EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Embedded systems can be defined as a computing device that does a specified job.

Eg:-Air conditioners,VCD Player,Printer,Fax machine etc

An embedded system will have a processor and special hardware to meet the specific requirements of
the application along with the embedded software .The embedded software is called firmware of the
embedded system

Features of Embedded system

1.Embedded systems are for specific purpose.They can not be programmed to do different tasks

2.Embedded systems have limited resources like memory.They do not have secondary storage devices
like CD ROM or Floppy disk

3.Embedded systems have to work against some deadlines.A specific job has to be completed within a
specific time

4.The power consumption has to be very low

5. Embedded systems have to be cost effective

ARCHITECTURE OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

OPERATING SYSTEM

HARDWARE

The operating system runs above the hardware and the application software runs above the operating
system.User interacts the hardware by using application software.For small applications operating
system is not necessary.For applications involving complex processing it is advisable to have an
operating system

The building blocks of embedded systems are

2.Memory 6.Application specific circuitry

3.Input Device

4.Output device

CPU

The CPU can be a Microprocessor ,Microcontroller or a Digital signal Processor

Memory

The two types of memory an Embedded system use are RAM and ROM.RAM is used as data memory
and ROM is used as program memory.In a microcontroller both these memories are available within the
chip itself

Input devices

It is used to receive data and instructions for the program

Eg: Keyboard,sensors etc

OUTPUT Devices

It is used to display the results of the processing

Eg: LCD display,LED display, 7 segment display etc

Communication interface

The embedded system may need to interact with the external world.Communication interfaces are
provided for this

Eg: RS 232 serial interface ,USB,Infrared connectivity,Ethernet,Wireless interface,Bluetooth

Application specific circuit

Sensors,Transducers and special processing and control circuitry are connected to the system

What are the application areas of Embedded system

Consumer Electronic appliances :- Digital camera,DVD Player,Electronic toys etc

Office automation:- Photo copying machine,Fax machine,Modem,Printer etc

Industrial automation:- Used in automated production process in various industries

Computer Networking:-Bridges,Routers,ATM,Switches etc

Wireless technologies :-Mobile phones

Specialities of Embedded systems

1.Reliability:- Reliability is an important factor in embedded systems especially in industrial

2.Performance :- It should complete the task within the time constraints

3.Cost :-Embedded systems has to be cost effective

4.Size:- Size should be minimum

5.Limited user interface :- Unlike desktop computers, embedded systems have limited user
interface.Some systems doesn’t have any user interface

6.Software upgradation capability :-Some embedded systems have software upgradation capability .It is
done by downloading the software onto the embedded system through a network connection

7.Processor power :-About 150 varieties of processors are available with different clock speed and
memory addressing capability

8.Memory :-The cost of the memory chips are reducing day by day.So the embedded systems can be
made functionally rich by incorporating additional features

9.Operating system:- Varieties of operating systems are available for embedded systems

10.Communication interfaces and network capability :-Network capability can be provided through
communication interfaces such as Ethernet,Wireless LAN and infrared connectivity etc

11.Programming languages :-Can use assembly language and high level language such as C

12.Development tools:- Development tools such as MATLAB,BREW,J2ME,Keil are few of the commonly
used development tools

13.Programmable hardware:-Use of programmable hardware such as Programmable logic devices

It is an operating system specifically configured for a certain hardware configuration.They are usually
made using assembly language in order to take advantage of the limited computing resources of
embedded systems.In most embedded operating systems ,applications are built into the OS.So they are
loaded immediately when the OS starts.

Types of Embedded operating system

1.Non real operating system

Used for non real time applications.Non real time is a term used to describe a process that do not
occur immediately

2. Real time operating system

Used for real time applications.It processes data as it comes in. Eg : Air traffic control system

3.Mobile operating system:-- Operating systems meant for handheld computers and mobile devices
such as mobile phones

Activities of Embedded operating systems

1.Task :- The embedded OS consists of a number of tasks

Start up task ,Exception handling task,Logging tasks,Idle task

2.Task scheduling:-- Only one CPU is there to handle multiple tasks.So the tasks have to share the CPU
time.Each task has to be assigned a priority.This is known as task scheduling

3.Context switching :- It involves storing the context or state of a process so that it can be reloaded
when required and execution can be resumed from the earlier same point.This is the feature of a
multitasking operating system

4.Mutual exclusion :- Ensuring that two or more tasks access a shared resource without corrupting the
data is called mutual exclusion .Eg :- sharing printer by more than one tasks,Sharing of serial port etc

5.Intertask communication:- Exchanging data among task is called inter task communication.Two tasks
have to synchronise their activities while doing this

6.Memory management :- Memory of an embedded system has to be shared by a number of tasks

7.Timer services :- The operating system needs to keep track of the time different activities

Embedded OS architecture

The operating system consists of a) Kernel ,b)Device manager c)Communication software d)Libraries
e)File system
Kernel

Kernel is the heart of the operating system.Kernel manages tasks to achieve the desired performance of
the embedded system

Device manager

The OS manages I/O devices through interrupts and device drivers

Communication protocol software

This will make the system network anabled.It ensures communication of the embedded system with the
external world

Libraries

The OS may have C/C++ library files in object code

File system

Most embedded system do not have a secondary storage such as hard disk.ROM is used to store the
program.File system controls how data is stored and retrieved