Gian Kaur

Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers are single integrated circuits that have a processer core,
memory and a programmable input and output ports. Most devices with LCD or LEDs
contain a microcontroller. Phones have at least one microcontroller if not more. On
average a device has 4-7 microcontrollers depending on how much programming the
device needs. Gary Boone invented a single integrated circuit chip in 1970. It held five
thousand transistors which had about three thousand bit of memory and 128 bits of
access memory. An interesting fact is that over 2 billion microcontrollers are developed
per year.
Characteristics of the device that senses inputs and outputs of the world that can
communicate with a computer. They are automatically programmed and are embedded
unlike microprocessors. They are useful when designing interactive devices that don't
need a lot of power from a desktop. A microcontroller comes in many sizes. The most
common sizes are: 8 bit, 16 bit Digital signal controller, 16 bit general purpose
microcontroller and a 32 bit microcontroller. The input ports expose the users actions
and the output port gives results. The input and output pins have light, heat, motion
sensors, and motors, that help it express.

New Terminology:
TSD Temperature-sensing device
A/D Analog-to digital converter for the temperature sensing device
Shift register- Reads the data out of the A/D converter
EEPROM- Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory which remembers the
settings.

Gian Kaur
There are microcontrollers everywhere in power tools, toys, implantable medical
devices, office machines, engine control systems, remote controls, and other embedded
systems. Some of the latest microcontrollers are created custom for the automotive
industry, lighting, communication devices like cell phones and low-power driven
consumer goods. The microcontrollers todays are smaller and skinnier but can store
more informations and are a lot more powerful than they used to be. Come
microcontrollers are so tiny that they could be used in electric toothbrushes and kids
toys.
In my opinion, the microcontroller has come a far way since Gary Boone first
invented them in the 1970s. they went from being scarcely used to the most developed
and used integrated chip. Microcontrollers are everywhere. Devices are not made
without them. The most interesting aspect of researching the microprocessor would be
at how fast they came into the market and how fast they are developing.

Gian Kaur
Work Cited
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/microcontroller.htm
https://www.futureelectronics.com/en/Microcontrollers/microcontrollers.aspx
https://www.tigoe.com/pcomp/code/controllers/all-about-microcontrollers/
http://www.circuitstoday.com/microcontroller-invention-history