• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Microcontroller Tips

Microcontroller engineering resources, new microcontroller products and electronics engineering news

  • Products
    • 8-bit
    • 16-bit
    • 32-bit
    • 64-bit
  • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Connectivity
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Industrial
    • Medical
    • Security
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Videos
    • TI Microcontroller Videos
  • EE Resources
    • DesignFast
    • eBooks / Tech Tips
    • FAQs
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
      • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
      • Microcontrollers Design Guide
      • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide

What is an embedded processor?

April 1, 2015 By Mike Santora

embedded processor(Learning engineering fundamentals is not only for the student engineer. Encouraging more people to take an interest an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) benefits everyone. Sometimes, all it takes is a taste of the basics.

In this series, we introduce some fundamental microcontroller terms and concepts, add context around them, and offer opportunities to not only learn more but for the experienced engineers among you to offer your input.)

An embedded processor is a type of microprocessor designed into a system to control electrical and mechanical functions. Embedded processors are usually simple in design, limited in computational power and I/O capabilities, and have minimal power requirements. At a basic level, embedded processors are a CPU chip placed in a system that it helps control.

Embedded processors are often confused with microcontrollers. While they do perform similar functions, they integrate with their given system in different ways. The actual functions they perform can also be different as well.

Microcontrollers are the result of technological advances decreasing the size of controllers. Eventually, all of the components of a controller including I/O devices and memory evolved into a single chip, giving us the “micro” in microcontrollers. These chips are small, self-contained devices that have all of the features necessary to control the system they are embedded in.

This control autonomy is the primary difference between microcontrollers and embedded processors. Embedded processors require other external components such as integrated memory and peripheral interfaces to perform their designated functions. The two devices are frequently referred to as one device because embedded processors are often components within a microcontroller.

What is your best description of an embedded processor? Leave your comment in the space below.

What to learn more and ask questions about embedded systems? Visit the EDABoard.com community and join the Beginners of Embedded Systems Group.

Filed Under: Connectivity, IoT Tagged With: edaboardcom

Primary Sidebar

DesignFast

Design Fast Logo
Component Selection Made Simple.

Try it Today
design fast globle

EE Training Center Classrooms

EE Classrooms

CURRENT DIGITAL ISSUE

A frequency you can count on There are few constants in life, but what few there are might include death, taxes, and a U.S. grid frequency that doesn’t vary by more than ±0.5 Hz. However, the certainty of the grid frequency is coming into question, thanks to the rising percentage of renewable energy sources that…

Digital Edition Back Issues

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to weekly industry news, new product innovations and more.

Subscribe today

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • DC Motor Speed Control
  • D Flip Flop frequency divider
  • FPGA LVDS with separate clock
  • How do you find the angle made by two isosceles triangles in a kite?
  • Limits of duty cycle for ICM7555 IC?

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • RF modules which can handle high number of bytes per second
  • we are facing an issue with one-wire communication by using DS2485
  • Are Cross-wind compensation and Road crown compensation functions inputs to LKA function?
  • Component identification.
  • Flickering (candle) LED to trigger 555

Footer

Microcontroller Tips

EE World Online Network

  • DesignFast
  • EE World Online
  • EDA Board Forums
  • Electro Tech Online Forums
  • Connector Tips
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • Wire and Cable Tips
  • 5G Technology World

Microcontroller Tips

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About us
Follow us on Twitter Add us on Facebook Follow us on YouTube  Follow us on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy