Microcontrollers

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Microcontrollers

• An Introductory Course
• Using FunLED Kits

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What is a Microcontroller ?
A microcontroller is often described as a
computer-on-a-chip. It is a low-cost integrated
circuit that contains memory, processing
units, and input/output circuitry in a
single unit. Microcontrollers are
purchased blank and then programmed with a
specific control program. Once programmed the
microcontroller is build into a product to make
the product more intelligent and easier to use.
3
Role of Microcontrollers in our life

• Quote from Dataquest Industrial Analyst (USA)
  In 1999 the embedded market used approximately
  5.2 billion microcontrollers a year, compared to
  346 million microprocessors for PC, or 15 times
  as many microcontrollers as microprocessors.
•  These omnipresent microcontrollers are found in
  practically every industry, such as
  telecommunication, food processing,
  bio-electronics, ICT and automotive.

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• These are your remotes, watches, calculators, CD
  players, Gameboys, sensor lights, alarm systems,
  stereos, VCRs, Digital cameras, washing machines,
  remote locking auto doors, GPSs, depth
  sounders, bar code readers, pace makers, and
  millions of other devices that we take for
  granted.
• 3 million cows in Australia will be tagged
  with microcontrollers (similar to the one used in
  the FunLED), which will be used to gather
  important health information of the cows.
  Millions of smart cards are made from these chips.

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Typical Microcontroller- PICAXE Chip
In industry microcontrollers are usually
programmed using the assembler or C programming
languages. However the complexity of these
languages means that it is often not realistic
for younger students in education, or many home
hobbyists without formal training, to use these
programming methods. The PICAXE system
overcomes this problem by use of a much simpler,
easy to learn, BASIC programming language.
Programs can also be created graphically by use
of the flowchart editor e.g. PIC LOGICATOR
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What is the PICAXE system?

• The PICAXE system exploits the unique
  characteristics of the new generation of low-cost
  FLASH memory based microcontrollers.
• These microcontrollers can be programmed
• over and over again (typically 100 000 times)
  without the need for an expensive programmer.
• The PICAXE uses a simple
• BASIC language
• (or graphical flowcharts).

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• Typical PICAXE CHIP

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Basic Circuit Layout
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The Control System
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The FUNLED
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Step 1
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STEP 2
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Step 3
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Step 4
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Step 5
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The FUNLED
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Step 6
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Projects

• Burglar Alarm
• Dice
• Reaction Timer
• Egg Timer
• Play songs and ring tones
• LASER shooter