单片机也被称为微控制器(Microcontroler),是因为它最早被用在工业控制领域。单片机由芯片内仅有CPU的专用处理器发展而来。最早的设计理念是通过将大量外围设备和CPU集成在一个芯片中,使计算机系统更小,更容易集成进复杂的而对提及要求严格的控制设备当中。INTEL的Z80是最早按照这种思想设计出的处理器,从此以后,单片机和专用处理器的发展便分道扬镳。
早期的单片机都是8位或4位的。其中最成功的是INTEL的8031,因为简单可靠而性能不错获得了很大的好评。此后在8031上发展出了MCS51系列单片机系统。基于这一系统的单片机系统直到现在还在广泛使用。随着工业控制领域要求的提高,开始出现了16位单片机,但因为性价比不理想并未得到很广泛的应用。90年代后随着消费电子产品大发展,单片机技术得到了巨大的提高。随着INTEL i960系列特别是后来的ARM系列的广泛应用,32位单片机迅速取代16位单片机的高端地位,并且进入主流市场。而传统的8位单片机的性能也得到了飞速提高,处理能力比起80年代提高了数百倍。目前,高端的32位单片机主频已经超过300MHz,性能直追90年代中期的专用处理器,而普通的型号出厂价格跌落至1美元,最高端的型号也只有10美元。当代单片机系统已经不再只在裸机环境下开发和使用,大量专用的嵌入式操作系统被广泛应用在全系列的单片机上。而在作为掌上电脑和手机核心处理的高端单片机甚至可以直接使用专用的Windows和Linux操作系统。
单片机比专用处理器最适合应用于嵌入式系统,因此它得到了最多的应用。事实上单片机是世界上数量最多的计算机。现代人类生活中所用的几乎每件电子和机械产品中都会集成有单片机。手机、电话、计算器、家用电器、电子玩具、掌上电脑以及鼠标等电脑配件中都配有1-2部单片机。而个人电脑中也会有为数不少的单片机在工作。汽车上一般配备40多部单片机,复杂的工业控制系统上甚至可能有数百台单片机在同时工作!单片机的数量不仅远超过PC机和其他计算的综合,甚至比人类的数量还要多。
The single slice machine is also called tiny controller, is because it was used in the industry to control realm at the earliest stage.Single slice machine from inside chip have CPU appropriation processor to develop only since then.At the earliest stage of design the principle is to pass to integrate a great deal of peripherals and CPU in a chip, making calculator system smaller, integrating more easily into complicated of but to mention to request a strict control equipments in the middle.The INTEL Z80 is the processor which designed according to this kind of thought at the earliest stage, from now on, single slice the development of the machine and appropriation processor went by different roads then.
The single slice of the earlier period all of machines are 8 or 4.Among them, the INTEL is most successful of 8031, because of in brief dependable but the function was quite good to acquire very big good opinion.Henceforth at 8031 up developed MCS51 serieses a single slice machine system.According to the single slice of this system machine system is still in the extensive usage till now.Because the industry controls the exaltation of[with] realm request, starting appearing 16 single slice machine, but because sex price wanted to don't get a very extensive application than the disregard.Develop greatly along with the consumption electronics product after 90's, the single slice machine technique got a huge exaltation.Along with the extensive application of INTEL i 960 serieses especially later ARM series, the 32 single slice machine replaces 16 single slice the high level position of the machine quickly, and gets into an essential market.And traditional of 8 single slice the function of the machine also got to fly to raise soon, handling an ability to compare with to raise few a hundredfolds in 80's.Currently, 32 single slice of the high level with main machine already over 300 MHzs, the function keeps appropriation processor of making track for the mid 90's, and the common model number factory price drop into to USD 1, tallest carry of model number also only USD 10.The contemporary and single slice machine system has already no longer developed and used just under the naked machine environment, the in great quantities appropriative built-in operate system is applied extensively in the whole serieseses of the single slice is on board.But Be ising the high level of handheld PC and cellular phone core processing single slice the machine even can use appropriative Windows and the Linux operate system directly.
Single slice the machine ratio appropriation processor is the most suitable to match to apply in the built-in system, so it got the most applications.In fact the single slice machine is an amount the most calculators are in the world.The modern mankind are living medium use of assemble in almost each electronics and machine product have a single slice machine.All have 1-2 single slice machine in the computer accessorieses such as cellular phone, telephone, calculator, home appliances, electronics toy, handheld PC and mouse etc..And personal computer in would also capable number not a few single slice the machine be working.Provide with more than 40 departments a single slice machine generally on the car, complicated industry's controling the top of the system even may has single several hundred pedestalses slices machine to work in the meantime!Single slice the amount of the machine not only far above the PC machine and other calculations of comprehensive, even than the mankind's amount still want have another.