Programming Microcontrollers

The Difference between a Simulator and an Emulator

A simulator is software that runs on a PC and allows the microcontroller code to be simulated (run) on the PC. Many programming errors can be identified and corrected during simulation.

An emulator is hardware that connects a PC to the microcontroller in a prototype mechatronic system. It typically consists of a printed circuit board connected to the mechatronic system through ribbon cables. The emulator can be used to load and run a program on the actual microcontroller that is attached to the mechatronic system hardware (containing sensors, actuators, and control circuits). The emulator allows the PC to monitor and control the operation of the microcontroller while it is embedded in the mechatronic system.

Also read: Software Development Tools for a Microcontroller Programmer

Related Resource: Beginning C for Microcontrollers: Making Electronics Dance with Software 

John Mulindi

John Mulindi has a background in a technical field and he writes on topics ranging from automation, computer systems, embedded systems, mechatronics to measurement and control.

Recent Posts

Rigid-Flex PCBs: Enhancing Durability and Flexibility in Electronic Devices

The world of electronics is constantly evolving, allowing designers and manufacturers to push the boundaries…

3 months ago

Key Features of PIC16X84 Family of Microcontrollers

PIC microcontrollers are fabricated by Microchip Technology. PIC16C84 and PIC16F84 are the two microcontrollers in…

10 months ago

ADD Instruction in Intel 8051 (MCS-51) Microcontroller

The ADD instruction tells the microcontroller’s CPU to add the source byte to register A…

10 months ago

Main Features of Intel 8086 Microprocessor

8-bit microprocessors are limited in their speed (the number of instructions that can be executed…

10 months ago

Basic Features of 68HC11 Family of Microcontrollers

The 68HC11 (also abbreviated as 6811 or HC11) is an 8-bit microcontroller that was introduced…

10 months ago

Process Synchronization using Semaphores

Mutual exclusion typically imposes some conditions on access to a given resource by two or…

11 months ago