Embedded Systems Flashcards
(2 cards)
What is the difference between a Microcontroller (MCU) and a Microprocessor (MPU)?
A microcontroller integrates a CPU, memory (Flash and RAM), and peripherals (GPIO, ADC, timers, serial interfaces) on a single chip. It’s optimized for low cost, low power, and real-time control of dedicated tasks—e.g., an STMicro STM32F103 (Cortex-M3) controlling motors in a drone, or an ATmega328P in an Arduino handling sensor readings.
A microprocessor is focused on CPU performance and requires external memory and I/O chips. It’s suited for high-performance, general-purpose computing—e.g., an Intel Core i7 running an operating system for a PC, or an ARM Cortex-A53 in a smartphone running Linux/Android. MPUs have MMUs, caches, and run complex OSes, while MCUs often run bare-metal firmware or lightweight RTOSes.
