Abstract
THE FIRST microprocessor to be made commercially was the 4-bit Intel 4004 of 1971 and today 4-bit devices are still the commonest, since they can be used in toys, washing machines, heating-system controllers and a wide variety of household goods, where their word size is no handicap. By 1980 a variety of cheap 8-bit microprocessors, such as the Rockwell 6502 and the Intel 8080/8085 series had come on the market. Faster 8-bit microprocessors and microcontrollers followed and more and more facilities were added to fill what were seen as gaps in a highly-competitive market. The 8-bit microcontroller is now replacing the 4-bit device, even in applications requiring relatively little processing power. 16-bit, 32-bit and even 64-bit devices have become available and are used mostly for specialised purposes such as PWM motor (mostly 16-bit microcontrollers) and robotic control. The robotics field in particular has urgent need of fast microcontrollers with large word sizes. Table 22.1 lists some of the devices, which is only a small sample of those available now and in the past.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1994 L. A. A. Warnes
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Warnes, L.A.A. (1994). Microprocessors and microcontrollers. In: Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Macmillan New Electronics Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13012-2_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13012-2_22
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-58000-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-13012-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)