Austin Studebaker
L04 - James & Koblasz
Team WADIS
The Application, Design and Implementation of Microcontrollers
Introduction
Microcontrollers are important embedded devices that are used in many forms of modern
technological products to receive information and send out an appropriate response. They are
simple computers that are capable of being programmed to perform automated controlled tasks in
devices. Because of their simplicity, microcontrollers can be incredibly small and are completely
contained to one integrated circuit. Their size often plays a role in the current applications that
they are used for today.
Uses for these devices as control systems span from remote controls, light switches,
wireless communications, cameras, keyboards, cell phones to even automobile motor controllers.
Microcontrollers present differing power consumption specifications, RAM sizes and
input/output ports [1]. Because of the varying types, many products are able to utilize them
because of their technological abilities to process and control commands, as well as commercially
benefit from their affordability and miniature design.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The current market for microcontrollers is extremely large considering the vast demand
for simple control systems that are not only affordable but also take up limited space. Typical
microcontrollers can vary in price from over 100 hundred-dollars to less than twenty-five cents
per device. Arduino’s ATmega168 with preinstalled Bluegiga WT11 can be pricey and above the
100 hundred-dollar mark, while Texas Instruments’ line of MSP430 are available at twenty-five
cents per device [2], [3]. Some of these more expensive microcontrollers do come preinstalled
with such devices like the Bluetooth abilities as seen in the Arduino device. Many
microcontrollers can be purchased for a much cheaper price if the preinstalled additional devices
are not included.
Variations in prices also come from the vast amount of technical features that can be
presented on different microcontrollers. Some of these devices have more input and output
connectors than others may. They can also be programmed using different forms of coding
depending on how they are designed. Other features, such as memory capacity and power
consumption, factor into the market price. Furthermore, some applications using a
microcontroller may have size constraints, and purchasing a compact yet powerful controller
plays a role in the final price.
Underlying Technology
Microcontrollers come in different processing powers, memory capacities, bit rates and
input and output pins. Bit rates can include 8, 16 or 32 bits, which enable to signals to have
higher resolutions [1]. The Atmel ATmega16, for example, is an 8-bit microcontroller with 16K
bytes of programmable flash [4]. It contains a CPU, SRAM and 32 input/output registers for
accepting information and releasing demands. As with many microcontrollers, the ATmega16 is
programmed using standard C coding. Depending on how the user has programmed the
microcontroller, the coding can implement various reactions from the controller upon certain
conditions it is presented with through the inputs on the device.
Building Blocks
An example of how microcontrollers work, and how common they are in the market
place, can be brought to light with an explanation of the workings of a common remote control
for a standard television set. The ZigBee® RF4CE Remote Control by Texas Instruments [5]
uses a microcontroller contained in the CC2533 chip [6]. The microcontroller processes
information and respectively activates the signal to change the channel, adjust the volume and
manipulate other features on the television. Microcontrollers in devices such as this are
programming to input the signal from pressed buttons on the remote and concurrently enable the
infrared transmitter to transmit the corresponding signal [7]. It is this preprogrammed chip that
determines what command is being given to the system and in turn responds with the appropriate
reaction to complete the task. The basic function of this typical microcontroller is to have ability
to cheaply and easily determine the proper responses to an input from the overall system, and to
do so with a simple design that can process, store and decipher the needed information. This
process of implementation is concurrent in purpose for many microcontrollers whether they are
controlling a TI tv remote, cell phone or an automobile motor system.
References
[1]
Bill Giovino. (2012, Sept. 19). Modern Microcontroller Market Part 2 [Online].
Available: http://microcontroller.com/Modern_Microcontroller_Market_Part_2.htm
[2]
Arduino, “ArduinoBT,” 2011, Feb. 16. [Online]. Available:
http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoBT. [Accessed Jan. 19th, 2011]
[3]
Charles J. Murray, “25-Cent, 16-Bit MCUs Add Punch to Low End of MCU Market,”
Design News, March 15, 2011.
[4]
Atmel, “Microcontroller with 16K Bytes In-System Programmable Flash,” ATmega16
datasheet, Nov. 1997 [Revised 2010]. Available:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2466.pdf. [Accessed Jan. 19th,
2011]
[5]
Texas Instruments, “Press Release: TI introduces ZigBee® RF4CE,” The Wall Street
Journal 2012, Jan. 15. [Online]. Available: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tiintroduces-zigbee-rf4ce-remote-control-solution-for-more-advanced-interactions-withconsumer-electronics-such-as-tvs-set-top-boxes-and-game-consoles-2012-01-10.
[Accessed Jan. 18th, 2011]
[6]
Texas Instruments, Appl. Note AN107, pp.25-29.
[7]
Anthony Fugaro, “Infrared Remote Control Signaling Generator,” U.S. Patent 8027592,
Dec. 21, 2007.