Microcontroller

How it is used

Used in embedded systems and product design. You choose a microcontroller by core, memory, peripherals and price, then program or 'flash' it. Often shortened to MCU or 'micro'. Well-known families include STM32, PIC, AVR and ESP32.

Example sentences

1. The microcontroller reads the temperature sensor every second and switches the fan on when needed.

2. We moved to a microcontroller with more flash because the firmware no longer fits.

Common collocations

• program a microcontroller
• 8-bit microcontroller
• low-power microcontroller
• microcontroller board

Related terms

• firmwareSoftware stored in a device's non-volatile memory that controls its hardware directly, such as the program running on a microcontroller.
• GPIOShort for general-purpose input/output: a microcontroller pin that firmware can set as an input to read a logic level or as an output to drive something.
• ADCShort for analog-to-digital converter: a circuit that measures an analog voltage and turns it into a number a processor can use. Its resolution is given in bits, for example 12-bit.
• PWMShort for pulse-width modulation: switching a signal on and off quickly and changing how long it stays on in each cycle (the duty cycle) to control the average power.
• integrated circuitA complete electronic circuit made on a single small piece of silicon and sealed in a package with pins. Microcontrollers, op-amps and voltage regulators are all integrated circuits.

More terms: Digital Electronics and Microcontrollers

• clock signal
• pull-up resistor
• UART
• I2C
• SPI