Microcontrollers

Course in Bachelor’s program (2nd year, series A, B, F, and G)

Teachers

Prof. Corneliu Burileanu
Assoc. Prof. Horia Cucu
Lect. Ana Neacșu
Lect. Georgian Nicolae
As. Andrei Dăescu
Lect. George-Vlăduț Popescu

Course Description

Introducing several typical microcontroller architectures: 8051 core, “Arduino” Systems and ARM family. Study of the advanced principles in CISC and RISC microprocessor architecture: memory management, protected mode, multitasking, CISC and RISC architecture convergence in actual processors. In the laboratory-type applications, the students are guided in developing practical applications for the C8051F040 microcontroller.

Contents

Course

  • “Memory Management” – Virtual Memory, Virtual Memory Segmentation, Paging Mechanism
  • “Protection Methods” – Types of Protection, Memory Management and Protection, Multi-Level Privileges and Protection, Data and Programs Protection, Control Transfer between Protection Levels, Page Protection, Interrupts and Exceptions in Virtual (Protected) Mode
  • “Multitasking” – Definitions, Task State Segment and the Related Descriptor, Task switching, Task Gate
  • “8051 Microcontroller Core” – General Features, Memory Organization, Register Set, Addressing Techniques, Instruction Set, Instruction Timing
  • “Arduino Systems” – Arduino Uno, ATmega48A/PA/88A/PA/168A/PA/328/P, AVR CPU Core, GALILEO Board, Programming Examples
  • “ARM Architecture Microcontrollers” – General Features, Processor Modes, Register Set, Memory and Port Organization, Instruction Set, Programming Examples

Laboratory

  • An integrated development tool for 8051 core microcontrollers (IDE – “Integrated Development Environment”)
  • Overall view on Silicon Labs – C8051F040 “System on a Chip”
  • Application using the analog to digital converter
  • Application using the UART system
  • Application using the digital to analog converter
  • Application using the interrupts system
  • Laboratory assessment

Additional resources

C8051F04x MCUs 8-bit
Silicon Laboratories IDE

Grading

Laboratory evaluation (multiple verification tests + optional oral evaluation): 50%
Course final exam (verification quiz + optional written and oral evaluation): 50%