ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of programmable integrated circuit (PIC) microcontrollers. It describes the general architecture common to the different PIC families, with a special emphasis on several elements based on the working register. The chapter examines how instructions are executed, the different types of oscillators, the low-power consumption mode, and the watchdog timer. It discusses the different types of PIC microcontrollers available on the market. The arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) is one of the fundamental components in a microcontroller. The ALU executes the arithmetic and logic operations available in the instruction set. The main oscillator in PIC microcontrollers can be a crystal oscillator, an RC oscillator, or an external clock. Reset sets the microcontroller in a known, predetermined state. PIC microcontrollers can be classified into three main types according to the length of their instructions: low-end microcontrollers; medium-end microcontrollers; and high-end microcontrollers.
