ELT 622 - Microcontrollers

1. Relate a microcomputer and microcontroller
   1. Define a microcomputer and a microcontroller
   2. State how the microcomputer and microcontroller have evolved
   3. Identify examples of microcomputer and microcontroller applications

2. Compare computer number systems
   1. Define bits, nibbles, bytes, words, double words
   2. Show numbers in decimal, binary, octal, and hexadecimal form
   3. Convert numbers between the following number systems: decimal, binary, octal, hexadecimal

3. Generate standard flow charts for computer programs
   1. Draw the popular standard flow chart symbols
   2. Use flow chart symbols
   3. Describe the difference between high-level and low-level flow charting

4. Examine the basic structure and common syntax of a high-level programming language for microcontrollers such as C
   1. Identify variable types
   2. Contrast common looping structures in high-level programming such as while, do-while, and for loops
   3. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of the three major decision-making structures in high level programming language - if, if-else, and switch
   4. Explain the purpose of pointers
   5. Explain the benefits for parameterized functions

5. Explain servicing I/O peripheral devices via polling
   1. Define polling and external flags
   2. Illustrate both hardware and software techniques for continuous polling and periodic polling
   3. List the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages for each of the two generic POLLING structures

6. Explain servicing I/O peripheral devices using interrupts
   1. Define a computer Interrupt
   2. Describe how the microcontrollers perform interrupt handling

7. Implement serial communication via a micro controller, contrasting external microcontroller communication methods: Parallel (data bus), Balanced vs. unbalanced serial, RS-232, RS-485, I2C, SPI, CAN

8. Compose software routines containing loops, jumps, labels and conditionals
   1. Illustrate looping activity using the unconditional jump
   2. Explain how labels are used to identify relative jump addresses as opposed to absolute jump address
   3. List the two steps the uP must perform in the decision-making process
   4. Write a routine to illustrate the decision-making process
   5. Write a routine to illustrate looping using the conditional jump instruction
   6. Implement if, else-if, switch/case statements appropriately
   7. Implement while, do-while, for looping appropriately

9. Implement parameterized functions in high-level, structured text software