Difference Between Microprocessors and Microcontrollers

Know Difference Between
Microprocessors and
Microcontrollers

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Introduction
What is Microprocessor?
A microprocessor is an electronic computer component crafted from miniature
sized transistors & some other circuitry elements on a solitary semi-conductor
IC (integrated circuit) or micro chip. The abbreviated of microprocessor is
µP or uP.
The CPU (central processing unit) is the most renowned micro-processor, but
numerous other constituents in a computer contain them, like- the GPU
(Graphics Processing Unit) on a video card. Microprocessor is a single IC
package in which several functions are integrated.

Types of Microprocessors
 There are mainly five sorts of microprocessors; these minute units provide
computers with a “brain”.
 In a micro-processor, there will be a number of minute transistors and
tremendously tiny parts.
 All of these components are employed to assist a computer work as
planned.

5 Types of Microcontroller
 Complex Instruction Set Microprocessors
 Reduced Instruction Set Microprocessors
 Superscalar processors
 The Application Specific Integrated Circuit
 Digital Signal Multiprocessors (DSPs)

Complex Instruction Set
Microprocessors
 This type of microprocessor is also known as CISM.
 CISM classify a micro-processor in which each & every order can be executed
together with several other low-level functions.
 These Functions are intended to carry out actions such as.
 Uploading data into memory card, re-calling or downloading data from
memory card or a complex mathematics computation in a single command.

Reduced Instruction Set
Microprocessors
 Known as RISC, this was intended to pace up computer microprocessors.
 These chips are built up under the guideline.
 The microprocessor to do a smaller amount of things within each command.
 This will permit it to complete more commands more rapidly.

Superscalar processors
 This type of processor replica the hardware on the micro-processor.
 It can perform numerous instructions at the same time.
 These replica resources can be committed arithmetic logic units or
multipliers.
 Superscalars comprise of several operational units.
 Superscalar micro-processors carry out more than one command throughout
a single clock cycle
 It concurrently transmitting numerous instructions to superfluous operational
units in the processor.

The Application Specific
Integrated Circuit
 Known as ASIC microprocessor is intended for extremely precise
purposes.
 It comprise- automotive emissions control or Personal Digital
Assistants computers.
 ASICs at times is produced to specification.

Digital Signal
Multiprocessors (DSPs)
 DSPs are unique micro-processors employed to decode & encode video.
 It convert digital or video to analog and vice-versa.
 These operations need a micro-processor to carrying out mathematical
calculations.
 DSP chips are generally employed in SONAR, mobile telephones, RADAR.
 DSP chips are used in home theatre audio gears and cable set-top boxes.

 Microcontroller is a computer on‐a‐chip optimized to manage electric gadgets.
It is intended particularly for precise tasks like controlling a particular system.
 A microcontroller sometimes uses abbreviated uC, µC, or MCU, is
fundamentally a specialized variety of microprocessor that is intended to be
self-satisfactory and lucrative. Some external electronic peripherals are
interfaced to microcontroller for a better performance depends on
applications.
What is Microcontroller?

 Microcontrollers are the 8051, Intel’s 80196, Microchip’s PIC and Motorola’s
68HCxx series.
 Microcontrollers which are normally incorporated in toys, automobiles and
appliances.
 Microprocessor system on a solo microchip:
Illustrations of Microcontrollers
• Memory (both ROM and RAM)
• The CPU core (microprocessor)
• Some parallel digital I/O

Function of Microcontroller
 The microcontroller witnesses the incorporation of a number of helpful
functions into a solitary IC pack. These functions are:-
• The capability to carry out an accumulated set of commands to
perform user described jobs.
• The capability to be proficient to use peripheral memory chips to
both read & write data from and to the memory.

Types Of Microcontrollers
 The micro-controllers are sorted in terms of in-house bus width, in-built
micro-controller, order set, memory structural design, IC chip or VLSI core
or Verilog file & family unit.
 For the similar family, there may be a range of editions with different
sources. Here we are giving few types of microcontroller used in different
applications.

5 Types of Microcontrollers
 8-bit microcontroller.
 Embedded microcontroller.
 External memory micro-controller.

8-bit Microcontroller
 When in-house bus in a MCU is 8-bit bus.
 Then the ALU carries out the logic & arithmetic operations on a byte at an
order.
 The MCU is 8-bit micro-controller.
 The illustrations of 8-bit MCU are- Intel 8031/8051, Motorola MC68HC11 &
PIC1x families.

 The 16 bit Microcontroller consists of a 16 bit bus.
 The ALU performs arithmetic and logic operations on the 16 bit
operand.
 It provides greater precision and performance as compared to 8 bit
MCU.

 When in-house bus for the data transmitting function in an MCU is 32-bit
bus.
 Then the ALU carries out logic & arithmetic functions on operand words
of 32 bits at the orders.
 The MCU is 32-bit micro-controller.
 These supply better accuracy and performance in comparison to the 16-
bit MCUs.

Embedded Microcontroller
 When a fixed or embedded system includes an MCU.
 Each hardware and software parts in a solo unit.
 The MCU is known as embedded micro-controller.
 Extremely few or no extra peripheral unit or system exists for processing
during the control or making use of the peripheral devices.
 A telephone receiver circuit employs an in-built or embedded micro-
controller.

External Memory
Microcontroller
 When an in-built or embedded system adds an MCU.
 Each of the hardware and software parts present not as a solo component.
 It has all or a piece of the memory component externally interfaced by bringing
into play an interfacing circuit.
 Which is known as the glue circuit.
 The MCU is known as a peripheral or external memory micro-controller.
 Example: A 8031 comprise of a program memory which is interfaced outwardly
to it. The 8051 has both in-house as well as peripheral program memory.

Difference Between Microprocessors
and Microcontrollers
 The dissimilarity amid the two is that a microcontroller integrates the
features of a microprocessor (ALU, CPU, Registers) together with the
existence of extra characteristics such as existence of ROM, RAM, counter,
Input/output ports, etc. Here a microcontroller controls the function of a
device by employing fixed programs accumulated in ROM that does no
amend with duration.

 The major dissimilarity amid a usual microprocessors and microcontrollers
parting.
 There architectural terms is the area of their application.
 Usual microprocessors such as the Pentium family or Intel Core family
processors or alike processors are in computers as a universally functioning
programmable machine.
 In its life span it has to manage numerous different assignments and
programs specified to it.

 A microcontroller of PIC family or 8051 family or any other have noticed
their applications in tiny embedded systems.
 Such as- control system of traffic signals or some sort of robotic system.
 These gadgets manage similar task or similar program all through their
entire life cycle.
 Another difference is that the microcontroller generally has to handle
instantaneous tasks
 On the contrary the micro-processors in a computer system perhaps will not
handle an instantaneous task at all times.

Difference Between Microprocessors and Microcontrollers

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