Hello everyone, and welcome to the course Microprocessors and Microcomputer Systems.
In a broad sense, microprocessors include Microprocessor Units (MPUs) with high computing performance and Microcontroller Units (MCUs) with high control performance. MPUs are mainly used in devices for complex computing applications, such as servers and computers, while MCUs are widely applied in the fields of detection and control due to their excellent control capabilities and high cost-effectiveness.
MPUs provide powerful computing performance, but their external peripheral devices usually require additional expansion. In contrast, MCUs feature high control performance, with all peripheral devices integrated onto a single chip. Their compact structure has led them to be commonly known as single-chip microcomputers or microcontrollers. Although a microcontroller is small in size, it contains all the essential components needed for operation. It has become a key control core in many areas of production and daily life, including aerospace equipment, robots, automobiles, intelligent production lines, medical instruments, and smart watches.
Microprocessors and microcontrollers based on the ARM architecture are widely used. This course mainly focuses on the application system design of ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers and the STM32F1 series microcontrollers. The objective of this course is to help learners understand the working principles of microprocessors and microcontrollers, master the internal structures, instruction sets, internal resources, and programming methods of microcontrollers, and ultimately develop the ability to design hardware and software for microcontroller-based application systems.
The course content provides an essential technical foundation for students majoring in automation, electronic information, mechanical and electrical engineering, and related disciplines, enabling them to engage in embedded hardware and software development in the fields of automatic control and electronic information technology.
The course begins with an introduction to fundamental theories. Then, through a hands-on approach, it guides you step by step in mastering microcontroller application system design techniques. You will learn how to write driver programs for STM32 internal resources and peripheral devices, perform programming and debugging in the Keil MDK software environment, and finally download programs to an experimental development board to complete the entire process of microcontroller application system design.
If you can continue learning all the course content and personally complete the writing of all code, circuit design, and experiments, congratulations! You will have mastered the fundamental knowledge and essential skills of microcontroller application design, and you will be able to undertake basic design and development tasks in the field of microcontroller applications.
Now, let us begin exploring the world of microprocessor and microcontroller applications!
