Microcontroller is a semiconductor chip that can perform arithmetic processing and control circuits through I/O and peripheral interfaces. A 32-bit microcontroller is capable of processing arithmetic operations on 32-bit values. Compared with an 8-bit microcontroller, a 32-bit microcontroller The device has a wider data bus, so fewer instruction cycles are required to perform the function
32-bit microcontrollers are powerful devices that have microprocessor-like functionality. Some advanced features include instruction pipelining, branch prediction, nested vectored interrupts (NVI), floating point unit (FPU), memory protection, and on-board debugger
A 32-bit microcontroller is not the preferred solution for every project. First of all, it is more expensive than an 8-bit MCU. In some designs, using a 32-bit microcontroller is considered overkill and brings unnecessary cost to the design.
32-bit microcontrollers are also not suitable for battery-powered circuits, such as wireless IoT sensors. Even running at the slowest clock rate, they drain battery power quickly
A 32-bit microcontroller is a good choice when:
When a microcontroller is needed that can handle large amounts of data, for example, a biometric controller that compares fingerprints to tens of thousands of records and responds in a split second
In complex circuits where a microcontroller that can handle multiple peripherals is required, a 32-bit microcontroller is more economical than using several logic ICs in the circuit
When the code size of the program is too large for an 8-bit microcontroller, 32-bit microcontrollers have larger memory built in
1. Circuit Design Skills For 32-Bit Controllers
As a PCB designer, your skills will be put to the test when using 32Bit MCUs. You're dealing with components with higher pin counts, finer pitches, and potentially running at high speeds. This means that errors will be more obvious because the stability and functionality of the microcontrol will be compromised
Therefore, when designing with 32Bit MCUs, please pay attention to the following specific areas:
(1).Power Supply
32Bit MCUs require a clean and stable voltage, and they typically run at 3.3V or 1.8V, which means there is little room for fluctuation. The power supply network needs to be carefully designed with proper isolation between analog and digital
(2).Power Rails
Ground isolation and return path considerations are equally important to ensure that the operation of the microcontroller is not interrupted by unstable supply voltages. Noise introduced into power supply traces can cause erratic behavior such as incorrect ADC readings or causing the MCU to reset randomly
(3).Electromagnetic Interference
It's easy to mess up a 32-bit microcontroller design if you ignore EMI mitigation best practices. When operating at high speeds, microcontrollers can be both sources of EMI and receivers of external interference.
Separating high-speed traces from analog signals using proper grounding techniques, short return paths, and keeping different traces equal in length are some ways to prevent EMI problems on your PCB
(4).Heat Dissipation
When a microcontroller runs at a higher speed and/or has more peripherals activated, it generates more heat. Therefore, one needs to ensure proper heat dissipation, especially if the PCB is placed in an enclosure
2. 32-Bit MCU Terminal Industry
32-bit MCU has made significant breakthroughs in chip design, manufacturing technology, and packaging technology. With high-performance technical conditions, it is widely used in solutions in automotive electronics, intelligent IoT, industrial control, new energy and other industries.
(1).Industrial Control
Compared with other terminal application fields, industrial control is one of the more distinctive fields. Different from the characteristics of consumer electronics, which have huge usage and pursue the ultimate cost-effectiveness, the relatively small industrial application market has higher premiums, but has higher requirements for the MCU's temperature range, stability, reliability, and defective rate. Strict, which has certain quality requirements for the design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing processes of MCUs
MCU is the core component for realizing industrial automation, such as stepper motors, robot arms, instrumentation, industrial motors, etc.
In order to achieve the complex movements required by industrial robots, the position, direction, speed and torque of the motor need to be controlled with high precision. The 32-bit MCU can perform the complex, high-speed operations required for motor control.
(2).Automotive Electronics
In automotive electronics, 32-bit MCUs are mainly used for high-end function control such as vehicle control, smart instruments, multimedia information systems, power systems, and assisted driving. The intelligent development of automobiles has greatly increased the market demand for 32-bit MCUs.
Growing demand and new process upgrades have brought more new possibilities to the market, and 32-bit MCUs will also usher in more new changes and opportunities.
