AT89S52 8-bit Microcontroller with 8K Bytes In-System Programmable Flash

AT89S52 is one of the popular microcontrollers from the Atmel family. AT89S52
microcontroller is an 8-bit CMOS microcontroller having 8k Flash memory and 256 bytes of
RAM memory. It can be operated at 33MHz maximum operating frequency by using an external
oscillator. Like other microcontrollers, It has GPIO pins, three 16-bit timers, one full-duplex
UART communication port, three 16-bit general-purpose timers, on-chip oscillator.

Furthermore, it has 40 pins, out of which 32 are GPIO pins. AT89S52 also has an inbuilt
Watchdog timer to operate microcontroller low power mode. This microcontroller finds its
applications from domestic devices to the industrial level to provide digital control to embedded
systems.

AT89S52 Microcontroller Introduction

It is an 8-bit, low power, high performance, CMOS technology based microcontroller with
having an operating frequency range between 0 to 33MHz. The chip can work in two power
selectable operating modes. This device offers 32 GPIO pins which can be used as digital input-
output pins or also same pins can be used for alternate functions.
AT89S52 Pinout
The pinout of the AT89S52 8-bit microcontroller is shown below:
Pin Configuration
AT89S52 8-bit microcontroller is available in three packages. But the pinout diagram is the same
for all three packages. The pin configuration detail in tabular is mentioned below:

Pin Number Pin Name Function

32-39 Port 0 8 Address and Data/GPIO pins

1-8 Port 1 8 multi-purpose GPIO pins  

21-28 Port 2 8 GPIO pins

10-17 Port 3 8 multi-purpose GPIO pins

9 RST Master Reset pin

18 XTAL2 External Oscillator Output pin

19 XTAL1 External Oscillator Input pin

20 GND Ground pin

40 VCC Power Supply pin

31 EA/VPP External Access Enable/Flash Enable Supply pin

30 ALE/PROG Address Latch Enable/Flash Program pin

29 PSEN Program Store Enable pin

Port 0 pins
All ports of AT89S52 are 8-bit which means each port has 8 multifunctional pins. These general-
purpose input/output pins can be configured for other operations as well when configured for that
purpose using alternate functions of configuration registers. If they are at a low state, they work
as bidirectional high-impedance input pins. But if they pulled high, they are used as digital
output pins.

Port0 pins are also used to upload lower bytes of code to the internal program memory of the
AT89S52 microcontroller and also used for verification of uploaded code. While using these pins
for programming, we need to connect external pull-up resistors with these pins.

Port 1 pins
Similar to port 0, Port1 also has 8-bit dual-directional pins with internal pull-up resistors. Some
of these GPIO pins are used for in-circuit system programming interface and some are used as
alternate functions for three 16-bit Timer/Counter pins.

Pin Number Function

P1.0 T2

P1.1 T2EX

P1.5 MOSI

P1.6 MISO

P1.7 SCK

Port 2 pins
Like port 1, Port2 also has 8-bit dual-directional pins with internal pull-up resistors. Some of
these GPIO pins are used for in-circuit system programming interface and some are used as
alternate functions for three 16-bit Timer/Counter pins.

Port2 pins are also used to upload higher bytes of code to the internal program memory of the
AT89S52 microcontroller and also used for verification of uploaded code. While using these pins
for programming, we need to connect external pull-up resistors with these pins.

Port 3 pins
Port 3 is also an 8-bit port and has 8 GPIO pins. In addition to the input/output function, these
pins also have some special features. Port 3 also used for UART serial data transfer, external
interrupts, and performs external data memory read/write operations.
 Pin Number Function

P3.0 RXD

P3.1 TXD

P3.2 INT0

P3.3 INT1

P3.4 T0

P3.5 T1

P3.6 WR

P3.7 RD

All these pins are bi-directional and TTL pins. They can sink and source currents and all these
have internal pull up resistors for properly defining their states.

AT89S52 Features and Specifications

Features and Peripherals Availability

Architecture 8-bit PIC

Pin Count 40

RAM 256 Bytes

EEPROM/HEF No

Program Memory 8 KiloBytes

CPU speed 33 MHz

 Features and Peripherals Availability

Internal Oscillator No

Number of Comparators 2

ADC No

DAC No

Number of Programmable I/O pins 32

Window Watchdog Timer No

External Oscillator Frequency 23 MHz (max)

Resolution of PWM No

Number of 16-bit Timers 3

Program Memory Type Flash

UART module 1

Power-off Flag Yes

Dual Data Pointer Yes

Operating Voltage 4V – 5.5 V

Operating Temperature -550C – 1250C

Some of the eminent detailed features are listed below:

 It is a high-performance CMOS microcontrollers with Flash Technology

  The unit operates at a wide range of 4 – 5.5 volts, so it is a low power IC.
 The device supports In-system Programming both page and byte mode for the Flash
memory.
The operational frequency is up to 33MHz but can be altered for saving energy.

 The module has a quick programming time with 10,000 read/write cycles.
 The Random Access memory is organized in 256×8 bits.
 The serial communication takes place through a full duplex UART module.
 It comes with a reset option, three 16-bit timers and eight interrupts.
 AT89S52 has two power modes, i.e., idle mode in which  stops processing unit stops
while other peripheral keep working and power-down mode that halts oscillator and other
functions and save RAM contents.
 Watchdog timer to work and wake the device up from sleep mode and can be activated or
deactivated through programming
How to program AT89S52 8-bit Microcontroller
Different software and compilers available in the market can be used to program Atmel
microcontrollers family.

Support Compilers
We need an IDE, IPE, a suitable compiler, and a programmer/debugger to develop a program.
The function of an IDE(Integrated Development Environment) is to provide the environment for
programming. The compiler converts the program into readable HEX files. The IPE(Integrated
Programming Environment) serves the purpose of burning HEX files in AVR MCUs.For IDE ,
we commonly use Keil uVision IDE.

USBASP is an In-circuit programmer/debugger which plays an integral role in programming

microcontrollers. It supports In-Circuit-Serial-Programming and is operated by a computer to
burn the code into AT89S52 8-bit microcontroller. For hardware programming, it is purchased
separately. It is advised to simulate the program beforehand on the software for optimization and
error free programs. Furthermore, hardware like 12 Volts adapter, 7805 Voltage Regulator,
Crystal Oscillator and capacitors are required.
Applications
 Sensor Systems
 Medical systems
 Home automation systems
 Low-cost embedded systems
 Automobiles
 Defense and safety purposes