A microcontroller is a single-chip computer. Before the invention of the microcontrollers most intelligent systems were designed using microprocessors. A microprocessor is the processing element of a computer, consisting of an Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) and the Control Unit (CU). A microprocessor on its own is useless and it has to be supported by a large number of peripheral chips, such as memory, input-output, timer, interrupt logic and so on. Currently there are many microcontroller chips manufactured by various companies. This book is based on using the highly popular PIC16F887 type microcontroller. GSM/GPRS modems are used in all mobile phones. This book teaches the basic principles of microcontrollers and shows how they can be used in GSM/GPRS based communications projects. All of the examples and the projects in the book are based on the highly popular mikroC language, developed by mikroElektronika.
Prof. Dr. Dogan Ibrahim is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He is the author of over 60 technical books, published by international famous publishers, such as Wiley, Butterworth, and Newnes. In addition, he is the author of over 250 technical papers, published in journals, and presented in seminars.