A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that serves as the central processing unit of a computer, containing all the arithmetic and logic operations. It has a flexible structure and higher clock speeds but requires more external components. A microcontroller is an embedded system optimized for a specific task with memory, processor and I/O integrated on a single chip. It has lower clock speeds and memory but lower power consumption. Microprocessors are used for general-purpose computing while microcontrollers are used for embedded applications with predefined tasks like appliances and sensors.

1. Introduction to
Microprocessor and
Microcontroller

2. Objectives:
• To gain understanding about the basic concepts of Microprocessor and
Microcontroller.
• To know the difference between the functions and principles of
Microprocessor and Microcontroller.

3. What is a Microprocessor?
A microprocessor is a controlling unit of a microcomputer wrapped
inside a small chip. It performs Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) operations
and communicates with the other devices connected with it. It is a
single Integrated Circuit in which several functions are combined.
A microprocessor is a computer processor which incorporates the
functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single
integrated circuit (IC).

4. Microcomputer, an electronic device with a microprocessor as its central
processing unit (CPU). Microcomputer was formerly a commonly used term for
personal computers, particularly any of a class of small digital computers
whose CPU is contained on a single integrated semiconductor chip. Thus, a
microcomputer uses a single microprocessor for its CPU, which performs all
logic and arithmetic operations.

5. What is Microcontroller?
A microcontroller is a chip optimized to control electronic
devices. It is stored in a single integrated circuit which is
dedicated to performing a particular task and execute one
specific application.
It is specially designed circuits for embedded applications and
is widely used in automatically controlled electronic devices. It
contains memory, processor, and programmable I/O.

6. An embedded system can be thought of as a computer
hardware system having software embedded in it. An embedded
system can be an independent system or it can be a part of a
large system. An embedded system is a microcontroller or
microprocessor based system which is designed to perform a
specific task. For example, a fire alarm is an embedded system; it
will sense only smoke.

8. Microcontroller and Microprocessor both terms seem similar
but there is a huge difference between these two ICs.
Microprocessor only have CPU in the chip like most of the Intel
Processors but Microcontroller also have RAM, ROM and other
peripherals along with the CPU or processor. Both ICs have
different applications and have their own advantages and
disadvantages. They can be differentiated in terms of
Applications, structure, internal parameters, power consumption,
and cost.

9. Structure of Microprocessor and Microcontroller
The microprocessor is used in the very intensive processes. It
only contains a CPU (central processing unit) but there are many
other parts needed to work with the CPU to complete a process.
These all other parts are connected externally. The
microprocessor chip is not containing all these parts internally. The
number of external parts and the size of the external parts
depends on the application.

10. Generally, it connected with
memory elements like RAM and ROM,
I/O ports, timers, serial interface, etc.
The advantage of the microprocessor is
that it has a flexible structure. It means
you can decide the size of RAM, ROM,
number of I/O ports and can modify all
the things which are connected
externally according to the application.

11. Microcontrollers are used to do the same assigned task
repeatedly. Hence, the number of I/O ports and the amount of
memory required is less compared to the microprocessor. As
told earlier, in microcontroller external parts are integrated with
CPU in a single chip and because of this integrated structure
the overall size of the microcontroller is smaller compared to the
microprocessor.

12. In microcontroller you cannot modify the size of RAM, ROM
and other components. Once a controller is designed the
structure is fixed. So, the structure of the microcontroller is not
flexible.

13. Internal Parameter of Microprocessor and Microcontroller
Both ICs are different in internal parameters like; clock speed, memory
(RAM and ROM), peripheral interface, etc. So let's check the important
difference between microprocessor and microcontroller ICs in terms of internal
parameters.
Clock speed:
The microprocessors are run at higher clock speeds. The clock speed of a
microprocessor is in the range of 1 GHz to 4 GHz. While in the case of
microcontroller, high clock speed is not required. The clock speed for the
microcontroller is in the range of the 1 MHz to 300 MHz.

14. Memory:
The microprocessors have to run an operating system or it is used for very
complicated tasks. Hence, the amount of memory required for the
microprocessor is very large. The volatile memory (RAM) for the microprocessor is
in the range of the 512 MB to 32 GB. The hard disk (ROM) for the microprocessor is
in the range of the 128 GB to 2 TB.
The microcontrollers are designed for a specific task. The amount of memory
required for the microcontroller is quite less compared to the microprocessor. The
volatile memory (RAM) for the microcontroller is in the range of 2 KB to 256 KB. The
hard drive or flash memory (ROM) is in the range of the 32 KB to 2 MB.

15. Peripheral interface:
The common peripheral interface for the microprocessor is USB, UART, and
high-speed Ethernet and the microcontroller peripheral interface is I2C, SPI,
and UART.
Programming:
The program for the microprocessor can be changed for different
applications. While in the case of the microcontroller once it is designed, the
program is common for that application. There is no option for the modification
of the program. So, the programming of the microprocessor is difficult
compared to the microcontroller.

16. Bit size:
Modern-day microcontrollers are 32 bit and 64 bit. The 32-bit
microprocessor can handle 32-bit binary data at the same time. Hence the
address and data bus are 32 bit. Similarly, the 64-bit microprocessor can
handle 64-bit binary data at the same time. The microcontrollers are 8 bit, 16 bit
or 32 bit. Therefore, the amount of data that can be handled by a
microcontroller in a single cycle is lesser compared to the microprocessor.
Power Consumption:
The power consumption for the microprocessor is higher compared to the
microcontroller.

17. Applications of Microprocessor and Microcontroller
The microprocessor is used in an application where the task is
not predefined and it is assigned by the user. It is used in
computers, mobiles, video games, TVs, etc where the task is not
fixed and it depends on the user. Generally, the microprocessor is
used where intensive processing is required. A laptop is the best
example where a microprocessor is used. The laptop is used for
media streaming, simulation, editing image, web browsing,
gaming, creating a document and many more.

18. The microcontroller is designed for a specific task and once
the program is embed on MCU chip, it can’t be altered easily
and you may be needed special tools to reburn it. The process of
the microcontroller is fixed according to its application. Hence, it
does some processing, based on the input given to the
microcontroller and gives the predefined results as an output. The
input could be given by the user or it could be given by the
sensors.

19. It is used in many electronic appliances like washing
machine, microwave oven, timer, etc. In these equipment,
the process is predefined, it may need some inputs from user
to give predefine output. Let say washing machine, once
the user sets the input parameters, it wash the clothes
according to input parameter. So, the basic task (washing
the clothes) for the washing machine is fixed. You cannot do
anything else from the washing machine.

20. Summary:

23. References:
• Difference between Microprocessor and Microcontroller (no date). Available at:
https://components101.com/articles/difference-between-microprocessor-and-
microcontroller.
• [No title] (no date). Available at:
http://www.pvpsiddhartha.ac.in/dep_it/lecture%20notes/MP/unit1.pdf
• Embedded Systems - Overview (no date). Available at:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/embedded_systems/es_overview.htm
• microcomputer (no date). Available at:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/microcomputer
• Brit (no date) Very simple microprocessor. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/Brit4/very-
simple-microprocessor
• (Microprocessors and Microcontrollers, no date)

24. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”
- Anthony Robbins
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