The difference between single chip microcomputer and embedded
Nowadays, under the empowerment of "Internet of Things+", there are more and more scenarios in which single-chip microcomputer (MCU) is applied. It can be said that single-chip microcomputer has been integrated with people's life, because rice cookers, refrigerators, air conditioners, coffee machines, etc. All products need to use single chip microcomputer, and this explanation is still somewhat general. So, what exactly is a single-chip microcomputer? What is the difference between a single-chip microcomputer and an embedded one?
First, understand the microcontroller
A single-chip microcomputer is an integrated circuit chip. The "single" of a single-chip microcomputer has two meanings. One means that the single-chip microcomputer is just a silicon chip, and the other means that the single-chip microcomputer has a single function. It is a single module that completes functions such as operation, logic control, and communication.
Microcontrollers are generally electronic products that enable intelligent control. Different electronic products require different programs and different circuits. When the single-chip microcomputer is used in intelligent instruments, the measurement of physical quantities such as voltage, power, frequency, humidity, temperature, etc. can be realized by combining different types of sensors.
Why can only a single-chip microcomputer be used for so many smart products? This is because the single-chip microcomputer has programmable characteristics, that is to say, it can be downloaded into the single-chip microcomputer by writing C language or assembler, and it can control the circuit according to the program logic. In this way, the single-chip microcomputer has a high flexibility, and can fully enable products according to different functional classifications.
Second, the difference between single-chip microcomputer and embedded
Compared with single-chip microcomputer, embedded is a big category. Embedded system is a system that integrates application programs, operating systems, and computer hardware. It refers to application-centric, computer technology-based, and software and hardware that can be tailored. , which is aimed at special-purpose computer systems that have special requirements for functions, reliability, cost, volume, power consumption and use environment for user applications.
The single-chip microcomputer is a "subset" of them, and the embedded device can be regarded as a complete computer, while the single-chip microcomputer is regarded as a computer without peripherals, so the fields of application of the two are also different.
All in all, whether it is single-chip or embedded, they are an important part of the development of Internet of Things technology, and they are also the cornerstone of innovative technology to a new development track.
