通信工程文献翻译——单片机是一个集成在单个芯片上的完整的计算机系统。即使他大部分的功能集成在一个小芯片上，但它有一个完整计算机所需要的大部分组件：中央处理器，内存，内部和外部总线系统，大多数将有核心。同时集成如通信接口，定时器，实时时钟等周边设备。而现在最强大的单片微机系统甚至可以在单个芯片上进行语音，图像，网络，输入和输出复杂系统的集成。

单片机也称微控制器，因为它首先用于工业控制领域。单片机仅由芯片的CPU专用处理器开发。最早的设计理念是通过大量外设和CPU，集成在单个芯片上，使计算机系统更小，更容易集成到复杂和苛刻的音量控制设备中。英特尔的Z80是第一款符合处理器设计理念的，从那时起，单片机和专用处理器的发展便分道扬镳。

早期单片机是8位或4位的。其中最成功的是英特尔的8031，因为一个简单而可靠的性能获得了很多好评。此后在8031上发展出了MCS51系列单片机系统。基于这一系统的单片机到现在仍然被广泛使用。由于工业控制领域要求的提高，开始有了16位单片机，但因为价格过高并没有得到很广泛的应用。90年代后随着消费电子产品的大发展，单片机技术取得了一个巨大的进步。随后英特尔i960系列特别是ARM系列的广泛应用，32位单片机迅速的取代了16位单片机的高端地位，并且进入主流市场。传统的8位单片机的性能也得到了快速的提高，在处理能力方面比80年代高了几百倍。目前，高端的32位单片机主频已经超过300MHz，基本相当于90年代中期专用处理器的性能，而普通的型号的价格降到了1美元，最高端的型号也只有10美元。当代单片机系统已不再是在裸机环境下开发和使用了，大量专用的嵌入式操作系统被广泛应用于全系列单片机中。在平板电脑和手机核心处理的高端单片机甚至可以直接使用专用的Windows和Linux操作系统。

单片机比专用处理器更适合嵌入式系统，因为它的应用程序更多。其实单片机是世界上数量最大的计算机。现代人类生活中使用的几乎每一块电子和机械产品都集成有单片机。手机，电话，计算器，家用电器，电子玩具，平板电脑及鼠标等电脑配件都配有1-2个单片机。而个人电脑也有大量的单片机在工作。车辆上配备了40多个单片机，复杂的工业控制系统上甚至可能有数百个单片机在同时工作！ 单片机不仅远远超过了PC和其他集成计算机的数量，甚至超过了人的数量。......

Single-chip is an integrated on a single chip a complete computer system. Even though most of his features in a small chip, but it has a need to complete the majority of computer components: CPU, memory, internal and external bus system, most will have the Core. At the same time, such as integrated communication interfaces, timers, real-time clock and other peripheral equipment. And now the most powerful single-chip microcomputer system can even voice, image, networking, input and output complex system integration on a single chip. 

Also known as single-chip MCU (Microcontroller), because it was first used in the field of industrial control. Only by the single-chip CPU chip developed from the dedicated processor. The design concept is the first by a large number of peripherals and CPU in a single chip, the computer system so that smaller, more easily integrated into the complex and demanding on the volume control devices. INTEL the Z80 is one of the first design in accordance with the idea of the processor, From then on, the MCU and the development of a dedicated processor parted ways. 

Early single-chip 8-bit or all of the four. One of the most successful is INTEL's 8031, because the performance of a simple and reliable access to a lot of good praise. Since then in 8031 to develop a single-chip microcomputer system MCS51 series. Based on single-chip microcomputer system of the system is still widely used until now. As the field of industrial control requirements increase in the beginning of a 16-bit single-chip, but not ideal because the price has not been very widely used. After the 90's with the big consumer electronics product development, single-chip technology is a huge improvement. INTEL i960 Series with subsequent ARM in particular, a broad range of applications, quickly replaced by 32-bit single-chip 16-bit single-chip high-end status, and enter the mainstream market. Traditional 8-bit single-chip performance has been the rapid increase in processing power compared to the 80's to raise a few hundred times. At present, the high-end 32-bit single-chip frequency over 300MHz, the performance of the mid-90's close on the heels of a special processor, while the ordinary price of the model dropped to one U.S. dollars, the most high-end models, only 10 U.S. dollars. Contemporary single-chip microcomputer system is no longer only the bare-metal environment in the development and use of a large number of dedicated embedded operating system is widely used in the full range of single-chip microcomputer. In PDA and cell phones as the core processing of high-end single-chip or even a dedicated direct access to Windows and Linux operating systems. ......