Microcontroller Basics
Pulse Width Modulation
A dedicated ______ block makes it possible for the CPU to control power converters, resistive loads, motors, etc., without using lots of CPU resources in tight timer loops.
Program
A microcontroller is a single integrated circuit with ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory for ______ and is operating parameter storage.
Central Processing Unit
A microcontroller is a single integrated circuit with ______-ranging from small and simple 4-bit processors to complex 32 or 64-bit processors.
Data storage
A microcontroller is a single integrated circuit with volatile memory (RAM) for that is used for ______.
Integrated circuit
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single ______ containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals.
Programmable Interval Timer
In addition to the converters, many embedded microprocessors include a variety of timers as well. One of the most common types of timers is the ______. A PIT may either count down from some value to zero, or up to the capacity of the count register, overflowing to zero.
Analog-to-digital converter
Many embedded systems need to read sensors that produce analog signals. This is the purpose of the ______. Since processors are built to interpret and process digital data, i.e. 1s and 0s, they are not able to do anything with the analog signals that may be sent to it by device. So the analog to digital converter is used to convert the incoming data into a form that the processor can recognize.
Embedded applications
Microcontrollers are designed for ______ in contrast to the microprocessors used in personal computers or other general purpose applications.
Interrupt Service Routine
Microcontrollers must provide real time (predictable, though not necessarily fast) response to events in the embedded system they are controlling. When certain events occur, an interrupt system can signal the processor to suspend processing the current instruction sequence and to begin an ______. The ISR will perform any processing required based on the source of the interrupt, before returning to the original construction sequence.
Math coprocessor
Microcontrollers typically do not have a ______, so floating point arithmetic is performed by software.
Assembly language
Microcontrollers were originally programmed only in ______, but various high-level programming languages are now also in common use to target microcontrollers. These languages are either designed special for the purpose, or versions of general purpose languages such as the C programming language.
Digital-to-analog converter
Since processors are built to interpret and process digital data, i.e 1s and 0s, they are not able to do anything with the analog signals that may be sent to it by a device. However, a less common feature on some microcontrollers is a ______ that allows the processor to output analog signals or voltage levels.
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
The ______ block makes it possible to receive and transmit data over a serial line with very little load on the CPU. Dedicated on-chip hardware also often includes capabilities to communicate with other devices (chips) in digital formats such as I2C and Serial Peripheral Interface.
Firmware
The use of field-programmable devices on a microcontroller may allow field update of the ______ or permit late factory revisions to products that have been assembled but not yet shipped.
Machine code
Typically microcontroller programs must fit in the available on-chip program memory, since it would be costly to provide a system with external, expandable, memory. Compilers and assemblers are used to convert high-level language and assembler language codes into a compact ______ for storage in the microcontroller's memory.
