SYBSC IT – Introduction of Embedded System

Question bank with solutions.

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2) Definition of an Embedded System with example 1

• An embedded system is a combination of 3 things:
a. Hardware
b. Software
c. Mechanical Components
And it is supposed to do one specific task only.
 • An embedded system is designed to do a specific job only. Example: a washing
machine can only wash clothes, an air conditioner can control the temperature
in the room in which it is placed.
• The hardware & mechanical components will consist all the physically visible things
that are used for input, output, etc.
• An embedded system will always have a chip (either microprocessor or
microcontroller) that has the code or software which drives the system.

Example 1: Washing Machine

A washing machine from an embedded systems point of view has:
a. Hardware: Buttons, Display & buzzer, electronic circuitry.
b. Software: It has a chip on the circuit that holds the software which drives controls
& monitors the various operations possible.
c. Mechanical Components: the internals of a washing machine which actually wash
the clothes control the input and output of water, the chassis itself.
Example 2: Air Conditioner
An Air Conditioner from an embedded systems point of view has:
a. Hardware: Remote, Display & buzzer, Infrared Sensors, electronic circuitry.
b. Software: It has a chip on the circuit that holds the software which drives controls &
monitors the various operations possible. The software monitors the external temperature
through the sensors and then releases the coolant or suppresses it.
c. Mechanical Components: the internals of an air conditioner the motor, the chassis, the
outlet, etc

3) Explain Direct Memory Access 1

● In the absence of DMA, the processor must read the data from one device and write it
to the other, one byte or word at a time. If the amount of data to be transferred is large,
the rest of the software might never get a chance to run.
● When a block of data needs to be transferred, the processor provides the DMA
controller with the source and destination addresses and the total number of bytes.
● DMA controller then transfers the data from the source to the destination automatically.
After each byte is copied, each address is incremented and the number of bytes remaining
is reduced by one.
● When the number of bytes remaining reaches zero, the block transfer ends and the
DMA controller sends an interrupt to the processor.

4) Explain working of Working of Flash Memory 1

● Reading data from a Flash is not all that different from reading from any other memory
device
● The processor simply provides the address, and the memory device returns the data
stored at that location.
● Writing data to a Flash is much harder. Three factors make writes difficult.
● Each memory location must be erased before it can be rewritten. If the old data is not
erased, the result of the write operation will be some logical combination of the old and
new values, and the stored value will usually be something other than what you intended.
● Only one sector, or block, of the device can be erased at a time It is impossible to erase
a single byte. The size of an individual sector varies by device, but it is usually on the
order of several thousand bytes.
● Process of erasing the old data and writing the new varies from one manufacturer to
another and is usually rather complicated It is usually best to add a layer of software to
make the Flash memory easier to use. If implemented, this hardware-specific layer of
software is usually called
the Flash driver.

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12) What is Arduino? 4
Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and
software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a button,
or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning on an LED,
publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of
instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino
programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on
Processing.

Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from everyday
objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers - students,
hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals - has gathered around this open-source
platform, their contributions have added up to an incredible amount of accessible
knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.

13) What is the Arduino IDE And two functions of Arduino IDE? 4
The Arduino Integrated Development Environment - or Arduino Software (IDE)
- contains a text editor for writing code, a message area, a text console, a toolbar with
buttons for common functions and a series of menus. It connects to the Arduino hardware
to upload programs and communicate with them.
There are two required functions in an Arduino sketch, setup() and loop(). Other
functions must be created outside the brackets of those two functions. As an example, we
will create a simple function to multiply two numbers.

14) explain any four arduino variants with their features 5

The various components present on the Arduino boards are Microcontroller, Digital
Input/output pins, USB Interface and Connector, Analog Pins, Reset Button, Power
button, LED's, Crystal Oscillator, and Voltage Regulator. Some components may differ
depending on the type of board.

The most standard and popular board used over time is Arduino UNO. The ATmega328
Microcontroller present on the UNO board makes it rather powerful than other boards.
There are various types of Arduino boards used for different purposes and projects. The
Arduino Boards are organized using the Arduino (IDE), which can run on various
platforms. Here, IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment.

Arduino UNO
Arduino UNO is based on an ATmega328P microcontroller. It is easy to use compared to
other boards, such as the Arduino Mega board, etc. The Arduino UNO includes 6 analog
pin inputs, 14 digital pins, a USB connector, a power jack, and an ICSP (In-Circuit Serial
Programming) header.
It is the most used and of standard form from the list of all available Arduino Boards. It is
also recommended for beginners as it is easy to use.
Arduino Mega
The Arduino Mega is based on ATmega2560 Microcontroller. The ATmega2560 is an 8-
bit microcontroller. We need a simple USB cable to connect to the computer and the AC
to DC adapter or battery to get started with it. It has the advantage of working with more
memory space.
Arduino Leonardo
The basic specification of the Arduino Leonardo is the same as the Arduino Micro. It is
also based on ATmega32U4 Microcontroller. The components present on the board are
20 analog and digital pins, reset button, 16MHz crystal oscillator, ICSP header, and a
micro USB connection.
Arduino Due
The Arduino Due is based on the 32- bit ARM core. It is the first Arduino board that has
developed based on the ARM Microcontroller. It consists of 54 Digital Input/Output pins
and 12 Analog pins. The Microcontroller present on the board is the Atmel SAM3X8E
ARM Cortex-M3 CPU.

15) Explain features of Arduino UNO 5

Arduino UNO
Arduino UNO is based on an ATmega328P microcontroller. It is easy to use compared to
other boards, such as the Arduino Mega board, etc. The Arduino UNO includes 6 analog
pin inputs, 14 digital pins, a USB connector, a power jack, and an ICSP (In-Circuit Serial
Programming) header.
It is the most used and of standard form from the list of all available Arduino
Boards. It is also recommended for beginners as it is easy to use.
Technical specifications
IC: Microchip ATmega328P (8-bit AVR core)
Clock Speed: 16 MHz on Uno board, though IC is capable of 20 MHz maximum at 5
Volts.
Flash memory: 32 KB, of which 0.5 KB used by the bootloader.
SRAM: 2 KB.
EEPROM: 1 KB.
USART peripherals: 1 (Arduino software default configures USART as a 8N1 UART)

16) what the circuit serial programming 4

"Circuit serial programming" refers to "In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP)", which is
a method of programming electronic devices like microcontrollers directly on a circuit
board, meaning you can flash new firmware onto the chip while it's already installed in
the final system, rather than needing to remove it for programming beforehand;
essentially, it allows for updates to be done "in-circuit" using a serial communication
protocol.
Key points about ICSP:
Full form:
In-Circuit Serial Programming
Functionality:
Enables programming of a microcontroller or other programmable device while it's
already soldered onto the circuit board.
Benefits:
Allows for easy firmware updates in the field without needing to remove the device

17)Explain analog sound sensor 5

An analog sound sensor is a device that detects the intensity of sound by converting
sound waves into a continuous, varying electrical signal (analog signal), essentially
acting like a microphone that outputs a voltage level directly proportional to the loudness
of the sound it picks up; this analog signal can then be read by a microcontroller to
determine the sound level in an environment.
Key points about analog sound sensors:
Function:
They use a diaphragm that vibrates when sound waves hit it, causing a change in
capacitance which translates into a fluctuating voltage output, reflecting the amplitude of
the sound wave.
Output:
Unlike digital sound sensors which provide a simple high/low signal based on a
threshold, analog sound sensors output a continuous range of voltage values, allowing for
finer resolution in sound level detection.
Applications:
Commonly used in projects requiring precise sound level monitoring, such as voice-
activated systems, noise detection, audio level meters, and robotics where fine-grained
sound level analysis is needed.

18) Explain flame sensor 5

A flame sensor is a device that detects flames using light, infrared radiation, or ultraviolet
radiation. It's a safety device that's used in homes, industries, and commercial buildings
to prevent fires.
How does a flame sensor work?
Ultraviolet (UV) sensors: Detect UV radiation emitted when flames ignite
Infrared (IR) sensors: Detect IR radiation emitted by hot gases
Acoustic sensors: Detect ultrasonic signatures produced by flames
What does a flame sensor do? Triggers alarms, Activates fire suppression systems,
Initiates emergency protocols, and Cuts fuel lines.
Where are flame sensors used?
In gas-burning furnaces and boilers
In industrial warehouses
In chemical production plants
In petrol storage and pump stations
In arc welding workshops
In power plants
In transformer stations
In underground tunnels
Benefits of flame sensors
 Respond faster and more accurately than heat or smoke detectors
Can detect smokeless liquids and smoke
Can detect fire based on air temperature and movement

19) Explain wifi module 5

A Wi-Fi module is a hardware device that allows electronic devices to connect to the
internet wirelessly. It's also known as a Wi-Fi microcontroller or WLAN module.
How does a Wi-Fi module work?
 Wi-Fi modules use Wi-Fi standards like 802.11 to connect to the internet
 They can send and receive data over Wi-Fi, and can also accept commands over Wi-Fi
 They can transmit at frequencies of 2.4GHz or 5GHz
Where are Wi-Fi modules used?
 Smartphones
 Tablets
 Laptops
 Smart home devices
 IoT devices
 Medical devices
 Wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers
Examples of Wi-Fi modules
 The ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi module that supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
 The pcDuino is a Wi-Fi module that can be used with Arduino and Raspberry Pi
Benefits of Wi-Fi modules
 They eliminate the need for traditional network cables
 They support high-speed data transmission
 They allow devices to connect to the internet while communicating with nearby devices

20) explain wireless radio frequency 5

Wireless radio frequency (RF) is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is used to transmit data
and communicate wirelessly. RF signals are used in many applications, including Wi-Fi, GPS,
and cell phones.
How does RF work?
 RF signals are created by transmitters and detected by receivers.
 The transmitter antenna converts electrical signals into radio waves.
 The receiver antenna converts radio waves back into electrical signals.
 RF signals travel at the speed of light and can travel long distances.
RF frequency range
 RF frequencies range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
 Different applications use specific frequency bands.
 For example, Wi-Fi uses frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
 Microwave ovens use frequencies of around 5 GHz.
RF applications
 RF is used in television broadcasting, radar systems, computer and mobile platform
networks, remote control, and remote metering/monitoring.
 RF is also used in the Internet of Things (IoT).
 RF regulations
 In many parts of the world, governments or regulatory agencies set the right to use a
given frequency or range of frequencies.

21)Explain addressing mode 1

An addressing mode refers to how you are addressing a given memory location. There are five
different ways or five addressing modes to execute this instruction which are as follows −
 Immediate addressing mode
 Direct addressing mode
 Register direct addressing mode
 Register indirect addressing mode
 Indexed addressing mode

Immediate Addressing Mode

It is termed as immediate because 8-bit data is transferred immediately to the accumulator
(destination operand).

Direct Addressing Mode

This is another way of addressing an operand. Here, the address of the data (source data) is given
as an operand. Let’s take an example.
MOV A, 04H

Register Direct Addressing Mode

In this addressing mode, we use the register name directly (as source operand). Let us try to
understand with the help of an example.
MOV A, R4

Register Indirect Addressing Mode

In this addressing mode, the address of the data is stored in the register as operand.
MOV A, @R0

22) Explain difference between RAM and ROM. 2

RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and ROM stands for Read Only Memory. RAM is
memory that stores the data that you’re currently working with, but it’s volatile, meaning that as
soon as it loses power, that data disappears.

ROM refers to permanent memory. It’s non-volatile, so when it loses power, the data remains.
This makes it perfect for things that don’t change, like the BIOS of your motherboard.
RAM-
Random Access Memory is used to temporarily store data while the computer is on. This means
that when you switch between programs that you’ve recently opened, the data has been kept in
the RAM. This allows the computer to retrieve it far more quickly.
This is why opening a program takes so much longer than simply switching back to it. Opening a
program makes the PC get data from your SSD or HDD, which are comparatively slow.
Switching to a program that’s already open, or sometimes even recently closed is quicker
because RAM is far faster than storage.

What is ROM?
Read Only Memory, is a permanent, non-volatile type of memory. It generally can’t be changed
after it’s created, only accessed, hence the name. It’s vital for your computer, as ROM is the
perfect place to store important data and instructions that won’t change. The data is not affected
by a loss of power, like RAM is.
Technically, there are types of read-only memory that can actually be re-written, like EEPROM.
However, this is beyond the scope of this article. We aren’t trying to give you a total re-
education in computing right now, just to give you a rundown of the basics.

22)DC Motor 3
DC motor or Direct Current Motor is a device that converts the direct current energy into
mechanical energy. The energy generated through the current is used to drive the motor.
Examples include an electric window in cars, machine tools, printers, electric vehicles,
elevators, etc. Here, we will discuss the working of DC motor, categories, and types of DC
Motor.
The rotation of DC Motor can be controlled, which makes it ideal for Motor use in different
categories. The operation of most of the DC motors depends on the magnetic field forces.

23)Analog I/O basic knowledge 2

This section offers basic knowledge and glossary terms related to analog I/O, A/D conversion,
and D/A conversion in an easy-to-understand way that includes illustrations. The content offered
here is recommended knowledge for anyone looking to perform measurement control using a
computer as well as anyone considering automating data logging or measurements. It may also
prove a useful resource for individuals already using CONTEC analog I/O devices.
The signals from sensors that measure surrounding natural factors such as temperature, pressure,
and flow rate are often analog signals, and most control actuators move according to analog
signals. On the other hand, only digital signals can be handled by computers. For this reason, in
order to input a signal from a sensor using a computer, or to output a signal to an actuator, it's
necessary to have a device that can bridge the analog signal and the digital signal handled by the
computer. That bridge is called an analog I/O interface.

24)Bluetooth 2
Bluetooth wireless technology is a short range communications technology intended to replace
the cables connecting portable unit and maintaining high levels of security. Bluetooth technology
is based on Ad-hoc technology also known as Ad-hoc Pico nets, which is a local area network
with a very limited coverage.
History of Bluetooth
 WLAN technology enables device connectivity to infrastructure based services through a
wireless carrier provider. The need for personal devices to communicate wirelessly with one
another without an established infrastructure has led to the emergence of Personal Area
Networks (PANs).

 Bluetooth offers a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate
with each other.
 Bluetooth technology has achieved global acceptance such that any Bluetooth enabled device,
almost everywhere in the world, can be connected with Bluetooth enabled devices.
 Low power consumption of Bluetooth technology and an offered range of up to ten meters has
paved the way for several usage models.
 Bluetooth offers interactive conference by establishing an adhoc network of laptops.
 Bluetooth usage model includes cordless computer, intercom, cordless phone and mobile phones.

25) Timer Functions in embedded system 3

What is a Timer?
In its simplest form, a timer is a device that measures or tracks time intervals. In an embedded
system, a timer is implemented as a hardware component or a software module to provide
precise timekeeping capabilities. Timers are commonly used to synchronize events, schedule
tasks, generate delays, capture time-sensitive data, and trigger actions at specific intervals.

Hardware Timers:
Hardware timers are typically integrated into the microcontroller or microprocessor of an
embedded system. They operate independently of the software, making them highly accurate and
reliable. Hardware timers consist of a counter, clock source, and control registers.

1. Counter: The core component of a hardware timer is a counter, which increments or decrements
at a fixed rate based on the clock source. The counter value represents the elapsed time or the
number of clock cycles that have occurred.
2. Clock Source: The clock source provides the timing signal for the timer. It can be derived from
the system clock or an external crystal oscillator. The clock frequency determines the resolution
and maximum time duration the timer can measure.
3. Control Registers: The control registers allow the software to configure the timer’s behavior.
They provide options for setting the clock source, enabling interrupts, specifying operating
modes (such as periodic or one-shot), and configuring input/output pins.

26) What is the communication protocol in embedded systems? 2

Communication protocols are a set of rules and regulations that an embedded system follows
while communicating. These protocols enable the transmission of data from sender to receiver
and allow different devices to communicate with each other within a system.