What is the difference between a ucontroller, PLC and DSP ?
Submitted By: Craig Steiner FAQ Last Modified: 07/10/06
- A PLC is a modular device which one can program using Ladder diagrams (relay logic) or Statement List (a bit like assembly). It is optimized to handle several digital inputs and outputs, and is more rugged for use in industrial applications. Basically it scans the inputs, and determines the outputs based on the logical conditions programmed into it by the user. It internally uses a microcontroller to handle all input, output and logic scans. Application area is mostly industrial automation. http://www.plcs.net/
A Digital Signal Processor is a microcontroller/microprocessor optimized for DSP applications. It has specialized instructions like MAC and registers like barrel shifters, which make DSP operations more efficient. try the following link... http://www.chipcenter.com/circuitce...202bs1.htm DSPs are mostly used for (real-time) signal processing applications, such as audio/ speech/ video processing, and instruments for the analysis of complex signals such as various spectra, seismic signals etc.
Microcontrollers, as you probably know, are cores that will do anything you program them to do. They probably can be used in each of the above applications, but with varying effectiveness. As always, the engineer's work is in discerning which option will work best in a given situation.
For more details, put a search on each of the keywords uC, PLC and DSP and read through the many postings on this forum that cover all sorts of aspects of each of them.
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