what is mcu？Microcontroller Unit (MCU), also known as a single chip microcomputer or a single chip microcomputer, reduces the frequency and specifications of a Central Process Unit (CPU) appropriately, Timer, USB, A / D conversion, UART, PLC, DMA and other peripheral interfaces, and even LCD driver circuits are integrated into a single chip to form a chip-level computer with different combinations of controls for different applications. Such as mobile phones, PC peripherals, remote control, to automotive electronics, industrial stepper motor, robot arm control, can see the figure of the MCU.
According to the bus or data register width, the microcontroller is subdivided into 1, 4, 8, 16, 32 or even 64-bit microcontroller. Most of the 4-bit MCUs are used in calculators, car meters, car anti-theft devices, pagers, cordless phones, CD players, LCD drive controllers, LCD game consoles, children's toys, scales, chargers, , Thermometer and hygrometer, remote control and point-and-shoot cameras; 8-bit MCU most of the applications in the meter, motor controller, electric toys, inverter air conditioners, pagers, fax machines, CallerID, caller ID , CRT monitors, keyboards and USB; 8-bit, 16-bit microcontrollers are mainly used in general control areas, generally do not use the operating system, 16-bit MCU most used in mobile phones, digital cameras and video recorders, Most 32-bit MCUs are used in Modem, GPS, PDA, HPC, STB, Hub, Bridge, Router, workstations, ISDN phones, laser printers and color fax machines; 32-bit applications for complex network operations, multimedia processing, etc. , Generally use the embedded operating system. Most 64-bit MCUs are employed in high-end workstations, multimedia interactive systems, advanced video game players such as SEGA's Dreamcast and Nintendo's GameBoy, and advanced terminals.
8-bit MCU operating frequency between 16 ~ 50MHz, emphasizing the simple performance, low-cost applications, the current total market value of the MCU still has a certain status, and many MCU operators have also continued to develop energy-saving 8bit MCU frequency adjustment design to respond Green product development needs of the times.
16-bit MCU, 16-bit computing, 16/24-bit addressability and frequency in the 24 ~ 100MHz mainstream specifications, some 16bit MCU additional 32-bit plus / minus / multiply / divide special instructions. As the 32bit MCU appears and continues to cut prices and 8bit MCU is simple and durable and cheap low-cost advantage, caught in the middle 16bit MCU market continues to be squeezed into the lowest proportion of shipping products.
32-bit MCU market can be said that the mainstream, the single offer in the 1.5 to 4 US dollars, most of the operating frequency between 100 ~ 350MHz, the implementation of better performance, application types are quite diverse. However, 32-bit MCUs will increase the program code length of the same function by 30-40% compared with 8 / 16bit MCUs due to the increase of operands and memory length, which results in the memory capacity of the embedded OTP / FlashROM should not be too small, and the number of external pins of the chip Rising, further limiting the cost of 32bit MCU ability to reduce.
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