2 The Smart “Things” in IoT
63
stepper motor as opposed to a servo motor is their ability to control position. While
servo motors need a feedback mechanism and supportive circuitry to adjust the
position, a stepper motor can control position through the fractional, incremental
rotation.
2.4 Processing Unit: Microcontroller
While the terms “microprocessor” and “microcontroller” have often been interchanged with one another, both were created for use in real-time IoT applications.
Although they share many similarities, they also have distinct differences. A
microprocessor is an integrated circuit (IC) that includes only a central processing
unit (CPU) inside (i.e., Intel’s Pentium 1 . . . 4, Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, etc.). Microprocessors do not include ROM, RAM, or other peripherals on the chip and target
general-purpose applications in which tasks are unspecified (i.e., photo editing,
document creation, developing games, software, websites, etc.). In these cases, the
input/output relationship hasn’t been defined; therefore, large amounts of resources
such as ROM, RAM, I/O ports, etc. are required. However, microcontroller units
(MCU) include a CPU as well as memory and programmable input and output
peripherals. Modern manufacturers (i.e., TI, Microchip, Freescale, ATMEL, Philips,
Motorola, etc.) can create microcontrollers with a broad range of features across
multiple versions. Microcontrollers are utilized to automatically control devices like
remote controls, implantable medical devices, home appliances, power tools, automobile engine control systems, children’s toys, and other products with embedded
systems. Because applications are highly specific, small resources such as ROM,
RAM, input/output ports, etc. are needed and can be included on the same IC, which
reduces both cost and size.
2.4.1 Classifications of Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers can be categorized based on bus-width, memory structure, instruction set architecture, and memory map [6].
2.4.1.1 Classification by Bus-Width (Number of Bits)
Microcontrollers can have 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit data unit and register.
• An 8-bit microcontroller includes an 8-bit internal data unit, and the ALU handles
8-bit arithmetic and logic operations. Intel 8080 is the first widely adopted 8-bit
microprocessor that has 8-bit data words and 16-bit addresses.
63
stepper motor as opposed to a servo motor is their ability to control position. While
servo motors need a feedback mechanism and supportive circuitry to adjust the
position, a stepper motor can control position through the fractional, incremental
rotation.
2.4 Processing Unit: Microcontroller
While the terms “microprocessor” and “microcontroller” have often been interchanged with one another, both were created for use in real-time IoT applications.
Although they share many similarities, they also have distinct differences. A
microprocessor is an integrated circuit (IC) that includes only a central processing
unit (CPU) inside (i.e., Intel’s Pentium 1 . . . 4, Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, etc.). Microprocessors do not include ROM, RAM, or other peripherals on the chip and target
general-purpose applications in which tasks are unspecified (i.e., photo editing,
document creation, developing games, software, websites, etc.). In these cases, the
input/output relationship hasn’t been defined; therefore, large amounts of resources
such as ROM, RAM, I/O ports, etc. are required. However, microcontroller units
(MCU) include a CPU as well as memory and programmable input and output
peripherals. Modern manufacturers (i.e., TI, Microchip, Freescale, ATMEL, Philips,
Motorola, etc.) can create microcontrollers with a broad range of features across
multiple versions. Microcontrollers are utilized to automatically control devices like
remote controls, implantable medical devices, home appliances, power tools, automobile engine control systems, children’s toys, and other products with embedded
systems. Because applications are highly specific, small resources such as ROM,
RAM, input/output ports, etc. are needed and can be included on the same IC, which
reduces both cost and size.
2.4.1 Classifications of Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers can be categorized based on bus-width, memory structure, instruction set architecture, and memory map [6].
2.4.1.1 Classification by Bus-Width (Number of Bits)
Microcontrollers can have 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit data unit and register.
• An 8-bit microcontroller includes an 8-bit internal data unit, and the ALU handles
8-bit arithmetic and logic operations. Intel 8080 is the first widely adopted 8-bit
microprocessor that has 8-bit data words and 16-bit addresses.