German University in Cairo (GUC)
Faculty of Media Engineering and Technology
Embedded System Architecture - CSEN 701
Module 2: Microcontroller Fundamentals
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
catherine.elias@guc.edu.eg
Lecturer, Computer Science and Engineering,
Faculty of Media Engineering and Technology, German University in Cairo
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Outline
• Embedded System Structure
• ES Processors
• Exploring Ardunio rp2040
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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Embedded Systems Structure
Components
• An embedded system is composed of two
main components; the hardware and the
software.
• By both the S/W and the H/W parts, we
can form our embedded system that is
capable of interacting with the
environment.
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Operating System
S/W
• These elements can exchange the data
among themselves through busses.
Device Driver
H/W
• Each of these components is further
divided into number of elements.
Application Software
Processors
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Memory
Devices
I/O Devices
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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Hardware Components
H/W
Embedded Systems Structure
Processors
Memory
Devices
I/O Devices
• The processor in the ES should be capable of performing the arithmetic and nonarithmetic operations.
• This means, it should consists of a CPU with all of its elements:
➢Control Unit, Registers, and ALU.
• As for the memory devices, the ES should have both program and data memory.
• Through the I/O devices, the ES should be able to interact with the external environment.
This will require having:
➢Communication Ports, User Interface, Sensors & actuators, ADC Converters, System Controllers,
Power Management, Diagnostics Support, and others.
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Evolution of Processors
• The evolution of the processors has started in 1971 when
intel launched the first 4004 processor (Firstly used in a
calculator).
• Since then, the development in the processors with the
different classifications have been significantly increasing.
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Processors
Classifications
Field Programmable
Gated Arrays
(FPGA)
Application Specific
Integrated Circuits
(ASIC)
Power Management
Units
(PMU)
Microprocessors
(µP)
Microcontrollers
(µC)
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Field Programmable Gated Arrays (FPGA)
• Array of Programmable blocks with a
programmable interconnect which can be
used to create programmable hardware
designs.
• Designs are typically captured in an HDL
and can be synthesized for the FPGA
technology and downloaded into an FPGA
and then used along with other devices in
a system.
• Reconfiguration is possible by changing
the design and downloading to same
FPGA which makes this very useful for
prototyping as well as making changes.
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)
• Custom
designed
for
a
specific
application.
• It is normally designed by a company for a
specific use or for a specific customer
alone.
• Optimized power and performance of
that specific application.
• ASICs have great utility in aerospace
applications Because they are not field
programmable, they are more radiation
tolerant.
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Power Management Units (PMU)
• Power Management Integrated Circuit
handles the power sequence of the board
• It supplies power to the different
components inside the board,
• PMU
protects
the
board
from
unsupported over-voltage and undervoltage,
• It might handle different external power
supplies,
• It can provide other misc. features (GPIO,
ADC, ...),
• It is usually software-controllable (often
as an i2c device)
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Microcontroller Vs. Microprocessor
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Microprocessors
• A Microprocessor is basically a standalone
CPU with all of its elements; CU, ALU, and
registers.
µP (CPU)
Control Unit
• The µP is connected to the other
peripherals externally.
• µP can be used in complex embedded
systems, yet they are commonly used in
laptops, computer gaming, laser printers,
modem, digital telephone, and others.
Registers
Input
Output
Arithmetic Logical
Unit
Memory
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Microprocessors
• The µP is characterized by: Flexible,
needs more energy, expensive, OS-based,
faster.
µP (CPU)
Control Unit
• It has three types:
➢Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)
Registers
➢Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
➢Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing
Input
Output
Arithmetic Logical
Unit
Memory
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Microcontrollers
• A Microcontroller is a compact low-cost
microcomputer.
µC
• µC are mainly designed to perform
embedded systems activities.
CPU
Control Unit
• All peripherals, ports, and memories are
embedded together along with the CPU in
a single board to form the µC.
Registers
Input
Output
Arithmetic Logical
Unit
Memory
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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ES Processors
Microcontrollers
• A Microcontroller can be categorized in
terms of the bits:
➢8-bit, 16-bit- or 32-bit
µC
Control Unit
• Can be categorized in terms of
the memory arrangement:
➢External or embedded
• Can be categorized in terms of
the instruction sets:
➢CISC or RISC
CPU
Registers
Input
Output
Arithmetic Logical
Unit
Memory
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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Exploring Ardunio rp2040
Frontal View
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Back View
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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Exploring Ardunio rp2040
Frontal View
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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For Further Inquiries, Please
send an email
Catherine.elias@guc.edu.eg,
Catherine.elias@ieee.org
© Dr. Eng. Catherine M. Elias
Thank you for your attention!
See you next time ☺
Lecture 02: Overview of Microcontrollers and Microprocessors
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
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