Microcontroller Architecture

Microcontroller Architecture

Overview

• Arduino boards are based on microcontrollers (MCUs) which are small computers on a single integrated circuit (IC)
• MCUs consist of a processor, memory, and input/output peripherals

Architecture Components

• Processor (CPU):
  • Executes instructions and performs calculations
  • Most Arduino boards use AVR (Atmel) or ARM-based processors
• Memory:
  • Flash Memory: stores program code and data
  • SRAM (Static Random Access Memory): temporarily stores data and program variables
  • EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory): non-volatile storage for data
• Input/Output (I/O) Peripherals:
  • Digital I/O Pins: used for digital input/output operations
  • Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): converts analog signals to digital values
  • Serial Communication: allows communication with other devices (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C)

Bus Architecture

• Data Bus: 8-bit or 16-bit bus that transfers data between components
• Address Bus: specifies memory locations for data transfer
• Control Bus: manages data transfer and device control signals

Arduino Board Architecture

• Microcontroller (MCU): the brain of the Arduino board
• Voltage Regulator: regulates power supply voltage
• Crystal Oscillator: provides a clock signal for the MCU
• Reset Circuit: resets the MCU when the board is powered on or reset button is pressed
• Input/Output (I/O) Pins: provides access to digital and analog I/O peripherals

Microcontroller Architecture

Overview

• Microcontrollers (MCUs) are small computers on a single integrated circuit (IC)
• MCUs consist of a processor, memory, and input/output peripherals

Microcontroller Components

• Processor (CPU)
  • Executes instructions and performs calculations
  • Uses AVR (Atmel) or ARM-based processors in most Arduino boards
• Memory
  • Flash Memory: stores program code and data
  • SRAM (Static Random Access Memory): temporarily stores data and program variables
  • EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory): non-volatile storage for data
• Input/Output (I/O) Peripherals
  • Digital I/O Pins: used for digital input/output operations
  • Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): converts analog signals to digital values
  • Serial Communication: allows communication with other devices (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C)

Bus Architecture

• Data Bus: 8-bit or 16-bit bus that transfers data between components
• Address Bus: specifies memory locations for data transfer
• Control Bus: manages data transfer and device control signals

Arduino Board Components

• Microcontroller (MCU): the brain of the Arduino board
• Voltage Regulator: regulates power supply voltage
• Crystal Oscillator: provides a clock signal for the MCU
• Reset Circuit: resets the MCU when the board is powered on or reset button is pressed
• Input/Output (I/O) Pins: provides access to digital and analog I/O peripherals

Arduino Programming Languages

• Arduino is primarily programmed using C/C++.
• Java is also supported, although less common.

Simplified C/C++ Syntax

• The Arduino IDE provides a simplified C/C++ syntax.
• The IDE offers a range of built-in functions and libraries for tasks such as:
  • Digital and analog input/output operations
  • Serial communication
  • Timing and delay functions
  • Mathematical operations

Sketches

• In Arduino, programs are referred to as "sketches".
• Sketches are written in the Arduino IDE and uploaded to the Arduino board.
• A typical sketch consists of two main functions:

Sketch Structure

• setup(): Runs once at the beginning of the program, used for initialization.
• loop(): Runs repeatedly after setup() has completed, used for the main program logic.