BEEL 3444

MICROPROCESSOR AND
MICROCONTROLLER TECHNOLOGY

Name : Ts. Dr. Hasrul Nisham Bin Rosly

Room : Level 8, FKM Building
Contact Number : 012-7442788
Email : hasrul@utem.edu.my
MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM AND
PERIPHERAL DESIGN
CHAPTER 1

2
At the end of the class, you will be able:

to understand the evolution of microprocessor.

to describe the microprocessor system.

to explain about microprocessor, microcontroller, comparisons,

advantages, disadvantages and microcontroller families.

3
EMBEDDED CONTROLLERS
• Embedded controllers are a
ubiquitous part of life today
• A key impact technology for
the 21st century

4
5
6
7
TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Mainframe
Minicomputer

Workstation

Microcomputer

Embedded
System

8
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS

9
EVOLUTIONS OF CPUs

10
MICROPROCESSOR VS
MICROCONTROLLER

VS

11
MICROPROCESSOR

12
13
What is an Embedded System
1. Special purpose computer –
usually with one specific task or application.
2. Usually embedded in a device which often has other 
electronic and mechanical parts
3. Usually optimized for the specific task
4. Has the usual basic computer components –
CPU, memory, inputs & outputs

14
Constraints

An embedded system has software designed 
to keep in view three constraints:
1. System memory
2. Processing power
3. Power consumption

15
 SYSTEM ORGANIZATION
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Memory
• Input/Output (I/O) circuitry CPU
• Buses
– Address bus
– Data bus
– Control bus

Address bus - carrying the address for the data inside the memory (24-bit)
Data bus - carrying the data in/out P (16-bit)
Control bus - carrying the signal which is used to control the devices and status of the devices.
(E.g.: read/write process)

16
 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
• Directs the operation of the
other units by providing timing Control Unit
and control signals.
• Performs all the arithmetic and
logical operations.
• Holds values of internal Arithmetic Logic
operation, such as the address Unit
of the instruction being
executed and the data being
processed
• Accumulator, Program Counter
Register, Status Register Register

17
BUS SYSTEM
(address bus - unidirectional)
- A bus which carries an address from the uP to the memory. (
to confirm the location of an address).
- The total of address bit is can be used to determine the total
memory can be accessed in a memory system.
- The address is a one way direction which is from CPU to
other devices only
(Data bus – bidirectional)
- A bidirectional system bus due to the data can be transferred
either to or from CPU.
- Data can be either input or output based on the process out or
into the CPU which is read or write.
- The size of the data is based on the total data bit is being

(Control bus – bidirectional)

- To bring the discrete signal which is used to synchronize the whole
operation for a microcomputer.
18
BASIC OPERATION OF
MICROCOMPUTER
Reset Start here when reset signal is received

1. Output instruction address onto address bus

Fetch 2. Read instruction pattern from memory onto data bus
3. Increment instruction pointer (program counter)

1. CPU received byte (Opcode) from data bus. (Opcode fetch)

Decode
2. Decode Opcode to generate signal.
3. Multibyte instruction :- fetch the next byte from memory.
4. Repeat the same procedure.

1. If necessary, read data from memory

Execute
2. Execute Instruction
3. If necessary, write results to memory

19
 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
Register : To
ALU : To
store
perform temporary
algorithm and data.
mathematical
operation.

Control Unit : To
control operation
by giving the
control signal and
the timing.

20
Embedded System

21
Examples
• Personal information products: Cell phone, pager, watch, pocket recor
der, calculator
• Laptop components:  mouse, keyboard, modem, 
fax card, sound card, battery charger
• Home appliances:  door lock, alarm clock, 
thermostat, air conditioner, tv remote, hair 
dryer, VCR, small refrigerator, exercise 
equipment, washer/dryer, microwave oven
• Toys; video games, cars, dolls, etc. 
22
Embedded System
1. Microprocessors
 CPU (Central Processing Unit) in a single chip; it
cannot work without support from others devices
such as memory, input & output device
2. Microcontrollers
 compact microcomputer designed to govern the
operation of embedded systems. A typical
microcontroller includes a processor, memory, and
peripherals.

23
Microprocessor System Structure

24
Microcontroller System Structure
1. Essentially a
microprocessor chip
memories and I/O
devices
2. All in one solution-
reduction in chip
count

25
Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller

26
Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller
• MCU intended as a single chip solution, MPU requires external support
chips (memory, interface)
• MCU has on-chip non-volatile memory for program storage, MPU does
not.
• MCU has more interface functions on-chip (serial interfaces, Analog-to-
Digital conversion, timers, etc.) than MPU
• MCU does not have virtual memory support (I.e, could not run Linux),
while MPU does.
• • General purpose MPU s are typically higher performance (clock
speed, data width, instruction set, cache) than MCU s
27
Microcontroller
Advantages Disadvantages
1. It is cheaper to 1. Microcontrollers are
purchase a less flexible than
microcontroller than microprocessor as
all of the components individual
required for a components can not
microprocessors be replaced.
2. Reduced number of 2. Microprocessor can
components makes be easily upgraded
production easier and with higher
reliable specification devices.
28
Common Microcontroller

29
PIC Microcontrollers
Designed by Microchip Technology
Stands for Peripheral Interface Controller
Its first ancestor was designed in 1975 by General Instruments

30
PIC Microcontroller
PICs are popular with developers due to
1. Low cost
2. Wide availability
3. Large User base
4. Extensive collection of application notes
5. Availability of low cost or free development tools
6. Serial programming capabilities

31
32
PIC Microcontroller Architecture
All upgraded microcontrollers use one of two
basic design models called:
1. Harvard 
2. Von-Neumann architecture.

They represent two different ways of exchanging

data between CPU and memory

33
PIC Microcontroller Architecture

Von-Neumann architecture Harvard architecture

PIC Microcontroller Architecture

Von-Neumann architecture Harvard architecture

• Von Neumann architecture  instructions and data are stored in the same memory, so instructions
are fetched over the same data path used to fetch data. This means that a CPU cannot
simultaneously read an instruction and read or write data from or to the memory.

• Harvard architecture  the CPU can both read an instruction and perform a data memory access at
the same time, even without a cache.

• A Harvard architecture computer can thus be faster for a given circuit complexity because
instruction fetches and data access do not contend for a single memory pathway.
PIC Microcontroller Instruction Set
• All instructions understandable to the microcontroller are called
together the Instruction Set
• The main restriction here is a number of available instructions. The
manufacturers usually adopt either approach described below:
• RISC (REDUCED INSTRUCTION SET COMPUTER)
• CISC (COMPLEX INSTRUCTION SET COMPUTER)

36
CISC
1. Traditionally, CPUs are CISC
(Complex Instruction Set
Computing)
2. Used in : 80X86,8051,68HC11, etc.
3. Many instructions (usually > 100)
4. Several addressing modes
5. Usually takes more than 1 internal
clock cycle to execute

37
CISC (COMPLEX
INSTRUCTION SET
COMPUTING)

Chapter 2 BETC3843 – norhisyam@utem.edu.my 38

RISC
• The microcontroller recognizes and executes only basic operations
( addition, subtraction, copying, etc. )
• All other more complicated operations are performed by combining
these
• The microcontroller is very fast so that it is not possible to see all the
arithmetic ‘acrobatics’ it performs
• It is low cost, high clock speed

39
RISC
• PIC16F877 great advantages due to adoption of RISC:
• The CPU only recognizes 35 simple instructions (assembly language).
• The execution time is the same for almost all instructions and lasts for 4 clock
cycles.
• The oscillator frequency is stabilized by a quartz crystal.
• i.e.  if the microcontroller’s operating speed is 20MHz, the execution time of each
instruction will be 200nS, i.e. the program will execute 5 million instructions per second!

40
RISC (REDUCED
INSTRUCTION SET
COMPUTING)

41
Characteristics of PIC Microcontroller

RISC

PIC
Harvard

42
Families of Microcontroller

43
PIC Families : Cores

44
Microchip Family
• Baseline core devices
1 • PIC10, PIC12 and PIC16

• Mid-Range core devices

2 • PIC12 and PIC16

• High End core devices

3 • PIC18

• 16 bit microcontroller
4 • PIC24 and dsPIC

45
Selecting Microcontrollers
• Choose the right one for your application
• Consider Cost, 
• Performance, 
• Package Software
• Integrated Peripherals, Support 
• Development Environment

46
Inside PIC16/18 Microcontroller

47
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
CPU is manufactured with RISC technology as it is
an important factor when deciding which
microcontroller to use.

48
Memory / Storage
• The PIC16 has three types of memory ROM, RAM and EEPROM. All of
them will be separately discussed since each has specific functions,
features and organization
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM)

49
Memory / Storage
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
 The most complex part of microcontroller memory. It consists of two parts: general-purpose
registers and special-function registers (SFR).
 Read Only Memory (ROM)
 ROM memory is used to permanently save the program being executed. This is why it is often
called ‘program memory’.
 Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM)
 Similar to program memory, the contents of EEPROM is permanently saved, even when the
power goes off. However, unlike ROM, the contents of EEPROM can be changed during the
operation of the microcontroller. 

50
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• General-purpose Registers
• General-purpose registers are used for storing temporary data and results
created during operation
• I.e. program of counting product
• Special Function Registers (SFRs)
• Special-function registers are also RAM memory locations, but unlike general-
purpose registers, their purpose is predetermined during manufacturing
process and cannot be changed. 
• I.e. ADCON0 register controls the operation of A/D converter. Changing its bits
it is determined which port pin is to be configured as converter input, the
moment conversion is to start as well as the speed of conversion

51
Memory

52
Memory
1. Each memory address
corresponds to one
memory location.
2. The content of any
location becomes known
by its addressing.
3. Memory can either be
written to or read from.
4. There are several types of
memory within the
microcontroller.
53
Memory

54
MEMORY
 Data lost upon power off – short term memory
 Has two major types:
o Static RAM – fast, easy to interface but small sizes

RAM
o Dynamic RAM – Larger but requires refreshing operation, slow

 Store permanent information, data still available after power off

 Store critical information such as start up, restart, bios
configuration, initialization process
 Small size, need RAM to download main program such in PC

ROM
55
Input / Output Ports
• In order to synchronize the operation of I/O ports with the internal 8-bit
organization of the microcontroller, they are, similar to registers
• many I/O pins are multifunctional.
• Every port has its ‘satellite’, i.e. the corresponding TRIS register: TRISA, TRISB,
TRISC etc. which determines the performance of port bits, but not their
contents
• I/O for PIC: Port A, Port B ….

56
Important Specification/Features
• Supply Voltage
• Clock
• Reset
• Timer
• Interrupt
• A/D Converter

57
Supply Voltage
• Standard logic voltage: +5v
• To generate the correct voltage
1. Fixed Voltage Regular
2. Variable Voltage Regulator

58
Clock

59
Reset
• Power-on Reset
• Keep the C in reset state until all the internal circuitry has been initialized
• External Reset
• To reset the microcontroller externally

60
Timers
• Counter driven from either internal/external clock
• PIC built-in Timer: TM0,TM1 … (8/16 bits)
• Applications:
• Counter
• Delay
• Interrupt

61
Interrupt
• Respond to external / internal (Timer) events
• During interrupt, C leaves its normal flow of program execution and
jump to Interrupt Service Routines (ISR)

62
Analog to Digital Converter
• Used to convert an analog signal to digital form
• ADC Characteristics
• Bits
• Channel

63
Development Process

64
Basic Circuitry

65
BASIC CIRCUIT
Reset

5V

Clock

Regulator
GND

66
Basic I/O Connection

67
Summary
• Microprocessors and embedded controller are a ubiquitous 
part of life today
• These devices come in a wide variety of configurations and 
designs

68
Appendix

69
THANK YOU
70