What is a microcontroller?
The modern day microcontroller is a sort of `single chip computer’. If you try designing a computer system (say for some control application) using a traditional microprocessor like the 8086, you are likely to abandon the project in frustration very soon. The trouble is that the microprocessor is just one component of the system and you need to add many more (RAM, ROM, timers, counters, interrupt circuitry, I/O ports) to make it complete. This is a non trivial job and requires sophisticated knowledge of processor internals. It’s here that the microcontroller comes to our rescue. A mid range 8 bit microcontroller (like the ATMega8) comes packed with all the above mentioned components (plus a few others like Analog Comparators, Serial USART’s, Analog to Digital Converters, Watchdog timers) in a single, small footprint, 28 pin package. Often, the only extra component required to make the microcontroller work is a power supply!
Microcontrollers are found everywhere: Microwave ovens, coffee makers, telephones, cars, toys, TVs, washers and dryers – the list is endless. This book will bring information to the reader on how to understand, repair, or design a device incorporating a microcontroller. The Microcontroller Beginner’s Handbook examines all elements of microcontroller use, including such industrial considerations as price vs. performance and firmware. A wide variety of third-party development tools is included on the CD-ROM.
