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What is Microcontroller?

A highly integrated chip that contains all the components comprising a controller. Typically this includes a CPU, RAM, some form of ROM, I/O ports, and timers. Unlike a general-purpose computer, which also includes all of these components, a microcontroller is designed for a very specific task -- to control a particular system. As a result, the parts can be simplified and reduced, which cuts down on production costs.

Microcontrollers are sometimes called embedded microcontrollers, which just means that they are part of an embedded system -- that is, one part of a larger device or system.

Source: Webopedia

Technical Archives related to Microcontroller:
How to design a microcontroller-based three-channel LED driver (1 2008-01-09
A microcontroller-based current-mode supply can effectively drive light-emitting diodes (LEDs
How to design a microcontroller-based three-channel LED driver 2008-01-11
A microcontroller-based current-mode supply can effectively drive LEDs
Assessing the Centinel management system 2002-06-16
This technical article discusses the efficiency of accurately managing oil mixture content in a diesel engine using a microcontroller-based control system
Designing MCU applications for use in high voltage environments (1) 2007-04-25
This article is the first in a two-part series on MCU design for high voltage environments. It provides useful tips for microcontroller applications in high voltage using a shunt regulator
Create a compact Ethernet PCB system 2004-11-01
Learn how to integrate Ethernet functionality within a microcontroller in a small package
Improve transient immunity in MCU-based embedded design (4) 2006-12-04
This article is part of a tutorial series on how to improve transient immunity in microcontroller-based embedded design. It focuses on PCB power supply and floorplanning
Tricks with PICs 2005-04-02
Squeeze extra features out of Microchip's popular PIC microcontroller chips. The tricks, such as making extra serial ports and performing 32-bit math on an 8-bit chip, are all here and can be used on other microcontrollers as well
Use an 8bit MCU to build yourself a PI controller 2006-08-04
This article shows how, using specific libraries that enable an 8bit microcontroller to perform arithmetic operations with 16- and 32bit precision, you can implement a proportional-integral (PI) controller
Bluetooth Architecture, Protocol And Applications 2001-04-02
This paper examines the hardware architecture, software protocol and applications of a single-chip device that integrates Bluetooth radio and baseband, memory, a Harvard architecture RISC microcontroller and audio codec
The best way to move multimedia data 2004-01-02
With embedded media processors assuming the role of both microcontroller and signal processor, engineers need to understand how various memory management options work on these processors. While cache may be your first choice, the more active approach of DMA may be your best bet
Eight-Bit OO (Hard Eight) 2000-11-02
Using object-oriented techniques to design software for an 8-bit microcontroller may not be common, but it can be effective. This article tells how one project did it and what they learned
Diagnostics for design validation 2003-04-01
Whether you are testing a new microcontroller or an ASIC, post-silicon design validation is a must. Here's a look at diagnostic tests and techniques
Fuji's FinePix undergoes postmortem 2008-01-14
As digital camera platforms stabilise, more- robust mechanical design and environmental resistance may be the most significant opportunities for differentiation.
Design an efficient programmable I2C slave 2007-05-02
The latest MCUs make it feasible to include programmable I2C slaves in low-cost systems.
Make a PI controller on an 8-bit micro 2006-01-02
Normally the domain of more expensive 16- and 32-bit chips, PI controllers are useful in all sorts of industrial applications. Here's a practical way to implement a PI controller on a low-cost 8-bit chip.

New Products related to Microcontroller:
32-bit ZigBee PRO wireless microcontroller debuts 2008-06-25
Jennic introduces a ZigBee PRO software stack to run on its 32-bit single chip wireless microcontroller
Car microcontroller roll from Freescale/ST 2008-05-21
Freescale and STMicroelectronics have announced their first jointly developed automotive microcontroller
Fujitsu launches new microcontroller driver 2008-07-28
Fujitsu announces a microcontroller driver for its MB91460 Series of high-performance 32-bit automotive microcontrollers
NEC's microcontroller offers 1MB flash memory 2006-01-18
NEC Electronics Corp's MCU features large-capacity flash memory (up to 1MB) and are based on the same 32bit architecture as the company's popular V850ES devices.
Cosimulation software adds Philips' LPC2000 microcontroller 2005-08-25
Labcenter added support for Philips' 16bit/32bit ARM7-based LPC2000 family of microcontrollers to its Proteus Virtual System Modeling (VSM) co-simulation software.
Trango Hypervisor virtualises Atmel's microcontroller 2008-02-25
Atmel Corporation and Trango Virtual Processors have announced the availability of Trango's Hypervisor for users of Atmel's AT91CAP9 customisable microcontroller
PIC MCU adds extra serial ports, faster A/D converter 2005-11-03
The newest members of Microchip Technology Inc.'s PIC18F microcontroller family are the PIC18F8622/8527/6622/6527
MCU features power-saving stop mode 2008-11-24
Maxim Integrated Products has announced the MAXQ2010, a 16-bit mixed-signal microcontroller
Cypress unveils 1.8V high-speed USB 2.0 programmable MCU 2006-06-29
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. has introduced a 1.8V high-speed USB 2.0 programmable microcontroller, which is claimed to be the first such product
LCD MCU drives 168 LCD segments for auto, industrial apps 2005-10-25
Microchip Technology's newest PIC-based microcontroller has been designed to drive 168 liquid crystal display segments
Freescale announces ultra-low-end 8-bit MCU core 2006-03-21
Freescale Semiconductor Inc. is introducing an ultra-low-end 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) core to meet demand for smaller, more cost-effective solutions
ARMexpress MCU runs fast BASIC 2006-07-17
Coridium Corp. has introduced its 60 MHz ARMexpress microcontroller which adds performance in a small pluggable 15.24mm DIP package
ST MCU combines SRAM, flash 2006-05-11
STMicroelectronics has introduced a flash microcontroller family which combines Ethernet connectivity, an ARM9E processor core, and embedded SRAM and flash memories
e-Passport MCU includes 66KB of embedded EEPROM 2006-09-22
STMicroelectronics has announced a dual-interface secure microcontroller (MCU), with 66Kbytes of embedded EEPROM, which is designed to give improved performance in e-Passport, ID Card and related applications
Contact-less MCU speeds up, secures identification 2006-11-09
Infineon Technologies AG has announced availability of the new high-security contact less-interface microcontroller (MCU) family

News & Trends related to Microcontroller:
Jennic pushes Zigbee compliant microcontroller 2005-09-07
Fabless semiconductor company Jennic has started sampling and producing in volume a single chip Zigbee compliant wireless microcontroller
IAR, Renesas sign deal for MCU tools 2008-05-21
IAR Systems and Renesas Technology have signed a software development agreement for the latter's new microcontroller family
NXP acquires Sharp ARM-based MCU product biz 2007-07-11
NXP's acquisition of Sharp's BlueStreak microcontroller product portfolio expands NXP's extensive ARM Powered microcontroller portfolio to 50 products
How are microcontrollers changing? 2008-08-05
For a system designer choosing a microcontroller, today's available MCUs can make the search quite complex
Fraunhofer to provide design support for Atmel's MCU based chip 2007-11-29
Atmel Corp. and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits have announced a collaboration to develop SoCs based on Atmel's AT91CAP ARM-based customisable microcontroller
USB-IF certifies Atmel Flash MCU's USB 2.0 interface 2006-01-12
Atmel Corp. has announced that it has been granted certification by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) for its AT91SAM7S64 ARM-based 32-bit Flash microcontroller
Frost & Sullivan: MCU market to hit $22.7B 2006-07-27
According to market researcher Frost & Sullivan, the global microcontroller market reached Rs.62,787.10 crore ($13.7 billion) last year, and is expected to rise further to Rs.1,04,034.10 ($22.7 billion) in 2009
ST achieves EAL5+ certification for 32-bit smart card MCU 2005-08-02
STMicroelectronics announced that the established ST22L128 32-bit secure microcontroller has received 'Common Criteria' security certification at Evaluation Assurance Level EAL5+ (Augmented
16bit MCU portfolio targets performance, cost goals 2005-11-21
In the advent of more complex electronic design requirements from customers for increased speed, efficiency and performance, chipmakers jumped on the 32bit bandwagon for microcontroller-intensive applications
Zigbee vet strives to reduce cost 2007-03-01
Wireless microcontroller specialist Jennic is putting the marker down for next-generation Zigbee-compliant devices at sub-Rs.90.64 ($2) prices in 100,000-plus units
Data I/O, Microchip sign marketing agreement 2005-12-02
Data I/O, a provider of manual and automated programming systems, and Microchip Technology, a supplier of microcontroller and analogue semiconductors, announced that they have completed a strategic marketing alliance agreement that will further develop their respective and mutual customer bases
Avnet, Atmel, Battery Tech develop laptop computer batteries 2005-09-23
Avnet Electronics Marketing, a division of Avnet Inc., and Atmel Corp. in conjunction with Battery Technology Inc.'s internal engineering department, created a new line of batteries for laptop computers that rely on Atmel's AVR line of microcontrollers. The AVR features RISC-based processor core and low power 8-bit flash memory microcontroller
Renesas confirms silicon success on automotive MCU 2005-08-03
Renesas Technology Corp. has achieved first-pass silicon success on a car audio microcontroller developed using Magma Design Automation Inc.'s software
Automotive MCUs get flexible 2008-06-17
A flexible microcontroller is cost-effective and may be specified exactly to customer requirements
TI delivers low-power RF protocol 2007-09-17
TI has announced the release of a low-power RF protocol, designed for easy implementation with minimal microcontroller resource requirements

Application Notes related to Microcontroller:
Drive a resistive touch-screen controller 2008-11-17
Learn how to use MSP430 MCU to drive and read a resistive touch screen.
Implementing wireless gas sensor function 2008-09-05
Learn the steps to build a wireless gas sensor based on XE8805/05A capabilities.
Interfacing 1-Wire communications device with PIC microcontroller 2008-08-21
Sashavalli Maniyar introduces users to the 1-Wire communication protocol.
USB driver customisation 2008-07-04
This article outlines the steps to customise the Windows device driver installation with the USB Driver Installation Wizard.
Using the MSSP module to interface microwire serial EEPROMs to PIC16 devices 2005-06-17
This app note provides assistance and source code to ease the design process of interfacing a Microchip mid-range PIC16F877A microcontroller to a Microchip microwire serial EEPROM
Designing energy meters with the PIC16F873A 2005-06-16
This app note will discuss the implementation of a basic watt hour meter using PICmicro flash microcontroller
Optimal output filter design for microprocessor or DSP power supply 2005-06-14
This app note presents a detailed optimization procedure for output filter selection to meet the load-current transient requirements at minimum cost and size.
Runtime power control for DSPs using the TPS62000 buck converter 2005-06-13
This article describes how to reduce core power consumption of a DSP or microprocessor using runtime power control (RPC).
Power control design key to realizing InfiniBandSM benefits 2005-06-13
Analog Applications Journal
Recommended power solutions for TMS320x2810/1/2 DSPs 2005-06-10
SLVA204-February 2005
Using the ADS8380 with the TMS320C6713 DSP 2005-06-10
This application report presents a solution to interfacing the ADS8380 18-bit, 600-KSPS serial interface converter to the TMS320C6713 DSP.
LED dimmer demoboard 2005-06-09
LED dimmer demoboard
Application of Philips P89LPC932 microcontroller on RF card reader ignition control 2005-06-09
Application of Philips P89LPC932 microcontroller on RF card reader ignition control
Interfacing 8051-based microcontrollers to an SCI port 2005-06-06
This application note describes how to configure the UARTs of a high-speed microcontroller or ultra-high-speed flash microcontroller to communicate with an SCI-enabled device
ISL6421, ISL6425 single LNB controllers with I2C interface for advanced satellite STB designs 2005-06-03
ISL6421, ISL6425 single LNB controllers with I2C interface for advanced satellite STB designs

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