Introduction to Embedded Systems
What is Embedded System?
An Electronic/Electro mechanical system which is designed
to perform a specific function and is a combination of both
hardware and firmware (Software)
E.g. Electronic Toys, Mobile Handsets, Washing Machines, Air
Conditioners, Automotive Control Units, Set Top Box, DVD
Player etc…
Embedded Systems are:
Unique in character and behavior
With specialized hardware and software
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Embedded Systems Vs General Computing Systems:
General Purpose Computing System Embedded System
A system which is a combination of A system which is a combination of
generic hardware and General Purpose special purpose hardware and embedded
Operating System for executing a OS for executing a specific set of
variety of applications applications
Contain a General Purpose Operating May or may not contain an operating
System (GPOS) system for functioning
Applications are alterable The firmware of the embedded system is
(programmable) by user (It is possible pre-programmed and it is non-alterable
for the end user to re-install the by end-user
Operating System, and add or remove
user applications)
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Embedded Systems Vs General Computing Systems:
General Purpose Computing System Embedded System
Performance is the key deciding factor Application specific requirements (like
on the selection of the system. Always performance, power requirements,
„Faster is Better‟ memory usage etc) are the key deciding
factors
Less/not at all tailored towards reduced Highly tailored to take advantage of the
operating power requirements, options power saving modes supported by
for different levels of power hardware and Operating System
management.
Response requirements are not time For certain category of embedded
critical systems like mission critical systems, the
response time requirement is highly
critical
Need not be deterministic in execution Execution behavior is deterministic for
behavior certain type of embedded systems like
[Link]. Dept of ECE ,GAT „Hard Real Time‟ systems
Classification of Embedded Systems:
Based on Generation
Based on Complexity & Performance
Requirements
Based on deterministic behavior
Based on Triggering
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Embedded Systems - Classification based on
Generation
First Generation: The early embedded systems built around 8-
bit microprocessors like 8085 and Z80 and 4-bit
microcontrollers
EX. stepper motor control units, Digital Telephone Keypads
etc.
Second Generation: Embedded Systems built around 16-bit
microprocessors and 8 or 16-bit microcontrollers, following
the first generation embedded systems.
[Link], Data Acquisition Systems etc.
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Third Generation: Embedded Systems built around high
performance 16 bit or 32 bit Microprocessors/controllers,
Application Specific Instruction set processors like Digital Signal
Processors (DSPs), and Application Specific Integrated Circuits
(ASICs).The instruction set is complex and powerful.
EX. Robotics, industrial process control, networking etc.
Fourth Generation: Embedded Systems built around System on
Chips (SoC’s), Reconfigurable processors and multicore
processors. It brings high performance, tight integration and
miniaturization into the embedded device market
EX Smart phone devices etc.
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Embedded Systems - Classification based on
Complexity & Performance
Small Scale: The embedded systems built around low
performance and low cost 8 or 16 bit microprocessors/
microcontrollers. It is suitable for simple applications and where
performance is not time critical. It may or may not contain OS.
Medium Scale: Embedded Systems built around medium
performance, low cost 16 or 32 bit microprocessors /
microcontrollers or DSPs. These are slightly complex in
hardware and firmware. It may contain GPOS/RTOS.
Large Scale/Complex: Embedded Systems built around high
performance 32 or 64 bit RISC processors/controllers, RSoC or
multi-core processors and PLD. It requires complex hardware
and software. These system may contain multiple
processors/controllers and co-units/hardware accelerators for
offloading the processing requirements from the main
processor. It contains RTOS for scheduling, prioritization and
management.
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Embedded Systems - Classification Based on deterministic
behavior:
It is applicable for Real Time systems. The application/task
execution behavior for an embedded system can be either
deterministic or non-deterministic
These are classified in to two types
1. Soft Real time Systems: Missing a deadline may not be
critical and can be tolerated to a certain degree
2. Hard Real time systems: Missing a program/task execution
time deadline can have catastrophic consequences (financial,
human loss of life, etc.)
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Embedded Systems - Classification Based on
Triggering:
These are classified into two types
1. Event Triggered : Activities within the system (e.g., task
run-times) are dynamic and depend upon occurrence of
different events.
2. Time triggered: Activities within the system follow a
statically computed schedule (i.e., they are allocated time
slots during which they can take place) and thus by
nature are predictable.
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Major Application Areas of Embedded Systems:
Consumer Electronics: Camcorders, Cameras etc.
Household Appliances: Television, DVD players, washing
machine, Fridge, Microwave Oven etc.
Home Automation and Security Systems: Air conditioners,
sprinklers, Intruder detection alarms, Closed Circuit Television
Cameras, Fire alarms etc.
Automotive Industry: Anti-lock breaking systems (ABS),
Engine Control, Ignition Systems, Automatic Navigation
Systems etc.
Telecom: Cellular Telephones, Telephone switches, Handset
Multimedia Applications etc.
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Computer Peripherals: Printers, Scanners, Fax machines
etc.
Computer Networking Systems: Network Routers,
Switches, Hubs, Firewalls etc.
Health Care: Different Kinds of Scanners, EEG, ECG
Machines etc.
Measurement & Instrumentation: Digital multi meters,
Digital CROs, Logic Analyzers PLC systems etc.
Banking & Retail: Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) and
Currency counters, Point of Sales (POS)
Card Readers: Barcode, Smart Card Readers, Hand held
Devices etc.
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ELEMENTS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS:
An embedded system is a combination of 3 things, Hardware,
Software, Mechanical Components and it is supposed to do one
specific task only.
A typical embedded system contains a single chip controller which
acts as the master brain of the system. Diagrammatically an
embedded system can be represented as shown in fig
Embedded systems are basically designed to regulate a physical
variable or to manipulate the state of some devices by sending some
signals to the actuators or devices connected to the output port
system in response to the input signal provided by the end users or
sensors which are connected to the input ports.
The embedded systems can be viewed as a reactive system.
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The control is achieved by processing the information coming
from the sensors and user interfaces and controlling some
actuators that regulate the physical variable. Keyboards, push
button, switches, etc. are Examples of common user interface
input devices and LEDs, LCDs, Piezoelectric buzzers, etc
examples for common user interface output devices for a
typical embedded system.
The requirement of type of user interface changes from
application to application based on domain.
The sensor information is passed to the processor after signal
conditioning and digitization.
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The core of the system performs some predefined operations
on input data with the help of embedded firmware in the
system and sends some actuating signals to the actuator
connect connected to the output port of the system.
The memory of the system is responsible for holding the code
(control algorithm and other important configuration details).
There are two types of memories are used in any embedded
system. Fixed memory (ROM) is used for storing code or
program. The user cannot change the firmware in this type of
memory.
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The most common types of memories used in embedded
systems for control algorithm storage are
OTP,PROM,UVEPROM,EEPROM and FLASH An embedded
system without code (i.e. the control algorithm) implemented
memory has all the peripherals but is not capable of making
decisions depending on the situational as well as real world
changes.
Memory for implementing the code may be present on the
processor or may be implemented as a separate chip interfacing
the processor In a controller based embedded system, the
controller may contain internal memory for storing code such
controllers are called Micro-controllers with on-chip ROM, eg.
Atmel AT89C51.
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