Department of Collegiate and Technical Education

Introduction Of
8051 Microcontroller(Module 1)
Session 1

MICROCONTORLLER (IV Semester)

Electronics and Communication Engineering

Electronics and Communication Engineering – 18EC46

 Table of Content

• Introduction
• Computer
• Microprocessor
• Microcontroller
• Microprocessor & Microcontroller
• Risc and Cisc CPU architectures
• Harvard & Von- Neumann CPU architecture
• Multiple Choice Questions
• References

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 INTRODUCTION

Computer: A computer is a multipurpose programmable machine

that reads binary instructions from its memory, accepts binary data
as input, processes the data according to those instructions and
provides results as output.

It is a programmable device made up of both hardware and software

.
• The various components of the computer are called hardware.
• A set of instructions written for the computer to solve a specific
task is called program and collection of programs is called
software.

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The computer hardware consists of four main components.
The central processing unit which acts as computer’s brain.

 Input unit through which program and data can be entered to

computer

 output unit on which the results of the computations can be

displayed.

 Memory in which data and programs are stored.

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MICROCOMPUTER

A computer that is designed using a microprocessor as its

CPU is known as a microcomputer.

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To make a computer microcomputer one must add memory
usually RAM and ROM, memory decoders , an oscillator and
a number of Input ,Output devices such as serial and parallel
ports.

In addition special purpose devices such as interrupt

handler and counters may be added to relieve the CPU from
time consuming counting or timing cores.

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Microprocessor

A Microprocessor is a general purpose digital computer central

processing unit (CPU).

Although known as a ‘Computer on Chip’ the Microprocessor

in no senses a complete digital computer.

Block diagram of a Microprocessor CPU which contains ALU;

Program counter (PC), a stack pointer (SP), some working
registers, a clock timing circuit and interrupt circuits.

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Block Diagram of a Microprocessor

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The hardware design of a microprocessor is arranged such that a
very small or very large system can be configured around the CPU
as the application demands.

 The prime use of the Microprocessor is to read data , perform

extensive calculations on that data, and store those calculations in a
mass storage device or display the results for human use.

The programs used by microprocessor are stored in the mass

storage device and loaded into RAM as user directs.

A few microprocessor program are stored in ROM . The ROM

based programs are primarily small fixed programs that operate
peripherals and other fixed devices that are connected to the
system.
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 Microcontroller

A by product of Microprocessor development was Microcontroller.

A Microcontroller is a programmable digital processor with
necessary peripherals.

Both microcontrollers and microprocessors are complex

sequential digital circuits meant to carry out job according to the
program / instructions.

Sometimes analog input/output interface makes a part of

microcontroller circuit as mixed mode(both analog and digital) in
nature.
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Block diagram of a single chip micro controller

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A microcontroller design incorporates all the features found in
microprocessor CPU : ALU,PC, SP and registers.

It also has other features needed to make a complete

computer: ROM, RAM, Parallel I/O, serial I/O, Counters and
clock circuits.

Like the microprocessor , a microcontroller is a general

purpose device, but one that is meant to read data, perform
limited calculations on that data and control its environment
based on those calculations

The prime use of microcontroller is to control the operation of

a machine using a fixed program that is stored in ROM and that
does not change over the lifetime of the system.

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Microprocessor & Microcontroller

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DIFFERENCES

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RISC AND CISC CPU ARCHITECTURES

Microcontrollers with small instruction set are called reduced

instruction set computer (RISC) machines.

Microcontrollers with complex instruction set are called
complex instruction set computer (CISC).

Intel 8051 is an example of CISC machine.

microchip PIC 18F87X is an example of RISC machine.

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DIFFERENCES

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HARVARD & VON- NEUMANN
CPU ARCHITECTURE

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DIFFERENCES

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 Multiple Choice Question
1. A microcontroller at-least should consist of:
a) RAM, ROM, I/O ports and timers
b) CPU, RAM, I/O ports and timers
c) CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O ports and timers
d) CPU, ROM, I/O ports and timers

Answer: c
Explanation: A microcontroller at-least consists of a processor as its CPU with RAM, ROM,
I/O ports and timers. It may contain some additional peripherals like ADC, PWM, etc.

2. Unlike microprocessors, microcontrollers make use of batteries because they have:

a) high power dissipation
b) low power consumption
c) low voltage consumption
d) low current consumption

Answer: b
Explanation: Micro Controllers are made by using the concept of VLSI technology. So here,
CMOS based logic gates are coupled together by this technique that consumes low power.

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3. What is the order decided by a processor or the CPU of a controller to execute an
instruction?
a) decode,fetch,execute
b) execute,fetch,decode
c) fetch,execute,decode
d) fetch,decode,execute
Answer: d
Explanation: First instruction is fetched from Program Memory. After fetching, instruction is
decoded to generate control signals to perform the intended task. After decoding, instruction is
executed and the complete intended task of that particular instruction.
4. If we say microcontroller is 8-bit then here 8-bit denotes size of:
a) Data Bus
b) ALU
c) Control Bus
d) Address Bus
Answer: b
Explanation: If we say a microcontroller is 8-bit it means that it is capable of processing 8-bit
data at a time. Data processing is the task of ALU and if ALU is able to process 8-bit data then
the data bus should be 8-bit wide. In most books it tells that size of data bus but to be precise it is
the size of ALU because in Harvard Architecture there are two sets of data bus which can be of
same size but it is not mandatory.
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5. How are the performance and the computer capability affected by increasing its internal
bus width?
a) it increases and turns better
b) it decreases
c) remains the same
d) internal bus width doesn’t affect the performance in any way
Answer: a
Explanation: As the bus width increases, the number of bits carried by bus at a time increases as
a result of which the total performance and computer capability increases.
6. Abbreviate CISC and RISC.
a) Complete Instruction Set Computer, Reduced Instruction Set Computer
b) Complex Instruction Set Computer, Reduced Instruction Set Computer
c) Complex Instruction Set Computer, Reliable Instruction Set Computer
d) Complete Instruction Set Computer, Reliable Instruction Set Computer
Answer: b
Explanation: CISC means Complete Instruction Set Computer because in this a microcontroller
has an instruction set that supports many addressing modes for the arithmetic and logical
instructions, data transfer and memory accesses instructions. RISC means Reduced Instruction
Set Computer because here a microcontroller has an instruction set that supports fewer
addressing modes for the arithmetic and logical instructions and for data transfer instructions.
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7. Give the names of the buses present in a controller for transferring data from one place
to another?
a) data bus, address bus
b) data bus
c) data bus, address bus, control bus
d) address bus
Answer: c
Explanation: There are 3 buses present in a microcontroller they are data bus (for carrying data
from one place to another), address bus (for carrying the address to which the data will flow) and
the control bus (which tells the controller to execute which type of work at that address may be it
read or write operation).
8. What is the file extension that is loaded in a microcontroller for executing any
instruction?
a) .doc
b) .c
c) .txt
d) .hex
Answer: d
Explanation: Microcontrollers are loaded with .hex extension as they understand the language of
0’s and 1’s only.

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9. What is the most appropriate criterion for choosing the right microcontroller of our
choice?
a) speed
b) availability
c) ease with the product
d) all of the mentioned
Answer: d
Explanation: For choosing the right microcontroller for our product we must consider its speed
so that the instructions may be executed in the least possible time. It also depends on the
availability so that the particular product may be available in our neighboring regions or market
in our need. It also depends on the compatibility with the product so that the best results may be
obtained.

10. Why microcontrollers are not called general purpose computers?

a) because they have built in RAM and ROM
b) because they design to perform dedicated task
c) because they are cheap
d) because they consume low power
Answer: b
Explanation: Microcontrollers are designed to perform dedicated tasks. While designing general
purpose computers end use is not known to designers.
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11. How many types of architectures are available, for designing a device that is able to
work on its own?
a) 3
b) 2
c) 1
d) 4

Answer: b
Explanation: There are basically two main types of architectures present, they are Von Neumann
and Harvard architectures.
12. Which architecture is followed by general purpose microprocessors?
a) Harvard architecture
b) Von Neumann architecture
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: b
Explanation: General purpose microprocessors make use of Von Neumann architecture as here a
simpler design is offered.

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13.Harvard architecture has _____________
a) dedicated buses for data and program memory
b) pipeline technique
c) complex architecture
d) all of the mentioned
Answer: d
Explanation: Harvard Architecture has dedicated buses for data and program memory and
pipeline technique because of this architecture is complex.

14. Which of the two architecture saves memory?

a) Harvard
b) Von Neumann
c) Harvard & Von Neumann
d) none of the mentioned
Answer: b
Explanation: As only one memory is present in the Von Neumann architecture so it saves a lot of
memory.
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 REFERENCES
[1]. “The 8051 Microcontroller and Embedded Systems – using
assembly and C”, Muhammad Ali Mazidiand Janice Gillespie Mazidi
and Rollin D. McKinlay; PHI, 2006 / Pearson, 2006.

[2]. “The 8051 Microcontroller”, Kenneth J. Ayala, 3rd Edition,

Thomson/Cengage Learning.

[3]. “The 8051 Microcontroller Based Embedded Systems”, Manish

K Patel, McGraw Hill, 2014, ISBN:978-93-329-0125-4.

[4]. “Microcontrollers: Architecture, Programming, Interfacing and

System Design”, Raj Kamal, PearsonEducation, 2005.

[5]https://www.sanfoundry.com/microcontroller-mcqs-von-
newmann-harward-architecture/
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 Thank you

Dr. Rangaraju H G GSKSJTI, Bangalore

Dr. Imran Khan GEC, Ramanagara
Prof. Prathibha S GEC, Ramanagara

Prof. Karibasappa GEC, Kushalnagara

Prof. Nandeesha R GEC, KR.Pete

Prof. Fazaludden DM GEC,Karwar

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