PIC Microcontroller – Internal Architecture

PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) microcontrollers, made by Microchip Technology, are widely used in embedded systems. Understanding their internal architecture is part of the A/Level ICT and engineering technology syllabi in Sri Lanka.

Key Components

• CPU (Central Processing Unit) – Executes instructions fetched from program memory.
• Program Memory (Flash) – Stores the program code. Non-volatile.
• Data Memory (RAM) – Temporary storage for variables during program execution.
• I/O Ports – Input/output pins for interfacing with external devices.
• Timers/Counters – Used for timing operations and counting events.
• ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) – Converts analog signals to digital values.

Harvard Architecture

PIC microcontrollers use Harvard architecture, where program memory and data memory have separate buses. This allows simultaneous access to program instructions and data, improving performance.

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