What is a microcontroller?

Microcontrollers, also known as single-chip microcontrollers, are integrated circuit chips. It integrates a computer system onto a chip, which is like a miniature computer. Compared to computers, microcontrollers only lack I/O devices.

In summary, a chip becomes a computer. Its small size, light weight, affordable price, and convenient conditions for learning, application, and development. Meanwhile, learning to use microcontrollers is the best choice for understanding computer principles and structures.

A microcontroller is a small and sophisticated microcomputer system that integrates data processing capabilities such as a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), multiple I/O ports and interrupt systems, timers/counters (which may also include display driver circuits, pulse width modulation circuits, analog multiplexers, A/D converters, etc.) onto a single silicon wafer using ultra large scale integrated circuit technology. It is widely used in the field of industrial control.

What is the use of a microcontroller?

The use of microcontrollers has become very widespread, such as in the fields of instruments and meters, household appliances, medical equipment, aerospace, intelligent management of specialized equipment, and process control. Once various products are equipped with microcontrollers, they can play a role in upgrading and upgrading the product. They are often preceded by the adjective "intelligent", such as smart washing machines.

At present, microcontrollers have penetrated into various fields of our lives, and it is almost difficult to find any field without the trace of microcontrollers. The navigation device of missiles, control of various instruments on airplanes, network communication and data transmission of computers, real-time control and data processing of industrial automation processes, widely used intelligent IC cards, safety protection systems for civilian luxury cars, control of video recorders, cameras, fully automatic washing machines, as well as programmable toys, electronic pets, and so on, all rely on microcontrollers. Not to mention robots, intelligent instruments, and medical devices in the field of automatic control. Therefore, the learning, development, and application of microcontrollers will cultivate a group of scientists and embedded engineers in computer applications and intelligent control.