Core of embedded systems

 0 Objectives
 1 Introduction
 2Core of embedded systems
 2.1 General purpose and domain specific processor.
 2.1.1 Microprocessors
 2.1.2 Microcontrollers.
 2.1.3 Digital signal processors
 2.2 Application Specific Integrated Circuits. (ASIC)
 2.3 Programmable logic devices(PLD’s)
 2.4 Commercial off-the-shelf components(COTs)
 3.Sensors & Actuators
 4.Communication Interface
 5. Embedded Firmware
 6. Other Components of an
Embedded System

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 Embedded systems are domain and application
specific and are built around a central core. The
core of the embedded
 system falls into any of the following categories:
◦ 1. General purpose and Domain Specific Processors
 1.1. Microprocessors
 1.2. Microcontrollers
 1.3. Digital Signal Processors
◦ 2. Application Specific Integrated Circuits. (ASIC)
◦ 3. Programmable logic devices(PLD’s)
◦ 4. Commercial off-the-shelf components (COTs)

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 Almost 80% of the embedded systems are
processor/controller based.
 The processor may be microprocessor or a
microcontroller or digital signal processor,
depending on the domain and application.

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A microprocessor is a silicon chip representing a central processing unit.
A microprocessor is a dependent unit and it requires the combination of
other hardware like memory, timer unit, and interrupt controller, etc.
for proper functioning.
Developers of microprocessors.
◦ Intel – Intel 4004 – November 1971(4-bit).
◦ Intel – Intel 4040.
◦ Intel – Intel 8008 – April 1972.
◦ Intel – Intel 8080 – April 1974(8-bit).
◦ Motorola – Motorola 6800.
◦ Intel – Intel 8085 – 1976.
◦ Zilog - Z80 – July 1976.
Architectures used for processor design are Harvard or Von-Neumann.
RISC and CISC are the two common Instruction Set Architectures (ISA)
available for processor design.
Endiannes

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RISC Vs CISC
RISC CISC
Reduced Instruction Set Computer Complex Instruction Set Computer

execute one instruction per clock special instructions as well as

cycle instructions that take more than one
cycle to execute.
Efficient use of RAM Heavy use of RAM

Small number of fixed length Large no. of instruction

instructions
Simple and standardize instructions Complex and variable length
instructions
Software Centric Design Hardware Centric Design

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 Endianness specifies the order which the data
is stored in the memory by processor
operations in a multi byte system.

 Based on Endiannes processors can be of two

types:
◦ 1. Little Endian Processors
◦ 2. Big Endian Processors

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 A microcontroller is a highly integrated chip that contains a CPU,
scratch pad RAM, special and general purpose register arrays, on
chip ROM/FLASH memory for program storage , timer and
interrupt control units and dedicated I/O ports.

 Texas Instrument’s TMS 1000 Is considered as the world’s first

microcontroller.

 Some embedded system application require only 8 bit controllers

whereas some requiring superior performance and
computational needs demand 16/32 bit controllers.

 The instruction set of a microcontroller can be RISC or CISC.

 Microcontrollers are designed for either general purpose

application requirement or domain specific application
requirement.

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 DSP are powerful special purpose 8/16/32 bit
microprocessor designed to meet the computational
demands and power constraints of today’s embedded
audio, video and communication applications.

 DSP are 2 to 3 times faster than general purpose

microprocessors in signal processing applications.

 This is because of the architectural difference between DSP
and general purpose microprocessors.

 DSPs implement algorithms in hardware which speeds up

the execution whereas general purpose processor
implement the algorithm in software and the speed of
execution depends primarily on the clock for the
processors.

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I. Program memory: It is a memory for storing the
program required by DSP to process the data.

II. Data memory: It is a working memory for storing

temporary variables and data/signal to be processed.

III. Computational engine: It performs the signal processing

in accordance with the stored program memory
computational engine incorporated many specialized
arithmetic units and each of them operates
simultaneously to increase the execution speed. It also
includes multiple hardware shifters for shifting
operands and saves execution time.

IV. I/O unit: It acts as an interface between the outside

world and DSP. It is responsible for capturing signals

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 ASICs is a microchip design to perform a specific and
unique applications.

 Because of using single chip for integrates several

functions there by reduces the system development cost.

 Most of the ASICs are proprietary (which having some

trade name) products, it is referred as Application Specific
Standard Products(ASSP).

 As a single chip ASIC consumes a very small area in the

total system. Thereby helps in the design of smaller
system with high capabilities or functionalities.

 The developers of such chips may not be interested in

revealing the internal detail of it.

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 A PLD is an electronic component. It used to build digital
circuits which are reconfigurable.

 A logic gate has a fixed function but a PLD does not have a
defined function at the time of manufacture.

 PLDs offer customers a wide range of logic capacity,

features, speed, voltage characteristics.

 PLDs can be reconfigured to perform any number of

functions at any time.

 A variety of tools are available for the designers of PLDs

which are inexpensive and help to develop, simulate and
test the designs.

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1) CPLD(Complex Programmable Logic Device):
 CPLDs offer much smaller amount of logic up
to 1000 gates.

2) FPGAs(Field Programmable Gate Arrays):

 It offers highest amount of performance as
well as highest logic density, the most
features.

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 1) PLDs offer customer much more flexibility
during the design cycle.

 2) PLDs do not require long lead times for

prototypes or production parts because PLDs
are already on a distributors shelf and ready
for shipment.

 3) PLDs can be reprogrammed even after a

piece of equipment is shipped to a customer

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 1) A Commercial off the Shelf product is one which is used
'as is'.
 2) The COTS components itself may be develop around a general
purpose or domain specific processor or an ASICs or a PLDs.

 3) The major advantage of using COTS is that they are readily

available in the market, are chip and a developer can cut down
his/her development time to a great extent

 4) The major drawback of using COTS components in embedded

design is that the manufacturer of the COTS component may
withdraw the product or discontinue the production of the COTS
at any time if rapid change in technology occurs.

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 Advantages of COTS:
◦ 1) Ready to use
◦ 2) Easy to integrate
◦ 3) Reduces development time
 Disadvantages of COTS:
◦ 1) No operational or manufacturing standard (all
proprietary)
◦ 2) Vendor or manufacturer may discontinue
production of a particular COTS product

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 Sensor
◦ A Sensor is used for taking Input
◦ It is a transducer that converts energy from one
form to another for any measurement or control
purpose
 Ex. A Temperature sensor

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 Actuator
◦ Actuator is used for output.
◦ It is a transducer that may be either mechanical or electrical which
converts signals to corresponding physical actions.
 Ex. LED (Light Emitting Diode)

 LED is a p-n junction diode and contains a CATHODE and

ANODE

 For functioning the anode is connected to +ve end of

power supply and cathode is connected to –ve end of
power supply.

 The maximum current flowing through the LED is limited

by connecting a RESISTOR in series between the power
supply and LED as shown in the figure below

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 Embedded firmware is the flash memory chip that stores
specialized software running in a chip in an embedded
device to control its functions.
 Firmware in embedded systems fills the same purpose as a
ROM but can be updated more easily for better adaptability
to conditions or interconnecting with additional equipment.
 Many dedicated circuits contain micro-controllers (examples:
ethernet controllers, wifi interface ship, etc). Those micro-
controllers need software to run dedicated tasks or
configuration. This piece of software is called firmware.
 Firmwares are most of the time closed-source proprietary c
codes.
 They are mostly developed in C with occasional assembly for
critical part. They can be developed on bare metal or above
an OS.

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 i) Hardware
 • Power Supply
• Processor
• Memory
• Timers
• Serial communication ports
• Input/Output circuits
• System application specific circuits

 ii)Software: The application software is required to perform the

Series of tasks.

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