Systems approach to design Flashcards
function of input devices
allow systems to understand changes in the environment around them
examples of input devices
- a sensor such as a light-dependent resistor (LDR) that senses light levels for street lamps to know when it is dark
- thermistors that detect when it is too hot or cold in a room.
what do input processors do
take a signal from the physical or ‘real world’ and turn it into an electronic signal
what is a microcontroller
A computer chip used instead of a CPU that contains a processor, memory and inputs/outputs
what is a push to make switch
a switch that completes a circuit when pressed
what is a push to break switch
a switch that breaks a circuit when pressed
what are sensors
devices that are used to detect changes
how does a thermistor work
resistance increases as temperature decreases
what are pressure sensors used in
security systems
what do process devices do
take the signal from the input stage of a system and act on it by changing it in some way
what is a programmable component
an electrical component which can be programmed to perform different functions
what is an integrated circuit
a chip used in many areas of electronic engineering, including a computer CPU
Advantages of using microcontrollers
- they can reduce the size of a circuit because programming replaces physical components
- they can be reprogrammed many times, allowing changes to be made without replacing actual components
- They have pins for connecting several input and output devices, adding to flexibility
disadvantages of microcontrollers
- more expensive than traditional ICs
- programming software and hardware required, this is expensive
- The language of the system must be learned and this adds to training costs
how can microcontrollers be programmed
- text-based programming languages, such as BASIC, C++ and Python
- block-based programming editors
- flowchart software
