Introduction to Embedded Systems

What is Embedded System?

An Electronic/Electro mechanical system which is designed to perform a specific function
and is a combination of both hardware and firmware (Software)

e.g: Electronic Toys, Mobile Handsets, Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Automotive
Control Units, Set Top Box, DVD Player etc…

Embedded Systems are:

 Unique in character and behavior

 With specialized hardware and software

Elements of Embedded Systems:

An embedded system is a combination of 3 things, Hardware Software Mechanical
Components and it is supposed to do one specific task only. A typical embedded system
contains a single chip controller which acts as the master brain of the system.
Diagrammatically an embedded system can be represented as follows:

Embedded systems are basically designed to regulate a physical variable (such Microwave
Oven) or to manipulate the state of some devices by sending some signals to the actuators or
devices connected to the output port system (such as temperature in Air Conditioner), in
response to the input signal provided by the end users or sensors which are connected to the
input ports. Hence the embedded systems can be viewed as a reactive system. The
control is achieved by processing the information coming from the sensors and user interfaces
and controlling some actuators that regulate the physical variable.

Keyboards, push button, switches, etc. are Examples of common user interface input devices
and LEDs, LCDs, Piezoelectric buzzers, etc examples for common user interface output
devices for a typical embedded system. The requirement of type of user interface changes
from application to application based on domain.
 FPGA/ASIC/DSP/SoC
Microprocessor/controller Embedded
Firmware

Memory

Communication Interface

System
I/p Ports Core O/p Ports
(Sensors)
(Actuators)

Other supporting
Integrated Circuits &
subsystems

Embedded System

Real World

Some embedded systems do not require any manual intervention for their operation. They
automatically sense the input parameters from real world through sensors which are
connected at input port. The sensor information is passed to the processor after signal
conditioning and digitization. The core of the system performs some predefined operations on
input data with the help of embedded firmware in the system and sends some actuating signals
to the actuator connect connected to the output port of the system.
The memory of the system is responsible for holding the code (control algorithm and other
important configuration details). There are two types of memories are used in any embedded
system. Fixed memory (ROM) is used for storing code or program. The user cannot change
the firmware in this type of memory. The most common types of memories used in
embedded systems for control algorithm storage are OTP, PROM,
UVEPROM, EEPROM and FLASH
An embedded system without code (i.e. the control algorithm) implemented memory has all
the peripherals but is not capable of making decisions depending on the situational as well as
real world changes. Memory for implementing the code may be present on the processor or
may be implemented as a separate chip interfacing the processor. In a controller based
embedded system, the controller may contain internal memory for storing code such
controllers are called Micro-controllers with on-chip ROM, eg. Atmel AT89C51.

The Core of the Embedded Systems:

General Purpose and Domain Specific Processor:

 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.

Microprocessor:

A silicon chip representing a Central Processing Unit (CPU), which is capable of

performing arithmetic as well as logical operations according to a pre-defined set of
Instructions, which is specific to the manufacturer

In general the CPU contains the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit and
Working registers

Microprocessor is a dependant unit and it requires the combination of other hardware

like Memory, Timer Unit, and Interrupt Controller etc for proper functioning.

 Intel claims the credit for developing the first Microprocessor unit Intel 4004, a 4 bit
processor which was released in Nov 1971.

Microcontroller:

 A highly integrated silicon chip containing 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

 Microcontrollers can be considered as a super set of Microprocessors

 Microcontroller can be general purpose (like Intel 8051, designed for generic
applications and domains) or application specific (Like Automotive AVR from
Atmel Corporation. Designed specifically for automotive applications)

 Since a microcontroller contains all the necessary functional blocks for independent
working, they found greater place in the embedded domain in place of
microprocessors

 Microcontrollers are cheap, cost effective and are readily available in the market

 Texas Instruments TMS 1000 is considered as the world’s first microcontroller

Microprocessor Vs Microcontroller:
Microprocessor Microcontroller
A silicon chip representing a Central A microcontroller is a highly integrated chip
Processing Unit (CPU), which is capable of that contains a CPU, scratch pad RAM,
performing arithmetic as well as logical Special and General purpose Register Arrays,
operations according to a pre-defined set of
On Chip ROM/FLASH memory for program
Instructions storage, Timer and Interrupt control units and
dedicated I/O ports
It is a dependent unit. It requires the It is a self contained unit and it doesn‟t require
combination of other chips like Timers, external Interrupt Controller, Timer, UART
Program and data memory chips, Interrupt etc for its functioning
controllers etc for functioning
Most of the time general purpose in design Mostly application oriented or domain
and operation specific
Doesn‟t contain a built in I/O port. The I/O Most of the processors contain multiple built-
Port functionality needs to be implemented in I/O ports which can be operated as a single
with the help of external Programmable 8 or 16 or 32 bit Port or as individual port pins
Peripheral Interface Chips like 8255
Targeted for high end market where Targeted for embedded market where
performance is important performance is not so critical (At present this
demarcation is invalid)
Limited power saving options Includes lot of power saving features
compared to microcontrollers

Sensors & Actuators:

 Embedded system is in constant interaction with the real world

 Controlling/monitoring functions executed by the embedded system is achieved in

accordance with the changes happening to the Real World.

 The changes in the system environment or variables are detected by the sensors
connected to the input port of the embedded system.

 If the embedded system is designed for any controlling purpose, the system will
produce some changes in controlling variable to bring the controlled variable to the
desired value.

 It is achieved through an actuator connected to the out port of the embedded system.
Sensor:

 A transducer device which converts energy from one form to another for any
measurement or control purpose. Sensors acts as input device

 Example: IR, humidity, PIR(passive infra red) , ultrasonic , piezoelectric , smoke

sensors

Actuator:
 A form of transducer device (mechanical or electrical) which converts signals to
corresponding physical action (motion). Actuator acts as an output device

 Eg. Electric motor, sliding doors, Escalators, Adjusting the Car Seat

(Figure: Example to show sensors)

The I/O Subsystem:
 The I/O subsystem of the embedded system facilitates the interaction of the embedded
system with external world

 The interaction happens through the sensors and actuators connected to the Input and
output ports respectively of the embedded system

 The sensors may not be directly interfaced to the Input ports, instead they may be
interfaced through signal conditioning and translating systems like ADC, Opto
couplers etc

1. I/O Devices - Light Emitting Diode (LED):

 Light Emitting Diode (LED) is an output device for visual indication in any
embedded system

 LED can be used as an indicator for the status of various signals or situations.
 For proper functioning of the LED, the anode of it should be connected to +ve
terminal of the supply voltage and cathode to the –ve terminal of supply voltage

 The current flowing through the LED must limited to a value below the maximum
current that it can conduct.

 A resister is used in series between the power supply and the resistor to limit the
current through the LED

Vcc

GND

2. I/O Devices – Optocoupler

 Optocoupler is a solid state device to isolate two parts of a circuit.

Optocoupler combines an LED and a photo-transistor in a single housing (package)

 Optocouplers can be used in either input circuits or in output circuits

 In electronic circuits, optocoupler is used for suppressing interference in data
communication, circuit isolation, High voltage separation, simultaneous separation
and Intensification signal etc. Below figure shows the usage of the optocoupler.