1. Microcontrollers, Microcomputers, and Microprocessors
General Safety
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
Microcontrollers, Microcomputers, and Microprocessors
Digital Electronics
© 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

2. ATmega328 Microcontroller Processor Memory
General Safety
Microcontroller, Microcomputer, or Microprocessor? What is the difference?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
A microcontroller is a small, low cost computer on a single integrated circuit.
ATmega328 Microcontroller
Processor
Memory
Programmable Input/Output(I/O)
Arduino Uno Microcontroller Board
SparkFun Electronics, . Arduino Uno - R
Photograph. Wikipedia Commons Web. 7 Jan 2014.
Microcontrollers are used to perform one dedicated task. One specific program. They are usually embedded in products.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

3. input/output (I/O) facilities
General Safety
Microcontroller, Microcomputer, or Microprocessor? What is the difference?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit.
It includes:
a microprocessor
memory
input/output (I/O) facilities
Commodore 64 Microcomputer
Evan-Amos, . Commodore-64-Computer
Photograph. Wikipedia Commons Web. 7 Jan <
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

4. Why is it called a “micro” computer?
General Safety
Microcontroller, Microcomputer, or Microprocessor? What is the difference?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
Why is it called a “micro” computer?
Early computers such as ENIAC filled entire rooms.
A “micro”computer by comparison with a keyboard, monitor, and mouse are commonly referred to as a personal computer today.
The prefix “micro” is not commonly used in describing computers anymore.
U.S. Army Photo, . ENIAC Photograph. Wikipedia Commons Web. 7 Jan 2014.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

5. Microcontroller, Computer, or Processor? What is the difference?
General Safety
Microcontroller, Computer, or Processor? What is the difference?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
Application Processors
As the use of smart phones and mobile devices has expanded, a new type of processor has been defined.
Intel® Quark SoC X1000 Application Processor
Today, microprocessors in computers are often just referred to as processors. All computers today have a processor as the CPU. Microprocessors designed for use in mobile applications are called application processors.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

6. Microprocessors don’t have RAM, ROM, and other peripheral on the chip.
General Safety
Microcontroller, Microcomputer, or Microprocessor? What is the difference?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
A microprocessor is an IC which has only the Central Processing Unit inside them. They only have processing powers.
Microprocessors don’t have RAM, ROM, and other peripheral on the chip.
A system designer has to add them externally to make them functional. 
Once again, the prefix “micro” is increasingly left today in favor of just processor.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

7. What is a Microcontroller?
General Safety
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
Microcontrollers are used to control many everyday products like garage door openers, traffic lights, home thermostats, and robots. Embedded controllers are everywhere.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

8. What are the Parts of a Microcontroller?
General Safety
What are the Parts of a Microcontroller?
Digital Electronics TM
1.1 Foundations and The Board Game Counter
Microcontrollers contain:
A Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Some form of memory (MEMORY)
Programmable Input / Output (I/O)
ATmega328 Microcontroller
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009