CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 What is an Embedded System?
• Electronic devices that incorporate a
computer (usually a microprocessor) within
their implementation.
• A computer is used in such devices
primarily as a means to simplify the system
design and to provide flexibility.
• Often the user of the device is not even
aware that a computer is present.
Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
Aerospace Navigation systems, automatic landing
systems, flight attitude controls, engine
controls, space exploration (e.g., the Mars
Pathfinder).
Automotive Fuel injection control, passenger
environmental controls, anti-lock braking
systems, air bag controls, GPS mapping.
Children's Nintendo's "Game Boy", Mattel's "My
Toys Interactive Pooh", Tiger Electronic's
"Furby".
Communi- Satellites; network routers, switches, hubs.
cations

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Computer Printers, scanners, keyboards, displays,
Peripherals modems, hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives.

Home Dishwashers, microwave ovens, VCRs,

televisions, stereos, fire/security alarm
systems, lawn sprinkler controls,
thermostats, cameras, clock radios,
answering machines.
Industrial Elevator controls, surveillance systems,
robots.
Instrumen- Data collection, oscilloscopes, signal
tation generators, signal analyzers, power supplies.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Medical Imaging systems (e.g., XRAY, MRI, and
ultrasound), patient monitors, heart pacers.

Office FAX machines, copiers, telephones, cash

Automation registers.

Personal Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), pagers,

cell phones, wrist watches, video games,
portable MP3 players, GPS.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Embedded Rules!
• Embedded processors account for 100% of
worldwide microprocessor production!

• Embedded:desktop = 100:1

• 1999: #embedded processors in the home

estimated at 40-50.
Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
 Design Goal: Reliability
• Mission Critical

• Life-Threatening

• 24/7/365

• Can’t reboot!
Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
 Design Goal: Performance
• Multitasking and Scheduling

• Optimized I/O  Assembly Language

• Limits, Inaccuracies of Fixed Precision

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Design Goal: Cost
• Consumer Market: Minimize
Manufacturing Cost.

• Fast Time to Market Required

• No chance for future modification.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 What is a Real-Time System?
• Real-time systems process events.
• Events occurring on external inputs cause
other events to occur as outputs.
• Minimizing response time is usually a
primary objective, or otherwise the entire
system may fail to operate properly.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Hard/Soft Real-Time Systems
• Soft Real-Time System
– Compute output response as fast as possible,
but no specific deadlines that must be met.

• Hard Real-Time System

– Output response must be computed by specified
deadline or system fails.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Multi-Tasking and Concurrency
• Most real-time systems are also embedded
systems w/several inputs and outputs and
multiple events occurring independently.
• Separating tasks simplifies programming,
but requires somehow switching back and
forth among the three task (multi-tasking).
• Concurrency is the appearance of
simultaneous execution of multiple tasks.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Three Concurrent Tasks Within a
Programmable Thermostat

/* Monitor Temperature */ /* Monitor Time of Day */ /* Monitor Keypad */

do forever { do forever { do forever {
measure temp ; measure time ; check keypad ;
if (temp < setting) if (6:00am) if (raise temp)
start furnace ; setting = 72oF ; setting++ ;
else if (temp > else if (11:00pm) else if (lower temp)
setting + delta) setting = 60oF ; setting-- ;
stop furnace ; } }
}

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Programming Languages Used in
New Embedded Designs
90.0%

80.0%

70.0%
1998-1999
60.0%
1999-2000
50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Assembly C C++ Java Other

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 The build and load process for
desktop application programs.
Object Files

Compiler Executable
Image File
Read-Write

Loader
Memory (RAM)

Linker
Assembler

Run-Time Library:

Boot
Operating System Image:
Process

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 The build and load process for
embedded application programs.
Object Executable ROM
Files Image File Read-Write
Image
Compiler Memory
File
(RAM)

Locator
Assembler
Program
Linker
Initialization
Re-Entrant Library:
Read-Only
Memory
Real-Time Kernel: ROM
(ROM)
"Burner"

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Use of Real-Time Kernels in
New Embedded Designs.
100.0%

80.0%

60.0%

40.0%

20.0%

0.0%
4-bit 8-bit 16-bit 32-bit 64-bit Special

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Examples of Embedded Real-Time Software.
Property FAX Machine CD Player

Microprocessor: 16-bit 8-bit

Number of Threads: 6 9
Read-Write Memory
2048 Bytes 512 Bytes
(RAM):
Total RAM Actually Used: 1346 Bytes (66%) 384 Bytes (75%)

Amount Used by Kernel: 250 Bytes (19%) 146 Bytes (38%)

Read-Only Memory
32.0 KB 32.0 KB
(ROM):
Total ROM Actually Used: 28.8 KB (90%) 17.8 KB (56%)

Amount Used by Kernel: 2.5 KB (8.7%) 2.3 KB (13%)

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
Processor Types Used in New
Embedded Designs
60.0%

50.0% 1998-1999
1999-2000
40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
4-bit 8-bit 16-bit 32-bit 64-bit Special

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Hunter
Programmable Digital
Thermostat.

Microprocessor: 4-bit

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product:Vendo V-
MAX 720 vending
machine.

Microprocessor:
8-bit Motorola
68HC11.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Product: Sonicare Plus toothbrush.
Microprocessor: 8-bit Zilog Z8.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Miele
dishwashers.

Microprocessor: 8-bit
Motorola 68HC05.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: NASA's Mars
Sojourner Rover.

Microprocessor:
8-bit Intel 80C85.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: CoinCo USQ-
712 coin changer.

Microprocessor:
8-bit Motorola
68HC912.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Garmin
StreetPilot GPS
Receiver.

Microprocessor: 16-
bit.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: TIQIT
Computer’s
“Matchbox PC”.

Microprocessor: 32-
bit AMD Elan
SC410.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Palm Vx
handheld.

Microprocessor:
32-bit Motorola
Dragonball EZ.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Motorola i1000plus
iDEN Multi-Service Digital
Phone.

Microprocessor: Motorola
32-bit MCORE.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Rio 800 MP3
Player.

Microprocessor: 32-bit
RISC.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: RCA
RC5400P DVD
player.

Microprocessor: 32-
bit RISC.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: IBM
Research’s Linux wrist
watch prototype.

Microprocessor:
32-bit ARM RISC.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

 Product: Sony Aibo
ERS-110 Robotic Dog.

Microprocessor: 64-bit
MIPS RISC.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2000, Daniel W. Lewis. All Rights Reserved.