Introduction

Embedded System Design 14EC2029

Dr. S. Paul Sathiyan

KITS | EEE | VER 1.1 | AY 2018 2019

Agenda
• System
• Computer Based General Computing System
• Components

• Embedded System
• Examples

• Embedded System Components

• Embedded and General Purpose Systems
• Embedded System Architecture
• Characteristics
• Analysis
• Functionalities
• Types
• Based on Performance and Functionalities
• Based on Processor Performance
 System
• Is a way of working, organizing or doing one or many tasks according to a

fixed plan, program or set of rules.

• An arrangement in which all its units assemble and work together

according to the plan or program.

• Watch Hardware : Needles, Battery, Dial, Chassis and Strap

Rules

• All needles move clockwise only

• A thin needle rotates every second

• A long needle rotates every minute

• A short needle rotates every hour

• All needles return to the original position after 12 hours

System

INPUT OUTPUT
Compressor Speed
Power Supply Cooling
• Sensor fordetailed
A set of Temperature
methods / procedures and routines created to carry out
User Input IR remote
a specific activity, perform a duty, or solve a problem / or achieve a goal.

• All systems have

a) Inputs, outputs and feedback mechanisms

b) maintain an internal steady-state despite a changing external environment

c) display properties that are different than theUser

Display wholeRelevant
(called emergent properties) but are
Temperature
not possessed by any of the individual elements,

d) have boundaries that are usually defined by the system observer.

Min and Max Operating Temp

Computer Based General Computing System
General Purpose Computing System (GPCS) has the following or more components

Specific Processors for

• Graphics
• I/O Input Devices
• Network etc.,

Memory
• Cache In the processor
• Primary – Semiconductor (RAM, ROM) Output Devices
• Secondary – Magnetic, Optical

Operating System
Characteristics of GPCS
• Enables the use of Hardware resources by
• Program, first loads in RAM and then runs general purpose
the program
programs, programs of multiple users and multiple tasks
• Supports Execution of Multiple programs
• Requires an Operating Systems (OS)
at a time
• Runs Complex algorithms fast
• Schedules and Runs the tasks such that
• Provides a complex set of graphic or touch scene interfaces
I/O and computing performance
(GUI)
maximizes
Constrains of GPCS
• Little constrains of memory
• No time deadlines to finish the execution of the tasks of the programme
Embedded System
• Event Driven /reactive systems (operates based on input received)

• Combination of embedded system hardware and embedded system

software (s/w is also known as firmware)

• Wayne Wolf - it is any device that includes a

programmable computer

• Examples of Embedded System

ES software embeds in ROM (Read Only
Memory). It does not need secondary
memories as in a computer

• Charles Stark developed Embedded system to reduce

Cost Size Circuit Complexity

 Embedded System – Components # 1
The core of any embedded target is the electronic hardware - it has five modules
1. Embedded Processor 3. Input devices 5. Bus controllers for the
2. Memory subsystem 4. Output devices interconnection of these
modules.

Hardware Layer Software Layer

 Embedded System – Components # 2
Software Component Application software is a type of computer program
that performs a specific personal, educational, and
business function.
Each program is designed to assist the user with a
particular process, which may be related to productivity,
creativity, and/or communication.

Functions of Application Software :

• Managing information
• Manipulating data
• Constructing visuals
• Coordinating resources
• Calculating figures Layer
 Embedded System – Components # 2
Software Component System software is a type of computer program that is
designed to run a computer's hardware and application
programs.
If we think of the computer system as a layered model,
the system software is the interface between the
hardware and user applications.
Functions of system software
1. Allocating system resources (time, memory, input, and
output). The time in the CPU is divided into time slices. The
time slices is measured in terms of milliseconds. Based on the
priority of tasks the time slices are assigned. Memory is also
managed by operating system. Disk space is the part of main
memory. The data flow is controlled by operating system.
2. Monitoring system activities: The system security and
system performance is monitored by system software. System
performance includes response time and CPU utilization.
System security is a part of operating system. Multiple users
can’t access without the security code or password.
3. File and disk management: The user needs to save, copy,
delete, move and rename the files. The system software will
handle those functions. Disk and file management is the
technical task.
 Embedded System – Components # 3
Real Time Operating System
 Supervises the application software and controls the access to system resources
 Enables finishing the execution of the task of the program within specified time
intervals
 Embedded System & Time Zones
Three Time Zones
 Processor / Controller Time Zone
 Data
 Sensors and Actuators

Role of the Embedded System Engineer is to bring a coordination of these time zones
Embedded over General Purpose System
Differences

1. Dedicated to specific tasks, not like PC’s

2. Supported by a wide array of processors
3. Cost sensitive
4. Have real-time constraints
5. Use RTOS rather than Windows, unix etc
6. Failures are more severe
7. Have power constraints
8. Operate under extreme environmental conditions
9. Very few resources
10. Codes are often stored in ROM
 Embedded Hardware Architecture
Data Memory
• Separation of CPU and memory distinguishes programmable
computer
RAM
• Characteristics of the various kinds of data storage in the storage
hierarchy
CPU Memory
Relative Cost
Storage Speed Capacity Permanent?
($)
ROM Registers Fastest Lowest Highest No
RAM Very Fast Low/Moderate High No
Floppy Disk Very Slow Low Low Yes
Programme /
Instruction Hard Disk Moderate Very High Very Low Yes
Memory
• RAM – Data Memory (DM), Volatile
• ROM – Programme (PM) / Instruction Memory, Non Volatile

Arrangement of RAM (DM) and ROM (PM) with respect to CPU defines the Architecture
 Embedded Hardware Architecture
Harvard Architecture Von Neumann Architecture

RAM
ROM CPU RAM CPU
Memory
ROM

• RAM (DM) and ROM(PM) are separate • DM and PM are shared in single Memory
Chip, Single set of address/data bus

• Requires More Hardware (separate DM and • Less Hardware and Less Space
PM) and Space

• Speed of Execution is fast since simultaneous • Execution is slow since data or

fetching of Program and data instructions fetched at a time
• Buses are duplex and hence fetching and • Linear information flow. Either fetching
writing done simultaneously or writing is possible
Address Bus | Data Bus | Control Bus
 Embedded Hardware Architecture
Harvard Architecture Von Neumann Architecture

RAM
ROM CPU RAM CPU
Memory
ROM

• Memory sharing (empty space in DM for • Memory sharing possible.

storing Programme or empty space in PM for
storing Data) not possible.
• Complex Control since CPU simultaneously • Simple Control since CPU monitors
monitors both PM and DM either PM or DM
• Pipelining is possible (Fetching, decoding and • Pipelining is Not possible (Fetching or
processing simultaneously) decoding or processing at a time)
• Twice fetching happens to get info from

Address Bus | Data Bus | Control Bus

PM and from DM
 Embedded Hardware Architecture
Harvard Architecture Von Neumann Architecture
Control unit is
responsible for
decoding the
instructions and
controlling how data
moves around the
computer systems

• Requires 1 clock cycle to complete an • Requires Minimum 2 clock cycles to

instruction complete an instruction
• Latest • Older architecture

• Control unit is common • Control unit within CPU. Hence sharing

of Clock with other blocks is difficult
 Embedded System : CPU Architecture
Architectural Design of CPU

Complex instruction Reduced instruction

set computing (CISC) set computing (RISC)

Has the capacity to perform multi- Strategy based on the vision that basic
step operations or addressing modes instruction set gives a great performance
within one instruction set. when combined with a microprocessor
It is the CPU design where one architecture which has the capacity to
instruction works several low-level perform the instructions by using some
acts microprocessor cycles per instruction.
Embedded System : CPU Architecture
CISC CPU Architecture
 A complex instruction set computer is a computer
where single instructions can perform numerous
low-level operations like a load from memory, an
arithmetic operation, and a memory store or are
accomplished by multi-step processes or addressing
modes in single instructions, as its name proposes
“Complex Instruction Set ”.
 CPU design plan based on single commands, which
are skilled in executing multi-step operations.
Embedded System : CPU Architecture
RISC CPU Architecture
 CPU design plan based on simple orders and acts
fast.
 Embedded System Characteristics
Program is preloaded in ROM or Flash Real time &
Reactive Behavior
RB of a system :
continual interaction
with is environment and
executes at a pace
determined by that
environment
Single Functioned / Dedicated
Activities User Interface

Tightly Constrained

Multirate
System Memory
 Embedded System Characteristics

Maintainability

Secured and Confidential

Safety Availability

• Even perfectly designed systems can fail if the assumptions about the workload and possible
errors turn out to be wrong.
• Making the system dependable must not be an after-thought, it must be considered from the
very beginning
Embedded System Characteristics

Code-size efficient
Embedded System Functionalities
ACQUIRE

ANALYZE

CONTROL

DISPLAY
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

Hard Real Time : Some specific work has to be done in a specific time period / strict deadline
eg: Missile launched targeting an aircraft.

Soft Real Time : , Some specific work deadlines are imposed, but not adhering to them once
in a while may not lead to a disaster. Eg: DVD player : Suppose, you give a command to the
DVD player from a remote control, and there is a delay of a few milliseconds in executing that
command.
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

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.
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

• Requires 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.
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

• Portable devices
• Limitations of the mobile devices
• memory constraints,
• small size
• lack of good user interfaces such as full fledged keyboard and display etc
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

• 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).
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

• A single or 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.
Embedded System – Types
8 or 16 or 32-bit microcontrollers

• Have enormous hardware and software complexities, that may need

• Application Specific Instruction Set Processor - ASIPs,
• Intrusion Prevention System - IPs,
• Programmable Logic Arrays - PLAs,
• Scalable or configurable processors.
 Embedded System - Components
Bus Control /
Von Neumann and Harvard
Computers

CISC: Complex Instruction Set Computer

RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer
 Embedded System - Components
The core of any embedded target is the electronic hardware – which resides on
Printed Circuit Board. If you consider any embedded development board it has
DISPLAY
five modules, Processor, Memory subsystem, Input devices, Output devices and
Bus controllers for the interconnection of these modules.