What is a single chip microcomputer?

If you say that a single-chip microcomputer is a computer, you may not agree. In fact, there is no difference between it and the computer we use in essence, just the difference between 5 steps and 100 steps. What exactly is a single-chip microcomputer? It is a computer, but it is miniature. Although it is small, it has all the necessary functions: it also uses modules similar to those of a computer, such as CPU, memory, parallel bus, and storage devices with the same functions as hard disks. The difference is that the performance of these components is much weaker than that of our home computers, but the price is also low, generally not more than 10 yuan... It is enough to use it to do some not very complicated work such as controlling electrical appliances. We can see it in the fully automatic drum washing machine, exhaust hood, VCD and other home appliances we use now! ... It is mainly used as the core component of the control part. It
is an online real-time control computer. Online means on-site control. It requires strong anti-interference ability and low cost. This is also the main difference from offline computers (such as home PCs).

Single-chip microcomputers are also called single-chip microcontrollers. They are not chips that complete a certain logical function, but integrate a computer system into one chip. In summary: a chip becomes a computer. It is small in size, light in weight, cheap in price, and provides convenient conditions for learning, application and development. At the same time, learning to use a single-chip microcomputer is the best choice to understand the principles and structure of computers. It can be said that the 20th century spanned three "electric" eras, namely the electrical era, the electronic era and the computer era that has now entered. However, this type of computer usually refers to a personal computer, referred to as a PC. It consists of a host, a keyboard, a display, etc. (as shown in Figure 1). There is another type of computer that most people are not very familiar with. This type of computer is a single-chip microcomputer (also known as a microcontroller, as shown in Figure 2) that gives intelligence to various machines. As the name suggests, the minimum system of this computer uses only one integrated circuit to perform simple calculations and control. Because of its small size, it is usually hidden in the "belly" of the controlled machine. It plays a role like a human brain in the entire device. If it goes wrong, the entire device will be paralyzed. Now, the use of this single-chip microcomputer has been very extensive, such as intelligent instruments, real-time industrial control, communication equipment, navigation systems, household appliances, etc. Once a variety of products use single-chip microcomputers, they can upgrade the products. The adjective "intelligent" is often added before the product name, such as intelligent washing machines. Some products developed by technicians in some factories or other amateur electronic developers are either too complicated in circuit or too simple in function and easy to be imitated. The reason may be that the product does not use single-chip microcomputers or other programmable logic devices.

At present, single-chip microcomputers have penetrated into all areas of our lives, and it is almost difficult to find a field without traces of single-chip microcomputers. Missile navigation devices, control of various instruments on aircraft, computer network communication and data transmission, real-time control and data processing of industrial automation processes, widely used various smart IC cards, safety systems of civilian luxury cars, control of video recorders, cameras, fully automatic washing machines, as well as program-controlled toys, electronic pets, etc., all of these are inseparable from single-chip microcomputers. Not to mention robots, intelligent instruments, and medical devices in the field of automatic control. Therefore, the study, development and application of single-chip microcomputers will create a group of scientists and engineers in computer application and intelligent control.