Microcontrollers (EE254)
Question Bank
Module -1
L2 Level questions:
1. Explain the architecture of the 8051 microcontrollers with a neat block diagram.
2. Explain the important features of 8051 microcontroller.
3. Describe the functions of different ports in the 8051 microcontrollers.
4. Explain the internal memory organization of the 8051.
5. Describe the Program Status Word (PSW) register and explain the function of each flag bit. What
is the status of PSW after adding (i) 67H with 72H (ii)55H with 88H
6. Explain the purpose of Special Function Registers (SFRs) in 8051.
7. Discuss the role of stack and stack pointer in 8051.
8. Explain the functions of the following pins in 8051: i) ALE ii) PSEN iii)EA iv) RST
9. Differentiate between microcontroller and microprocessor.
10. Explain the register bank organization in 8051.
11. Describe the alternate functions of Port 3 in 8051.
12. Explain the memory organization in 8051
13. Explain how I/O ports are configured in 8051.
14. Describe the role of oscillator and clock circuitry in 8051.
15. Explain following registers of the 8051 Microcontroller DPTR, PC and SP.
L3 Level questions:
1. Write an interfacing diagram 8051 microcontroller interfaced to 8k bytes of ROM and 8k bytes of
RAM.
2. Draw and explain the interfacing of external ROM with the 8051 microcontrollers.
3. Illustrate the interfacing of external RAM with 8051 using suitable diagrams.
4. Demonstrate the use of stack operations in 8051 with an example.
5. Draw interfacing diagram of 4K byte EPROM & 4K byte RAM to 8051 microcontroller. Draw
memory map.
6. Design and explain the interfacing diagram of 2K bytes of RAM and 16K bytes of ROM to 8051
microcontrollers with neat diagram.
7. Design and explain the interfacing diagram of 4K bytes of RAM and 8K bytes of ROM to 8051
microcontrollers with neat diagram.
8. Discuss the different functions of port0 and port1 with neat block diagram.
9. Discuss the different functions of port2 and port3 with neat block diagram.
10. Sketch the register organization of Intel 8051 and briefly explain
11. Apply address decoding techniques to map both ROM and RAM in a system with limited address
space.
12. Discuss how internal RAM is divided in the 8051 and how each section is accessed.
Module -2
L2 Level questions
1. Explain the following assembler directives: i) ORG ii) EQU iii) END iv) DB
2. Define addressing mode and explain types of addressing mode with an example,
3. Explain differences between LCALL and ACALL instruction.
4. List the bit level logical instructions present in8051 and explain working of any four instructions with an
example.
5. Define assembler directives. With example explain one assembler directive supported by 8051
microcontrollers.
6. Explain the difference between PUSH and POP instructions with an example.
7. Explain the following instructions with examples 1) MOVC 2) SJMP 3) JB C 4) DAA
8. Mention the function of the following instructions of 8051 CPU: 1) MOVC A, @A+DPTR 2) CJNE 3)
MUL AB 4) DJNZ 5) A CALL
9. Explain the different jump instruction in 8051
10. Mention the advantages of using subroutines. (i) Give the range of instructions SJMP, AJMP, LJMP. (ii)
Mention the differences between RET and RETI instructions
11. Explain arithmetic instructions in 8051 with examples.
12. Describe logical instructions used in 8051.
L3 Level questions:
1. Write an assembly language program to find largest number in the given array of N bytes and store the
largest number in internal RAM location [Link] array length is stored in R2 register.
2. Write an assembly language program to exchange N bytes from location X to location Y. The block
length N is stored in register R2.
3. Write an assembly language program to add two 16-bit numbers loaded in R1R0 and R3R2. Store the
result in R6, R5 and R4 from MSB to LSB.
4. Write an ALP to arrange numbers in ascending/descending order
5. Write an ALP to convert a packed BCD number into two ASCII numbers. Store the result in R5 and
R6 respectively.
6. Write an assembly language program to multiply 16-bit number with 8-bit number and store the result
in memory.
7. Write an 8051 ALP to find average of marks scored by students in 6 subjects. Assume the marks are
stored from location 40h and its average is to be stored at location 50h.
8. Write a program to perform logical AND, OR, and XOR operations.
9. Write a program to add 10 BCD number a stored in successive memory locations starting from 20H in
internal RAM locations and store the result at address 40H and 41H
10. Apply the SUBB instruction to develop an 8051-assembly program that subtracts a 16-bit number
stored in registers R1-R0 from another 16-bit number stored in R3-R2. Explain how the Carry flag
must be managed between the subtraction of the lower bytes and the upper bytes.
L4 Level questions:
1. Explain and analyse program execution steps during assembling, linking, and debugging of an 8051
program.
2. Check the following instructions to be valid or invalid. Justify with reasons:
i) MOV P2, #0FFH (ii) MOV R3, R4 (iii) SETB PCON.7 (iv) MOV A, @R2 (v) PUSH R7
3. Write and analyse a program for hexadecimal to BCD conversion.
4. Compare conditional and unconditional jump instructions in 8051.
5. Analyse the execution of arithmetic and logical instructions with flag status changes.
Module -3
L2 Level questions:
1. What are the advantages of programming 8051 in C language?
2. Discuss the data types in 8051C.
3. Describe different timer modes in 8051.
4. Explain the timer structures of 8051 with TMOD register
5. Explain different types of logic operations in 8051C.
6. Explain mod 2 operations of timers and explain steps involved in programming timer in mod 2
7. Explain how the TMOD register configures Timer 0 and Timer 1.
8. Describe the difference between Mode 1 and Mode 2 of timer operation.
9. Illustrate how the C/T bit affects the timer/counter functionality.
10. Why is the crystal frequency important in timer delay calculations?
11. Explain the modes available for Timer 0 /Timer 1 in 8051.
12. Explain the purpose of the TMOD register in 8051.
L3 Level questions:
1. Indicate which mode and which timer are selected for each of the following. (i) MOV TMOD, #01H
(ii) MOV TMOD, #20H (iii) MOV TMOD, #12H.
2. Compare the use of Timer 0 and Timer 1 for delay generation.
3. Develop an assembly language program to continuously generate a square wave of 10 kHz frequency
on pin P1.5 using timer 1in mode 1. Assume the crystal oscillator frequency to be 12 MHz
4. Develop an assembly language segment that uses timer 1 in mode 2 to toggle P1.0 once whenever the
counter reaches a count of 100. Assume the timer clock is taken from external source P3.5 (T1).
5. Write an 8051 C program to send hex values for ASCII characters of 0, 1,2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, C, and D to
port P1.
6. LEDs are connected to bits P1 and P2. Write an 8051 C program that shows the count from 0 to FFH
(0000 0000 to 1111 1111 in binary) on the LEDs.
7. Write an 8051 C program to get a byte of data form P1, wait ½ second, and then send it to P2.
8. Write an 8051 C program to toggle bits of P1 continuously forever with some delay.
[Link] a assemble language program to toggle all the bits of Port 2 for every 200ms. Assume
crystal is 11.0592MHz. Show all the calculations needed.
[Link] an 8051 C program to send values of –4 to +4 to port P1.
12. Write an 8051 C program to toggle bits of P1 ports continuously with a 250 ms.
13. Write an 8051 C program to get a byte of data form P0. If it is less than 100, send it to P1; otherwise,
send it to P2.
Module -4
L2 Level questions:
1. Explain the role of the baud rate in serial communication.
2. Explain the different types of interrupts available in 8051.
3. Explain the function of the SBUF and SCON registers in 8051 serial Communication.
4. Explain an interrupt in the 8051 microcontroller, and why is it used.
5. Illustrate the function of the TI and RI flags in serial communication.
6. Explain the role of Timer 1 in setting baud rate for serial communication.
7. Describe the steps involved in transmitting a character via serial port in assembly.
8. Explain full duplex, half duplex and simplex in serial communication
9. Explain the function of the IE and IP registers in 8051?
10. State the default priority order of interrupts in 8051.
L3 Level questions:
1) Write an 8051 C Program to send the two messages “Normal Speed” and “High Speed” to the serial
port. Assuming that SW is connected to pin P2.0, monitor it status and set the baud rate as follows:
SW = 0, 28,800 baud rate, SW = 1, 56K baud rate. Assume that XTAL = 11.0592 MHz.
2) Develop a C program using timer interrupt to blink an LED with time delay.
3) Develop a C program to transfer the message “YES” serially at 9600 baud, 8-bit data, 1 stop bit. Do
this continuously.
4) Develop a C program that continuously get 8-bit data from P0 and sends it to P1 while simultaneously
creating square wave that has a high portion of 1085µs and low portion of 15µs. Assume XTAL-
11.0592MHz and use timer 1.
5) Implement a C function to initialize the serial port for 9600 baud rate.
6) Discuss how 8051 connects to RS232 using MAX232.
7) Develop a C program to handle external interrupt INT0 on falling edge.
8) Discuss the difference between polling and interrupt-driven I/O.
9) Develop a C program to send ‘A’ from serial port with the use of interrupt.
10) Develop a C Program the 8051 in C to receive bytes of data serially and put them in P1. Set the baud
rate at 4800, 8-bit data, and 1 stop bit.
L4 level questions:
1. Analyse the use of mode 1 over mode 0 for serial communication in embedded systems.
2. Compare and contrast serial port modes 0, 1, 2, and 3 in 8051.
3. Compare and contrast the behaviour of level-triggered vs edge-triggered external interrupts.
4. Analyse the use of TI and RI flags in C-based serial communication and how they affect program flow.
Module -5
L2 Level questions:
1. Explain the difference between firmware and application software in embedded systems.
2. Explain the concept embedded system design.
3. Differentiate between general-purpose systems and embedded systems.
4. Explain the role of sensors and actuators in embedded hardware.
5. Define LCD and explain its basic types used in embedded systems.
6. Describe the function of ADC and DAC in embedded systems.
7. Explain the control signals used in keyboard interfacing.
8. Explain the resolution and input range of ADC0808.
9. Describe the role of control and data lines in LCD communication.
10. Describe how a matrix keyboard is scanned using row-column technique.
L3 Level questions:
1. Discuss on different types of ROM’s used in embedded system.
2. Discuss in detail on applications of embedded system.
3. Write an 8051 Assembly Language Program (ALP) to display the message "EXAM" on an LCD.
4. Develop a C program to rotate the DC motor clockwise and anticlockwise continuously with full
step sequence with a neat hardware diagram.
5. Discuss on classification of Embedded system.
6. Develop a C program to rotate the stepper motor clockwise and anticlockwise continuously with full
step sequence with a neat hardware diagram.
7. Discuss on different types of RAM’s in used in embedded system.
8. Discuss on firmware used in embedded system design.
9. Develop a C program to generate sine wave.
10. Develop an assembly language program to interface LCD to 8051 microcontrollers with a neat
hardware diagram.
L4 level Questions:
1) Analyse the trade-offs between implementing a function in hardware vs. software in embedded
design.
2) Compare the performance requirements of a hard real-time system vs. a soft real-time system.
3) Evaluate how the constraints of size, power consumption, and cost influence processor selection.
4) Differentiate between monolithic firmware design and a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
based design.
5) Investigate the primary failure points in an embedded system hardware-software integration
phase.