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4.7 Rating 65 Questions 35 mins read14 Readers

A microcontroller is a powerful computing device smaller than traditional computers yet still offers many of the same capabilities. It typically includes a processor, memory, and peripherals such as input/output pins on a single chip. Furthermore, it can control basic electronic gadgets such as appliances, remote control cars, toys, and even automatic doors.
Microcontrollers are programmed with an application-specific software code that gives instructions for the controller to execute tasks autonomously. For instance, measuring temperature in certain conditions or controlling household devices from a smartphone. Microcontrollers occupy much less space than normal computers and require insufficient power sources, thus ideal for today's mobile and portable devices, which cannot support larger processors.
This is a frequently asked question in microcontroller interview questions for freshers. Microcontrollers, or MCUs, have many practical applications, from tiny devices to powerful machines. Common uses for microcontrollers include basic robotics, gaming systems, digital audio and video devices, industrial automation equipment and control systems, sensors in home appliances, vehicle control systems such as anti-lock brakes and airbags, power management systems such as switching power supplies and motor controllers, high-speed bus architectures used in computers of all sizes from desktops to embedded microprocessors, and many other types of communication devices.
They can also be found in consumer products like mobile phones, digital cameras and GPS units. In short, microcontrollers are essential components that can be found in an ever-growing number of applications.
Microprocessors and microcontrollers may perform similar functions, but they have some distinct differences. The main difference between the two is that a microprocessor only consists of a central processing unit (CPU). In contrast, a microcontroller contains the CPU, memory, and input/output units, all integrated into one chip. Given their different structures, each device has its own uses.
Generally speaking, microprocessors are most useful for personal computers, while microcontrollers are best suited for embedded systems. While there is some overlap in their functions, if you're looking to achieve particular tasks, then these structural distinctions should be taken into account in order to better understand which type of processor is ultimately more suitable for your specific needs.
Microcontrollers are devices that are used to control applications with minimal user interaction. They face increasingly complex challenges, from controlling industrial processes to running the latest digital signal processors. The microcontroller has three main components: the processor, memory, and input/output peripherals.
The processor is the "brain" of the microcontroller that controls its operations. It processes instructions sent from outside, stores information in memory, and produces output. In terms of tasks, it can perform, the type and speed of the processor used to determine this limitation. On the other hand, memory stores instructions, which the processor then executes. For data storage, most microcontrollers include RAM (Random Access Memory) and flash memory. Lastly, input/output peripherals allow users to interact with the microcontroller by connecting with external devices like keyboards and monitors.
With all of these parts working together, microcontrollers provide small but powerful solutions to many common applications.
I/O devices are typically classified as either character-mode or block-mode devices. Character-mode devices facilitate unstructured data transfer with the system, where each byte of data is dispatched and received independently.
Block-mode devices, on the other hand, are designed to send large amounts of data in a single operation, usually in fixed-length blocks or frames. This allows for more efficient data transfer but is useful only if the data files are structured and organized beforehand. Furthermore, block mode transfers typically require a special protocol interface depending on different OS companies.
The primary purpose of the EQU instruction is to assign single absolute values to symbols. This is useful when dealing with constants that won't change throughout the course of the program. For example, if you were writing a program in assembly language, you might want to assign an absolute value to a symbol called NUMBER_OF_ITEMS so that it always represents the same number throughout your code. This will make your code much easier to read and debug since there's no guesswork involved in understanding what each line means.
The EQU instruction also allows you to assign the values of previously defined symbols or expressions to new symbols. This is useful when you want to use different mnemonics for different purposes but still maintain their original value. For instance, if you have two variables that represent the same value, such as X and Y, but you want them both represented by a single symbol called VALUE, then using an EQU statement would let you do this without having to manually update both variables every time one changes.
Using the EQU instruction can help reduce errors in your code by ensuring that all references to a particular symbol are always updated with any changes made later on in the program. Additionally, since all references to a given symbol are automatically updated when it's changed via an EQU statement, this eliminates extra work for developers who would otherwise have had to manually update each reference individually whenever a change was made. Therefore, using an EQU statement can help improve efficiency and save time when making edits or additions to your codebase.
The two ports that combine to form the 16-bit address for external memory access are port0 and port2. The port0 is an 8-bit wide data bus and is usually used for outputting data from an internal device. It is used as input, output and to excess the external memory. In port 2, you will find the higher order address bits (A15-A8), while port 0 provides the lower order address bits.
Using a combination of port0 and port2 has several advantages over other methods of accessing external memory. Firstly, it requires fewer pins which reduces cost and complexity when setting up your system; plus, having fewer pins makes it easier to create a pinout diagram.
Secondly, because each port contains only 8 bits, there is much less data being sent at once, which helps increase bus speed while transferring data from one device to another. Finally, using 2 separate ports allows for more flexibility when designing a system since you can use multiple interfaces, such as I2C or SPI, without any problems or conflicts with your existing setup.
Basic microcontroller interview questions, don't miss this one. When it comes to microcontrollers, one of the essential components is the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). This full-duplex synchronous serial communication interface is used for short-distance communications within a single device. But that’s just scratching the surface of what SPI can do.
The SPI interface uses four signal lines for data transmission and reception. These include two data lines (MISO, Master In Slave Out, and MOSI, Master Out Slave In), one clock line, and one select chip line. The controller acts as the master device, while any slave devices connected to it act as slaves. This means that all communication takes place between the controller and the slave devices only after they are selected by the controller.
In an SPI system, when you want to transfer data from a master device to a slave device or vice versa, first, you must select a particular slave device using its chip select line. Then you need to provide commands using two data lines—the MOSI and MISO lines—and then clock them in with a clock line. The clock pulses allow synchronization between communicating parties which helps in the proper timing of the data transmission process. In an SPI system, when you want to transfer data from a master device to a slave device or vice versa, first you must select a particular slave device using its chip select line. Then you need to provide commands using two data lines—the MOSI and MISO lines—and then clock them in with a clock line. The clock pulses allow synchronization between communicating parties which helps in proper timing of data transmission process.
Port 0, or port zero, is an important part of many computing systems. It can be used for bidirectional input/output (I/O) purposes, but it can also be used as a way to access external memory when control signals are set to '1'.
Using Port 0 as an Input Port: Consider the scenario where control is set to '0' and port 0 is being used as an input port. If a '1' is written to the latc, both output Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) will be off. This means that the output pins will float, allowing whatever data was written on the pin to be read by the read pin.
Using Port 0 as an Output Port: To write a '1' on the pin of port 0, a '1' must be written to the latch, which will turn off the lower FET while, due to the '0' control signal, also turning off the upper FET. In this case, you want logic '1' on your pin but will instead get floating values that need to be converted into logic 1 in order for it to function properly.
It's important to note that if you're using port 0 as an output port, you must ensure that there is enough current available so that any strong pull-up devices won't affect its performance too much. Otherwise, you may experience problems with your device not functioning correctly due to insufficient current availability.
The JNC instruction is a 3-byte instruction that allows users to jump to a specific 16-bit address when the carry flag value is 0. If the carry flag value is 1, then no jump occurs, and program execution continues as normal with the next instructions. This command can be used to create loops or direct program flow based on certain conditions.
The primary purpose of the JNC command is to give users more control over their programs by allowing them to jump to different parts of their code based on certain conditions. This can be useful when writing complex programs that require precise data manipulation or when creating systems that need real-time decision-making capabilities. For example, you can use JNC with an interrupt routine so that your program can jump out of its current loop whenever certain events occur in your system.
Jump if Not Carry (JNC) is an important part of 8085 microprocessor instruction sets because it allows users to precisely control their programs by jumping to specific addresses when certain conditions are met, such as when a flag value is 0. By using this command, assembly language developers can create complex systems with real-time decision-making capabilities which have many applications in industry, such as robotics and motor controllers.
For users of programmable logic devices, it’s important to understand the differences between a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and a microcontroller. Both are used to interface with digital hardware, but they have key differences in terms of their functionality, cost, and capabilities.
At their core, FPGAs and microcontrollers are both designed to execute instructions from software that interacts with digital hardware on the board. An FPGA is essentially an integrated circuit composed of logic blocks interconnected via a programmable interconnect matrix. In contrast, microcontrollers are specialized computing systems that contain dedicated peripherals such as power management circuits, analog-to-digital converters, communication ports, timers, counters and more.
The cost for FPGAs can vary greatly depending on their size and features; typically, they range from hundreds of dollars per unit up into the thousands. However, due to advancements in technology, they have become increasingly affordable over time. Microcontrollers generally cost much less than FPGAs; some even cost less than $2 per unit when purchased in bulk quantities. Therefore if cost is a key consideration for your project, then you may want to consider using a microcontroller rather than an FPGA.
The primary advantage of using an FPGA is its high level of flexibility – it can be programmed to do almost any type of task with very little overhead or programming effort required by the user. This makes them ideal for applications where there is no set architecture or design specification available or when it needs to be modified frequently or rapidly changed in response to input conditions or customer demands. On the other hand, microcontrollers are generally easier to use since they come preprogrammed with specific instructions for performing specific tasks, such as reading sensors and controlling motors. They also don’t require as much memory or power consumption as an FPGA, so they may be better suited for smaller projects where size and power consumption are important considerations.
When more than one interrupt is pending, a process called “interrupt arbitration” takes place. This process grants only the highest priority interrupt access to the system at any given time. The remaining interrupts will stay in a suspended state until the higher-priority interrupt has been processed.
The process of handling multiple interrupts is handled via an internal interrupt table. This table contains information about each of the interrupts that are currently pending, including their priority level and associated processing function. When an exception occurs, the processor scans through this table to determine which interrupt it should handle first. If there is more than one interrupt pending at once, the processor will grant access to the highest priority one first and then move on to lower priority interrupts as it becomes available.
The priority levels for these interrupts are determined by a number of factors, such as how important they are for system stability, how quickly they need to be processed, and how frequently they occur. By giving certain interrupts higher priority levels than others, it ensures that critical tasks such as memory management and device drivers remain stable even when multiple interrupts are present.
A bootloader is a special piece of software that allows your computer to initialize itself when you first turn it on. This process is known as "booting up." The bootloader will first identify all of the hardware components in your computer, then load the operating system from its storage location into memory. This process also includes loading any other required programs, such as drivers, utilities, and application software, that your computer needs to function properly.
Once the operating system has been loaded into memory, the boot loader will then transfer control of the computer over to the operating system kernel, which will be responsible for managing resources, scheduling processes, and allocating memory. In some cases, a boot loader can also be used to configure settings such as network connections or password protection before handing control over to the operating system kernel.
Working with a Bootloader
The way a bootloader works depends on what type of processor your computer has. Most modern computers use x86 processors, which require specific instructions for loading an operating system from storage media such as hard drives or USB flash drives into RAM (random access memory). On these types of systems, the instructions are stored in what is known as BIOS (basic input/output system), which is located on a chip on your motherboard.
In order for these instructions to be executed by the processor, they must be loaded into RAM by a piece of code known as firmware or BIOS extension code which is stored in non-volatile memory (such as ROM). This code instructs the processor how to perform basic operations, such as reading data from storage media in order to load an operating system into RAM so that it can begin executing applications and services.
A staple in microcontroller programming interview questions, be prepared to answer this one. When it comes to microcontroller-based projects, two of the most popular programming languages used are C and C++. Both of these languages are commonly used in embedded devices that use real operating systems (such as Linux). They both offer a wide range of features and capabilities that make them well-suited for programming microcontrollers.
C is known as procedural language because it requires you to write out instructions step-by-step in order to complete a task. This makes C ideal for small projects with limited resources like those found in microcontrollers. Its simple syntax allows for quick development times and efficient execution when running on a microcontroller device.
C++ is an extension of the C language that offers many of the same benefits as C but also adds additional features such as object-oriented programming, which allows developers to better organize their code and create more efficient programs. Like its predecessor, C++ has become one of the most popular programming languages used by developers today due to its versatility and wide range of applications. C++ is an extension of the C language that offers many of the same benefits as C but also adds additional features such as object-oriented programming, which allows developers to better organize their code and create more efficient programs. Like its predecessor, C++ has become one of the most popular programming languages used by developers today due to its versatility and wide range of applications.
The first consequence of having more inputs than outputs on your microcontroller is that you may not have enough output pins to handle all of the data coming in from the input pins. This means that some data will not be able to be processed by the microcontroller properly because there are not enough available output pins. As a result, you may experience errors or unexpected behavior from your device due to lost data or incorrect processing.
The second consequence is related to power consumption. If you have too many input pins, then they will draw more power from your power source than necessary. This can lead to decreased battery life and potentially even damage caused by overheating components due to excessive power consumption. As such, it’s important to ensure that you have the appropriate number of input and output pins for your project so as to avoid unnecessary power consumption or other issues related to having too many inputs.
The third consequence is related to cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Having more input pins than necessary can lead to an increase in cost due to wasted resources (like additional components) and increased energy usage (due to powering unused inputs). Additionally, having too many inputs can lead to programming complexity which can slow down development time and reduce the overall efficiency of the system as a whole.