3. Say whether it is true or false.

1. A microcontroller is a large computer on a single integrated circuit.

2. Microcontrollers are designed for small or dedicated applications.

3. Microcontrollers cannot operate at low frequencies.

4. Microcontrollers are used in personal computers.

5. A microprocessor is much smaller in size and cost compared with a microcontroller.

6. A microcontroller can be used with an embedded system.

7. Embedded systems usually have keyboard, screen, disks, printers or other recognizable devices of a personal computer.

8. Microcontrollers must provide real time response to events in the embedded system they are controlling.

9. Microcontroller programs must fit in the available on-chip program memory.

10. The program memory may not be permanent in any case.

4. Find 5 words from the text in the grid below. Then make up your own sentences using these words.

v u i o m m i c r o c o n t r o l l e r

h i o e h g t f r d g f h g t y g y h h

m h n v g c d s e r h g t y 0 f g r t f

e m k j h g t r f e d s w e f t y h g t

f r e q u e n c i e s h y g y h h h y g

y n h g t f 0 r f g a h u j j u j j g f y i

n k m e m o r y r d e s f f g h h y p o

o l k i j u h y g t f r d r f r g t y l o h

w b g f n f r t u h f d e f g y y h l j g

o g f s a p p l i c a t i o n j k l m b g

t h g t n r d e s h g y h f g h h l h p g

t j h y o t f r t g y g y h h u h n v c x

s j h g w a t t s d r f t g v t h h l k g f

5. Put the words into the right order to make up sentences and translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. May, at, clock, as, as, some, operate, frequencies, low, rate, microcontrollers, 4 kHz.

2. A, circuit, integrated, a, a, single, computer, microcontroller, is, small, on.

3. Microcontrollers, serve, may, roles, performance-critical, other.

4. Devices, products, in, used, microcontrollers, are, and, automatically, controlled.

5. System, embedded, can, used, a, an, with, microcontroller, be.

6. Must, fit, the, in, microcontroller, programs, program memory, on-chip, available.

7. Embedded, called, these, systems, are.

Unit 16 From the History of Microcontrollers

1. Read the text and translate it into Ukrainian.

The first single-chip microprocessor was the 4-bit Intel 4004 released in 1971, with the Intel 8008 and more capable microprocessors available over the next several years.

These however all required external chip(s) to implement a working system, raising total system cost, and making it impossible to economically computerise appliances.

The first computer system on a chip optimised for control applications - microcontroller was the Intel 8048 released in 1975[citation needed], with both RAM and ROM on the same chip. This chip would find its way into over one billion PC keyboards, and other numerous applications.

Most microcontrollers at this time had two variants. One had an erasable EEPROM program memory, which was significantly more expensive than the PROM variant which was only programmable once.

In 1993, the introduction of EEPROM memory allowed microcontrollers (beginning with the Microchip PIC16x84) to be electrically erased quickly without an expensive package as required for EPROM, allowing both rapid prototyping, and In System Programming.

The same year, Atmel introduced the first microcontroller using Flash memory.

Other companies rapidly followed suit, with both memory types.

Cost has plummeted over time, with the cheapest 8-bit microcontrollers being available for under $0.25 in quantity (thousands) in 2009, and some 32-bit microcontrollers around $1 for similar quantities.

Nowadays microcontrollers are low cost and readily available for hobbyists, with large online communities around certain processors.

In the future, MRAM could potentially be used in microcontrollers as it has infinite endurance and its incremental semiconductor wafer process cost is relatively low.

Since the emergence of microcontrollers, many different memory technologies have been used. Almost all microcontrollers have at least two different kinds of memory, a non-volatile memory for storing firmware and a read-write memory for temporary data.

From the earliest microcontrollers to today, six-transistor SRAM almost always used as the read/write working memory, with a few more transistors per bit used in the register file. MRAM could potentially replace it as it is 4-10 times denser which would make it more cost effective.

In addition to the SRAM, some microcontrollers also have internal EEPROM for data storage; and even ones that don't have any (or don't have enough) are often connected to external serial EEPROM chip (such as the BASIC Stamp) or external serial flash memory chip.

A few recent microcontrollers beginning in 2003 have "self-programmable" flash memory.

The earliest microcontrollers used hard-wired or mask ROM to store firmware. Later microcontrollers (such as the early versions of the Freescale 68HC11 and early PIC microcontrollers) had quartz windows that allowed ultraviolet light in to erase the EPROM.

The Microchip PIC16C84, introduced in 1993, was the first microcontroller to use EEPROM to store firmware.

Also in 1993, Atmel introduced the first microcontroller using NOR Flash memory to store firmware.

PSoC microcontrollers, introduced in 2002, store firmware in SONOS flash memory.

MRAM could potentially be used to store firmware.

Exercise 2. Fill in the missing words and translate the given sentences into Ukrainian.

1. The first computer system on a chip optimized for control applications – microcontroller was _____

2. Most microcontrollers at this time had two______

3. Nowadays microcontrollers are low ____

4. Other companies rapidly followed suit, with both _____ types.

5. In the future, NRAM could potentially be used in_____

6. Some microcontrollers also have internal EEPROM for ______

7. A few recent microcontrollers beginning in 2003 have “self-programmable” flash ______

8. The earliest microcontrollers used hard-wired or mask ROM to store _____

9. Later microcontrollers had ______windows.

10. The Microchip PIC16C84 was the first microcontroller to use _______

Exercise 3. Put all kinds of questions to the given sentences:

1. The introduction of EEPROM memory in 1993 allowed microcontrollers to be electrically erased quickly without an expensive package.

2. Cost has plummeted over time.

3. Almost all microcontrollers have at least two different kinds of memory.

Exercise 4. Answer the following questions.

1. When was the first computer system on a chip optimized for control applications – microcontroller released?

2. What two variant did most microcontrollers have?

3. When was EEPROM memory introduced?

4. What did EEPROM memory allow microcontrollers?

5. What did Atmel introduce the same, 1993, year?

6. Did other companies rapidly follow suit, with both memory types?

7. Are microcontrollers cheap or expensive nowadays?

8. Whom are microcontrollers readily available for?

9. What is the future of MRAM?

10) What do a few recent microcontrollers have?