What is an Embedded System?

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software designed for a

specific function. Embedded systems may also function within a larger system. The systems
can be programmable or have a fixed functionality. Industrial machines, consumer
electronics, agricultural and processing industry devices, automobiles, medical equipment,
cameras, digital watches, household appliances, airplanes, vending machines and toys, as
well as mobile devices, are possible locations for an embedded system.

While embedded systems are computing systems, they can range from having no user
interface (UI) -- for example, on devices designed to perform a single task -- to complex
graphical user interfaces (GUIs), such as in mobile devices. User interfaces can
include buttons, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and touchscreen sensing. Some systems use
remote user interfaces as well.

Marketsand Markets, a business-to-business (B2B) research firm, predicted that the

embedded market will be worth $116.2 billion by 2025. Chip manufacturers for embedded
systems include many well-known technology companies, such as Apple, IBM, Intel and
Texas Instruments. The expected growth is partially due to the continued investment in
artificial intelligence (AI), mobile computing and the need for chips designed for high-level
processing.

Examples of embedded systems

Embedded systems are used in a wide range of technologies across an array of industries.
Some examples include:

 Automobiles. Modern cars commonly consist of many computers (sometimes as

many as 100), or embedded systems, designed to perform different tasks within
the vehicle. Some of these systems perform basic utility functions and others
provide entertainment or user-facing functions. Some embedded systems in
consumer vehicles include cruise control, backup sensors, suspension control,
navigation systems and airbag systems.

 Mobile phones. These consist of many embedded systems, including GUI

software and hardware, operating systems (OSes), cameras, microphones, and
USB (Universal Serial Bus) I/O (input/output) modules.

 Industrial machines. They can contain embedded systems, like sensors, and can
be embedded systems themselves. Industrial machines often have embedded
automation systems that perform specific monitoring and control functions.

 Medical equipment. These may contain embedded systems like sensors and

control mechanisms. Medical equipment, such as industrial machines, also must
be very user-friendly so that human health isn't jeopardized by preventable
machine mistakes. This means they'll often include a more complex OS and GUI
designed for an appropriate UI.
Block Diagram

Processor: The processor is the heart of embedded system. The selection of processor is

based on the following consideration

 Instruction set
 Maximum bits of operation on single arithmetic and logical operation
 Speed
 Algorithms processing and capability
 Types of processor( microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor,
application specific processor, general purpose processor)

Power source:
Internal power supply is must. Es require from power up to power down to start time task.
Also it can run continuously that is stay “On’ system consumes total power hence efficient
real time programming by using proper ‘wait’ and ‘stop’ instruction or disable some unit
which are not in use can save or limit power consumption.
Clock / oscillator Circuits:
The clock ckt is used for CPU, system timers, and CPU machine cycles clock controls the
time for executing an instruction. Clock oscillator may be internal or external .It should be
highly stable.
Real time clock(RTC):
It require to maintain scheduling various tasks and for real time programming RTC also use
for driving timers, counters needs in the system.
Resets Ckts and power on reset:
Reset process starts executing various instruction from the starting address. The address is set
by the processor in the program counter. The reset step resent and runs the program in the
following way

 System program that execute from beginning

 System boot up program
 System initialization program

Memory :
A system embeds either in the internal flash or ROM, PROM or in an external flash or ROM
or PROM of the microcontroller.

Application of Embedded System

What is a Microcontroller?

A Microcontroller is a VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) Integrated Circuit (IC) that
contains electronic computing unit and logic unit (combinedly known as CPU), Memory
(Program Memory and Data Memory), I/O Ports (Input / Output Ports) and few other
components integrated on a single chip.

Basic Structure of a Microcontroller

You might have seen the basic structure of a Microcontroller many times. If you have already
seen the structure of Microcontroller and the basic components of a Microcontroller before,
then consider this as a revision. If you haven’t seen it, then it is very important to get an idea
about the basic structure of a Microcontroller.

The following image shows the Basic Structure of a Microcontroller.

From the above image, you can understand that the three important (or major) components of
a Microcontroller are:

 The CPU (Central Processing Unit)

 The Memory and
 The I/O Ports
This doesn’t mean that other components are of less importance. But these can be considered
as supporting devices. We will now see each of the Basic Components of a Microcontroller
mentioned in the above structure.

CPU
Central Processing Unit or CPU is the brain of the Microcontroller. It consists of an
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and a Control Unit (CU). A CPU reads, decodes and executes
instructions to perform Arithmetic, Logic and Data Transfer operations.

Memory
Any Computational System requires two types of Memory: Program Memory and Data
Memory. Program Memory, as the name suggests, contains the program i.e. the instructions
to be executed by the CPU. Data Memory on the other hand, is required to store temporary
data while executing the instructions.

Usually, Program Memory is a Read Only Memory or ROM and the Data Memory is a
Random Access Memory or RAM. Data Memory is sometimes called as Read Write Memory
(R/W M).
I/O Ports
The interface for the Microcontroller to the external world is provided by the I/O Ports or
Input/Output Ports. Inputs device like Switches, Keypads, etc. provide information from the
user to the CPU in the form of Binary Data.

The CPU, upon receiving the data from the input devices, executes appropriate instructions
and gives response through Output Devices like LEDs, Displays, Printers, etc.

Bus
Another important component of a Microcontroller, but rarely discussed is the System Bus. A
System bus is a group of connecting wire that connect the CPU with other peripherals like
Memory, I/O Ports and other supporting components.

Timers/Counters
One of the important components of a Microcontroller are the Timers and Counters. They
provide the operations of Time Delays and counting external events. Additionally, Timers
and Counters can provide Function Generation, Pulse Width Modulation, Clock Control, etc.

Serial Port
One of the important requirement of a Microcontroller is to communicate with other device
and peripherals (external). Serial Port proves such interface through serial communication.
Most common serial communication implemented in Microcontrollers is UART.

Interrupts
A very important feature of a Microcontroller is Interrupts and its Interrupt Handling
Mechanism. Interrupts can be external, internal, hardware related or software related.

ADC (Analog to Digital Converter)

Analog to Digital Converter or ADC is a circuit that converts Analog signals to Digital
Signals. The ADC Circuit forms the interface between the external Analog Input devices and
the CPU of the Microcontroller. Almost all sensors are analog devices and the analog data
from these sensors must be converted in to digital data for the CPU to understand.

DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)

DIgital to Analog Converter or DAC is a circuit, that works in contrast to an ADC i.e. it
converts Digital Signals to Analog Signals. DAC forms the bridge between the CPU of the
Microcontroller and the external analog devices.
Classification based on Bytes