Introduction to Real
Time and Embedded
Systems
1
Definition
Real time systems: A system which responds to real time
situation.
any information processing system with hardware and
software components that perform real-time application
functions and can respond to events within predictable
and specific time constraints.
2
Examples
Flight Control Systems
Traffic Light Systems
Missile Guidance Systems
Ultrasound scans
CT scans
ATM Machines
3
Real Time Model
• The basic model of a real-time system presents the overview
of all the components involved in a real-time system.
• Real-time system includes various hardware and software
embedded in a way that the specific tasks can be performed
in the time constraints allowed.
• The accuracy and correctness involved in real-time system
makes the model complex.
• There are various models of real-time system which are more
complex and are hard to understand.
4
Real Time Model Cont…
Real Time Model Cont…
• Sensor: Sensor is used for the conversion of some physical
events or characteristics into the electrical signals.
• These are hardware devices that take the input from
environment and gives to the system by converting it.
• For example, a thermometer takes the temperature as
physical characteristic and then converts it into electrical
signals for the system.
• Actuator: Actuator is the reverse device of sensor. Where
sensor converts the physical events into electrical signals,
actuator does the reverse.
• It converts the electrical signals into the physical events or
characteristics. It takes the input from the output interface of
the system.
• The output from the actuator may be in any form of physical
action. Some of the commonly used actuator are motors and
heaters
• When the sensor converts the physical actions into electrical Signal
Conditioning Unit:signals, then computer can’t used them directly.
• Hence, after the conversion of physical actions into electrical signals,
there is need of conditioning. Similarly while giving the output when
electrical signals are sent to the actuator, then also conditioning is
required. Therefore, Signal conditioning is of two types:
Input Conditioning Unit: It is used for conditioning the electrical
signals coming from sensor.
Output Conditioning Unit: It is used for conditioning the electrical
signals coming from the system
• Interface Unit: Interface units are basically used for the
conversion of digital to analog and vice-versa.
• Signals coming from the input conditioning unit are analog and
the system does the operations on digital signals only, then the
interface unit is used to change the analog signals to digital
signals.
• Similarly, while transmitting the signals to output conditioning
unit the interface of signals are changed i.e. from digital to
analog. On this basis, Interface unit is also of two types
• Input Interface: It is used for conversion of analog signals to digital.
• Output Interface: It is used for conversion of digital signals to analog
Definition
Embedded System: any device that includes a computer
but not itself a general purpose computer.
Hardware and software part of large system and
expected to function without human intervention.
11
Definition
Responds, monitors, control external environment using
sensors and actuators.
Any system where the user doesn’t want to know that it
includes a processor.
12
Embedding a Computer
Output analog
CPU Input
Mem. analog
Embedded Computer
13
Examples
Personal digital assistant (PDA)
Printers
Cell phone
Automobile: engine, brakes, dash, etc.
Television
Household appliances
14
Continued
Product: Palm Vx
handheld
Microprocessor:
32-bit Motorola
Dragonball EZ
15
Continued
Product: Motorola i1000
plus iDEN Multi Service
Digital Phone
Microprocessor:
32-bit Motorola MCORE
16
Application Examples
Simple control: front panel of Microwave
ovens, etc.
Camera: Canon EOS 3 has three
microprocessors
• 32-bit RISC CPU runs auto-focus
Analog TV: Channel selection, etc.
Digital TV: Decompression, Descrambling, etc
17
Automobile embedded systems
Today's high-end automobile may have 100
microprocessors:
• 4-bit microprocessors checks seat belt
• Microcontroller run dashboard devices
• 16/32 bit microprocessor controls engine
18
Example: Automobile
Sensor Sensor
Brake Brake
Automated Braking Hydraulic
System Pump
Brake Brake
Sensor Sensor
19
Characteristics of embedded system
Sophisticated functionality
Real-time operation (always?)
Low manufacturing cost
Application dependent processor
Restricted memory
Low power consumption
• Power consumption is critical in battery
power devices.
20
Real-time operation
Must finish operations by deadline
• Hard real time: missing deadline causes failure
• Soft real time: missing deadline results in
degraded performance
Many systems are multi-rate: must handle operations at
widely varying rates.
21
Application dependent requirements
Fault-tolerance
• Continue operation despite hardware or software
faults
Safe
• Systems to avoid physical or economic damage to
person or property
22
More features
Dedicated system
• Predefined functionality-accordingly hardware &
software design
• Programmability rarely used during lifetime of the
system.
23
More Examples
Product: Pepsi Vending
machine
Microprocessor:
4-bit Motorola
68HC11
. . . . . . Web-enabled vending machine
24
Cont . . .
Product: GPS Receiver
Microprocessor:
16-bit
25
Cont . . .
Product: MP3 Player
Microprocessor:
32-bit RISC
26
Cont . . .
Product: DVD Player
Microprocessor:
32-bit RISC
27
Cont . . .
Product: Sony Aibo
ERS-110 Robotic Dog
Microprocessor:
64-bit MIPS RISC
28
Types of embedded system
Similar to General Computing
• PDA, Video games, Set-top boxes, automatic
teller machine
Control Systems
• Feed-back control of real time system
• Vehicle engines, flight control, nuclear
reactor
Signal Processing
• Radar, MP3 players, DVD players
Communication & Networking
• Cellular phones, Internet appliances 29
Nature of System Function
Control Laws
Sequencing Logic
Signal Processing
Application Specific Interfacing
Fault Response
30
Architecture
FPGA Mem. SOFTWARE
Sensors ADC CPU DAC Actuators
Human Diagnostic Auxiliary
Interface tools Systems
Electromechanical
packaging
31
Sensors
A sensor converts some physical characteristics
of its environment into electrical signals
Examples of sensor
• A photo-voltaic cell converts light energy
into electrical energy
• A temperature sensor typically operates
based on the principle of thermocouple.
• Pressure sensor typically operates based
on piezoelectricity principle. 32
Actuators
An actuator converts electrical signals into
some physical actions.
The physical action may be:
• Motion, change of thermal, electrical,
pneumatic, or physical characteristics
of some objects.
33
Actuators
Examples of actuators
• Motors
• Heaters
• Hydraulic and pneumatic actuators
34
ADC & DAC
Analog – to – digital converters (ADC)
• Converts continuous signals to discrete
numbers
The reverse operation
• Performed by digital – to- analog
converters (DAC)
35
Implementing Embedded System
Hardware
Processing elements
Peripherals
I/O Devices
Hardware
Interfacing sensors &
actuators
Software
Memory
Partitioning
of
Bus
Tasks
Software
System software
Application
36
Software
Programs must be logically &
temporally correct
Must deal with inherent physical
concurrency
Reliability & fault tolerance are
critical issues
Application Specific & single purpose
37
Multi-Tasking and Concurrency
Embedded systems need to deal with
several inputs & outputs and multiple
events occurring simultaneously.
Separate tasks simplifies
programming, but requires somehow
switching back & forth among
different tasks (multi-tasking)
38
Multi-Tasking and Concurrency
Concurrency is the appearance of
simultaneous execution of multiple
tasks.
39
Challenges in embedded system design
How much hardware do we need?
• What is word size of CPU? Size of memory
How do we meet our deadline?
• Faster hardware or cleverer software?
How do we minimize power?
• Turn off unnecessary logic? Reduce
memory access
40
Embedded System Design
Multi-Objective Multi-Discipline Life Cycle
Dependability Electronic Hardware Requirement
Affordability Software Design
Safety X Mechanical Hardware X Manufacturing
Security Control Algorithm Deployment
Scalability Human Logistics
Timeliness Society, institutions Retirement
41
Design goals
Performance
• Overall speed, deadlines
Functionality & User Interface
Manufacturing cost
Power Consumption
Other requirement (physical size, etc)
42
