VietNam National University

University of Engineering and Technology

EMBEDDED SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

(ELT3240, NHẬP MÔN HỆ THỐNG NHÚNG)

Dr. Nguyễn Kiêm Hùng

Email: [email protected]

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Introduction to VietNam National University
Week
Embedded Systems 1-2
University of Engineering
Introduction to Cand Technology
Week
Languague 3

CPU: Week
ARM Cortex-M 4

Curriculum Memory
and Interfaces
Week
5-6

Path ARM-based Week

7
Embedded System

Embedded Software Week

8-9

Real-time Week
Operating systems 10-12

Interfacing Embedded Week

With Real-World 13-14

Project Week
Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems 15
 Objectives

In this lecture you will be introduced to:

– Basic concepts of Embedded Systems
– What is difference and unique about
embedding computing system and general-
purpose computing system,

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems 3

 Outline
• Embedded Computing System
• Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Challenges in Embedded System Design
• Summary

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Review of Computing System
• A computing system (or just computer) is frequently modeled as
a system that includes:
– inputs: physical signals from the environment ,
– outputs: response of system to the environment ,
– and a processing unit: fetches and executes instructions from a memory

An abstract view of a computing system

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems
 Review of Computing System

Which component does a minimal computing

system consists of ?

CPU MEMORY

BUS

INPUT/OUTPUT
INTERFACE

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

An embedded system example -- a digital camera

Digital camera chip

CCD

CCD preprocessor Pixel coprocessor D2A

A2D

lens

JPEG codec Microcontroller Multiplier/Accum

DMA controller Display ctrl

Memory controller ISA bus interface UART LCD ctrl

• Single-functioned -- always a digital camera

• Tightly-constrained -- Low cost, low power, small, fast
• Reactive and real-time -- only to a small extent

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Embedded Computing System
• An embedded system is a specialized computing machine
(other than a general-purpose computer) with the following
features:
– Single dedicated function
• Typically designed to perform a predefined function
– Tightly constraints:
• Low cost
• Single-to-fewer component
• Performs functions fast enough
• Consumes minimum power
– Real-time Response
• Must continually monitor the desired environment and react to changes
– Hardware and software coexistence
• The program written for embedded system is called “firm-ware”, and usually
stored in persistence memory (ROM/Flash)
• The firm-ware can run with limited hardware resourced.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Embedded Computing System
• Embedded systems can be classified based on their complexity and performance
into:
– Small-scale systems
• Perform simple functions, operate on battery, no operating system
• usually built around low-end 8- or 16-bit microprocessors or microcontrollers
• main programming tools: an editor, assembler, cross-assembler, and integrated development
environment (IDE).
• Examples: mouse and TV remote control
– Medium-scale systems
• have both hardware and software complexities, have operating system support
• use 16- or 32-bit microprocessors or microcontrollers
• main programming tools are C, C++, JAVA, Visual C++, debugger, source-code engineering tool,
simulator, and IDE
• Examples: vending machines and washing machines
– Large-scale or sophisticated systems
• have enormous hardware and software complexities
• built around 32- or 64-bit microprocessors or microcontrollers, along with a range of other high-
speed integrated circuits.
• need hardware and software co-design techniques
• Examples: flight-landing gear systems, car braking systems, and military applications
Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems
Embedded Computer vs. General-purpose Computer
How the computing machine is used?
Embedded System General-purpose computer
- A component of some larger - A complete product itself
product; its purpose is narrowly
focused on supporting that product
- End user of the product typically - End user directly interacts with it
does not directly interact with the
embedded system, or interacts with
only a limited interface
- User don’t consider the product (e.g. - User explicitly knows the product
DVD players, MP3 players, game they are buying is a computer
consoles) they are buying is a
computer

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

Embedded Computer vs. General-purpose Computer
How the computing machine is used?

Embedded System General-purpose computer

- Having some of these standard - Having relatively few, standardized
peripherals as well, but also include inputs and outputs: keyboards, mice,
much more specialized ones: network connections, video monitors,
+ special-purpose sensors: and printers
accelerometers, temperature probes,
magnetometers, push button contact
switches, etc.
+ special-purpose outputs: lamps
and LEDs, actuators, TTL electrical
signals, LCD displays, etc.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Embedded System Definition

“Embedded systems are computing systems with tightly

coupled hardware and software integration, that are
designed to perform a dedicated function. The word
‘embedded’ reflects the fact that these systems are
usually an integral part of a larger (mechanical or
electrical) system/product, known as the embedding
system. Multiple embedded systems can coexist in an
embedding system.” – (Qing Li and Carolyn Yao)

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

Embedded Computer vs. General-purpose Computer

Is a handheld computer an embedded system?

• Characteristics of general-purpose computer:

– what is its enclosing product?
– It is not used to control anything
– the computing system is exposed to the user: the user can download general-
purpose applications.
• Characteristics of embedded systems:
– very sensitive to size, weight, and power constraints.
– a limited user interface
– Etc.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

Embedded Computer vs. General-purpose Computer

The exact boundary between general-purpose and

embedded is not black and white but rather a
spectrum.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Outline
• Embedded Computing System
• Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Challenges in Embedded System Design
• Summary

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Embedded Applications
Digital TVs
(Multimedia)

WiFi routers MP3 Players

(Communication) (Multimedia)
Embedded Systems

Mobile phone
(Telecoms, Multimedia)

Washing machine
(Customer Electronics)
Automobile applications

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 Embedded Applications

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• System structure:
– Sensors: to retrieve data from its Microcontroller

environment
RTOS
– ADC: converts the analog data from
the sensor to digital signals
Task 1 Task 2 Task n
– Controller: the brain of the system;
execute a set of real-time tasks
concurrently, may or may not be
with the support of a RTOS
– Actuators: through actuators the A/D D/A
controller acts upon the target
system
– DAC: convert the digital signals Sensors Actuators
from microcontroller to the analog
signal
Target System

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Characteristics of Embedded Systems

• Sophisticated functionality:
– Complex algorithms: automobile, nuclear power, aerospace,
– User interface: voice, image, …
• Performance Constrains:
– Real time:
• Hard real-time
• Soft real-time
– Multi-rate
• Cost Requirements:
– Manufacturing cost
– Power and energy

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Highly Constrained Environments
– highly resource-constrained environments: processor speed,
memory capacity, and user interface
• Concurrency:
– several computations are executing simultaneously and
potentially interacting with each other
• Safety and Reliability
– Safety means “freedom from accidents or losses” in the
absence of faults as well as in the presence of single-point
faults.
– Reliability refers to the ability of a system or component to
perform its required functions under stated conditions for a
specified time.
• measured in failures per million operating hours

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

Why we embed microprocessor in system?

• Microprocessors are a very efficient way to implement

digital systems:
– high-performance processors can execute several instructions per cycle
– CPUs are highly optimized for speed the latest manufacturing
technology
– A microprocessor, on the other hand, can be used for many different
algorithms simply by changing the program it executes.
– Implementation of your application is faster than designing your own
custom logic
• Microprocessors are flexible thank to their programmability:
– it is easier to design families of products
– it is easier to provide new features to keep up with rapidly changing
markets
– it is possible to reuse software for next-generation products, thereby
reducing development time and cost.

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Why we embed microprocessor in system?

Why not use PCs for all embedded computing?

• It is difficult to meet real-time performance requirements

– Real-time performance is often best achieved by multiprocessors or
custom logic
• It is difficult to meet Low power and low cost requirements:
– PCs are designed to satisfy a broad mix of computing requirements .
– In contrast, custom embedded systems that are designed for an
application.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

Why we embed microprocessor in system?

Whether we can use Smartphones as platforms

for embedded computing?

• Features:
• Smartphones are very power efficient
• Smartphones can perform huge amounts of computation in
real time
• Small Size

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Outline
• Embedded Computing System
• Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Challenges in Embedded System Design
• Summary

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Challenges in Embedded System Design
• Some important problems that must be taken into
account in embedded system design:
– How much hardware do we need?
• the choice of hardware must meet both performance deadlines
and manufacturing cost constraints
– How do we meet time constrains?
• to speed up the hardware so that the program runs faster
– How do we minimize power consumption?
• slowing down the system
– How do we design for upgradeability?
• The design must be enough flexible for several product
generations, or for several different versions of a product in the
same generation
– How does it really work?
• Reliability is always important when selling products

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Challenges in Embedded System Design

• The factors makes embedded system designs more

difficult
– Complex testing:
• have to run a real machine in order to generate the proper data
– Limited observability and controllability:
• do not come with keyboards and screens
• in real-time applications it is not easy to stop the system
– Restricted development environments:
• the tools used to develop software and hardware) are often much
more limited

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Outline
• Embedded Computing System
• Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Challenges in Embedded System Design
• Summary

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Summary
• What we Learned
– Basic concepts of Embedded Computing Systems
– Distinguish between embedded Computing Systems and
general-purpose computing Systems

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems

 Review Questions
Q1: What is an embedded computer system? What is difficult and
unique about embedding computing and general-purpose
computer?
Q2: Name three consumer electronics products that have
embedded systems. Name three consumer electronics products
that do not contain embedded computer systems.

Laboratory for Smart Integrated Systems