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Embedded control systems typically incorporate a microcontroller (MCU) as the
principal active, and sometimes sole, component. An MCU is a self-contained
computer-on-a-chip consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), often with
onboard non-volatile program memory for program storage, random access
memory (RAM) for data storage, and various analog and digital input/output
peripheral capabilities. In addition to the microcontroller, a complete embedded
control system incorporates application-specific software, various analog,
mixed-signal, timing and connectivity products, and non-volatile memory
components such as EEPROMs and Flash memory.
In common parlance, the phrase bit by bit means that something happens in
stages. It comes to be little by little, step by step, slowly, progressively, and
steadily over time. In electronics terminology, a bit refers to a binary (0 or 1) digit.
Today's MCUs are expressed employing some multiple of 8-bits—for example,
8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit controllers are today's most commonly employed
architectures. The higher the number of bits, the greater the different possible
integer values that can be expressed. Math explains how an 8-bit can provide
28 (256), a 16-bit part can yield 216 (65,536), and a 32-bit part may generate
232 (4,294,967,296) distinct values.
A Little-bit on 8-bit and 16-bit
Controllers in Smart Applications
By Paul Golata
Smart 8-bit and 16-bit controllers
can tackle a wide variety of
applications. This article will outline
of the design considerations when
determining whether an 8-bit or
16-bit controller will suffice for the
application. Two (2) common smart
controllers will be looked at as
specific examples.
