Microcontrollers- Why you should use them

For all those who do not know what is a microcontroller, this piece of write is up will surely be a good read. We are surrounded by a variety of microcontrollers around us. In our day to day lives, we make use of them in so many different ways. For example, if the microwave oven at your home contains a LED display, it contains a microcontroller. All devices that are remote controlled have one. Each of these systems uses a microcontroller as their main control unit. Here is the list of the systems:

• TV remote control
• Security system
• Car lock remote
• Car anti lock braking system
• DVD player
• Toaster
• Satellite decoder and
• Many others...

A microcontroller can be defined as all in one integrated circuit with a built in processor memory and features that can be programmed again. They are hidden behind a surprising large number of gadgets today.  

They are embedded inside the devices and thus control the functioning of the product. Everything is present in the same IC. The performance of features gets better by each day.

In the current times, there are many microcontrollers with a mixed type of features on board. So, the user might want to do the comparison of features among all and then select the best one that suits his needs. More exclusive the features more will be the cost of the microcontroller. Many times, it becomes more economic to go with a low cost micro controller and have added extra features.

Some of their advantages are:

• They are cheap and small in size and thus can be installed in a variety of devices and equipments.
• It is simple to learn and not a complex programming.
• It helps us to see the practical results of our programs.
• It acts as microcomputers without any digital parts.
• Most of the pins can be made customised and programmable by the user.
• Advanced pace and performance.
• Easier and convenient designs
• Easy for maintaining, and troubleshooting procedures
• It is Highly reliable
• They have better output voltage tolerance
• It Improves efficiency; avoids overheating.
• Once they are programmed, they cannot be reprogrammed.
• Labour saving tasks can be performed which increase the efficiency of the user.

Now that you know what is a microcontroller and how to use it for your benefit, good luck choosing one!

Go wireless: The benefits of Bluetooth adapters

The Bluetooth wireless usb adapters must surely be considered as a good option when you are looking at a short range data transfer between your PC and other devices. It is a very accepted and a stable way of data transmission and becoming highly popular day by day. They have made the process of data transmission a very easy and a simple procedure.

Wireless USB technology is also getting popular with the advanced terminal servers for better connectivity and connecting more systems with each other.

Here is the list of benefits that wireless usb transmission offers:

• It becomes a very manageable way to communicate as you are not dealing with any wires or cables while data transfer. That is the reason they are the best option for the use in Laptops.

• Bluetooth is an internationally performing technique. It becomes very easy to transfer data from anywhere in the world (Unlike internet)

• If you use wireless USB adapters, you don’t need to carry CDs and DVDs to transfer the data to another digital device.  You can directly transfer the data without having the need of any hardware.

• A variety of devices are made communicable with your PC or laptop via this technology of wireless adapters.

• Also makes sure that most of the data transfers are secure.

• Internet sharing over two systems is also possible with the use of a wireless cable.

• As it makes use of the radio signal present in the air, it is a free technology.

• If you are worried of the excessive internet usage over files and data transfers, consider using a wireless Bluetooth transfer.

• Generally this Bluetooth adapter works in the range of 300 feet.

• No need to install any internal hardware in your PC or laptop

• No more upgrading of the personal computer at regular intervals. 

• This mechanism can be used with multiple devices at the same time.

• It is more of a portable device that can be easily moved from one place to another.

• Enables the exchange of data and files in a timely manner and an orderly way.

• Its cost effectiveness and adaptability make it one of the best options to opt for while transmission of data and heavy files.

• Less equipments and less maintenance means it is more of a long term product.

• Easy to set up and pack up while travelling.

Easy to use and the need for assistance is very uncommon. Still, the customer care help is readily available.

USB- types of transferring the data

A USB is the extension of the motherboard for connecting the several external devices. The external device may be an external modem, scanner, flash drives, MP3 players, printers, mobile phones, etc.  

Using of a can USB converter has become the mostly used and very cost effective methods of connecting different types of devices. It has become a part of everybody’s lives really quickly as it had originated back only in the mid 1990s.

The full form of USB is Universal serial Bus and it has been with us since many decades now. It is a widely used cables all our personal computers. External hard drives, Web cameras, memory sticks, all are interfaced over the can USB.

It is a practice where in the USB host (which is the PC in most cases) will initiate the transmission and the device (for example, a USB speaker) will respond to it. Every transmission is dealt with a particular device, and to a specific endpoint on the device.  In-transfers are the process of sending the data to the PC. Out- transfers transmit data to the device.

There are four basic types of In and Out transfers in a Can USB Converter:

• Bulk transfer

This type of transmission is used to constantly move the data between host and the device. All Can USB cables carry a CRC which is supposed to indicate if an error has occurred. In the process of bulk transfer, the data receiver needs to verify the CRC. If it is the correct CRC, the transfer is acknowledged and assumed to have happened error free. With the incorrect CRC, the transmission will not be a success.

• Isochronous transfer

Isochronous transfers are meant for transmitting the data in real time between the host and device. An endpoint is set by the host, the host assigns a specific bandwidth to that endpoint and regularly carries out the in and out transfer at that end point.

• Interrupt transfer

Hosts make use of Interrupt transfers to frequently poll the device and find out if something worthwhile has occurred. The name ‘interrupt’ transfer is a bit confusing as this does not interrupt anything.

• Control transfer

Control transfers function more or less like bulk transfer. These are mostly used for operations that are outside normal data flow. All the transmissions are made in Serial to USB frames. USB cables are therefore extremely usable, durable and having a large popularity. It makes the moving of big files an easier and a simpler process.