Source:- Freshersworld
What are microcontrollers and what are they used for?
Like all good things, this powerful component is basically very simple. It is made by mixing tested and high- quality "ingredients" (components) as per following receipt:
- The simplest computer processor is used as the "brain" of the future system.
- Depending on the taste of the manufacturer, a bit of memory, a few A/D converters, timers, input/output lines etc. are added
- Simple software able to control it all and which everyone can easily learn about has been developed.
On the basis of these rules, numerous types of microcontrollers were designed and they quickly became man's invisible companion. Their incredible simplicity and flexibility conquered us a long time ago and if you try to invent something about them, you should know that you are probably late; someone before you has either done it or at least has tried to do it.
The following things have had a crucial influence on development and success of the microcontrollers:
- Powerful and carefully chosen electronics embedded in the microcontrollers can independently or via input/output devices (switches, push buttons, sensors, LCD displays, relays etc.), control various processes and devices such as industrial automation, electric current, temperature, engine performance etc.
- Very low prices enable them to be embedded in such devices in which, until recent time it was not worthwhile to embed anything. Thanks to that, the world is overwhelmed today with cheap automatic devices and various “smart” appliances.
- Prior knowledge is hardly needed for programming. It is sufficient to have a PC (software in use is not demanding at all and is easy to learn) and a simple device (called the programmer) used for “loading” ready-to-use programs into the microcontroller.
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