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Embedded System

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software designed to perform a specific function within a larger system. Embedded systems are found in devices like cars, phones, industrial machines, and medical equipment. They typically include a microprocessor or microcontroller along with memory and communication ports. Embedded systems are designed to perform specialized real-time tasks with minimal software.

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32 views3 pages

Embedded System

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software designed to perform a specific function within a larger system. Embedded systems are found in devices like cars, phones, industrial machines, and medical equipment. They typically include a microprocessor or microcontroller along with memory and communication ports. Embedded systems are designed to perform specialized real-time tasks with minimal software.

Uploaded by

Anoop S Pillai
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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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.
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.
How does an embedded system work?
Embedded systems always function as part of a complete device -- that's what's meant
by the term embedded. They are low-cost, low-power-consuming, small computers that are
embedded in other mechanical or electrical systems. Generally, they comprise a processor,
power supply, and memory and communication ports. Embedded systems use the
communication ports to transmit data between the processor and peripheral devices -- often,

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other embedded systems -- using a communication protocol. The processor interprets this
data with the help of minimal software stored on the memory. The software is usually highly
specific to the function that the embedded system serves.
The processor may be a microprocessor or microcontroller. Microcontrollers are
simply microprocessors with peripheral interfaces and integrated memory included.
Microprocessors use separate integrated circuits for memory and peripherals instead of
including them on the chip. Both can be used, but microprocessors typically require more
support circuitry than microcontrollers because there is less integrated into the
microprocessor. The term system on a chip (SoC) is often used. SoCs include multiple
processors and interfaces on a single chip. They are often used for high-volume embedded
systems. Some example SoC types are the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and
the field-programmable gate array (FPGA).
Often, embedded systems are used in real-time operating environments and use a real-
time operating system (RTOS) to communicate with the hardware. Near-real-time approaches
are suitable at higher levels of chip capability, defined by designers who have increasingly
decided the systems are generally fast enough and the tasks tolerant of slight variations in
reaction. In these instances, stripped-down versions of the Linux operating system are
commonly deployed, although other OSes have been pared down to run on embedded
systems, including Embedded Java and Windows IoT (formerly Windows Embedded).
Characteristics of embedded systems
The main characteristic of embedded systems is that they are task-specific.
Additionally, embedded systems can include the following characteristics:
 typically, consist of hardware, software and firmware;
 can be embedded in a larger system to perform a specific function, as they are built
for specialized tasks within the system, not various tasks;
 can be either microprocessor-based or microcontroller-based -- both are integrated
circuits that give the system compute power;
 are often used for sensing and real-time computing in internet of things (IoT) devices,
which are devices that are internet-connected and do not require a user to operate;
 can vary in complexity and in function, which affects the type of software, firmware
and hardware they use; and
 are often required to perform their function under a time constraint to keep the larger
system functioning properly.
Structure of embedded systems
Embedded systems vary in complexity but, generally, consist of three main elements:
 Hardware. The hardware of embedded systems is based around microprocessors and
microcontrollers. Microprocessors are very similar to microcontrollers and, typically,
refer to a CPU (central processing unit) that is integrated with other basic computing
components such as memory chips and digital signal processors (DSPs).
Microcontrollers have those components built into one chip.

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 Software and firmware. Software for embedded systems can vary in complexity.
However, industrial-grade microcontrollers and embedded IoT systems usually run
very simple software that requires little memory.
 Real-time operating system. These are not always included in embedded systems,
especially smaller-scale systems. RTOSes define how the system works by
supervising the software and setting rules during program execution.
In terms of hardware, a basic embedded system would consist of the following elements:
o Sensors convert physical sense data into an electrical signal.
o Analog-to-digital (A-D) converters change an analog electrical signal into a digital
one.
o Processors process digital signals and store them in memory.
o Digital-to-analog (D-A) converters change the digital data from the processor into
analog data.
o Actuators compare actual output to memory-stored output and choose the correct one.
The sensor reads external inputs, the converters make that input readable to the processor,
and the processor turns that information into useful output for the embedded system.

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