Lecture 9

Embedded System Design

Kumary Sumi Rani Shaha

Lecturer
Dept. of EECE, PUST

29 August 2023 1
 Definition
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Embedded System:
An embedded System is a system where a microcontroller based or a
microprocessor based programmable system is embedded in a larger
system.

Any device that includes a computer but is not itself a general

purpose computer.

It has hardware as well as software and it is a part of some larger

systems and expected to function without human intervention.

An embedded system is expected to respond, monitor as well as

control environment using sensors and actuators.
 Definition
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An embedded system is a combination of hardware and software with

some attached peripherals to perform a specific task or a narrow range of
tasks with restricted resources. It is an electronic system that is not
directly programmed by the user, unlike a personal computer.

An embedded system is a device that incorporates a computer within its

implementation, primarily as a means to simplify the system design, and
to provide flexibility; and the user of the device is not even aware that a
computer is present. It is a microcontroller-based, software driven,
reliable, real time control system,. Autonomous or human or network
interactive, operating on diverse physical variables and in diverse
environments, and sold in a competitive and cost conscious market.
Generally, an embedded system is a subsystem in ~ larger system and it
is application specific.
 Definition
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The generic block diagram of an embedded system is shown in Figure

1.1. Every embedded system consists of certain input devices such as: key
boards, switches, sensors, actuators; output devices such as: displays,
buzzers, sensors; processor along with a control program embedded in the
off-chip or on-chip memory, and a real time operating system (RTOS).
 Characteristics
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The important characteristics of an embedded system are:

Speed (bytes/sec) : Should be high speed

Power (watts) : Low power dissipation
Size and weight : As far as possible small in size and low weight
Accuracy (% error) : Must be very accurate
Adaptability: High adaptability and accessibility.
Reliability: Must be reliable over a long period of time.

So, an embedded system must perform the operations at a high speed so

that it can be readily used for real time applications and its power
consumption must be very low and the size of the system should be as
for as possible small and the readings must be accurate with minimum
error. The system must be easily adaptable for different situations.
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 Categories of Embedded systems
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Embedded systems can be classified into the following categories

based on their functional and performance requirements.
Embedded systems

Functional Requirements
1. Stand-alone embedded systems 1. Small scale embedded system
2. Real time embedded system 2. Medium scale embedded system
a) Hard real time E.S 3. Large scale embedded or
b) Soft Real time E.S Sophisticated Embedded Systems
3. Networked embedded system
4. Mobile embedded system
 Categories of Embedded systems
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Stand-alone Embedded systems:

A stand-alone embedded system works by itself. It is a self-contained device which
does not require any host system like a computer.
EX: Temperature measurement systems, Video game consoles, MP3 players, digital
cameras, and microwave ovens are the examples for this category.
Real-time embedded systems:
An embedded system which gives the required output in a specified time or which
strictly follows the time deadlines for completion of a task is known as a Real time
system
There are two types of Real time systems. (i) Soft real time system and (ii) Hard real
time system.
Soft Real-Time system: A Real time system in which, the violation of time constraints
will cause only the degraded quality, but the system can continue to operate is known
as a Soft real time system. Ex: A Microwave Oven, washing machine, TV remote etc.
 Categories of Embedded systems
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Hard Real-Time system: A Real time system in which, the violation of time
constraints will cause critical failure and loss of life or property damage is known as a
Hard Real time system. Ex: Deadline in a missile control embedded system , Delayed
alarm during a Gas leakage , A delayed response in pacemakers ,Failure in RADAR
functioning etc.
Networked embedded systems:
The networked embedded systems are related to a network with network interfaces to
access the resources. The connected network can be a Local Area Network (LAN) or a
Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet. The connection can be either wired or
wireless. Ex: A home security system is an example of a LAN networked embedded
system where all sensors (e.g. motion detectors, light sensors, or smoke sensors) are
wired and running on the TCP/IP protocol.
Mobile Embedded systems:
The portable embedded devices like mobile and cellular phones, digital cameras, MP3
players, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) are the example for mobile embedded
systems. The basic limitation of these devices is the limitation of memory and other
resources.
 Categories of Embedded systems
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 Architecture
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 Features of an Embedded System
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Features of an Embedded System:

Embedded Systems are called Product of Hardware and Software Co-
design. Features of different hardware and software units of embedded
systems are explained in the following sections.
Hardware features of standalone embedded systems
Standalone embedded system includes different types of processors,
power supply unit, clock, reset circuit, memories which are considered
to be most essential hardware components of standalone embedded
systems.
Different types of processors used
Different types of processors available can be categorized into four
broad categories (l) General purpose processor (GPP) (2) Application
specific System processor (ASSP) (3) Multiprocessor system and (4)
GPP core or ASIP core.
 Features of an Embedded System
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General Purpose Processor (GPP) may be any one of Microprocessor,

Microcontroller, Embedded processor, Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and Media
processor.
Application Specific System Processor (ASSP): ASSP is dedicated for faster
processing and useful for applications like real time video processing which
incorporates lots of processing before transmitting. It may also include some features
of RTOS. ASSP provides hardwired solution for most of its time consuming tasks. For
example ASSP chip i2ehip has TCP, UDP, IP, ARP and Ethernet 10/100 MAC
Multiprocessor System: As embedded algorithm has to work within strict deadline,
sometimes it may not be possible to carry out the same with a single processor. In a
real time video processing number of MAC (multiply and accumulate unit) operations
required may be more than possible from one DSP unit. In such a case an embedded
system may go for two or more processors. Similar requirement may be needed in
modem cell phones which has to perform number of tasks. Multiprocessors are used
when a single processor doesn’t meet the need of the different tasks that have to be
performed concurrently. The operations of all processors are synchronized to obtain an
optimum performance.
 Features of an Embedded System
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GPP core or ASIP core:

GPP core or ASIP core is integrated into either an Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) or a VLSI or an FPGA (Field programming Gate Array) core
integrated with processor units. Lately a new innovation in this area is System on Chip
(SOC). A SOC may be embedded with multiple processors, memories, multiple
standard source solutions called IP (Intellectual Property) core and other logic and
analog units. It may have also a network protocol embedded on it. It can embed DSP
applications and FPGA core.
For various security application, smart card, video game, mobile Internet, Gbps
transceiver, Gbps LAN, missile system needs a special processing unit on a VLSI
design circuit to function as a processor.
Power supply unit:
Generally embedded system has its own Power supply unit. Four range of voltage (i)
5.0V  0.25V (ii) 3.3V  0.3V (iii) 2.0V  0.2V (iv) 1.5V  0.2V are used for
operation of different units. Additionally 12V  0.2V supply is needed for a flash or
EEPROM and RS232 Serial Interfaces.
 Features of an Embedded System
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Clock Oscillator
The function of this oscillator circuit is to provide an accurate and stable periodic
clock signal to a processor. The processor needs a clock oscillator as clock controls the
various clocking requirements of CPU. The clocking requirements are the system
timers and CPU machine cycles. The machine cycle includes (i) Fetching code and
data from memory and Decoding and execution and (ii) Transferring results to
memory. The clock controls the time for executing an instruction.

Real time clock or timer units

A timer is suitably configured as system clock sometime referred as RTC (Real Time
Clock). RTC is used by scheduler for real time programming. A hardware timer is a
counter that is incremented at a fixed rate when the system clock pulses. There are
several different types of timers available. A timer/counter can perform several
different tasks. The CPU uses the timer to keep track of time accurately. The timer can
generate a stream of pulses or a single pulse at different frequencies.
 Features of an Embedded System
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Interrupt Handlers
A system possesses a number of devices and the system processor has to control and
handle the requirements of devices by running appropriate Interrupt Service Routine
(ISR) for each. An interrupt handling mechanism must exist in each system to handle
interrupt from various processes in the system.

Reset circuit and Watchdog timer

Reset instruction start execution from starting address otherwise execution start from
this address when it is powered up. The reset circuit activates for a fixed period (a few
clock cycles) and then deactivates to let the program proceed from a default beginning
address. Watchdog timer is a timing device that resets the system after a predefined
timeout this time is usually configured and the watchdog timer is activated within the
first few clock cycles after power up. It has many applications.
 Features of an Embedded System
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Memories
Embedded system makes use of different types of memories based on their features.

Input / Output units and buses:

The system gets input from physical devices such as keypads/boards, sensors,
transducer circuits etc. It gets the values by read operations at the port address. The
system has output ports through which it sends output bytes to the real world. It sends
the values to output by a write operation at the port address. In case of some devices a
port may be used as both input as well as output port. One example is mobile phone
which sends as well as receives signals. There are two types of I/O ports (i) Parallel
port and (ii) Serial port.
 Features of an Embedded System
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DAC/ADC
For automatic control and signal processing applications, a system must provide
necessary interfacing circuit and software for Digital to Analog Conversion (DAC)
unit and Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC) unit. A DAC operation is done with the
help of a combination of PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) unit in the microcontroller
and External Integrator chip. ADC operations are needed in systems for voice
processing, Instrumentation, Data acquisition systems and automatic control.
Data and Address Bus concept
 Challenges in Embedded System
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--Non-Recurrent
Engineering (NRE) cost

--Size
--Power
--Performance
--Flexibility
 Design Goals
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 Requirements
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 Development Process
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 Development Process
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 Embedded System vs General Purpose
Computing
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 Harvard Architecture vs Von Neumann
Architecture
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 Harvard & Von-Neumann Architecture
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Harvard Von Nuemann
Harvard architecture has physically separate Von Nuemann architecture has single physical
program and data memory and separate buses memory for program and data as well as single
to access the same. bus to access the same
With harvard architecture processor can access In Von Nuemann architecture either program
program and data memory at the same time or data can be accessed at a time.
which can help to perform faster program
execution
With harvard architecture it is possible to have With Von Nuemann architecture since only
different address and data bus width for single bus is available, bus characteristics are
program and data memory same for program and data.
HW design of this architecture is complex and HW design for this architecture is simple and
expensive. cost efficient.
Since program and data are different programs Since program and data share the same
are prone to crash caused by program error memory, a program error can rewrite the
itself. instruction and result into undesirable behavior
or crash.
Microchip based PIC microcontroller Pentium, Motorola 68HC11
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Thanks