Are you in the middle of designing an Embedded system with a microcontroller unit (MCU)? Then, let me ask you this, which microcontroller should you choose? Confused! I totally get it.

Choosing the best microcontroller for your project can really be intimidating. Because there are various technical features to look for in a microcontroller, and also there are other factors like the cost and the advance notice that can hamstring your project.

At the inception of the project, there is always this great temptation to hop on and select a microcontroller even before the details of the system have been talked over. However, this is a faux pas.

In this blog, we will provide you with an in-depth run-through to help you select the best microcontroller.

Let’s start!

What Is A Microcontroller?

A microcontroller is like a microcomputer that is available on a single intermixed circuit. Microcontrollers are designed particularly to achieve certain operations in an embedded system, and it comprises a processor, a memory, and input/output peripherals.

We can say that a microcontroller chip is like a small computer on a chipset. However, in contrast to a processor, it consolidates the memory, the CPU, input/output, and some other peripherals on a single chip. There are numerous microcontrollers available in the market. And all microcontrollers have their distinctive features and are available in contrasting package sizes based on the capacity of the RAM and ROM.

Each and every microcontroller will be different from the other. Nevertheless, the microcontroller is like the brain of any project, and the boom or collapse of your project will depend on it. Also, one microcontroller can not be used for every project as every application will have different demands. So, choosing the best microcontroller chip for your project can become a complicated decision.

So, let’s look at some essential features that one should look for while selecting a Microcontroller.

Factors To Look For While Choosing a Microcontroller

Below are given some important factors that one should look out for while choosing a microcontroller.

Application

The first thing that one should do before choosing any microcontroller for a project on an embedded system is to acquire a deep knowledge of the application for which the microcontroller-based solution is required. Regarding this, a technical specification sheet is always developed as it will help in understanding the particular features that a microcontroller will be used for in a project.

Based on the application of the system in which the microcontroller chip is to be used is made apparent when a microcontroller chip with a single-precision unit is supported for the device that will be utilized to perform tasks involving many decimal numbers.

If you will be able to understand how a microcontroller will be utilized in your project then you can certainly make the right decision.

Microcontroller Architecture

Herewith the term microcontroller architecture, we mean, how the microcontroller is designed internally. There are generally two major architectures that are utilized in the designing of microcontrollers:

• Von Neumann Architecture

• Harvard Architecture

First, let’s talk about the Von Neumann Architecture. The Von Neumann architecture makes use of the same process to transmit data and collect the set of instructions from the memory. Thus, data transfer and instruction collection can not be done at the same time and so they are generally scheduled.

In contrast to this, Harvard Architecture uses a separate route for data transmission and instruction collection.

Moreover, both of these architectures have their own good and bad.

To make this point more clear I have to use some technical terms, let’s get on to it.

The Harvard Architecture is RISC (Reduced Instruction Set) system and thus they can carry out better instructions with lower cycles in comparison to the CISC (Complex Instruction Set) system on which the Von Neumann Architecture is used.

One main benefit of the Harvard-based microcontrollers is the presence of distinct paths for data and instruction sets that allows the detachment of the memory retrieval and the operations of the ALU (Arithmetic and logic unit). This will minimize the total computational power needed by the microcontroller chip and it eventually leads to cost reduction, low power consumption and heat dispel making them ideal for the designing of the battery-operated devices.

Bit Size

The microcontrollers come in different bit sizes, they can be either 8bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, or 64bits. At present, 64 bits is the maximum bit size possessed by any microcontroller. For all non-technical readers, the bit size in a microcontroller means the size of a “word” utilized in the set of a microcontroller.

Thus, an 8-bit microcontroller denotes every instruction, address, or variable in 8-bit. One of the main indications of the bit size is the memory capacity of the microcontrollers. In addition to this, the larger the bit size, the larger will be the number of unique memory locations available on the microcontroller chip for use.

For example, the 8-bit microcontroller will have 255 unique memory locations while the 32-bit microcontroller will consist of 4,294,967,295 unique memory locations.

And it is very essential to choose a microcontroller with a bit size that meets the data to be processed.

Plus, it is also important to note that the majority of the applications these days are around 32-bits and 16-bit microcontrollers because of the technological improvements done on these chips.

Networking For Communication

Communication among the microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators that will be used for the project might need the use of a network between the microcontrollers to facilitate the communications.

For example- to connect an analog sensor to a microcontroller a microcontroller should have enough ADC. Also changing the speed of a DC motor might need a PWM interface on the microcontroller.

Operating Voltage

The operating voltage means the voltage level at which a system is built to operate. It is also seen as a voltage level to which certain features of the system are related. In hardware, the operating voltage at times decides the logic level at which the microcontroller will communicate to make up the entire system.

Currently, the 5V and 3.3V voltage levels are the most admired operating voltage for microcontrollers and your decision should be based on these voltage levels.

What do We do At Extern Labs?

Our team of embedded designers and software developers always succeed in coming up with the best possible solution to make every project a success. Starting from the very first point of choosing the right microcontroller and other electronic components, we work with improved and advanced technologies that will complement the project. We offer our clients the most constructive and result-oriented embedded and IoT solutions. Feel free to contact us anytime.

I hope that this blog will help you choose the best microcontroller for your project.

For more information about Microcontrollers, read our blog here.