Microcontroller can be likened to a computer that is in a special chip or a computer with a single chip. The word ‘micro’ claim that a piece of equipment that is small and the word ‘Controller (controller)’ states that this tool is used to control one or more functions of an object, event or process. This is also called an embedded controller, therefore mikrokontrolers is often embedded in the system (emmbedded System) or the equipment they control.
Microcontroller contains a simplified processor, some memory (RAM and ROM), Port I / O and peripheral equipment such as counters / timers, analog-to-digital and others are all integrated on a single chip. This is the advantage of a microcontroller in which the processor and peripheral components available in a chip that differentiates the microprocessor-based system. Examples of microcontroller ATMEL 89c51 / AT 89S51 / XX, ATMEGA 8535, 16 ATMEGA PIC, etc.
Block diagram of the microcontroller can generally be seen in the figure below:
Figure 10. Block Diagram of microcontroller
Similar to a microprocessor, microcontroller technology is developing very rapidly, conformed to the desires and needs of people, ranging from simple microcontrollers to complex resulting in one chip IC are ADC and DAC circuits. With evolving technology using CISC or RISC architectures such as the AVR (Alf and Vegard RISC).
Figure 11 Microcontroller equipped with ADC
Figure 12 Microcontroller equipped with ADC and DAC
Some microcontrollers on the market is the output of several factories that are well known, for example:
Intel., For example: 8031, 89C51 etc.
Zilog, example: Z8, Z8F1680 etc.
Microchip, for example: PIC16F84, PIC16F877 etc.
Motorola, for example: 68HC11, MC68HC705V12CFN etc.
Philips Semiconductors, eg LPC2000, LPC900, LPC700 etc.
Atmel, for example: Atmel AT89 series (Intel 8051 / MCS51 architecture), Atmel AT91 series (THUMB ARM architecture), AT90, Tiny and Mega series – AVR.