Microprocessor Micro Controller

Microprocessor is heart of Computer system. Micro Controller is a heart of embedded system.

It is just a processor. Memory and I/O components
have to be connected externally
Micro controller has external processor along with
internal memory and i/O components
Since memory and I/O has to be connected externally,
the circuit becomes large.
Since memory and I/O are present internally, the
circuit is small.
Cannot be used in compact systems and hence
inefficient
Can be used in compact systems and hence it is an
efficient technique
Cost of the entire system increases Cost of the entire system is low
Due to external components, the entire power
consumption is high. Hence it is not suitable to used
with devices running on stored power like batteries.
Since external components are low, total power
consumption is less and can be used with devices
running on stored power like batteries.
Most of the microprocessors do not have power saving
features.
Most of the micro controllers have power saving
modes like idle mode and power saving mode. This
helps to reduce power consumption even further.
Since memory and I/O components are all external,
each instruction will need external operation, hence it
is relatively slower.
Since components are internal, most of the operations
are internal instruction, hence speed is fast.
Microprocessor have less number of registers, hence
more operations are memory based.
Micro controller have more number of registers,
hence the programs are easier to write.
Microprocessors are based on von Neumann
model/architecture where program and data are
stored in same memory module
Micro controllers are based on Harvard architecture
where program memory and Data memory are
separate
Mainly used in personal computers Used mainly in washing machine, MP3 players





A Microcontroller Survey

A Microcontroller Survey
Markets for microcontrollers can run into millions of units per application. At these volumes
the microcontroller is a commodity item and must be optimized so that cost is at a minimum.
Semiconductor manufacturers have produced a mind-numbing array of designs that would
seem to meet almost any need. Some of the chips listed in this section are no longer in regular
production, most are current, and a few are best termed "smoke ware": the dreams of an
aggressive marketing department.
Four-Bit Microcontrollers
In a commodity chip, expense is represented more by the volume of the package and the
number of pins it has than the amount of silicon inside. To minimize pin count and package
size, it is necessary that the basic data word-bit count be held to a minimum, while still
enabling useful intelligence to be implemented.
Although 4 bits, in this era of 64-bit "maximicros," may seem somewhat ludicrous, we must
recall that the original 4004 was a 4-bit device, and all else followed. Indeed, in terms of
production numbers, the 4-bit microcontroller is today the most popular micro made. The
following table lists representative models from major manufacturers' data books. Many of
these designs have been licensed to other vendors.

These 4-bit microcontrollers are generally intended for use in large volumes as true 1 -chip
computers; expanding external memory, although possible, would negate the cost advantage
desired. Typical applications consist of appliances and toys
;
worldwide volumes run into the
tens of millions.


Eight-Bit Microcontrollers
Eight-bit microcontrollers represent a transition zone between the dedicated, high-volume, 4-
bit microcontrollers and the high-performance, 16- and 32-bit units that will conclude this
topic .
Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
Eight bits has proven to be a very useful word size for small computing tasks. Capable of 256
decimal values, or quarter-percent resolution, the 1-byte word is adequate for many control
and monitoring applications. Serial ASCII data is also stored in byte sizes, making 8 bits the
natural choice for data communications . Most integrated circuit memories and many logic
functions are arranged in an 8-bit configuration that interfaces easily to data busses of 8 bits.
Application volumes for 8-bit microcontrollers may be as high as the 4-bit models, or they
may be very low. Application sophistication can also range from simple appliance control to
high-speed machine control and data collection. For these reasons, the microcontroller
vendors have established extensive "fami-lies" of similar models. All feature a common
language, but differ in the amount of internal ROM, RAM, and other cost-sensitive features.
Often the memory can be expanded to include off-chip ROM and RAM; in some cases, the
microcontroller has no on-board ROM at all, or the ROM is an electrically reprogrammable
read only memory (EPROM).
The purpose of this diversity is to offer the designer a menu of similar devices that can solve
almost any problem. The ROMless or EPROM versions can be used by the designer to
prototype the application, and then the designer can order the ROM version in large
quantities from the factory. Many times the ROM sight ^version is never used. The designer
makes the ROMless or EPROM design sufficiently general so that one configuration may be
used many times, or production volumes never justify the cost of a factory ROM
implementation. As a further enticement for the buyer, some families have members with
fewer external pins to shrink the package and the cost; others have special features
such .as analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters on the chip.
The 8-bit arena is crowded with capable and cleverly designed contenders; this is the growth
segment of the market and the manufacturers are responding vigorously to the marketplace.
The following table lists the generic family name for each chip, but keep in mind that
ROMless, EPROM, and reduced pin-count members of the family are also available. Each
entry in the table has many variations; the total number of configurations available exceeds a
total of 80 types for the 11 model numbers listed.

CAUTION
Not all of the pins can be used for general - purpose I/O and addressing external memory al
the same time. The sales literature should be read with some care lo see how many of the pins
have more than one function. Inspection of the table shows that the designers made tradeoffs:
external memory addressing for extra on - chip functions. Generally, the ability to expand
memory off the chip implies that a ROMless family member is available for use in limited
production numbers where the expense of factory programming can be avoided. Lack of this
feature implies that the chip is meant for high production volumes where the expense of
factory-programmed parts can be amortized over a large number of devices. A compromise
may be reached by using one time-prgrammable (OTP) parts.
Sixteen-Bit Microcontrollers
Eight-bit microcontrollers can be used in a variety of applications that involve limited
calculations and relatively simple control strategies. As the requirement for faster response
and more sophisticated calculations grows, the 8-bit designs begin to hit a limit inherent with
byte-wide data words. One solution is to increase clock speeds; another is to increase the size
of the data word. Sixteen-bit microcontrollers have evolved to solve high-speed control
problems of the type that might typically be confronted in the control of ser-vomechanisms,
such as robot arms.
The designs become much more focused on these types of real-time problems,- some
generality is lost, but the vendors still try to hit as many marketing targets as they can. The
following table lists only three contenders. Intel has recently begun vigorously marketing the
MCS-96 family. Other vendors are expected to appear as this market segment grows in
importance.

The pulse width modulation (PWM) output is useful for controlling motor speed; it can be
done using software in the 8-bit units with the usual loss of time for other tasks.
The 16- (and 32-) bit controllers have also been designed to take advantage of high-level
programming languages in the expectation that very little assembly language programming
will be done when employing these controllers in sophisticated applications.
Thirty-Two Bit Microcontrollers
Crossing the boundary from 16 to 32 bits involves more than merely doubling the word size
of the computer. Software boundaries that separate dedicated programs from supervisory
programs are also breached. Thirty-two bit designs target robotics, highly intelligent
instrumentation, avionics, image processing, telecommunications, automobiles, and other
environments that feature application programs running under an operating system. The line
between microcomputers and microcontrollers becomes very fine here.
The design emphasis now switches from on-chip features, such as RAM, ROM, timers, and
serial ports, to high-speed computation features. The following table provides a general list of
the capability of the Intel 80960:
Hardware Features Software Features
132-pin ceramic package 20 megahertz
clock 32 bit bus
Efficient procedure calls Fault-handing
capability Trace events
Floating -point unit 512-byte instruction
cache Interrupt control
Global registers Efficient interrupt vectors
Versa tile addressing
All of the functions needed for I/O, data communications, and timing and
x
counting are done
by adding other specialized chips.
This manufacturer has dubbed all of its microcontrollers embedded controllers, a term that
seems to describe the function of the 32-bit 80960 very well.

Advantages of Microcontroller:
Microcontroller's use increased rapidly. Now these are used in almost every electronic
equipment like Washing Machines,Mobile Phones and Microwave Oven. Following are the
most important facts about Microcontrollers, which causes rapid growth of their use:
You may also like: Difference Between Microcontroller & Microprocessor

Microcontrollers are cheap and very small in size, therefore they can be embedded on
any device.
Programming of Microcontrollers is simple to learn. Its not much complicated.
We can use simulators on Computers to see the practicalresults of our program. Thus
we can work on a Embedded project without even buying the required Components and
Chips. Thus we can virtually see the working of our project or program.
Applications of Microcontrollers:
Microcontrollers are mostly used in following electronic equipments :
Mobile Phones
Auto Mobiles
CD/DVD Players
Washing Machines
Cameras
In Computers-> Modems and Keyboard Controllers
Security Alarms
Electronic Measurement Instruments.
Microwave Oven.