Microcontrollers: Basic Architecture and Design

This course introduces students to the architecture and design of Microcontrollers (MCUs), which are small processors used in a myriad of products. The main MCU components of the processor, memory, I/O interfaces and their interconnections will be examined, with a focus on the processor. The process of optimizing performance, energy usage and cost will be explored in a project where students will begin the development of an MCU in a system context. The course will go beyond basic architecture and design to explore real-world details involved in the design of actual hardware products. Althoug…