Microcontrollers, also referred to as MCUs (microcontroller units), are embedded semiconductor devices used in circuit board design. They are essentially a computer within an integrated circuit (IC). Microcontrollers are mostly used in single-function ’embedded’ applications, unlike microprocessors which are designed for general-purpose work in Personal Computers, Tablets and Smartphones. Microcontrollers are limited in their clock speed compared to microprocessors by the relative slowness of their non-volatile Flash program memory.
What are they made up of?
Microcontrollers contain single or multiple processors (sometimes referred to as CPUs), plus memory and I/O peripherals. These peripherals include timers, ADCs (analogue-to-digital converters) and DACs (digital-to-analogue converters).
What does “8-bit” mean?
Microcontrollers have a data bus width which describes the amount of data the MCU can process at a time. For example, an 8-bit microcontroller can process 8 bits at one time. Popular data bus widths include 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs.
What packages are there?
MCUs come in standard chip packages with various pin counts. Package types include:
LQFP
PDIP
QFN
SOIC
SSOP
TQFP
TSSOP
What are ARM processor cores?
Microcontrollers often contain an ARM microprocessor core. ARM represents an architecture developed by ARM Holdings, which is used by other companies to manufacture microprocessors and other devices such as System-on-Chip (SoCs).
Description:
Based on the ARM® Cortex®-M3 core, the Atmel®
SMART SAM3N microcontroller (MCU) series combines a high-performance architecture, peripherals, and power–saving techniques to deliver uncompromised performance. They also include QTouch capacitive touch support, data speedway, simplified PCB design, and 1.62V to ...
Description:
STMicroelectronics STM32F105/107 processors with Cortex M3 core have
speeds up to 72 MHz. The STM32 series consists of ARM based 32bit MCUs with 16-bit timers, CANs, ADCs, USB 2.0 full speed interface/OTG, Ethernet MAC and comm interface(I2C,SPI,UART). The STM32 ARM ...
Description:
The STM32 F0 Series of the 32-bit Flash
Microcontrollers (MCUs) is based on the ARM Cortex™-M0 core; a core specifically developed for embedded applications. STMicroelectronics’s STM32 ARM Cortex™ M processor benefits from the Cortex-M0 architectural enhancements including digital signal processing, ...
Description:
Leopard Gecko (LG) family of energy friendly 32-bit
microcontrollers, based on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor core. Powerful ARM Cortex-M 32-bit processor coresShort wake-up time from energy saving modesIdeal for use with energy harvesting systems.
