Microprocessors -Implementation and examples of application

The aim of this article is to enable the reader to appreciate the value of microprocessors by illustrating, with examples, the practical aspects of their use.

The first point concerns their hardware implementation, which takes the form of the physical realization of the components, not covered here, and their packaging, presented in the first paragraph. IC package technology is constantly evolving. In this section, we present the various trends.

The practical implementation of microprocessors involves both the use of development tools and the choice of the microprocessor itself. This choice is guided by a number of criteria, detailed in this article. Microprocessor development tools and methods concern both the hardware implementation of the electronic board and the software running on the chosen microprocessor. These different development methods are presented in the second paragraph.

Ever-increasing advances in technology allow designers to innovate in terms of microprocessor architecture. The evolution of microprocessor characteristics is linked to numerous factors that enable us to anticipate and therefore better manage the necessary adaptations of microprocessor-based systems.

The value of microprocessors will be illustrated by several examples of applications built around a standard microprocessor. These include a touch-sensitive tablet, a laser printer controller and an ethernet network router. These three examples are indicative of the types of applications requiring the use of microprocessors.