Introduction to Microcontrollers: How to control the functions of embedded system in Office Machines, Robots, Home-Appliance, Motor Vehicles and a number of other gadget

A microcontroller is an electronic device belonging to the microcomputer family. These are fabricated using the VLSI technology on a single chip. There are microcontrollers available in the present market with different word length starting from 4 bit, 8 bit, 64 bit to 128 bit. This chapter is about microcontrollers, their architecture, and various features.

Microcontroller

In a broader sense, the components which constitute a microcontroller are the memory, peripherals and most crucially a processor. Microcontrollers are present in devices where the user has to exert a degree of control. They are designed and implemented to execute a specific function such as displaying integers or characters on an LCD display module of a home appliance. Application of microcontrollers is myriad. In simpler terms, any gadget or equipment which has to deal with the functions such as measuring, controlling, displaying and calculating the values consist of a microcontroller chip inside it. They are present in almost all the present day home appliances, toys, traffic lights, office instruments and various day-to-day appliances.