Introduction to Embedded systems

Single Board Computers(SBC)

Mrs. Archana Bendale
Embedded system

• Definition : It is a microprocessor based

computer hardware system with software that
is design to perform a dedicated function.
• Ex. Mobile, Laptop , microwave, drone, etc.
• Traditionally microcontroller used in Embedded
system.
• Also memory, I/O and other peripherals are
soldered to the circuit board with
microcontroller.
General layout of Embedded system
Random
Read Only
Access
Memory
Memory

Output
Devices

Input Devices Central Processing Unit

(CPU)
Communication
Interfaces

Application Specific Circuitry

Building block of Embedded system
I. Input Devices: To provide input through keyboard, mouse,
camera, scanner etc.
II. Output Devices: To display the output on screen, printers etc.
III. Central processing unit (CPU): Heart of embedded system
and controls the operations of all the internal circuits. It is the h/w
that runs s/w.
IV. Communication Interfaces: To communicate between
embedded system and other networks like LAN, MAN,WWW etc
V. Memory: To provide Storage for user data, programs, OS etc
Constraints of embedded systems

• Limited computational resources

• High power consumption
• Low data communication bandwidth
• Physical size
• cost
Single Board Computer(SBC)

• Definition: A computer, complete with processor,

RAM, Graphics And other peripherals on a single
board.
• Ex. Raspberry Pi, Beagle bone boards, etc.
• Advantages:
– Practicability
– Speed of development
– Technical support
– Cost Raspberry Pi B+
– Convenience
Applications of SBC

• Process control
• Robotic systems
• Processor- Intensive Applications
• ATM’s
• Automated check outs
• Jukeboxes (coin operated)
• Virtual slot machines and
Fig. Based 486 SBC with
many more power supply and flat
screen
Difference
Microprocessors Microcontrollers Single board computer
Heart of computer Heart of embedded Microcomputer
system system
Memory and Io Has an external Has an external component
components have to component with an with an internal memory
be connected internal memory and I/O component
externally and I/O component

Unable to use in Able to use in Able to use in compact

compact systems compact systems systems
Higher cost Lower cost Lower cost
Speed is less High Speed High speed
Used in PC, Laptop Used in small Programming and small
control systems control systems.
History

• SBC was first developed in 1976 named with

Dyna-micro.
• In 2005, Arduino (microcontroller) was
introduced which was more easy to use.
• SBC got real fame after the introduction of
Raspberry Pi in Feb. 2012 By Raspberry Pi
Foundation.
Evolution of SBCs
Features of SBCs:
• Slot configurations and back planes are
available
• slots are provided for interconnections
• Easily produced
• Lighter weight
• Compact in size
• More reliable and reduced cost
• More power efficient than multiboard
computers
• Less power dissipation
SBC block diagram
Architectures

1. No Slots: Embedded SBC’s are units providing

all the required I/O with no provision for plug
in cards.

2. Slot Support: An architecture where the SBC

is plugged into a backplane to provide for I/O
cards.
Main Blocks of SBC
• Application Processor: Brain of SBC,
Fetch, decode and execute the instruction,
• Memory: Store data and programs, RAM, ROM or flash
• Control Logic and clock/ Timer: Timing and counting
functions, Synchronizes all functions
• Common connectivity: Includes serial ports and are used
for data communication.
• I/O port: It is also used for data communication between
microprocessor and LCD, LED, printers, memory etc.
• DSP core: Supports with the video accelerators and 2D/ 3D
graphics engine to process the image or graphical data.
• Wired and wireless interface: This connects the SBC with
internet through Wi-Fi or any other devices
• Camera interface: used to grab / capture images as per
user requirement
• Touch screen control: Advantages of touch screen-
low power consumption
high performance solution
programmable resolutions
reduce bus loading due these all
it reduces the consumption of
host processor.
• Power Management system: Provides and manages the
power to the clocks of SBC.
Types of SBCs

i. Open source SBCs:

Offer users access to both h/w design and layout as
well as access to source code used on the board.

Arduino is one of Open source

SBC
ii. Proprietary SBCs:
•for used in end Applications or as a
reference to be evaluated.
•They are often industrialized designs that
have gone through the same type of testing
that an end product requires.
•Example : Raspberry Pi
SBCs and their performance parameters

1. Raspberry Pi 3 B
• Credit card sized computer
• It runs Raspbian or OS like Linux which boot
from the removable SD card.
• 1.2 GHz 64 bit quad core ARM processor.
• 802.11n wireless LAN.
• 4.1 Bluetooth.
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 USB ports
• Full HDMI supports
Technical specifications:
Dev kit:
Technical specifications:
• NVIDIA Kepler GPU with 192 CUDA cores.
• NVIDIA 4-Plus -1quad core ARM cortexA15 CPU.
• 2 Gb X16 with 64 bit width.
• 16 GB 4.51eMMC memory
• 1 half mini –PCIE slot1
• Full size SD/MMC connector.
• 1 USB 2.0 and 3.0 Port, micro AB 1
• 1 Full size HDMI port
• 1 RS-232 serial port
• 1 SATA data port
3. Dragon Board 410c:
Technical specifications:
4. Intel IGT.PDKW:
Technical specifications:
5. BeagleBone Black:
Technical specifications:
• 512MB DDR3 RAM
• 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
• 4 GB 8-bit eMMC on-board flash storage
• 3D Graphics accelerator
• Neon floating point accelerator
• 2x PRU 32 bit- microcontroller
• USB client for power and communication
• USB host
• Ethernet
• HDMI
widely used SBCs:
• Raspberry Pi 4B
• The Raspberry Pi 3A+
• The Raspberry Pi 3B+
• The Raspberry zero W
• The odyssey X86J4105
• The Odroid C4
• The Rock Pi B
• BeagleBone Black
• The LattePanda Delta
• The Tinker Board
Network Access Device

• All types of SBCs support network connectivity

features and sharing of data with outside world
through good communication link.
• Eg. basic raspberry pi have network adapter on board.
• SBCs have wireless connectivity to Bluetooth, WLAN
and 3G networks also CAN, UART, USB OTG, 10/100
mbit Ethernet.
• These interface options enable system to connect to
various external devices and peripherals depending
on need of end application.
• This allows application on pi to reach out to
outside world even when raspberry pi is
deployed s part of an project, Remote logging
and control are just 2 examples.
• If many boards are linked together, to create
small low cots clusters that replicate features of
large data centers.
• SBCs clusters can be useful for many
applications. A cluster here can be defined as a
group of interconnected SBCs working together
as a unified computing resource that can create
illusion of being one machine.
• Ethernet:
• Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting devices in a wired local area network (LAN) or
wide area network (WAN). It enables devices to communicate with each other via a protocol, which is
a set of rules or common network language. Ethernet can operate in small area like room, office or
cabin.
•
• Advantages of Ethernet
• relatively low cost;
• backward compatibility;
• generally resistant to noise;
• good data transfer quality;
• speed;
• reliability; and
• data security, as common firewalls can be used.
• Disadvantages of Ethernet

• intended for smaller, shorter distance networks;

• limited mobility;
• use of longer cables can create crosstalk;
• doesn't work well with real-time or interactive applications;
• speeds decrease with increased traffic;
• receivers don't acknowledge the reception of data packets; and
• troubleshooting is hard when trying to trace which specific cable or node is causing the issue.
• CAN Bus: A Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a
communication system made for vehicle intercommunication. This
bus allows many microcontrollers and different types of devices to
communicate with each other in real time and also without a host
computer. A CAN bus, unlike Ethernet, does not require any
addressing schemes, as the nodes of the network use unique
identifiers. This provides the nodes with information regarding the
priority and the urgency of the transmitted message. These buses also
continue transmission even in the case of a collision, while normal
Ethernet terminates connections as soon as a collision is detected. It is
a completely message-based protocol, and is used mainly in vehicles.

• I2C: Inter-Integrated Circuit – The I2C protocol is used to establish

communication between two or more ICs (Integrated Circuits),
However, it should be noted that I2C could also be used as a
communication protocol between two ICs that are located on the
same PCB.
Features of Network Access Devices

• Gigabit Ethernet
• Bluetooth
• Wi Fi frequencies
• Topaz networking switch
• VNC (Virtual Network Computing) interface
Peripheral interfaces for network establishment and
other applications