ELECTRIC ENGINEERING
Program: ENERGY Program
Course: Microprocessor-Based Automated Systems (ELE335)
4(2-2-3) Hrs.
Lecture: Lecture # 2
Assoc. Professor: R. A. Mahmoud Date : 22 / 2 / 2024
By the end of this chapter
You will be able to:
• Know the basic arrangement of the internal structure of the Microprocessor-based System
(Microprocessor (MP)/ Microcontroller (MCU)).
• Recognize the main components of the Microprocessor-based System .
• Understand the operating function of each component of the Microprocessor-based System.
• Draw the Block Diagram of an entire Microprocessor-based System.
• The advantages of microprocessor-based system.
• Know the different applications of microprocessor-based system .
.
Basic Components of a
Microprocessor-based System
(Microprocessor (MP)/ Microcontroller
Unit (MCU))
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
• The difference between a Microprocessor and a Microcontroller is the availability of
the on–chip peripherals like Memory (both RAM and ROM), I/O Ports, Timers /
Counters, Communication Interfaces (like Serial Port), etc.
• The following image shows the basic components of a Microcontroller. As all the
components (and a few other components) are integrated on a single chip
(Integrated Circuit–IC), a Microcontroller can be considered as a Microcomputer (or
a Computer on–chip).
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
The basic arrangement of the internal structure of the MP/MCU.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
It is the heart of the Microcontroller that mainly comprises of an Arithmetic Logic Unit
(ALU) and a Control Unit (CU) and other important components. The CPU is the primary
device in communicating with peripheral devices like Memory, Input and Output.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), as the name suggests, performs the Arithmetical and
Logical Operations.
CU (Control Unit) is responsible for timing of the communication process between the
CPU and its peripherals.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Basic Components of a Microcontroller CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Program Memory (ROM)
The instructions of the CPU are stored in the Program Memory. It is usually
implemented as Read Only Memory or ROM, where the Program written in to it will be
retained even when the power is down or the system is reset.
Modern Program Memory Modules are generally made up of EEPROM (Electrically
Erasable Programmable Read – only Memory), which is a type of non–volatile memory.
In this type of memory, the data can be erased and reprogrammed using special
programming signals.
When the microcontroller is powered on or manually reset, the processor executes a set
of instructions from a pre-defined memory location (address) in the Program Memory.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Data Memory (RAM)
Data Memory in a Microcontroller is responsible for storing values of variables,
temporary data, intermediate results and other data for proper operation of the
program.
Data Memory is often called as RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a type of
volatile memory. It is generally organized as registers and includes both Special
Function Registers (SFRs) and user accessible memory locations.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Input and Output (I/O) Ports
I/O Ports or Input/Output Ports provide the microcontroller, a physical connection to
the outside world.
Input Ports provide a gateway for passing on the data from the outside world with the
help of sensors.
The data from the input ports is manipulated (depending on the application) and will
determine the data on the output port.
Output Ports allow microcontroller to control external devices (like motors and LEDs).
Generally, all ports in microcontrollers have dual functionality i.e. they can act as both
input and output port (not at the same time though).
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Register
The microprocessor has various general-purpose registers such as B, C, D, E, H, L, and
the Accumulator (A). These registers are used to store data and addresses temporarily
during the execution of a program.
Clock Generator (Oscillator)
A clock signal allows the operations inside the microcontroller and other parts to be
synchronous. A Clock Generator is an integral part of the Microcontroller’s Architecture
and the user has to provide an additional Timing Circuit in the form of a Crystal.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Timing and Control Unit
The timing and control unit provides the necessary timing and control signals to
perform any operation in the microcomputer. Actually, it controls the flow of data
between the microprocessor and memory/peripheral devices.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
Interrupts
The interrupt is the subroutine call that interrupts the main ongoing program execution
in the CPU and tells to execute another important task or program. For, example the
CPU performs any logical operation, but the user wants to do some more important
arithmetic operation immediately. Here the interrupt system helps a lot to stop the
current operation of the CPU and start the new operation. Once the task is completed,
the CPU again starts its own work from where it leaves. In other words, we can say the
interrupts help for the emergency operations.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
System Bus: Address Bus, Data Bus and Control Bus
The microprocessor always communicates with input/output devices and the memory
with some path called the system bus.
The system bus consists of the Address Bus, Data Bus and Control Bus.
- The Address bus is used to locate any input/output devices and memory.
- The Data bus is used to transfer data in binary form between the microprocessor and
peripheral units.
- The microprocessor communicates with only one peripheral at a time. The timing
signals are provided by the Control bus of the microprocessor.
The address bus helps to carry the memory addresses where the data is stored. whereas the
data bus helps to carry the actual data.
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
System Bus: Address Bus, Data Bus and Control Bus
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
System Bus: Address Bus, Data Bus and Control Bus
Basic Components of a MP/MCU
System Bus: Address Bus, Data Bus and Control Bus
Microprocessor-based System Block Diagram
The advantages of microprocessor-based design of a system
• The manufacturing costs of the electronic products are generally lower, but the typical
microprocessor-based designs cost 20 to 60% of their implementation costs.
• The time and cost for the original development can be substantially lowered. Due to applications
of microprocessors, the design time can be reduced by about two-thirds. Presently, numbers of
software are available to design a prototype system before implementation of the final product.
Therefore, the design cycle will continue to decrease.
• Consequently, microprocessor-based products can be brought to the market very early as per
consumer requirement. Microprocessor-based products have many complex functional
capabilities and these products can be provided at reasonable cost. Therefore, the realization of
better products for the same or lower prices are possible.
The advantages of microprocessor-based design of a system
• The smaller number of components in a microprocessor system increase the reliability of the
final product.
• Sometimes microprocessor-based products fail. The computational capability of a
microprocessor can be used to perform self-diagnosing of the product to find error and help to
remove faults. These devices also provide substantial reductions in service charges.
The applications of Microprocessor-Based System
• Toys: Robots, remote-controlled cars, and hand held games.
• Simple Applications: Microwave ovens, telephone diallers, smart thermostats, shortwave
scanners, and TV remote controls.
• Complex Intelligent Product Controllers: VCR control and programming, security systems, and
lighting system controllers
• Computer Peripherals: Video display, higher-speed printers, modems, plotters, and
communication controllers.
• Industrial Controllers: Robotics, processing control, sequence control, and machine tool control.
• Instruments: Logic analyzers, communication analyzers, disk drive testers, digital oscilloscopes,
and smart voltmeters.
• Communications: Data, voice, mobile, electronic switching, and routing.
The applications of Microprocessor-Based System
• Automatic Test Equipment: Automatic test equipment at all levels from development,
fabrication, component testing assembly, PCB, module and system testing.
• Electrical Power Systems: Data acquisition, logging, protection, metering, control and
processing, automatic control of generators voltage and fuel control of furnaces in a power
plant.
• Industrial Process Control: Instrumentation, monitoring and control, data acquisition, logging
and processing.
• Household Appliances: Cooking ovens, and washing machines.
• Medical Electronics: Quick patient check up, diagnosis, blood analysis, ECG, etc.
• Database Management: Word processing, database management, and storing information.
