comparators, 12-bit ADC, 10-bit DAC and 24-bit
ADC (RX21A), which will reduce system cost by
integrating most functions
Application of Renesas
Microcontroller
 Industrial automation
Communication applications
Motor control applications
Test and measurement
Medical applications
AVR Microcontrollers
 AVR microcontroller is developed by Alf-Egil
Bogen and Vegard Wollan from Atmel
Corporation.
 The AVR microcontrollers are modified

harvard RISC architecture with separate

memories for data and program and speed of
AVR is high when compare to 8051 and PIC.
 The AVR is stands for Alf-Egil Bogen

and Vegard Wollan’s RISC processor.

 AVR is a family of microcontrollers developed since
1996 by Atmel, acquired by Microchip Technology in
2016.
 These are modified Harvard architecture 8-
bit RISC single-chip microcontrollers.
 AVR was one of the first microcontroller families to
use on-chip flash memory for program storage, as
opposed to one-time programmable ROM, EPROM,
or EEPROM used by other microcontrollers at the time.
 AVR microcontrollers find many applications
as embedded systems.
 They are especially common in hobbyist and
educational embedded applications, popularized by
their inclusion in many of the Arduino line of open
hardware development boards.
AVR MICROCONTROLLERS
Difference between 8051 and AVR
Controllers
 8051s are 8-bit controllers based on CISC
architecture, AVRs are 8-bit controllers based
on RISC architecture
 8051 consumes more power than AVR

microcontroller
 In 8051, we can program easily than the AVR

microcontroller
 The speed of AVR is more than the 8051

microcontroller
Classification of AVR Controllers
 TinyAVR – Less memory, small size, suitable
only for simpler applications
 MegaAVR – These are the most popular ones

having good amount of memory (up to 256

KB), higher number of inbuilt peripherals and
suitable for moderate to complex
applications
 XmegaAVR – Used commercially for complex

applications, which require large program

memory and high speed
Features of AVR Microcontroller:
 16KB of In-System Programmable Flash
 512B of In-System Programmable EEPROM
 16-bit Timer with extra features
 Multiple internal oscillators
 Internal, self-programmable instruction flash

memory up to 256K
 In-system programmable using ISP, JTAG or

high voltage methods

 Optional boot code section with independent

lock bits for protection

Cont…
 Synchronous/asynchronous serial peripherals
(UART/USART)
 Serial peripheral interface bus (SPI)
 Universal serial interface (USI) for two/three-wire

synchronous data transfer

 Watchdog timer (WDT)
 Multiple power-saving sleep modes
 10-bit A/D Converters, with multiplex of up to 16

channels
 CAN and USB controller support
 Low-voltage devices operating down to 1.8v
 AVR family microcontrollers
 ATmega8
 ATmega16
 ATmega16 
 ….. 
 ATmega328
Features of ATmega328
 28-pin AVR microcontroller
 Flash program memory of 32kbytes
 EEPROM data memory of 1kbytes
 SRAM data memory of 2kbytes
 I/O pins are 23
 Two 8-bit timers
 A/D converter
 Six channel PWM
 In built USART
 External Oscillator: up to 20MHz
Applications of AVR Microcontroller
 home automation
touch screen
Automobiles
medical devices
defense
PIC Microcontroller
 PIC is a peripheral interface controller,
developed by general instrument’s
microelectronics, in the year of 1993.
 It is controlled by the software.
 They could be programmed to complete many
task and control a generation line and many
more.
 PIC microcontrollers are finding their way into
new applications like smart phones, audio
accessories, video gaming peripherals and
advanced medical devices.
Features of PIC16F877
 High-performance RISC CPU
 Up to 8K x 14 words of FLASH program memory
 35 Instructions (fixed length encoding-14-bit)
 368×8 static RAM based data memory
 Up to 256 x 8 bytes of EEPROM data memory
 Interrupt capability (up to 14 sources)
 Three addressing modes (direct, indirect, relative)
 Power-on reset (POR)
 Harvard architecture memory
 Power saving SLEEP mode
 Wide operating voltage range: 2.0V to 5.5V
 High sink / source current: 25mA
 Accumulator based machine
Advantages of PIC
 It is a RISC design
 Its code is extremely efficient, allowing the

PIC to run with typically less program

memory than its larger competitors
 It is low cost, high clock speed