With the proliferation of enhanced mobile devices in our everyday lives, it is amazing that a staggering %60 of embedded devices still use 8 bit architectures. Using MCUs based on 30 year old technology does not sound like the bleeding edge consumers would expect.
Micro controllers and microprocessors like the 8051 and Z80 don’t lend themselves well to smart phone use, so what have the silicon manufactures done to keep up? An article at the Ganssle Group explains some of the updates to some of the most mature architectures.
What’s your go-to architecture? Vote in the forum.
error in link :(
the Ganssle Group link appears to have the DP page in front of it. Correct link is: http://www.ganssle.com/articles/8and16bit.htm
I’m certainly surprised that the (presumably) 32bit MCU’s in consumer smart phones didn’t take a bit bigger chunk of the total market though. This article references a 2001 survey, what year was the actual article written?
There is hidden text at the top of the page, i had to go back and highlight the whole article to find it, the missing text reads “Rumors of the death of 8 and 16 bit processors are greatly exaggerated. Published in ESD April 2003.”
http://www.eg3.com/8051/survey.htm has a brief survey of 8051 users.
i have many books covering 8bit uCs many of them recently published(3 years or so)
I still think this article holds true. i will start a survey of our own in the forum. please chime in and let us know what uC(s) you use.
I guess an average consumer owns only a few phones, and not everybody has a smart phone.
But if you own a not very old car, you have hundred (or more) micros, most of them small ones. Also, IR/RF remote controllers, air conditioning, toys, security systems, gadgets, some electronic lamp ballasts, LED lights, etc all can potentially contain a cheap uC.
@SQKYbeaver – thanks for finding the hidden text!
@AkosL – excellent point regarding the proliferation of MCU’s in common household items.
I’m primarily a 8/16 bit user, but when I see an SD card that I can buy for $5 with a 32bit ARM in it, I begin to wonder how many others are still using the
small MCU’s. . .apparently quite a few!
8-bits FTW :)
For many apps they are enough and why change to different architecture when it’s already working? Also, even the old slow 8051 is still good for human interaction with buttons and simple displays or just LEDs, humans didn’t get faster in last 30 years :)