One of the primary choices that really must be produced in the electronics design is which microprocessor or microcontroller architecture will be utilized if the product idea requires processing capability. Most microprocessor or microcontroller tools are obtainable in a variety of configurations of of memory space sizes with a few including non-volatile Flash memory for program storage, quantity and types of input and output pins, package types for surface mount or through-hole applications, clock speeds, and interfaces which can be based on the processor without having to increase the devices.
Once a microprocessor or microcontroller folks are selected, additional decisions should be made on which system clock frequency to utilize, just how much processor and system memory will be needed for the applying, and the way the program development processes can be supported. The option of processor architecture must look at the available software development and testing tools and also the software design resources which will be required for your product's software/firmware design. Additional decisions should be made on how the software/firmware is going to be loaded to the processor's memory during the manufacturing process. Will the style allow the finished product to just accept field or user initiated software/firmware upgrades, or will the product be considered a one-time programmable unit?
Ahead of the processor portion of the design is finished, you need to also define which forms of interfaces to external systems will be required (serial port, parallel port, USB, Ethernet, wireless connection for example 802.11x or Bluetooth, infrared, etc.) as well as the minimum interface bandwidth rates required. All of these factors will play a job in selecting the most effective processor product to use inside your design application. Some microprocessor/microcontroller product examples that you could research will be the MicroChip PAL series as well as the family of products from Atmel as both of these suppliers provide some extremely effective but inexpensive processor solutions.
Electronic components, including microprocessors and microcontrollers, are usually for sale in both surface mount and through-hole versions. Some electronic components could be for sale in only 1 format (including some transformers, relays, capacitors, power resistors, or connectors being available only in through-hole packages). Surface mount components are preferred for any volume level production as they are usually less expensive to purchase, more readily available, and allow for more compact printed circuit board designs as the components take up much less space and can be placed on either side with the board if required. Using surface mount technology may permit the printed circuit board design to utilize a smaller size and/or fewer layers, thus reducing raw board costs. However, surface mount components can make in-house assembly and soldering difficult if not impossible unless you hold the proper equipment and expertise.