1. What is mean by microcontroller?

A device which contains the microprocessor with integrated peripherals like memory, serial
ports, parallel ports, timer/counter, interrupt controller, data acquisition interfaces like ADC,
DAC is called microcontroller.

2. What are the advantages of microcontroller over microprocessor?

The overall system cost is low , as the peripherals are integrated in a single chip.
The size is very small
The system is easy to troubleshoot and maintain.
If required additional RAM , ROM and I/O ports may be interfaced. The
system is more reliable.

3. List the features of 8051 microcontroller?

Single supply +5 volt operation using HMOS technology.

4096 bytes program memory on chip (not on 8031)
128 data register banks
Four register mode, 16-bit timer/ counter.
Extensive Boolean processing capabilities.
64 KB external RAM size
32 bi-directional individually addressable I/O lines.
8 bit CPU optimized for control applications.

4. List the on-chip peripherals of 8051 microcontroller.

4KB on chip RAM

128 B RAM
2 Timers
32 I/O pins
1 serial port
6 Interrupt sources

5. Explain DJNZ instruction of Intel 8051 microcontroller?

a) DJNZ Rn, rel Decrement the content of the register Rn and jump if not zero.

b) DJNZ direct, rel Decrement the content of direct 8- bit address and jump if not zero.

6. State the function of RS1 and RS0 bits in the flag register of Intel 8051 microcontroller?
 RS1, RS0- Register bank select bits
RS1, RS0- Bank
Bank 0
Bank 1
Bank 2
Bank 3

7. Give the alternate functions for the port pins of port3?

P3.0 - RXD
P3.1 - TXD
P3.2 - INT0
P3.3 - INT1
P3.4 - T0
P3.5 - T1
P3.6 - WR
P3.7 - RD

RD – Read data control output

WR – Write data control output
T1 – Timer / counter 1 external input or test pin T0 – Timer / counter 0 external input or test pin
INT 1 – Interrupt 1 input pin
INT 0 – interrupt 0 input pin
TXD – Transmit data pin for serial port in UART mode
RXD – Receive data pin for serial port in UART mode

8. Specify the single instruction, which clears the most significant bit of B register of 8051,
without affecting the remaining bits.

Single instruction, which clears the most significant bit of B register of 8051, without affecting the
remaining bits, is CLR B.7.

9. Explain the function of the pins PSEN and EA of 8051.

PSEN: PSEN stands for program store enable. In 8051 based system in which an external

ROM holds the program code, this pin is connected to the OE pin of the ROM.

EA: EA stands for external access. When the EA pin is connected to Vcc, program fetched to address
0000H through 0FFFH are directed to the internal ROM and program fetches to addresses
1000H through FFFFH are directed to external ROM/EPROM. When the EA pin is grounded, all
addresses fetched by program are directed to the external ROM/EPROM.

10. Explain the 16-bit registers DPTR and SP of 8051.

DPTR stands for data pointer. DPTR consists of a high byte (DPH) and a low byte (DPL).
Its function is to hold a 16-bit address. It may be manipulated as a 16- bit data registers. It serves
as a base register in indirect jumps, lookup table instructions and external data transfer.

SP stands for stack pointer. SP is a 8-bit wide register. It is incremented before data is stored during
PUSH and CALL instructions. The stack array can reside anywhere in-chip RAM. The stack pointer is
initialised to 07H after a reset. This causes the stack to begin at location. 08H.

11. What is the importance of special function registers (SPF) in 8051?

The 8051 operations that do not use the internal 128 byte RAM address from 00 H to 7F H are done
by a group of special internal registers called SPFs (Special Function Registers) which have address
between 80 H and FF H.

12. Name the special functions registers available in 8051.

Accumulator
B Register
Program status Word.
Stack pointer.
Data pointer
Port 0 Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Interrupt
priority control register.
Interrupt enable control register.

13. Explain the register IE format of 8051.

EA ET2 ES

ET1 EX1 ET0 EX0

EA- Enable all control bit.

ET2- Timer 2 interrupt enable bit. ES- Enable serial port control bit. ET1- Enable Timer1 control bit.
EX1-Enable external interrupt1 control bit. ET0-Enable Timer0 control bit.
EX0-Enable external interrupt0 control bit.

14. What is the function of SM2 bit present in SCON register in 8051?

SM2 enables the multiprocessor communication feature in modes 2 and 3. If SM2 = 1, RI will not be
activated if the received 9th data bit (RB8) is 0.

In mode 1, if SM2 = 1, RI will not be activated if a valid stop bit was not received.

In mode 0, SM2 should be 0.

15. Define baud rate.

Baud rate is used to indicate the rate at which data is being transferred. Baud rate = 1/Time for a
bit cell.

16. If a 12 Mhz crystal is connected with 8051, how much is the time taken for the count in
timer 0 to get incremented by one?

Baud rate = oscillator frequency/12 = (12 Χ 106) / 12 =1 Χ 106 Hz T = 1/f = 1 /(1 Χ 106 ) = 1 μ sec

17. Name the interrupts of 8051 microcontroller.

External interrupt-0 , External interrupt-1,Timer-0 interrupt, Timer-1 interrupt, and serial port
interrupt.

18. What is the job of the TMOD register?

To select the operating mode and the timer/counter operation of the timers we use TMOD register.
Timer 0 and timer 1 are 2 timer registers in 8051. Both of these registers use the same register
called
TMOD to set various timer operation modes. TMOD is dedicated to the two timers (Timer0 and
Timer1) and can be considered to be two duplicate 4 bit registers, each of which controls the action
of one of the timers.
MSB LSB
GATE C/T M1 M0 GATE C/T M1 M0
Timer1 Timer2

19. What are the external hardware interrupts in 8051?

INT0 - External hardware Interrupt 0

INT1 - External hardware interrupt 1

20. Compare Microprocessor and Microcontroller.

Microprocessor Microcontroller
Microprocessor contains ALU, general purpose Microcontroller contains the circuitry of
registers, stack pointer, program counter, clock microprocessor and in addition it has built- in
timing circuit and interrupt circuit. ROM, RAM, I/O devices, timers and counters.
It has many instructions to move data between It has one or two instructions to move data
memory and CPU. between memory and CPU.
It has one or two bit handling instructions. It has many bit handling instructions.
 It has one or two bit handling instructions. Less access times for built-in memory and I/O
devices.
Microprocessor based system requires more Microcontroller based system requires less
hardware. hardware reducing PCB size and increasing the
reliability.

21. Name the five interrupt sources of 8051?

Vector Address
External interrupt 0: IE0: 0003H
Timers interrupt 0: TF0: 000BH
External interrupt 1: IE1: 0013H
Timers interrupt 1: TF1:001BH
Serial interrupt
Receive interrupt: RI: 0023H
Transmit interrupt: TI: 0023H

22. Write a program to subtract the contents of RI of Bank0 from the contents of R0 0f Bank2.

MOV PSW, #10 MOV

A, R0
MOV PSW, #00
SUBB A, R1

23. How the RS-232 serial bus is interrupt to 1TL logic device?

The RS-232 signal voltage level devices are not compatible with TTL logic levels. Hence for
interfacing TTL devices to RS-232 serial bus, level converters are used. The popularly used level
converters are MC 1488 & MC 1489 or MAX 232.

24. List some of the features of 8096 microcontroller.

a. The 8096 is a 16-bit microcontroller.

b. the 8096 is designed to use in application which require high speed calculations and fast I/O
operation.

c. The high speed I/O section of an 8096 includes a 16-bit timer, a 16- bit counter, a 4 input
programmable edge detector, 4 software timer and counter 6-output programmable events
Generator.

d. It has 100 instructions, which can operate on bit, byte, word and double words.

e. The bit operation is possible and these can be performed on any bit in the register file or in the
special function register.
25. Explain the operating mode 0 of 8051 serial ports?

In this mode serial enters & exits through RXD, TXD outputs the shift clock 8 bits are
transmitted/received: 8 data bits (LSB first). The baud rate is fixed at 1/12 the oscillator
frequency.

26. Explain the operating mode 2 of 8051 ports?

In this mode 11 bits are transmitted (through TXD) or received (through RXD): a start bit (0), 8 data
bits (LSB first) a, programmable 9th data bit, & a stop bit (1).ON transmit the 9th data bit (TB* in
SCON) can be assigned the value of 0 or 1.

For eg: the parity bit (P, in the PSW) could be moved into TB8. On receive the 9th data bit go in to
the RS8 in Special Function Register SCON, while the stop bit is ignored. The baud rate is
programmable to either 1/32, or 1/64 the oscillator frequency.

27. Explain the mode 3 of 8051 serial ports?

In this mode 11 bits are transmitted (through TXD) or received (through RXD): a start bit (0), 8 data
bits (LSB first) a, programmable 9th data bit, & a stop bit (1). In fact, Mode 3 is the same as Mode
2 in all respect except the baud rate. The baud rate in Mode 3 is variable.

In all the four modes, transmission is initiated by any instruction that uses SBUF as a destination
register. Reception is initiated in Mode 0 by the condition RI=0 & REN=1. Reception is initiated in
other modes by the incoming start bit if REn=1.

28. What are the addressing modes of 8051 microcontroller?

Direct addressing
Register addressing
Register indirect addressing
Implicit addressing
Immediate addressing
Index addressing
Bit addressing

29. What are the applications of 8051 microcontroller?

Industrial control (process control)

Motor speed control (stepper motor control)

Peripheral devices (printer)

Standalone devices (colour Xerox machine)

Automobile applications (power steering)

Home applications (washing machine)

1. What are the different types of methods used for data transmission?

The data transmission between points involves unidirectional or bi-directional transmission

of meaningful digital data through a medium. There are basically there modes of data transmission
(a)Simplex

(b) Duplex

(c) Half Duplex

In simplex mode, data is transmitted only in one direction over a single communication channel.
For example, a computer (CPU) may transmit data for a CRT display unit in this mode.

In duplex mode, data may be transferred between two transreceivers in both directions
simultaneously.

In half duplex mode, on the other hand, data transmission may take place in either direction, but
at a time may be transmitted only in one direction. For example, a computer may communication
with a terminal in this mode. When the terminal sends data (i.e. terminal is sender).The message is
received by the computer (i.e. computer is receiver). However, it is not possible to transmit data
from the computer to terminal and from terminal to the computer simultaneously.

2. What is the various programmed data transfer method?

i) Synchronous data transfer ii)

Asynchronous data transfer iii)

Interrupt driven data transfer

3. What is synchronous data transfer?

It is a data method which is used when the I/O device and the microprocessor match in speed. The
transfer a data to or from the device, the user program issues a suitable instruction addressing the
device. The data transfer is completed at the end of the execution of this instruction.
4. What is asynchronous data transfer?

It is a data transfer method which is used when the speed of I/O device does not match with the
speed of the microprocessor. Asynchronous data transfer is also called as Handshaking.

5. What is a control word?

It is a word stored in a register (control register) used to control the operation of a program digital
device.

6. What is an USART?

USART stands for universal Synchronous / Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter. It is a

programmable communication interface that can communicate by using either synchronous or
asynchronous serial data.

7. List the major components of the Keyboard/ Display interface.

a. Keyboard section b. Scan section c. Display section d. CPU interface section

8. What is Key bouncing?

Mechanical switch are used as keys in most of the keyboard. When a key is pressed the contact
bounce back and forth and settle down only after a small time delay (about 20ms). Even though a
key is actuated once, it will appear to have been actuated several times. This problem is called Key
Bouncing.

9. What is TXD?

TXD- Transmitter Data Output. This output pin carries serial of the transmitted data bits along with
other information like start bit, stop bits and priority bit.

10. Define HRQ?

The hold request output request the access of the system bus. In non- cascaded 8257 systems, this
is connected with HOLD pin of CPU. In cascade mode, this pin of a slave is connected with a DRQ
input line of the master 8257, while that of the master is connected with HOLD input of the CPU.

11. What are the internal devices of a typical DAC?

The internal devices of a DAC are R/2R resistive network, an internal latch and current to voltage
converting amplifier.

12. What is setting or conversion time in DAC?

The time taken by the DAC to convert a given digital data to corresponding analog signal is called
conversion time.

13. What are the different types of ADC?

The different types of ADC are successive approximation ADC, counter type ADC, flash type ADC,
integrator converters and voltage to frequency converters.

14. What is the purpose for scan section in Keyboard interface?

The scan section has a scan counter and four scan lines. These scan line scan be decoded using a
4to-16 decoder to generate 16 lines for scanning

15. What are the tasks involved in keyboard interfacing?

The task involved in keyboard interfacing are sensing a keyboard interfacing are sensing a key
actuation, de bouncing the key and generating key codes(decoding the key).these task are
performed software if the keyboard is interfaced through ports and they are performed by
hardware if the keyboard is interfaced through 8279.

16. How a keyboard matrix is formed in keyboard interface?

The return lines RL0 to RL7 of 8279 are used to form the columns of keyboard matrix.in decoded
scan the scan lines SLO to SL3 of 8279 are used to form the rows of keyboard matrix. In encoded
scan mode, the output lines of external decoder are used as rows of keyboard matrix.

17. What is scanning in keyboard and what is scan time?

The process of sending a zero to each row of a keyboard matrix and reading the columns for key
actuation is called scanning. The scan time is the time taken by the processor to scan all the rows
one by one starting from first row and coming back to the first row.

18. What is scanning in display and what is the scan time?

In display devices the process of sending display codes to 7-segment LED’S to display the led’s one
by one is called scanning. The scan time is the time taken to display all the 7- segment LED’S one by
one, starting from first LED and coming back to the first LED again.

19. Define simplex transmission.

In simplex transmission, data are transmitted in only one direction. Example: transmission from a
microcomputer to a printer.

20. What is the purpose of control word written to control register in 8255?

The control words written to control register specify an I/O function for each I/O port. The bit D7
of the control word determines either the I/O functions of the BSR function.

21. What is the size of ports in 8255?

Port - A : 8- bits Port – B : 8- bits Port -CU : 4- bits Port –CL : 4- bits

22. What is the purpose for the 8255 PPI?

The 8255A is a widely used, programmable, parallel I/O device. It can be programmed to transfer
data under various conditions, from simple I/O to interrupt I/O.

23. What are the basic modes of operation of 8255?

There are two basic modes of operation of 8255, viz.

1. I/O mode.
2. BSR mode
In I/O mode, the 8255 ports work as programmable I/O ports, while in BSR mode only port C
(PC0PC7) can be used to set or reset its individual port bits. Under the IO mode of operation, further
there are three modes of operation of 8255, So as to support different types of applications,
viz. mode 0, mode 1, and mode 2.
Mode 0- Basic I/O mode
Mode 1-Strobe I/O mode
Mode 2- Strobe bi-direction I/O

24. Write the features of mode 0 in 8255?

1. Two 8-bit ports (port A and port B) and two 4-bit ports (port C upper and lower) are available.
The two 4-bit ports can be combined used as a third 8- it port.
2. Any port can be used as an input or output port.
3. Output ports are latched. Input ports are not latched.
4. A maximum of four ports are available so that overall 16 I/O configurations are possible.

25. What are the features used mode 1 in 8255?

Two groups A and group B are available for strobe data transfer. Each group contains one 8-bit
data I/O port and one 4-bit control/data port. The 8-bit data port can be either used as input
or output port. The inputs and outputs both are latched. Out of 8-bit port C, PC0-PC2 is used to
generate control signals for port B and PC3=PC5 are used to generate control signals for port A.
The inputs PC6, PC7 may be used as independent data lines.

10. What are the signals used in input control signal and output control signals?

Input control signals : STB (Strobe input), IBF (Input buffer full) , INTR (Interrupt request)

Output control signal : OBF (Output buffer full) , ACK (Acknowledge input) INTR (Interrupt request)

26. What are the features used mode 2 in8255?

The signals 8-bit port in group A is available.

1. The 8-bit port is bi-directional and additionally a 5-bit control port is available.
2. Three I/O lines are available at port C, viz PC2-PC0.
3. Inputs and output are both latched.
4. The 5-bit control port C (PC3-PC7) is used for generating/accepting handshake Signals for
the 8-bit data transfer on port A.

27. Specify the bit of a control word for the 8255, which differentiates between the I/O mode
and the BSR mode?

BSR mode D7= 0, and I/O mode D5 = 1

28. Write down the output control signals used in 8255A PPI?

OBF output Buffer Full, ACK Acknowledge, INTR Interrupt request and INTE Interrupt Enable

29. What are the modes of operation used in 8253?

Each of the three counters of 8253 can be operated in one of the following six modes of operation.

1. Mode 0 (Interrupt on terminal count)

2. Mode 1 (Programmable monoshot)
3. Mode 2 (Rate generator)
4. Mode 3 (Square wave generator)
5. Mode 4 (Software triggered strobe)
6. Mode 5 (Hardware triggered strobe)

30. List the operation modes of 8255?

a) I/O Mode
i. Mode 0- Simple Input/Output.
ii. Mode 1- Strobe Input/Output (handshake mode) iii. Mode 2-
Strobe bi-directional mode
b) Bit Set/Reset Mode.

31. Give the different types of command words used in 8259A

The command words of 8259A are classified in two groups

1. Initialization command words (ICWs) 2. Operation command words (OCWs)

32. Give the operation modes of 8259A?

(a) Fully Nest Mode (b) End of Interrupt (c) Automatic Rotation (d) Automatic EOI mode (e) Specific
Rotation (f) Special Mask Mode (g) Edge and level Triggered Mode (h) Reading 8259
Status (i) Poll command (j) Special Fully Nested Mode (k) Buffered Mode (l) Cascade Mode

33. Give the various modes of 8254 timer?

Mode 0: interrupt or terminal count

Mode 1: Rate generator
Mode 3: square wave generator
Mode 4: software triggered strobe
Mode 5: hardware triggered strobe

34. What is read back command in 8254 timer?

The Read- Back Command in 8254 allows the user to read the count and the status of the counter

35. What are the functional types used in control words of 8251a?

The control words of 8251A are divided into two functional types.

Mode Instruction control word: - This defines the general operational characteristics of 8251A.

Command Instruction control word: - The command instruction controls the actual operations of
the selected format like enable transmit/receiver, error reset and modem control.
36. What is the use of 8251A chip?

Intel’s 8251A is a universal synchronous asynchronous receiver and transmitter compatible

with Intel’s Processors. This may be programmed to operate in any of the serial communication
modes built into it. This chip converts the parallel data into a serial stream of bits suitable for serial
transmission. It is also able to receive a serial stream of bits and converts it into parallel data bytes
to be read by a microprocessor.

37. What is the use of modem control unit in 8251?

The modem control unit handles the modem handshake signals to coordinate the communication
between the modem and the USART.

38. What is the use of 8251 chip?

8251 chip is mainly used as the asynchronous serial interface between the processor and the
external equipment.

39. List the major components of 8251A programmable communication interface?

Read/Write control logic, Three buffer registers, Data register, Control register transmission
receiver, Data bus buffer and Modem control.

40. What is RXD?

RXD- Receive Data Input. This input pin of 8251A receives a composite stream of the data to be
received by 8251A.

41. What is the output modes used in 8279?

8279 provides two output modes for selecting the display options, Display and scan. In display
mode, 8279 provides 8 or 16 character- multiplexed displays those can be organized as dual 4-bit
or single 8-bit display units. Display Entry 8279 allows options for data entry on the displays. The
display data is entered for display from the right side or from the left side.

42. The 8279 is a programmable ----------------- interface.

Keyboard/ Display

43. What are the modes used in keyboard modes?

1. Scanned Keyboard mode with 2 Key Lockout
2. Scanned Keyboard with N-Key Rollover.
3. Scanned Keyboard Special Error Mode.
4. Scanned Matrix Mode.

44. What are the modes used in display modes?

1. Left Entry Mode : In the left entry mode, the data is entered from the left side of the display unit.
2. Right Entry Mode : In the right entry mode, the first entry to be displayed is entered on the
rightmost display.

45. List the major components of 8279 keyboard /display interface?

Keyboard section, Scan section, Display section and MPU interface.

46. What are the different types of write operations used in 8253?

There are two types write operation in 8253

(1) Writing a control word register
(2) Writing a count value into a count register
The control word register accepts data from the data buffer and initialize
(a) Initializing the operating modes (mode 0- mode
4) (b) Selection of counters (counter 0- counter 2)
(c) Choose binary /BCD counters.
(d) Loading of the counter registers.
The mode control register is a write only register and the CPU cannot read its contents.

47. Define scan counter?

The scan counter has two modes to scan the key matrix and refresh the display. In the encoded
mode, the counter provides binary count that is to be externally decoded to provide the scan lines
for keyboard and display. In the decoded scan mode, the counter internally decodes the least
significant 2 bit and provides a decoded 1 out of 4 scan on SL3-SL 3. The keyboard and display both
are in the same mode at a time.