PIC Architecture
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 1
PIC Architecture
Will now look at another architecture
Look at the microcontroller company
Step 1 – The programmers model
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 2
Philosophy of PIC Architecture
Embedded processing is pervasive
Electronic intelligence in is everyday products
Company Philosophy
Have products that fit the problem
Many systems can be automated using 8-bit
microcontrollers
Much of product line is 8-bit
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 3
Reasons for pervasiveness?
Competitive pressure
Expanded functionality of products
Provide differentiation in product from that of
competitor
Cost competitive integrated solution
Allow creation of new classes of products
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 4
Microcontroller Solution
Microcontroller features
CPU – processing unit
Non-volatile program memory
Re-settable non-volatile data memory
(EEPROM)
RAM for data storage
Direct support for various input/output
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 5
Some typical applications
Automotive air bag systems
Remote control
Handheld tools
Appliances – coffee pot, mixer, stove, refrigerator,
dish washer, washer, dryer
Major home systems – heating and cooling
Cordless phones and cell phones
Security systems
TV, DVD player/recorder, DVR, PVR
Sound system
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 6
Come in 4-bit through 32-bit
4-bit
Very inexpensive
8-bit
Still very cheap – often ~$1.00 per chip
16 and 32 bit
Priced at $6.00 to 12.00 each
Evaluation of requirements, chip capability,
and cost come into design decision
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 7
Typical automotive use
Engine control – 32-bit microcontroller
Fuel flow, fuel mixture, valve timing, throttle body
opening, spark timing
Transmission control –16-bit microcontroller
Audio system – 16-bit
Antilock braking – 16-bit
Up to fifty 8-bit microcontrollers for functions of
Wiper control
Electric Mirrors
Air Bags
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 8
Automotive today continued
Up to fifty 8-bit microcontrollers for functions of
Wiper control
Electric Mirrors
Air Bags
Fuel pump
Speedometer
Security system
Climate control system
Power windows …..
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 9
Microchip’s position
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 10
Microchip and microcontroller use
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 11
Microcontroller choice parameters
Number of I/O pins
Amount of program and data memory
Speed
Timer Resources
Interrupt control
Robustness
Error recovery – watchdog timers
Power, I/O expansion, math support
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 12
Block Diagram
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 13
PIC architecture is a “Harvard”
architecture
The Harvard Architecture
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 14
Feature of Harvard architecture
Near all instructions are single instruction
word instructions
Only one fetch per instruction
Instruction fetch and execute are pipelined so
you can operate at near clock rate instructions
per second
2 separate buses
One for instructions and one for data
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 15
PIC Instruction pipelining
What % of
time does 1st
flow of
execution
occur??
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 16
Frequency of Branches
On architectures such as the HP during the
normal flow of a program’s execution on 8 to
12 instructions are executed before a branch
occurs.
(aside) Modern architectures can easily
achieve above 90% correct branch prediction.
This can be factored into actual “speed” of the
processor.
9/20/6 Lecture 21 -PIC Architecture 17
