DIGITAL

CONTROLLERS 1:3
MICROCONTROLLERS
Instructor: Mark James B. Layson,ECT
Digital Controller

◦A digital controller is based

on microprocessor,
microcontroller, or digital
signal processor (DSP),
which can be a 16-bit or 32-
bit, and also either a fixed-
point or floating-point.

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Digital Controller

◦ A digital controller is a small digital unit that acts as a system

controller. Depending on the controlling requirement, a digital
controller can take the form of a desktop computer or it can be
as small as a micro controller. The Laplace transform is replaced
by Z-transform in the digital controller wherein a discrete time
signal in the form of a sequence of complex or real numbers is
converted into a complex frequency domain representation.

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TYPES OF DIGITAL CONTROLLERS

◦1. Microcontroller
◦2. Microprocessor
◦3. Programmable Logic Controller
(PLC)

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MICROCONTROLLER
◦ A microcontroller unit (MCU) is essentially a small computer on a single chip. It is
designed to manage specific tasks within an embedded system without requiring a
complex operating system.
◦ A microcontroller (MCU) is a tiny yet powerful computer system widely used in
various electronic devices, from simple household appliances to complex industrial
machinery. It is designed to control specific devices and operate in real time.
◦ Microcontrollers are vastly different from microprocessors and even digital signal
processors. They are a design of integrated circuits compact and tailored to govern
any particular operation across any system of embedded systems. A microcontroller
usually will have memory, a processor, and I/O (input/output) components on one
chip.

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HOW DO MICROCONTROLLERS WORK?
◦ Microcontrollers are mostly embedded within a system to control a particular device's
function. It achieves this objective by interpreting data from I/O peripherals received via a
central processor. Temporary data received by the microcontroller will remain stored in data
memory. The processor will access them while using instructions stored in program memory
to decipher and apply incoming data. It then deploys the I/O peripherals for the
communication and execution of the suitable action. Microcontrollers are leveraged
throughout various devices and systems. Several devices tap different microcontrollers
functioning in tandem within a machine to take care of all their tasks. Think of it as a car with
several microcontrollers that ensure the proper internal control of several individual systems,
including traction control, ABS, suspension control, fuel injection systems, and more. All
microcontrollers individually communicate with each other to decide on the right action. A few
of them may also communicate with a more complicated central computer positioned within
the vehicle, while some may only communicate with other microcontrollers. They receive and
send information using their I/O peripherals and process valuable data to tackle all designated
tasks.

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MICROCONTROLLER BLIOCK DIAGRAM

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Microcontrollers: Core Components

◦ CPU: This is the processor and the device's critical heart. It

will process and issue responses to several
instructions/commands that enable the functioning of the
microcontroller. This will include I/O, logic, and arithmetic-
related operations. It also handles data transfer while
communicating the commands to other system components.

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Microcontrollers: Core Components
◦ Memory: It helps store all the data received by the system's processor
and uses responses to instructions as per its programming. The
microcontroller setup usually comes with two memory types.
◦ The first one is program memory which is the storage of long-term data
regarding the instructions borne out by the CPU. Program memory falls in
the non-volatile category, meaning it can hold data over time minus the
power source requirement.
◦ Data memory is another type of memory. This is necessary for temporarily
storing data while the instructions are being implemented. Data memory
falls in the volatile category, meaning that the data it holds is temporary
and maintained only when the device is linked to a power source.

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Microcontrollers: Core Components

◦ I/O Peripherals: The output and input devices are the

primary interface for the processor about its relationship to
the external world or environment. The input ports get data
and dispatch the same to the processor as binary data. The
processor will get this data before dispatching all main
instructions to the output devices which will take care of
other tasks external to the microcontroller.

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APPLICATION OF MICROCONTROLLERS
◦ Microcontrollers are hidden inside a surprising number
of products these days. If your microwave oven has an
LED or LCD screen and a keypad, it contains a
microcontroller. All modern automobiles contain at
least one microcontroller, and can have as many as six
or seven: The engine is controlled by a
microcontroller, as are the anti-lock brakes, the cruise
control and so on. Any device that has a remote
control almost certainly contains a microcontroller:
TVs, VCRs and high-end stereo systems all fall into
this category. Nice SLR and digital cameras, cell
phones, camcorders, answering machines, laser
printers, telephones (the ones with caller ID, 20-
number memory, etc.), pagers, and feature-laden
refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers (the
ones with displays and keypads)...

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EXAMPLES OF MICROCONTROLLERS

Arduino:
Arduino is a popular open-
source platform based on the
ATmega328P microcontroller,
known for its ease of use and
versatility in hobbyist projects
and educational settings.

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EXAMPLES OF MICROCONTROLLERS

Raspberry Pi Pico:
The Raspberry Pi Pico is a
low-cost, high-
performance
microcontroller based on
the RP2040, designed for
embedded applications
and physical computing.

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EXAMPLES OF MICROCONTROLLERS

PIC
PIC microcontrollers are a
family of specialized
microchips manufactured by
Microchip Technology,
widely used in embedded
applications.

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EXAMPLES OF MICROCONTROLLERS

AVR:
AVR microcontrollers are a
family of 8-bit
microcontrollers developed
by Atmel (now Microchip),
known for their open-source
tools and flexibility.

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EXAMPLES OF MICROCONTROLLERS
ARM Cortex-M:
ARM Cortex-M
microcontrollers are a family of
microcontrollers based on the
ARM architecture, known for
their low power consumption
and suitability for a range of
embedded systems.

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REFERENCES
◦ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/digital-controller
◦ https://www.wattco.com/casestudy/what-is-a-digital-controller/
◦ https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/microcontroller
◦ https://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/microcontroller-types-functions-uses-challenges-and-
solutions-blogId-155711
◦ https://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/microcontroller-types-functions-uses-challenges-and-
solutions-blogId-155711#:~:text=Components%20and%20Types.-
,Examples%20of%20Microcontroller,ideal%20for%20embedded%20control%20applications.
◦ https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/microcontroller.htm
◦ https://evelta.com/blog/what-is-a-microcontroller-and-how-does-it-work/

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