Analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of AVR microcontrollers with unique technology and comprehensive advantages

AVR microcontroller is an enhanced RISC (Reduced Instruction Set CPU) high-speed 8-bit microcontroller with built-in Flash developed by ATMEL in 1997. AVR microcontrollers can be widely used in various fields such as computer peripherals, industrial real-time control, instrumentation, communication equipment, and household appliances.

Features and advantages of AVR microcontroller

High reliability, powerful functionality, high speed, low power consumption and low price have always been important indicators for measuring the performance of microcontrollers, and are also necessary conditions for microcontrollers to occupy the market and survive.

The early single-chip microcomputers adopted a safe solution mainly due to the low level of technology and design, high power consumption and poor anti-interference performance: using a higher frequency division coefficient to divide the clock, which makes the instruction cycle long and the execution speed slow. Although the later CMOS single-chip microcomputers adopted measures such as increasing the clock frequency and reducing the frequency division coefficient, this situation has not been completely changed (51 and 51 compatible). Although some reduced instruction set microcontrollers (RISC) have been introduced, they still follow the practice of clock division.

The introduction of AVR microcontrollers completely broke this old design pattern, abolished the machine cycle, abandoned the practice of complex instruction computers (CISC) to pursue complete instructions; adopted a reduced instruction set, using words as the unit of instruction length, and arranged rich operands and operation codes in one word (most of the single-cycle instructions in the instruction set are like this), with a short instruction fetch cycle, and can pre-fetch instructions to achieve pipeline operation, so instructions can be executed at high speed. Of course, this speed jump is backed by high reliability.

The hardware structure of AVR microcontroller adopts a compromise strategy between 8-bit and 16-bit machines, that is, a local register storage stack (32 register files) and a single high-speed input/output solution (i.e. input capture register, output comparison match register and corresponding control logic). It improves the instruction execution speed (1Mips/MHz), overcomes the bottleneck phenomenon, and enhances the function; at the same time, it reduces the cost of peripheral management, relatively simplifies the hardware structure, and reduces the cost. Therefore, AVR microcontroller has achieved an optimized balance in software/hardware cost, speed, performance and cost, and is a cost-effective microcontroller.

AVR microcontrollers have built-in high-quality Flash program memory, which is easy to erase and write, supports ISP and IAP, and is convenient for product debugging, development, production, and updating. The built-in long-life EEPROM can store key data for a long time to avoid power loss. The large-capacity RAM on the chip can not only meet the use of general occasions, but also more effectively support the use of high-level languages ​​to develop system programs, and can expand external RAM like the MCS-51 microcontroller.

All I/O lines of AVR microcontrollers have configurable pull-up resistors, can be individually set as input/output, can be set (initial) high-impedance input, and have strong driving capabilities (power driver devices can be omitted), making the I/O port resources flexible, powerful, and fully utilized.

AVR microcontrollers have multiple independent clock dividers for URAT, I2C, and SPI. Among them, the pre-divider with up to 10 bits in combination with the 8/16-bit timer can provide various levels of timing by setting the frequency division coefficient through software. The unique design method of AVR microcontrollers, "using timer/counter (single) bidirectional counting to form a triangular wave, and then cooperating with the output comparison matching register to generate a square wave with variable duty cycle, variable frequency, and variable phase (i.e. pulse width modulation output PWM)", is even more refreshing. The enhanced high-speed synchronous/asynchronous serial port has functions such as hardware generation of checksum, hardware detection and check error detection, two-level receiving buffer, automatic baud rate adjustment positioning (when receiving), and shielding of data frames, which improves the reliability of communication, facilitates program writing, and is more convenient for forming distributed networks and realizing complex applications of multi-machine communication systems. The serial port function greatly exceeds that of MCS-51/96 microcontrollers. In addition, the AVR microcontroller is high-speed and has a short interrupt service time, so high baud rate communication can be achieved.

Byte-oriented high-speed hardware serial interface TWI, SPI. TWI is compatible with I2C interface, and has functions such as ACK signal hardware transmission and recognition, address recognition, bus arbitration, etc., and can realize multi-machine communication of all 4 combinations of master/slave receiving/transmitting. SPI supports multi-machine communication of 4 combinations such as master/slave.

The AVR microcontroller has an automatic power-on reset circuit, an independent watchdog circuit, a low voltage detection circuit BOD, multiple reset sources (automatic power-on and power-off reset, external reset, watchdog reset, BOD reset), and a programmable delay after startup, which enhances the reliability of the embedded system.

AVR microcontrollers have multiple power-saving sleep modes and can operate in a wide voltage range (5-2.7V). They have strong anti-interference capabilities and can reduce the software anti-interference design workload and hardware usage in general 8-bit machines.

AVR single-chip microcomputer technology embodies the integration of multiple devices (including FLASH program memory, watchdog, EEPROM, synchronous/asynchronous serial port, TWI, SPI, A/D analog-to-digital converter, timer/counter, etc.) and multiple functions (reset system for enhanced reliability, sleep mode for reduced power consumption and anti-interference, interrupt system with a wide variety of categories, timer/counter with diversified functions such as input capture and compare match output, I/O port with replacement function...), which fully reflects the development direction of single-chip microcomputer technology from "self-operating" to "system on chip SoC".

In summary, AVR microcontrollers are well-rounded and have unique technology, making them the best among 8-bit machines. AVR microcontrollers are complete and can be applied to various occasions. AVR microcontrollers have three grades:

Low-end Tiny series AVR MCU: mainly Tiny11/12/13/15/26/28, etc.;

Mid-range AT90S series AVR MCU: mainly AT90S1200/2313/8515/8535, etc. (being phased out or transitioning to Mega)

High-end ATmega series AVR microcontrollers: mainly include ATmega8/16/32/64/128 (storage capacity is 8/16/32/64/128 KB) and ATmega8515/8535, etc.

AVR device pins range from 8 to 64 pins, and there are various packages to choose from.