Relevant Tools, Standards,

Engineering Constraints and

Characteristics of Embedded
Systems
Classification of Embedded System
Classification of E.S

Classification based on the Functionality & Classification based on

Performance Requirement Hardware and software
Complexity

Standalone Real
Network Mobile Medium
embedded Time Small
Application Embedded Scale Sophisticated
system E.S. Scale
System E.S. E.S.
E.S.
Block Diagram of an Embedded System
SOFTWARE
Memory

A/D CPU D/A Actuators

Sensors Human Interface

Essential Hardware Components
❑ Microprocessor / Microcontroller
❑ Sensors
❑ Converters (ADC and DAC)
❑ Actuators
❑ Memory (On-chip and Off chip)
❑ Communication path with the interacting environment
Important units of Microprocessor/Controller
❑ CPU: Central Processing Unit
❑ Memory: RAM & ROM
❑ I/O: Input /Output
❑ Bus: Address bus & Data bus
❑ Timer
❑ Interrupt
General Purpose Microprocessor vs
Microcontroller

CPU RAM ROM

I/O Serial COM
Timer
Port Port
General Purpose Microcontroller
Microprocessor
Software
❑ Control software
▪ It is responsible for managing different modules of the system.
❑ Computation Extensive software
▪ It is responsible for performing mathematical and logical operations on the
input data. The output of this can be sent back or stored for later use or can
be used by the control software to take certain decisions.
Software
❑ Device Drivers
▪ These are the software modules which control system’speripheral.
❑ User Interface
▪ This software is responsible for collecting user inputs and providing “User
Menu” or “SystemStatus” to the user.
❑ Operating system
▪ It is a software which manages the different resources of a system and
provides an abstraction of the underlying hardware to the users.
Features of Embedded system
❑ modern compacted devices with multifunction capabilities
❑ performs pre-defined tasks, unlike a general-purpose personal
computer
❑ a programmed hardware device
▪ programmable hardware chip:platform, programmed: particular applications
❑ not always standalone devices.
❑ consist of small, computerized parts within a larger device that
serves a more general purpose
Features of Embedded system
❑ Firmware
▪ program instructions written for embedded systems
❑ The program stored in read-only memory (ROM) or Flash memory
chips
❑ They run with limited computer hardware resources: little memory,
small or non-existent keyboard and/or screen.
Embedded System Architecture

Image by: Amr Ali Abdel-Naby. 2011

Development Process Of BASIC Embedded
System
1. Requirements (application)

2. Select microcontroller and H/W

3. Design hardware for your application

4. Write software

5.Write your HEX code to microcontroller

6. Test your prototype product

7. You start your product production

Requirements
❑ Gather an informal description from the customers known as
requirements.
❑ After getting enough information, begin designing the system
architecture.

❑ Example consider for designing washing machine:

▪ Less power
▪ High efficiency
Select microcontroller
❑ Select suitable microcontroller for required system design.
❑ Select special purpose processors if needed for the system like
digital signal processing (DSP) processor.

❑ We can classified like:

▪ 8 bit microcontroller
▪ 16 bit microcontroller
▪ 32 bit microcontroller
Select Hardware
❑ Select required hardware components for the systems.
❑ Examples:
▪ Transducers
▪ Reactors
▪ Communication protocols
▪ Input and Output interfaces
▪ ADCs
Hardware Design
❑ Design printed circuit board using some
computer aided design tools
❑ Two steps are:
▪ Design schematic Schematic Diagram
▪ Design corresponding layout

❑Examples of software for schematic and layout.

▪ Orcad
▪ Proteus
▪ Express PCB
Layout format
Layout Image from: http://www.vegasemi.com/digitald.php
Software Design
Developments Tools
❑ Assembler ❑ Simulator
❑ Compiler ❑ Debugger
❑ Linker and Locator ❑ Emulator
❑ RTOS (Real Time Operating ❑ Profiler
System)
❑ Flash programmer
Test Prototype Product
❑ Multi meter
❑ Oscilloscope
❑ Logic Analyzer
❑ Terminal Emulation software
❑ Simulators & Emulators
Software Developments Tools
Compiler
❑ converts source code that in high level programming language into
low level language

❑ A Native-compiler runs on a computer platform and produces

code for that same computer platform.

❑ A Cross-compiler runs on one computer platform and produces

code for another computer platform.
Compiler
Assembler
❑ converts assembly language program to Machine language program
understandable by microprocessor
❑ An Assembler that runs on Host but produces binary instruction
appropriate for Targetis called Cross- Assembler.
Linker and Locator
❑ A linker or link editor
▪ program that takes one or more objects generated by compilers, and
assembles them into a single executable program or a library that can later
be linked to itself

❑ All of the object files resulting from compiling must be combined

in a special way before the program can be executed.
Linker and Locator
❑ Locator
▪ performs the conversion from relocatable program to executable binary image

❑ It will produce an output file that contains a binary image that can be loaded into the
target ROM.

❑ You will have to provide information about the memory on the target board as input to
the locator.

❑ The locator uses this information to assign physical memory addresses to each of the
code and data sections.
Linker and Locator
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
❑ Real-time Operating System (RTOS)
▪ an operating system that guarantees to perform certain operation (task)
within a specified time constraint

▪ software that manages the time of a microprocessor, microcontroller, or a

digital signal processor
Flash programmer
❑ used to transfer the binary image from personal computer to
embedded systems
❑ Separate software are used for this purpose.

❑ Examples are:
▪ Flash magic
▪ Philips flash utility
Embedded
System

▪ Win pic
▪ Tiny bootloader
Simulator
❑ piece of Hardware/Software that simulates another system
❑ tests the program on the development processor(the
processor on which we are working)

❑ For example, a flight simulator allows you to experience what it is

like to fly an aircraft, a driving simulator to experience driving etc..
Simulator Hardware Simulator Software
Debugger / Debugging tool
❑ a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs

❑ The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator

❑ When the program crashes, the debugger shows the actual position in the original
code, if it is a source-level debugger.

❑ If it is a low-level debugger or a machine-language debugger, it shows that

line in the program.
Emulator
❑ a Hardware/Software that enables one computer system to run
programs that are written for another computer system
❑ used on the target processor (the processor for which the program
is being written).

❑ For example, there is a Commodore 64 emulator for the iPhone

which allow you to run games that written for the iPhone.
Emulator Hardware Emulator software
Profiler
❑ A software program that gathers information about a program
during execution
❑ used to know which areas of code to optimize speed and
memory
❑ Profiler may show time elapsed in each function and its
descendants number of calls , call-graph (some)
Profiler
Constraints in
Embedded System
Constraints in Embedded System
❑ Cost
▪ Competitive markets penalize products which don’t deliver adequate value
for the cost
▪ minimizing cost is usually the primary design consideration
▪ just “good enough” to cover the necessary functions
❑ Size and weight limits
▪ Mobile (aviation, automotive) and portable (e.g. handheld) systems
❑ Power and energy limits
▪ Battery capacity
▪ Cooling limits
Constraints in Embedded System
❑ Environment
▪ extreme operation condition such as high or low temperature (-40°C to 125°C, or
even more), high pressure, high humidity, under water, under collision, etc.
❑ Resource constraint
▪ Embedded systems are constrained for their size, power, capacity (may be battery
operated), limited memory capacity(especially RAM size), CPU speed and function
capacity
❑ Time constraints
▪ Real-time system has response time deadline to meet.
❑ Time to market constraint
▪ Design and development cycle is very limited in order to beat the competent in the
market.
Impact of Constraints
❑ Microcontrollers used (rather than microprocessors)
▪ Include peripherals to interface with other devices, respond efficiently
▪ On-chip RAM, ROM reduce circuit board complexity and cost

❑ Programming language
▪ Programmed in the C language rather than the Java language (resulting in
smaller and faster code, so less expensive MCU)
▪ Some performance-critical code may be in assembly language (a lower level
language)
Impact of Constraints
❑ Operating system
▪ Typically no OS, but instead simple scheduler (or even just interrupts + main
code (foreground/background system)
▪ If OS is used, likely to be a lean RTOS
Characteristics &
Quality Attributes of
Embedded Systems
 Characteristics based on Dependability /
Operational Quality Attributes of Embedded
Systems
❑ Throughput: It deals with the efficiency of a system. It can be defined as the rate
of production or operation of a defined process over a stated period of time.
❑ Reliability: R(t) = probability of system working correctly provided that it was
working at t=0
❑ Maintainability: M(d) = probability of system working correctly d time units
after error occurred.
❑ Availability: probability of system working at time, t
❑ Safety: no harm to be caused
❑ Security: confidential and authentic communication
 Characteristics of Embedded Systems-
Efficiency
1. Application and domain specific
2. Reactive and Real-time / Run-time
3. Operates in harsh environments
4. Distributed
5. Small size and Weight
6. Energy / Power concerns
7. Cost
8. Code-size (especially for systems on a chip)
Application and Domain Specific
❑ has certain functions to perform and they are developed in such a
manner to do the intended functions only
❑ cannot be used for any other purpose
❑ Example:
▪ The embedded control units of the microwave oven cannot be replaced with AC’S
embedded control unit because the embedded control units of microwave
oven and AC are specifically designed to perform certain specific tasks.
Reactive and Real Time
❑ Any changes in the real world are captured by the sensors or
input devices in real time.
❑ Control algorithm (inside the unit) reacts in a designed manner
to bring the controlled output variables to the desired level

❑ Reactive systems produce changes in output in response to

the changes in the input.
Reactive and Real Time
❑ Real time system operation means the timing behaviour of the
system should be deterministic in the system should respond to
requests in a known amount of time.

❑ Example
▪ Embedded system which are mission critical like flight control
systems, Antilock Brake Systems (ABS), etc. are Real Time systems.
Operates in Harsh Environment
❑ The design should consider the operating conditions of the area where
the system is going to be implemented.
❑ Proper shock absorption techniques should be provided to systems
which are going to be commissioned in places subject to high shock.

❑ Example:
▪ If the system needs to be deployed in a high temperature zone, then all the
components used in the system should be of high temperature grade.
Distributed
❑ It means that embedded systems may be a part of a larger
system.

❑ Examples:
▪ Automatic vending machine. It contains a card reader, a vending unit etc.
Each of them are independent embedded units but they work together to
perform the overall vending function.
Small Size and Weight
❑ Product aesthetics (size, weight, shape, style, etc.) is an important
factor in choosing a product.
❑ It is convenient to handle a compact device than a bulky
product.
❑ In embedded domain, compactness is a significant deciding
factor.
Power Concerns
❑ Power management is another important factor that needs to be
considered in designing embedded systems.

❑ should be designed in such a way as to minimize the heat

dissipation by the system
Characteristics of Embedded Systems
❑ Many ES must meet real-time constraints:
❑ A real-time system must react to stimuli from the
controlled object (or the operator) within the time interval.
▪ For real-time systems, right answers arriving too early or too late
are wrong.
▪ An embedded system can be:
▪ Hard real-time system
▪ Soft real-time system
Hard real-time system
❑ tasks should be run in on time , time is major constraints
❑ response time are in the order of milliseconds or less and can result
in a catastrophe if not met
❑ Examples for hard real-time systems are
▪ Missile
▪ Industrial Automation
▪ Automobiles
▪ video transmission, each picture frame and
▪ audio must be transferred at fixed rate
Soft real-time system
❑ The response time are higher and not very stringent.
❑ will slow down their response time if the load is very high
❑ Examples are:
▪ DVD Player
▪ Mobile phones
▪ digital cameras
▪ playing robots
Thank you for listening.
References
• G.Manjunathan, ME. Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology
• Halai Hansika. https://www.slideshare.net/halaihansika/embedded-
system-tools-ppt?from_action=save
• Sneha Chopra. https://www.slideshare.net/PsEditor/embedded-
system-17664693?from_action=save
• Betty Mosley. https://slideplayer.com/slide/12360169/
• Kya Trott. https://slideplayer.com/slide/3298762/