HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MICROCONTROLLER

There are number design considerations that might immediately reduce our number of
choices a great deal. They are:

 Programmability and Re-programmability

a hobbyist should only consider microcontrollers that have internal flash or eeprom program
memory and can be erased and reprogrammed a substantial number of times. There are also
micros that can be used with external memory (adds complexity and expense), UV erasable
micros (usually quite expensive due to the special packaging), one-time programmable chips
(potentially usable after you have a working design, but losing their price advantage) etc.

 Peripherals

If you want your microcontroller to have built in Ethernet, CAN, USB, or even multiple serial
ports, many common choices are going to be eliminated.

Some peripherals can be handy to have: UARTs, SPI or I2C controllers, PWM controllers,
and EEPROM data memory are good examples, even though similar functionality can
frequently be implemented in software or external parts.

It's convenient if output pins can supply reasonable amounts of current for driving LEDs or
transistors directly; some chips have 5mA or less drive capability.

 Physical Packaging

Microcontrollers available in 0.1in DIP packages are much easier to deal with. Probably
anything with a pin spacing smaller than 0.05in should be viewed with some scepticism.

 Memory

The size of memory may be an important consideration. Some micros have as few as 256
instructions and 16 bytes of RAM. You can do a lot in that sort of space but not everything.
Moreover, while you can frequently upgrade to a "bigger chip", some chip families have
relatively small memory limits imposed by their architecture, so even the biggest chip you
can get will have only 8k instructions.

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 JTAG

JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) is an industry standard for verifying designs and testing
printed circuit boards after manufacture.

JTAG implements standards for on-chip instrumentation in electronic design automation

(EDA) as a complementary tool to digital simulation.

It specifies the use of a dedicated debug port implementing a serial communications interface
for low-overhead access without requiring direct external access to the system address and
data buses. The interface connects to an on-chip Test Access Port (TAP) that implements a
stateful protocol to access a set of test registers that present chip logic levels and device
capabilities of various parts.

The Joint Test Action Group formed in 1985 to develop a method of verifying designs and
testing printed circuit boards after manufacture.

The JTAG standards have been extended by many semiconductor chip manufacturers with
specialized variants to provide vendor-specific features.

Electrical Structure

A JTAG interface is a special interface added to a chip. Depending on the version of JTAG,
two, four, or five pins are added. The four and five pin interfaces are designed so that
multiple chips on a board can have their JTAG lines daisy-chained together if specific
conditions are met.

The two pin interface is designed so that multiple chips can be connected in a star topology.
In either case a test probe need only connect to a single "JTAG port" to have access to all
chips on a circuit board.

The connector pins are:

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 1. TDI (Test Data In)

2. TDO (Test Data Out)

3. TCK (Test Clock)

4. TMS (Test Mode Select)

5. TRST (Test Reset) optional.

The TRST pin is an optional active-low reset to the test logic, usually asynchronous, but
sometimes synchronous, depending on the chip. If the pin is not available, the test logic can
be reset by switching to the reset state synchronously, using TCK and TMS. Note that
resetting test logic doesn't necessarily imply resetting anything else. There are generally some
processor-specific JTAG operations which can reset all or part of the chip being debugged.

Since only one data line is available, the protocol is serial. The clock input is at the TCK pin.
One bit of data is transferred in from TDI, and out to TDO per TCK rising clock edge.
Different instructions can be loaded. Instructions for typical ICs might read the chip ID,
sample input pins, drive (or float) output pins, manipulate chip functions, or bypass (pipe TDI
to TDO to logically shorten chains of multiple chips).

As with any clocked signal, data presented to TDI must be valid for some chip-specific Setup
time before and Hold time after the relevant (here, rising) clock edge. TDO data is valid for
some chip-specific time after the falling edge of TCK.

The maximum operating frequency of TCK varies depending on all chips in the chain (the
lowest speed must be used), but it is typically 10-100 MHz (100-10 ns per bit). Also TCK
frequencies depend on board layout and JTAG adapter capabilities and state. One chip might
have a 40 MHz JTAG clock, but only if it is using a 200 MHz clock for non-JTAG
operations; and it might need to use a much slower clock when it is in a low power mode.
Accordingly, some JTAG adapters have adaptive clocking using an RTCK (Return TCK)
signal. Faster TCK frequencies are most useful when JTAG is used to transfer much data,
such as when storing a program executable into flash memory.

Clocking changes on TMS steps through a standardized JTAG state machine. The JTAG state
machine can reset, access an instruction register, or access data selected by the instruction
register.

JTAG platforms often add signals to the handful defined by the IEEE 1149.1 specification. A
System Reset (SRST) signal is quite common, letting debuggers reset the whole system, not
just the parts with JTAG support. Sometimes there are event signals used to trigger activity
by the host or by the device being monitored through JTAG; or, perhaps, additional control
lines.

Even though few consumer products provide an explicit JTAG port connector, the
connections are often available on the printed circuit board as a remnant from development

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prototyping and/or production. When exploited, these connections often provide the most
viable means for reverse engineering.

FUTURE OF MICROCONTROLLERS

A lot has happened since the 1970s, when microcontroller (MCU) technology first emerged.
Recently, numerous trends in the MCU industry have impacted how these devices are
designed and work (function). Today, MCUs (essentially computers encased in an integrated
circuit (IC), that can be configured (programmed) to carry out specific tasks) are the brains
behind a plethora of modern electronic gadgets, ranging from automobile infotainment
systems and home appliances to sophisticated medical equipment and SCADA systems used
to control industrial processes.

Market Share & Growth

According to Global Research Insights, the World microcontroller (MCU) market size was
valued at USD 19.04 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 26.54 billion by 2030.

Key players in the global MCU market are Netherland-based semiconductor designer and
manufacturer NXP Semiconductors; American corporation Microchip Technology; Japanese
Renesas Electronics, Swiss STMicroelectronics, German Infineon Technologies, and others.
The top five global producers control more than 55% of global market share. Asia-Pacific
boasts the largest market share of more than 50%, while Europe and North America
combined have around 40 of the market share.

Regarding products, 32-bit Microcontrollers have the biggest segment of more than 50%.
When it comes to application, the automotive industry tops the list of the sectors/fields where
MCUs are highly used, while industrial, communication, and computer follow in that order.

Future Trends

 Small-sized MCUs designed for embedded technologies

The increasing popularity of MCU applications in embedded technologies is a notable trend

in the semiconductor industry. These microcontrollers have exceptionally low power
consumption without sacrificing functionality. Manufacturers will employ a variety of
techniques to reduce MCU power consumption, such as lower clock frequencies, per-device
power control, clock gating, and dynamic scaling among other methods. Since these devices
consume less power, this helps significantly reduce the size of the devices. A small battery
can power a low-power gadget for a long period. Numerous MCU producers have been
motivated by this trend to manufacture low-power-consuming, energy-efficient
microcontrollers for embedded applications that are easy to configure.

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  Rugged and sturdy MCUs for industrial applications

The growing popularity of microprocessors in the industrial field is a further development in

the MCU market. Industrial MCUs are used for controlling a vast range of equipment and
processes, such as autonomous robots, production systems, machine tools, conveyors, etc.

Industrial MCUs are usually designed to be exceedingly rugged and durable to resist extreme
industrial conditions like high temperature and pressure.

The widespread adoption of microcontrollers in "Industry 4.0," which describes the

integration of cutting-edge technologies including, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial
intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) into convoluted, automated production
processes, is one instance of this trend. Manufacturing is expected to go through a revolution
thanks to Industry 4.0, and microcontrollers will be critical for making such developments
possible.

 Power-efficient MCUs for edge devices/technologies, smart devices, and wearable

Manufacturers, tech commentators, and users have all their attention focused on one major
trend: the increasing development of f low-power MCUs being used for edge technologies,
wearables, home automation, smart construction, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Because of their extremely low power consumption, these microcontrollers are ideal for
portable electronics and other gadgets that must run continuously for long periods without a
power source.

Since they offer the computational (processing) power and connectivity required for data
collection, analysis, and transmission, microcontrollers are a crucial part of the Internet of
Things and smart home technologies. The increasing popularity of cordless connectivity
options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee, is one development associated with MCUs for
the Internet of Things and smart home applications. These contemporary technologies
facilitate the integration of MCUs into products.

 Vast application of Healthcare MCUs

Another significant trend in the MCU market is the increasing application of microcontrollers
in the healthcare industry. Today, microcontrollers are used in an increasing variety of
medical applications, including diagnostic instruments, patient monitoring infrastructure, and
other medical devices. The increasing need for improved healthcare technology is predicted
to drive an enormous rise in the application of microcontrollers in the medical field in the
upcoming years.

Modern medical equipment can be used to gather patient data and make decisions that can
enhance care, medication, and results because of increased processing capacity. A handful of
these technologies are replacing physicians in tasks like examining patients' symptoms. This

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is a significant development in the medical industry as it lowers treatment costs while
increasing the standards of medical care provided.

 Advanced MCU security

The increasing focus on MCU security is another area of concern and a trend. The rapid
growth of IoT technologies, home automation, and numerous other connected
devices/technologies increases the risk of cyber attacks and security breaches. Since MCUs
are potentially susceptible to hacking and various other security risks, microcontrollers could
experience disastrous consequences. Manufacturers of microcontrollers have been trying to
address this issue by creating increasingly secure microprocessors that are impervious to
hacking, data breaches, and other types of cyber attacks.

One trend in MCU security is using encrypted communication protocols, such as secure
sockets layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TLS). These technological advancements
guarantee the security and privacy of sensitive data and assist in preventing data breaches.
Using hardware-based security features, like secure boot, Time-Based One-Time Passwords
(TOTPs), and hardware-based authentication, to provide protection against unauthorized
access to systems is another trend.

 Automobile MCUs with Advanced processing power

Also, as technology advances, there is a vast variety of MCU applications requiring more
sophisticated processing. As a result, manufacturers have designed/developed
microcontrollers with powerful CPUs and greater memory capacity. Specifically, the growing
use of MCUs in automobiles has resulted in the development of customized automobile
MCUs with advanced technical features and specifications.

With features like voice-controlled entertainment systems, autonomous driving abilities, and
advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), contemporary automobiles are becoming
increasingly "intelligent." These developments have created massive business opportunities
for innovators. The processing power needed for all of these functions is substantial, and it is
provided by microcontrollers with cutting-edge processing capabilities that are approved and
built for rigorous automotive applications.

Automobile manufacturers are optimizing fuel consumption in response to rising fuel prices
and global warming by using Electronic Control Units (ECUs). ECUs are essentially
microcontrollers used to monitor vehicles' energy consumption and efficiency in real time.
Modern automobiles are equipped with ECUs which serve as the primary controlling unit that
also monitors a variety of other vehicular activities, including infotainment, remote
functionality, self-driving functions, parking assistance, and electronic driving assistance
(such as park-assist functions and lane-keep assist). Therefore, in order to run interoperable
software and platforms and accomplish the necessary essentials, ECUs require extremely
dependable and durable hardware.

Department of Electronics – D. B. College, Keezhoor