Microcontrollers

Peripheral Modules in a Typical

Microcontroller
Outline
• Introduction
• Timer modules
• Internal Timer Functions
• The Serial Port
• Analogue to Digital Conversion
• Special Function Units
– Serial Peripheral Port
– CAN interface
• Self Assessment
 Introduction
Most microcontrollers contain a number of
hardware modules. In the past many of these
were designed as separate chips in a
conventional microprocessor system. Integrating
them into a single microcontroller chip allows
for greater functionality in a single chip and
saves space.
• Typical devices are:
– Timer module
– Serial I/O module
– Analogue to Digital Converter module
Single Chip Microcontroller
Timer Modules
 Timer Modules
A common requirement of microcontrollers is
the ability to be able to turn on an output (such
as an LED or relay) for a period of time. This can
be done by turning on the device, then causing
the microcontroller to decrement a specified
number to zero (a process that takes the
microcontroller a specified amount of time to
do), then turning the device off again.
This method of turning a device on for a specified
period of time is wasteful in the sense that the
microcontroller could be doing other things whilst it
is waiting for the device on time to elapse.

A hardware timer could be used instead and would

perhaps allow the microcontroller to do other
things during the on time period. Most
microcontrollers have at least one timer module,
usually with a number of inputs and outputs.
Example
Example
Internal Timer Function
• The timer unit can also be used for generating
a delay. The timer is programmed with a
specified count value which will be counted
down (decremented) to zero. When the timer
unit reaches zero a flag is set. This flag can be
monitored by software so that the
microcontroller will know when the timer unit
has reached zero.
• Since the time taken by the timer unit to
decrement from the specified count value to
zero is simply the count value multiplied by
the time between decrement operations, a
known delay period is produced.
• The time between decrement operations is a
function of the crystal clock oscillator
frequency so it can be defined very accurately.
The microcontroller can be doing other things
between monitoring the flag bit so this is less
wasteful in processor time than the simple
software delay.
Example
• In the figure we see an LED prior to being turned
on via the port bit PB0. Just prior to turning on
the LED, the timer unit is loaded with a count
value (the actual value being dictated by the
delay time required). In due course the timer unit
count value will reach zero, at which point a flag
bit will be set. The CPU, on seeing the flag bit set,
will turn the LED off. The time taken for the timer
unit to decrement the count value to zero will be
the time that the LED is on.
• Another way of using the timer to create a
delay is to cause the timer unit to interrupt
the CPU when the timer reaches zero. This can
be more efficient in processor time since the
microcontroller can be doing other things
uninterrupted until the timer reaches zero.
The concept of interrupts will be expanded
upon later in the course.
The Serial Port
• Some microcontrollers have a serial port to allow
data to be transmitted to another
microcontroller, PC or remote system via a two
wire pair. This can be a very convenient way of
transmitting data between two devices.

• A disadvantage can be the slower speed of data

transfer that a serial port has over a byte wide
parallel data port. The transfer rate can be
programmed from within a range of typically
300baud (300 bits per second) to 38400baud.
• The serial port is usually referred to as a Serial
Communications Interface (SCI). Most SCI units
contained in microcontroller chips are a sub-set
of the more traditional Universal Asynchronous
Receiver/Transmitter (UART) unit that is
available in the standard PC. The UART has
additional signals that allow it to be connected to
a modem. This should be borne in mind when
considering microcomputer applications that
require the use of a modem. Most SCI units can
work in asynchronous mode, whilst some also
support synchronous working.
Serial Port
• In the diagram we see a microcontroller with a SCI unit
connected to another system (which could be a PC) via the
transmit and receive pair. It should be pointed out that the
logic levels from a SCI port are TTL. Therefore, if the
microcontroller is to be connected to a PC, a TTL to RS232
interface chip is required to convert the signal levels from
TTL to RS232 levels.

• A corresponding RS232 to TTL interface chip is included in

the PC to perform the necessary signal level translation
back to TTL levels for the UART chip used in the PC (a 16050
UART). This has not been shown in the above diagram.
Special Purpose Interface
 Analogue to Digital Conversion
In the real world signals are often analogue in
nature. For example, we might need to monitor
(log) analogue signals from a strain gauge, or
from a transducer converting temperature to an
electrical analogue signal (temperature
transducer). Since microcontrollers are
sometimes required for these types of
applications, some are fitted with an Analogue
to Digital Converter (ADC).
ADC
• It is uncommon for an ADC to derive more than
10 bits. For more demanding applications the
ADC performance needs careful examination.

For example:
– On chip sample and hold to accommodate ac signal
sampling.
– Control over the sample clock and synchronization
between channels.
– CPU loading at higher sampling frequencies.
Simple Typical Application
• The microcontroller includes an ADC module
and one of its digital input ports has been
configured (by software) to be an analogue
input channel. The software running on the
microcontroller will perform an Analogue to
Digital conversion of the input signal, then
determine whether the input signal is above
or below some pre-defined limit. It will then
turn on the appropriate LED.
 Special Function Units
• Some microcontrollers will contain other
“special function” units such as
– Serial Peripheral Port (SPP).
– Controller Area Network (CAN) interface.
 Serial Peripheral Port
• A Serial Peripheral Port (SPP) is a special
interface that can be used to connect the
microcontroller to a particular peripheral
device such as an LDC display or a serial
Analogue to Digital converter. This saves on
valuable I/O pins and leads to a neat interface
between the microcontroller and the
peripheral device.
• The same interface can be used to connect
two microcontrollers together so that they can
pass data between each other. This can allow
a number of microcontrollers in a system to
share data or allow one microcontroller (the
master) to control a number of other
microcontrollers (the slaves).
• Some of the PIC microcontrollers have such a
device called the Synchronous Serial Port
(SSP).

• The Motorola 6811 microcontroller uses a

device called the Serial Peripheral Interface
(SPI) in a similar manner.
 CAN Interface
• The CAN interface was originally developed
for the automobile industry in order to reduce
the amount of cabling in a vehicle. This has
become particularly important since the
wiring loom in an automobile can now
account for a substantial proportion of the
vehicle weight.
 Self Assessment
• What are the main reasons for having a timer
module on a microcontroller?
• What is the typical resolution for an Analogue
to Digital Converter in the microcontroller
devices you have seen?
• Some microcontrollers have a serial port.
Could this serial port be used to connect to an
external modem?
 Homework
• Give some examples of microcontrollers that you have
come across that contain a serial peripheral port. Are there
any external devices that could be used with these ports?
• What is the maximum amount of external memory that can
be connected to the 6811 microcontroller? Can this
external memory be used for either program or data
memory?
• What are the main differences between the 6811 and 6812
microcontroller architectures?
• What are the main features of the Intel 87C196 range of
microcontrollers? What type of application have Intel
targeted this microcontroller towards?