EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

COURSE CODE: ECEG – 4202

 COURSE CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Embedded Systems
CHAPTER 2 Embedded Microcontrollers (8051)
CHAPTER 3 Overview of Assembly Language
Programming Concepts
CHAPTER 4 Applications
CHAPTER 5 Real-time Operating systems
CHAPTER 6 Reliable System Design & Networked
Embedded Systems
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
 Contents
• Definition of Embedded System
• Block diagram of Embedded Systems
• Classification of Embedded Systems
• Embedded System Design Process
• Characteristics of Embedded System
• Difference between Microprocessor and
Microcontroller
 Introduction
• Rapid pace of information technology is due to
introduction of microprocessors
• Most of us think of computers as
 Servers: big, expensive, 24x7 availability
 Desktop: computers on your desk
 Laptops: computers you carry on your bag
 PDA(personal digital assistants ): computers you
carry on your pocket
• Embedded systems???
What are embedded systems
and why do we care?
Application
Areas
 Application Areas
• Medical Systems
– pace maker, patient monitoring systems, injection systems, intensive
care units, …
• Office Equipment
– printer, copier, fax, …
• Tools
– multimeter, oscilloscope, line tester, GPS, …
• Banking
– ATMs, statement printers, …
• Transportation
– Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Boats
• Radar, Traffic lights, Signaling systems, …
• Automobiles
– engine management, trip computer, cruise control,
immobilizer, car alarm,
– airbag, ABS, …
• Building Systems
– elevator, heater, air conditioning, lighting, key card
entries, locks, alarm systems, …
• Agriculture
– feeding systems, milking systems, …
• Space
– satellite systems, …
Example: Car Door
Example: Refrigerator
Example: The robot Autonomous Guided Vehicle
Definition of Embedded Systems
An embedded system is a microprocessor-
based computer hardware system with
software that is designed to perform a
dedicated function, either as an independent
system or as a part of a large system. At the
core is an integrated circuit designed to carry
out computation for real-time operations.
For example, a fire alarm system is an
embedded system; it will sense only smoke.
An embedded system is a combination of 3
things:
a. Hardware
b. Software
c. Mechanical Components
And it is supposed to do one specific task only.

An embedded system is designed to run on its

own without human intervention, and may be
required to respond to events in real time.
Example 1: Washing Machine
A washing machine from an embedded systems point of
view has:
a. Hardware: Buttons, Display & buzzer, electronic
circuitry.
b. Software: It has a chip on the circuit that holds the
software which drives controls & monitors the various
operations possible.
c. Mechanical Components: the internals of a washing
machine which actually wash the clothes control the
input and output of water, the chassis itself.
Example 2: Air Conditioner
An Air Conditioner from an embedded systems point of view
has:
a. Hardware: Remote, Display & buzzer, Infrared Sensors,
electronic circuitry.
b. Software: It has a chip on the circuit that holds the
software which drives controls & monitors the various
operations possible. The software monitors the external
temperature through the sensors and then releases the
coolant or suppresses it.
c. Mechanical Components: the internals of an air
conditioner the motor, the chassis, the outlet, etc
 Comparison of ES with general
purpose system
• The Embedded System and the General
purpose computer are at two extremes.
• The embedded system is designed to perform
a specific task whereas as per definition the
general purpose computer is meant for
general use.
• GP computer can be used for playing games,
watching movies, creating software, work on
documents or spreadsheets etc.
Embedded System VS General Purpose Computer
Types of Embedded Systems
 Stand Alone Embedded Systems
• Stand alone embedded systems do not require a
host system like a computer, it works by itself.
• It takes the input from the input ports either
analog or digital and processes, calculates and
converts the data and gives the resulting data
through the connected device-Which either
controls, drives and displays the connected
devices.
• Examples: mp3 players, digital cameras, video
game consoles, microwave ovens and
temperature measurement systems.
 Real Time Embedded Systems
• A real time embedded system is defined as, a
system which gives a required o/p in a
particular time.
• These types of embedded systems follow the
time deadlines for completion of a task.
• Real time embedded systems are classified
into two types such as soft and hard real time
systems.
 Networked Embedded Systems
• These types of embedded systems are related to
a network to access the resources.
• The connected network can be LAN, WAN or the
internet. The connection can be any wired or
wireless.
• This type of embedded system is the fastest
growing area in embedded system applications.
• Example for the LAN networked embedded
system is a home security system wherein all
sensors are connected and run on the protocol
TCP/IP
 Mobile Embedded Systems
• Mobile embedded systems are used in
portable embedded devices like cell phones,
mobiles, digital cameras, mp3 players and
personal digital assistants, etc.
Small Scale Embedded Systems
• These types of embedded systems are designed with a single 8 or
16-bit microcontroller, that may even be activated by a battery. For
developing embedded software for small scale embedded systems,
the main programming tools are an editor, assembler, cross
assembler and integrated development environment (IDE).
Medium Scale Embedded Systems
• These types of embedded systems design with a single 16 or 32 bit
microcontroller, RISCs or DSPs. These types of embedded systems
have both hardware and software complexities. For developing
embedded software for medium scale embedded systems, the
main programming tools are C, C++, JAVA, Visual C++, RTOS,
debugger, source code engineering tool, simulator and IDE.
Sophisticated Embedded Systems
• These types of embedded systems have enormous hardware and
software complexities, that may need ASIPs, IPs, PLAs, scalable or
configurable processors. They are used for cutting-edge
applications that need hardware and software Co-design
and components which have to assemble in the final system.
• Characteristics of an Embedded System
Single-functioned − An embedded system usually performs a specialized
operation and does the same repeatedly. For example: A pager always
functions as a pager.
Tightly constrained − All computing systems have constraints on design
metrics, but those on an embedded system can be especially tight. Design
metrics is a measure of an implementation's features such as its cost, size,
power, and performance. It must be of a size to fit on a single chip, must
perform fast enough to process data in real time and consume minimum
power to extend battery life.
Reactive and Real time − Many embedded systems must continually
react to changes in the system's environment and must compute certain
results in real time without any delay. Consider an example of a car cruise
controller; it continually monitors and reacts to speed and brake sensors.
It must compute acceleration or de-accelerations repeatedly within a
limited time; a delayed computation can result in failure to control of the
car.
Microprocessors based − It must be microprocessor or microcontroller
based.
Memory − It must have a memory, as its software usually embeds in
ROM. It does not need any secondary memories in the computer.
Connected − It must have connected peripherals to connect input and
output devices.
HW-SW systems − Software is used for more features and flexibility.
Hardware is used for performance and security.
Embedded System Block Diagram
Simplified Block Diagram of ES

actuators
Architecture of Embedded Systems
Design & Development Process
Requirements

Specification

Architecture

Component
Design

System
Integration
Design goals
• Performance.
– Overall speed, deadlines.
• Functionality and user interface.
• Manufacturing cost.
• Power consumption.
• Other requirements (physical size, etc.)
 Functional & Non-Functional
Requirements
• Functional Requirements
Output as a function of input
• Non-Functional Requirements
Time required to compute output
Size, weight,etc.;
Power consumption;
Reliability;
Etc.
 Design approaches
• Top- Down design:
– Start from most abstract description
– Work to most detailed
• Bottom-Up design:
– Work from small components to big system
• Real design uses both techniques
Stepwise refinement
• At each level of abstraction, we must:
– analyze the design to determine characteristics of
the current state of the design;
– refine the design to add detail.
Summary
• Embedded computers are all around us.
– Many systems have complex embedded hardware
and software.
• Embedded systems pose many design
challenges: design time, deadlines, power, etc.
• Design methodologies help us manage the
design process.
PURPOSE OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM
1. Data Collection/Storage/Representation
Embedded system designed for the purpose
of data collection performs acquisition of
data from the external world. (analog or
digital)
Eg: Digital camera
2. Data communication
Embedded data communication systems are
deployed in applications from complex
satellite communication to simple home
networking systems

Eg: Cellular phones, Network hubs, routers,

Switches are examples of dedicated data
transmission embedded systems.
3. Data signal processing
Embedded systems with signal processing
functionalities are employed in applications
demanding signal processing like speech
coding, audio video codec, transmission
applications etc
Eg: Radar, Sonar, DVD players and a digital
hearing aid is a typical example of an
embedded system employing data processing
4. Monitoring
All embedded products coming under the
medical domain are with monitoring functions

Eg: Electro cardiogram machine is intended to

do the monitoring of the heartbeat of a
patient but it cannot impose control over the
heartbeat.
5. Control
A system with control functionality contains
both sensors and actuators

Eg: Air conditioner system used to control the

room temperature to a specified limit is a
typical example for CONTROL purpose.
THE END
Characteristics of Embedded systems

1. Application and Domain specific

• An embedded system is designed for a specific
purpose only. It will not do any other task.
Eg. A washing machine can only wash, it cannot
cook
• Certain embedded systems are specific to a
domain.
Eg. A hearing aid is an application that belongs to
the domain of signal processing.
2. Reactive and Real time
• Certain Embedded systems are designed to react
to the events that occur in the nearby
environment. These events also occur real-time.
Ex. An air conditioner adjusts its mechanical parts
as soon as it gets a signal from its sensors to
increase or decrease the temperature when the
user operates it using a remote control.
• An embedded system uses Sensors to take inputs
and has actuators to bring out the required
functionality.
3. Operation in harsh environment
• Certain embedded systems are designed to
operate in harsh environments like very high
temperature of the deserts or very low
temperature of the mountains or extreme
rains.
• These embedded systems have to be capable
of sustaining the environmental conditions it
is designed to operate in.
4. Distributed
• Certain embedded systems are part of a larger system
and thus form components of a distributed system.
• These components are independent of each other but
have to work together for the larger system to function
properly.
Ex. A car has many embedded systems controlled to its
dash board. Each one is an independent embedded
system yet the entire car can be said to function
properly only if all the systems work together.
5. Small size and weight
• An embedded system that is compact in size and
has light weight will be desirable or more popular
than one that is bulky and heavy.
Ex. Currently available cell phones. The cell phones
that have the maximum features are popular but
also their size and weight is an important
characteristic.
• For convenience users prefer mobile phones than
phablets. (phone + tablet pc)
6. Power concerns
• It is desirable that the power utilization and heat
dissipation of any embedded system be low.
• If more heat is dissipated then additional units
like heat sinks or cooling fans need to be added
to the circuit.
• If more power is required then a battery of higher
power or more batteries need to be
accommodated in the embedded system.
Advantages & Disadvantages of ES
• Advantages
Easily Customizable
Low power consumption
Low cost
Enhanced performance
• Disadvantages
High development effort
Larger time to market
Components of Embedded Systems
• Analog Components
– Sensors, Actuators, Controllers, …
• Digital Components
Hardware
– Processor, Coprocessors
– Memories
– Controllers, Buses
– Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)
• Converters – A2D, D2A, …
• Software
– Application Programs Software
– Exception Handlers

Winter 2010- CS 244 52

Implementing embedded systems
• Hardware
– Processing element (microprocessor/microcontroller)
– Peripherals
• Input & output devices
• Interfacing sensors and Actuators
• Interfacing protocols
– Memory
– Bus
• Software
– System software
– Application software
 Hardware Evolution
• Systems-on-chip
• Application Specific Processors
• DSP
• General purpose Microprocessors and
Micro-controllers
 Software
• Programs must be logically and temporally
correct
• Must deal with inherent physical concurrency
 Reactive systems
• Reliability and fault-tolerance are critical
issues
• Application Specific and single purpose
 Multi-Tasking and concurrency
• Embedded systems need to deal with several
inputs and outputs and multiple events
occurring independently.
• Separating tasks simplifies programming, but
requires somehow switching back and forth
among different tasks (multi-tasking).
• Concurrency is the appearance of
simultaneous execution of multiple tasks.
Challenges in embedded system
design
• How much hardware do we need?
– What is word size of cpu? Size of memory?
– Depends on what specific task trying to handle
• How do we meet our deadlines?
– Faster hardware or cleverer software?
• How do we minimize power?
– Turn off unnecessary logic? Reduce memory
access?
 Applications of Embedded Systems:
• Embedded systems are used in different
applications like automobiles,
telecommunications, smart cards, missiles,
satellites, computer networking and digital
consumer electronics.
Embedded Systems in Automobiles and in telecommunications
• Motor and cruise control system
• Body or Engine safety
• Entertainment and multimedia in car
• E-Com and Mobile access
• Robotics in assembly line
• Wireless communication
• Mobile computing and networking
Embedded Systems in Smart Cards, Missiles and Satellites
• Security systems
• Telephone and banking
• Defense and aerospace
• Communication
Embedded Systems in Peripherals & Computer
Networking
• Displays and Monitors
• Networking Systems
• Image Processing
• Network cards and printers
Embedded Systems in Consumer Electronics
• Digital Cameras
• Set top Boxes
• High Definition TVs
• DVDs
Automobiles

Today’s high end automobile may have 100

microprocessors!!!!
 Classification of embedded systems
1.Small scale
 Simple in application need
 Performance not time-critical
 Built around low performance & low cost 8 or
16 bit μp/c.
 Example: an electronic toy
2. Medium-scale:

Slightly complex in hardware & firmware

requirement
Built around medium performance & low cost
16 or 32 bit μp/μc
Usually contain operating system
Examples: Industrial machines
3. Large-scale:

Highly complex hardware & firmware

Built around 32 or 64 bit RISC μp/μc or PLDs or
Multicore Processors
Response is time-critical
Examples: Mission critical applications
An Example Embedded System
Digital Camera Block Diagram

Winter 2010- CS 244 66