eBook makes case for 8-bit microcontrollers

In The Mighty 8-Bit Microcontroller, industry thought leaders offer unique perspectives on how 8-bit MCUs can be the ideal choice in automotive, industrial, medical and consumer electronic applications, even over more powerful 16- and 32-bit devices.

In automotive applications, 8-bit MCUs can be preferred in vehicle subsystems because of their simplicity and efficiency, which help keep the design compact. Microchip offers solutions, such as select AVR EA, MCUs, tailored to automotive applications and featuring compliance with automotive standards.

8-bit MCUs can also offer industrial designers a streamlined solution, offering only the features they need for the job at hand and eliminating overhead. The compact design of 8-bit MCUs enables industrial designers to deploy a module-based architecture while keeping costs and system complexity to a minimum.

Microchip offers 8-bit MCUs, including select AVR DD MCUs, designed to withstand harsh industrial environments.

In the medical field, wearable devices and health trackers must include sensors for monitoring biometrics, MCUs for interpreting and communicating sensor data, and wireless communication hardware for transmitting data.

At the same time, these devices are often portable and battery-powered, meaning power consumption is a concern.

In these types of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) applications, 8-bit MCUs offer a unique blend of performance and power efficiency.

In consumer electronics, product size and affordability are key. For this reason, 8-bit MCUs such as the  PIC16F18x series can be the ideal choice due to their simpler design and small package size.

Another primary consideration in the consumer electronics industry is battery life, as many consumer devices are portable and battery-powered. 8-bit MCUs such as the PIC16F171 series offer extremely low power operation without sacrificing performance or functionality.