The Secret of Microcontroller GPIO Driving Capability: Why ‘Sinking’ is More Powerful than ‘Sourcing’?

The Secret of Microcontroller GPIO Driving Capability: Why 'Sinking' is More Powerful than 'Sourcing'?

In embedded system design, we often need to use the General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins of microcontrollers (MCUs) to drive peripheral devices such as LEDs and relays. I still remember that my first code in college was to control the blinking of an LED using the 8051 microcontroller. I wonder if the current university courses … Read more

Installation Guide for Keil uVision 5 C51 Version (Includes Installation Package Download)

Installation Guide for Keil uVision 5 C51 Version (Includes Installation Package Download)

Software Overview Keil uVision 5 C51 Version provides developers with a complete set of development tools, including an editor, compiler, and debugger, which can help users quickly develop high-quality 8051 embedded software. Keil uVision 5 C51 Version is easy to learn and use, making it suitable for beginners. Its editor supports features like intelligent prompts … Read more

Why Use C Language for Microcontrollers?

Why Use C Language for Microcontrollers?

Porting C to the MCU (commonly known as microcontroller) 8051 began in the late 1980s. Objectively speaking, there are many challenges in porting C to the 8051 MCU. For example: · The 8051’s non-Von Neumann architecture (separate program and data memory spaces), along with additional bit-addressable memory space on the chip;  · The on-chip data and … Read more

Interface Between LCD and 8051 Microcontroller in Proteus

Interface Between LCD and 8051 Microcontroller in Proteus

·First, we need to design the Proteus simulation as usual. After designing the simulation, we will write embedded code for the 8051 microcontroller. I will design the code in the Keil uVision3 compiler, and the 8051 microcontroller I will use is the AT89C51. So, let’s first start with the Proteus simulation to implement the interface … Read more

Microcontroller Classification and Evolution: The Technological Leap from 8051 to Cortex-M55

Microcontroller Classification and Evolution: The Technological Leap from 8051 to Cortex-M55

The development of microcontrollers is a microcosm of the iterative technology of embedded systems. From the classic 8051 to the modern Cortex-M55, this evolution not only reflects a leap in hardware performance but also signifies profound changes in computing architecture, application scenarios, and development ecosystems. The following analysis is conducted from four dimensions: classification system, … Read more

Essential Knowledge for Microcontroller Beginners (4)

Essential Knowledge for Microcontroller Beginners (4)

Introduction to Common Microcontroller Chips  STC Microcontroller  The microcontrollers from STC are primarily based on the 8051 core, representing a new generation of enhanced microcontrollers. The instruction set is fully compatible with traditional 8051, offering speeds 8 to 12 times faster, equipped with ADC, 4-channel PWM, dual serial ports, a unique global ID, good encryption, and strong … Read more

Alarm System with Rotating Light Using 8051 Microcontroller

Alarm System with Rotating Light Using 8051 Microcontroller

1. Introduction The alarm system with rotating light project is a typical embedded system application that combines sound alarms and visual indicators. It is widely used in various scenarios such as security monitoring, emergency evacuation, traffic signals, and entertainment devices. Based on the 8051 microcontroller, it provides an integrated sound and visual alarm solution, enhancing … Read more

Minimum System of 51 Microcontroller 8051/8751 and 8031

Minimum System of 51 Microcontroller 8051/8751 and 8031

The 51 microcontroller has a long development history since its inception and is one of the oldest and most widely used microcontrollers. To become an excellent microcontroller engineer, mastering the technology of the 51 microcontroller is essential. Today, we will discuss the minimum system of the 51 microcontroller, namely the 8051/8751 and 8031. 1. What … Read more

12 Essential Knowledge Points for Microcontroller Beginners

12 Essential Knowledge Points for Microcontroller Beginners

Learning about microcontrollers is a long and somewhat painful process. Especially for beginners, it is difficult to form a systematic learning framework when various types of knowledge are incomplete in the early stages. This article aims to provide a thought process and list some essential foundational knowledge before getting into microcontrollers. 1. There are only … Read more

Exploring Microcontrollers: Understanding The Three Major Registers

Exploring Microcontrollers: Understanding The Three Major Registers

In the world of microcontrollers, registers play a crucial role. They are not only key components for data storage and processing but also the core of various operations performed by the microcontroller. Based on type, they can be divided into program memory, data memory, and special function registers. 1. Program Memory Program memory, as the … Read more