Difference between Microcontroller and Microprocessor

 Difference between Microprocessor and Microcontroller

In this tutorial you will learn:

1-What Is a Microcontroller?

2-What is a Microprocessor?

3-Types of Microprocessor

4-Types of Microcontroller

5-Features of Microcontroller

6-Features of Microprocessor

7-Application of Microprocessor

8-Application of Microcontroller

What Is a Microcontroller?

A microcontroller is a chip optimized to control electronic devices. It is stored in a single integrated circuit which is dedicated to performing a particular task and execute one specific application.

It is specially designed circuits for embedded applications and is widely used in automatically controlled electronic devices. It contains memory, processor, and programmable I/O.

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit (IC) device used for controlling other portions of an electronic system, usually via a microprocessor unit (MPU), memory, and some peripherals. These devices are optimized for embedded applications that require both processing functionality and agile, responsive interaction with digital, analog, or electromechanical components.

“Microcontroller” is a well-chosen name because it emphasizes defining characteristics of this product category. The prefix “micro” implies smallness and the term "controller" here implies an enhanced ability to perform control functions. As stated above, this functionality is the result of combining a digital processor and digital memory with additional hardware that is specifically designed to help the microcontroller interact with other components.

What is a Microprocessor?

A microprocessor is a controlling unit of a micro-computer wrapped inside a small chip. It performs Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) operations and communicates with the other devices connected with it. It is a single Integrated Circuit in which several functions are combined.

KEY DIFFERENCES

• Microprocessor consists of only a Central Processing Unit, whereas Micro Controller contains a CPU, Memory, I/O all integrated into one chip.
• Microprocessor is used in Personal Computers whereas Micro Controller is used in an embedded system.
• Microprocessor uses an external bus to interface to RAM, ROM, and other peripherals, on the other hand, Microcontroller uses an internal controlling bus.
• Microprocessors are based on Von Neumann model Micro controllers are based on Harvard architecture
• Microprocessor is complicated and expensive, with a large number of instructions to process but Microcontroller is inexpensive and straightforward with fewer instructions to process.

Types of Microprocessor

Important types of Microprocessors are:

• Complex Instruction Set Microprocessors
• The Application Specific Integrated Circuit
• Reduced Instruction Set Microprocessors
• Digital Signal Multiprocessors (DSPs)

Types of Microcontroller

Here are important types of Microcontroller:

• 8 bit Microcontroller
• 16 bit Microcontroller
• 32 bit Microcontroller
• Embedded Microcontroller
• External memory Microcontroller

Features of Microcontroller

Here are some important features of Microcontroller:

• Processor reset
• Program and Variable Memory (RAM) I/O pins
• Device clocking central processor
• Instruction cycle timers

Features of Microprocessor

Here are some important features of Microprocessor:

• Offers built-in monitor/debugger program with interrupt capability
• Large amount of instructions each carrying out a different variation of the same operation
• Offers Parallel I/O
• Instruction cycle timer
• External memory interface.