EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Embedded systems are a combination of hardware and software integration,
accomplished for a specific function. Embedded systems are designed to do some
specific task, rather than be a general-purpose computer for multiple tasks. Some also have
real-time performance constraints that must be met, for reasons such as safety and usability.
Embedded systems are not always standalone devices. Many embedded systems
consist of small, computerized parts within a larger device that serves a more
general purpose.
Applications of embedded systems:
Embedded systems span all aspects of modern life and applicable in
different areas like manufacturing industries, auto mobile industries,
communication systems, Medical electronics technology,
telecommunication systems, real time applications, non real time
applications and defense, aero space areas, etc.
Military and aerospace embedded software applications:
From in-orbit embedded systems to jumbo jets to vital battlefield
networks, designers of mission-critical aerospace and defense
systems requiring real-time performance, scalability, and high-
availability facilities.
Medical electronics technology:
In the medical industry, time is of the essence and nothing less than
perfection is acceptable. Embedded computer boards and systems are
utilized in a variety of medical applications and delicate procedures.
With the introduction of the Lynx Secure separation kernel and
embedded systems, medical devices can now have the best of both
worlds, with hard real-time applications running alongside commercial
desktop operating systems on the same industry-standard Intel®
processors.
Communications applications:
Developments in Telecommunications have a major impact on our
young engineering / management graduates and working professionals to
keep updated with the telecom technologies for better understanding of
the ongoing career [Link] combination of the existing
embedded hardware with the ported OS will provide a flexible and open
development system, which can be used for the prototyping and S/W
integration of various communication applications. This will reduce the
overall system cost and will allow the implementation of high quality
embedded software for telecommunication applications.
Embedded Electronics Technology in Automobiles:
As automobiles become increasingly user-independent and
intelligent, the demand for embedded electronic devices for use in cars is
steadily increasing. Embedded systems, because of their small size, low
power consumption and rapid response rates have become valuable to
the automotive industry as parts of safety components, sensors and on-
board computers.
intelligent automobile from Volkswagen uses radar and laser
sensors concealed in its front grilles to detect the path and the road in
front of it. The information from the front sensors is fed into the vehicle’s
on-board computer, which coordinates with a global positioning system to
pinpoint its precise location.
This automobile is also equipped with a Micro Auto Box from dSPACE
and acts as the vehicle’s electronic control unit. The MicroAutoBox uses
several programs and applications to receive and interpret data,
determine the best path for the car and then send instructions on to
different car components.
Embedded Electronics Technology in Aviation:
Embedded electronics technology has infiltrated almost every
aspect of human life. Embedded technology has changed the modern
home and business. It makes a business run faster and safer, producing
more outputs at lesser cost. It can integrate various devices in your home
like your PC, TV, VCR and DVD player to maximize your audio-visual
entertainment.
Embedded Technology and Human Lifestyle:
The prevalence of embedded electronics technology in the modern
market has given rise to innovative products that could change the way
people live. From innovative everyday stuff such as integrated home
entertainment systems to intelligent helicopter rotor blades, embedded
electronics technology is covering all facets of modern day living and is
making life faster, easier and more convenient for people.
Industry trends in Consumer electronics:
The consumer electronics industry is rapidly evolving, setting, rather
than following technological trends. Devices are getting smaller? But more
functionality is being packed into them? Leading a shift towards SoC
based designs.
Embedded electronics technology is rapidly changing the way
people communicate and transmit data and information. New designs of
parts and systems are being made to make tech-based products like
cellular phones cheaper and more efficient. Today remote execution of
tasks and activities (like company monitoring and quality assessment) can
be done securely using embedded electronics. Wireless integrated work
stations are also being implemented in many office establishments.
Digital Image Processing & Digital Signal Processing
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DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING is the technique used to analyse
various digital signals and obtain information form the same. DSP is
concerned with the representation of signals by a sequence of numbers or
symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog
signal processing are subfields of signal processing. DSP is one of the most
powerful technologies that will shape science and engineering in the twenty-first
century.
Goal of the DSP:
DSP is usually to measure or filter continuous real-world analog signals,
the first step is usually to convert the signal from an analog to a digital form, by
using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Often, the required output signal is
another analog output signal, which requires a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
Even if this process is more complex than analog processing and has a discrete
value range, the stability of digital signal processing thanks to error detection
and correction and being less vulnerable to noise makes it advantageous over
analog signal processing for many applications.
DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING is the use of computer algorithms to
perform image processing on digital images. As a subfield of digital signal
processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog
image processing; it allows a much wider range of algorithms to be
applied to the input data, and can avoid problems such as the build-up of
noise and signal distortion during processing.
Digital image processing allows the use of much more complex
algorithms for image processing, and hence can offer both more
sophisticated performance at simple tasks, and the implementation of
methods which would be impossible by analog means
Applications of DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING:
DSP finds its application in various areas ranging from broadcasting
to medicine.
BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: DSP is used extensively in the field
of biomedicine. In it, the various signals that are generated by the
different organs in the human body are measured in order to find
information regarding the health of the same.
For example, in case of electrocardiograms, the electric signals generated
by the heart are measured. Similarly, the activity of the brain is monitored
by electroencephalograms.
AUTOMATIC CONTROL: These days, many gadgets are available
that can perform their tasks automatically. These devices contain various
components that can take inputs depending on the surrounding
conditions. These are conveyed to the control unit of the device where
they are processed and the necessary action is taken. For example, a
device like the thermostat increases its resistance in proportion to
temperature. This can be used to stem the current in a machine whenever
the temperature rises.
BROADCASTING: DSP is used on a large scale for the broadcast of
both television and radio programs. In the process of recording the audio
itself, a large amount of processing of the sound waves takes place in
order to enhance the same. Then, the signals are converted into digital
format and are broadcasted and are received at the respective receivers
where they are again converted into the analogous format and then, are
filtered to remove the noise etc. Thus, the output of the radio, TV etc. is
generated.
TELECOMMUNICATION: DSP is used to the greatest extent in this
field. The various conversations that one carried out these days are
through the means of DSP which is used in the transfer of the signals from
one point to the other. Various methods are available to transfer these
audio signals. For example, if satellites are used then, the audio waves are
first converted into electromagnetic waves and then transferred over a
wireless medium. On the other hand, in case of optical fibres, the waves
are converted into light waves and are then transferred through these
fibres.
NAVIGATION: DSP is used to a great extent in navigation. Devices or
systems such as SONAR or Radar work primarily on the basis of DSP. For
example, SONAR makes use of sound waves (signals) in order to calculate
the depth. On the other hand, radars make use of radio waves in order to
communicate the locations of various objects in a particular radius.
Apart from those mentioned above, digital signal processing has
various other applications. For example, it is used in cars, remote controls,
seismic analysis etc. Thus, DSP proves to be one of the most useful
techniques developed in the modern times.
APPLICATIONS OF DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING:
DIGITAL CAMERA IMAGES Digital cameras generally include dedicated digital
image processing chips to convert the raw data from the image sensor into a color-corrected
image in a standard image file format. Images from digital cameras often receive further
processing to improve their quality; distinct advantage digital cameras have over film
cameras. The digital image processing is typically done by special software programs that can
manipulate the images in many ways.
Many digital cameras also enable viewing of histograms of images, as an aid for the
photographer to better understand the rendered brightness range of each shot.
VLSI SYSTEMS
Very-large-scale integration ('VLSI) is the process of
creating integrated circuits by combining thousands of transistor-based
circuits into a single chip. This is the field which involves packing more
and more logic devices into smaller and smaller areas. VLSI, circuits that
would have taken boardfuls of space can now be put into a small space
few millimetres across! This has opened up a big opportunity to do things
that were not possible before. VLSI circuits are everywhere ...in
computers, car, brand new state-of-the-art digital camera, the cell-phones
VLSI began in the 1970s when complex semiconductor and
communication technologies were being developed. The microprocessor is
a VLSI device. The term is no longer as common as it once was, as chips
have increased in complexity into billions of transistors.
Moore’s Law:
The number of transistors and resistors on a chip doubles every 18 months." By Intel co-
founder Gordon Moore regarding the pace of semiconductor technology. He made this
famous comment in 1965 when there were approximately 60 devices on a chip. Proving
Moore's law to be rather accurate, four decades later, Intel placed 1.7 billion transistors on its
Itanium chip.
In 1975, Moore extended the 18 months to 24 months. More recently, he said that the cost of
a semiconductor manufacturing plant doubles with each generation of microprocessor.
Trends in VLSI Technology:
VLSI Technology has advanced rapidly since late 90s. Low cost, high
performance Chips designed and fabricated made strong impact in
systems development and resulted in applications to diversified fields like
computers, communications, entertainment electronics, medicine, and rural
necessities. Spreading of Internet globally, making this world as a 'global
village" and rapid strides in mobile communications have a direct bearing
on the progress made in VLSI technology.
Research work is being done to further develop the technology in
new dimensions like Silicon Photonics, Organic semi-conductors, Flexible
displays etc. These developments take the technology further close to
rural applications and can result in significant improvement in the quality
of life in villages. Fibre optic connectivity, hosting of portals
with useful information to rural folk, e-governance, energy
conservation, wireless sensor networks, Telephone-TV can
improve the standard of living in rural areas significantly. VLSI technology
directly or indirectly is playing a vital role in this direction.
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS
Programmable Logic Controllers are the hub of many
manufacturing processes. These microprocessor based units are used in
processes as simple as boxing machines or bagging equipment to
controlling and tracking sophisticated manufacturing processes. They are
in virtually all new manufacturing, processing and packing equipment in
one form or another. Because of their popularity in industry, it becomes
increasingly more important to learn skills related to these devices.
WORKING OF PLC’S:
The PLC is a specialist type of computer, used extensively but not
solely in industry, to control machines and processes. Being a computer, it
shares common terms with the typical PC (personal computer). Terms like
CPU (central processing unit), RAM (random access memory), also
software hardware and communications.
A Programmable Logic Controller is a device that a user can
program to perform a series or sequence of events. These events are
triggered by stimuli (called inputs) received at the programmable logic
controller through delayed actions such as time delays or counted
occurrences.
Once an event triggers, it actuates in the outside world by switching
on or off electronic control gear or the physical actuation of devices. A
Programmable Logic Controllers will continually loop through its user
defined program waiting for inputs and giving outputs at the specific
programmed times
Plc Programming Applications:
• Manufacturing Industry
- Lead acid battery plant, complete manufacturing system
- Extruder factory, silo feeding control system.
• Travel Industry
- Escalator operation, monitored safety control system
- Lift operation, monitored safety control system.
• Aerospace
- Water tank quenching system.
• Printing Industry
- Offset web press print register control system
- Multi stage screen washing system.
• Food Industry
- Filling machine control system
- Main factory feed water pump duty changeover system
• Textile Industry
- Indutrial batch washing machine control system
- Closed loop textile shrinkage system
• Hospitals
- Coal fired boiler fan change-over system
• Film Industry
- Servo axis controlled camera positioning system
• Corrugating
- Main corrugator machine control system
- BOBST platten press drive and control system
• Plastics Industry
- Extruder factory, silo feeding control system
- Injection moulding control system
• Agriculture
- Glasshouse heating, ventilation & watering system
• Foundry
- Overhead transportation system from casting process to
shotblasting machine
• Leisure
- Roller coaster ride and effects control system
- Greyhound track 'Rabbit' drive system.
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