10 Types of Microcontrollers: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Types of Microcontrollers

The use of a controller based on certian types of applications such as simple controlling functions ot complicated operations defines the use of a controller. Different types of microcontrollers come with different features and functions Here we have discussed the top 10 types of microcontrollers

Introduction to Microcontrollers

The controller is a small computer that has a single integrated circuit that is made for controlling different operations in an electronic system. it comes with functions of CPU, memory unit, and input or output interfaces that are configured on a single chip.

Micontrollers are used in embedded systems like home devices automobiles medical devices and industries

They are also part of consumers’ electronic products like digital cameras, and audio players.

The microcontroller comes with a processor core, volatile and non-volatile memory unit input and output devices and other communication components.

10 Types of Microcontrollers

Microcontrollers have different types each comes with different features and functionalities. The top 10 categories of microcontrollers are as follows:

Types of Microcontrollers

Working of Microcontroller:

The microcontroller chip is a high-speed component but has a slower speed than some other modules. As result, every instruction is applied fast in the controller. The quartz oscillator operated and through the control unit registers when power is on.

Capacitors get recharged in some time and when the voltatge level gets high value and the oscillator frequency becomes stable, operation of writing bits through certain registers become stable.

Each function so controlled through oscillator CLK, and the whole electronic starts operating. it occurs in nanoseconds..

8-Bit Microcontrollers

The 8-bit microcontroller is a microcontroller type having a data bus width of 8 bits. it means has features to process 8-bit data in one cycle and helps to operate through different values from 0 to 255 (2^8 = 256).

this controller comes with limited program memory and data memory

8-bit microcontroller types typically have limited program memory (Flash or ROM) and data memory (RAM).

It is used for embedded systems and applications since are simple and low cost modules and can easily used

16-bit Microcontrollers:

It is an advanced controller rather than 8 8-bit microcontroller and has features to do complicated operations. It used in different applications such as automotive systems, and industrial control systems.

It has larger program memory and data memory than an 8-bit controller.

16-bit microcontrollers typically offer larger program memory (Flash or ROM) and data memory (RAM) compared to 8-bit microcontroller types.

32-Bit Microcontrollers

32-bit microcontroller comes with 32-bit data bus width and it has 32 bits of data. The 32-bit wide data bus helps to operate arithmetic, logic, and data manipulation operations on 32-bit data types.

This controller has higher processing power than an 8-bit or 16-bit controller. So can apply instructions and do calculations fastly. This module has differnt arrays but in peripherals such as timers, counters, UARTs, GPIO pins, ADCs SPI/I2C interfaces, , etc. It is best for industrial control applications

CISC Based Microcontroller

CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer comes with a comprehensive and extensive set of instructions and performed different operations. instructions are complicated and can do many operations in single instructions, simplify the programming, and reduce instructions needed for complication of operations.

This architecture provides different addressing modes that define how operands are accessed in registers. These addressing modes offers flexibility for defining data sources.

RISC Based Microcontroller

The RISC-based controller comes with less and simpler instruction set than complicated CISC architecture. The instructions are made for operating differnt works and each gets a single clock cycle for working. RISC works based on a load-store model where data is loaded from memory to registers before it is operated and stored in memory after processing. it simplifies instruction applications and reduces memory access times.

Industrial Microcontrollers

These controllers are called industrial-grade controller units for embedded systems. These controllers are made for certain uses in industries. The main need for these controls is their reliability, and capability to work in harsh conditions like temperature range of -40 C to +125 C. They also have features to work in high humidity levels, mechanical shocks or vibrations.

Hitachi:

These microcontrollers are part of the H8 family of controllers. H8 name used for a larger family of 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit controllers made by Renesas Technology, which was founded in the early 1990s within Hitachi semiconductors.

Automotive Microcontrollers

Automotive-grade microcontroller units or (MCUs) are special controller types made for use in automobile applications. These controllers are important for currently used vehicles since they help to control different functions like safety systems, infotainment, and climate control.

This controller is used for safety-critical operations and has features to handle real-time responses like engine control, ABS, airbag working stability control, and other functions like advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

Von Neumann Architecture:

This structure of controllers are made by scientist John Von Neumann. In this layout single data path is used for instruction and data. So the PCU does a single operation at one time. it either writes operations on data or fetches a set of instructions of memory. So instruction fetch and data transfer functions not performed at the same time through the use of the common bus.

FPGA Microcontrollers

Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) microcontrollers are used where FPGAs as their main processing units. It is easy to configure and set differnt operations. FPGA controllers are used in aerospace and military that call for high-performance computing.

Comparison of Microcontrollers

Name	Maker	Processor		Format
		Processor	Frequency		Dimensions
Arduino / Genuino MKR1000	Arduino	ATSAMW25 (made of SAMD21 Cortex-M0+ 32 bit ARM MCU,WINC1500 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and ECC508 crypto device )	48 MHz	minimal	61.5 mm x 25 mm
Arduino 101 Genuino 101	Arduino	Intel Curie module[2] two tiny cores, an x86 (Quark SE) and an ARC	32 MHz	Arduino / Genuino	68.6 mm × 53.4 mm [ 2.7 in × 2.1 in ]
Arduino Zero	Arduino	ATSAMD21G18A[4]	48 MHz	Arduino	2.7 in × 2.1 in [ 68.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Due	Arduino	ATSAM3X8 (Cortex-M3)	84 MHz	Mega	4 in × 2.1 in [ 101.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Yún	Arduino	ATmega32U4, Atheros AR9331	16 MHz, 400 MHz	Arduino	2.7 in × 2.1 in [ 68.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Leonardo	Arduino	ATmega32U4	16 MHz	Arduino	2.7 in × 2.1 in [ 68.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Uno	Arduino	ATmega328P	16 MHz	Arduino	2.7 in × 2.1 in [ 68.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Mega2560	Arduino	ATmega2560	16 MHz	Mega	4 in × 2.1 in [ 101.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Ethernet	Arduino	ATmega328	16 MHz	Arduino	2.7 in × 2.1 in [ 68.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Fio	Arduino	ATmega328P	8 MHz	minimal	2.6 in × 1.1 in [ 66.0 mm × 27.9 mm ]
Arduino Nano	Arduino	ATmega328 (ATmega168 before v3.0	16 MHz	minimal	1.70 in × 0.73 in [ 43.18 mm × 18.54 mm ]
LilyPad Arduino	Arduino	ATmega168V or ATmega328V	8 MHz	wearable	2 in ⌀51 mm ⌀
Arduino Pro	Arduino	ATmega168 or ATmega328	16 MHz	Arduino	2.05 in × 2.1 in [ 52.1 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Mega ADK	Arduino	ATmega2560	16 MHz	Mega	4 in × 2.1 in [ 101.6 mm × 53.3 mm ]
Arduino Esplora	Arduino	ATmega32U4	16 MHz		6.5 in × 2.4 in [ 165.1 mm × 61.0 mm ]
Arduino Micro	Arduino	ATmega32U4	16 MHz	Mini	0.7 in × 1.9 in [ 17.8 mm × 48.3 mm ]
Arduino Pro Mini	Arduino	ATmega328	8 (3.3 V)/16 (5 V) MHz	Mini	0.7 in × 1.3 in [ 17.8 mm × 33.0 mm ]
Serial Arduino	Arduino	ATmega8	16 MHz	Arduino	3.2 in × 2.1 in [ 81.3 mm × 53.3 mm ]

Faqs

Which microcontroller is best for beginner?

Introduction.
Arduino Uno.
Raspberry Pi Pico.
STM32 Series.
PIC Series.
ESP32.
Teensy.
NXP LPC Series.

How many types of microcontrollers are there?

Microcontroller comes with 3 main bus types in them that are data, address bus and control bus. its main types are 8,16, 32 bits microcontrollers

What are the different types of microcontrollers in STM?

	Family	Frequency
Mainstream	STM32F0	48 MHz
Ultra-low-power	STM32U5	160 MHz
	STM32L5	110 MHz
	STM32L4+	120 MHz

Which programming language is used for microcontrollers?

C and C++ are commonly used languages for controller programming since they have low-level access to hardware and high performance. These languages are used for embedded systems development and provide different features and libraries make them best for different uses

What are the 2 types of STM?

The STM works in 2 modes constant height mode and constant current mode. Constant height mode is used where the sample surface is smooth. In this mode probe tip is at an adjusted height and fastly raster scans over sample

What are the two types of memory used in microcontrollers?

Micontroller program stored in memory. There are two types of memory, RAm which can read and write data, and Rom used for stores programs as read-only data. There are differnt types of ROM and RAM based on uses

Special offer:$2 for 1-8 layer PCBs

Sign Up & Get 54$ Coupon

Introduction to Microcontrollers