what does a microcontroller do?

A microcontroller is a single chip that includes various elements like a CPU, memory (volatile and non volatile), a timer and an I/O control Unit. Broadly, it is explained as a computer on a chip. The basic point of difference between a microcontroller and a normal PC is that the PC is used for a general purpose computer committed to perform one or at the maximum two tasks. A microcontroller apart from the above mentioned constituents also constitutes serial communication capabilities; disturb controls and analog I/O functions. 

 

A pic programmer belongs to extensive families of microcontroller.

Elements of a microcontroller:

• Processor: This refers to the central processing unit of the microcontroller. It comprises of the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), a control unit, instruction decoder, and some particular registers.

• Volatile memory: This is the memory used for storing of the data, system setup and peripherals configuration temporarily. This category of memory also includes SRAM and DRAM.

• Non-volatile Memory: This memory is used by the microcontrollers to store the programs. It can also include the storage of data but its time is much lesser than that of RAM. Memories like ROM, PROM, EPROM, and FLASH are included in this type of memory.

• Timer Module: All microcontrollers have at least one type of timer component. These modules are used to perform timing or counting operations in the controller. It includes time stamping, measuring intervals, counting events etc.

• Interrupt Module: Interrupt allow the microcontroller to check certain events in the background during the execution of application program, and also react to the event if required, while pausing the original program. All these functions are coordinated by the interrupt module.

• Digital I/O module: With the help of this module, digital communication with the microcontroller and the external world can be established.

• Analog I/O module: They are used for input/output analogue information to the external world. It constitutes of the analog to digital converters.

• Serial Modules: Serial modules are used for communicating with the external world.

In general, a microcontroller is a device which combines all these components into a single chip and interacts with the outside world for various purposes.