Embedded Systems
C.SATHYANATHAN J.SIDDARTH 9003841021
ECE DEPT
overview
Tentative contents: 1. Introduction to Embedded Computing
2. 3.
4.
5.
Embedded System Hardware Embedded Computing Platform Programming Embedded Systems Embedded System Development
6. Case Study and Assignments for Designing a Complete System
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What is an Embedded System
An Embedded System is a microprocessor based system that is embedded as a subsystem, in a larger system (which may or may not be a computer system).
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Essential Components
Microprocessor / DSP
Sensors
Converters (A-D and D-A) Actuators Memory (On-chip and Off chip) Communication path with the interacting
environment
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Embedded System Structure (Generic)
Sensor
AD
Processor & ASICs
DA
Actuator
Memory
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General Characteristics of Embedded Systems
Perform a single task Usually not general purpose Increasingly high performance and real time
constrained Power, cost and reliability are important considerations HW-SW systems Software is used for more features and flexibility Hardware (processors, ASICs, memory etc. are used for performance and security
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Essential Considerations
Response Time -- Real Time Systems
Area
Cost Portability Low Power (Battery Life) Fault Tolerance
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Design Issues (Hardware-Software Co-design)
System Specification
Functions, Real Time Constraints, Cost and Power
Constraints
Hardware Software Partitioning Hardware Synthesis
Software Synthesis and Code Generation
Simulation Implementation
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ES, MS and RTS
All embedded systems are microprocessor based
systems, but all microprocessor based systems may not be amenable to embedding (Area, Power, Cost, Payload parameters). Most of the embedded systems have real time constraints, but there may be ES which are not hard RTS (for example off line Palm tops) There may be RTS which are not embedded (e.g. Separate Process Control Computers in a network) Embedded Systems are not GPS; they are designed for dedicated applications with specific interfaces with the sphere of control
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Classification of Embedded Systems
Distributed and Non distributed Reactive and Transformational Control dominated and Data dominated
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Application Specific Characteristics
Application is known before the system is designed System is however made programmable for Feature upgrades Product differentiation Often application development occurs in parallel to
system development Hw-Sw partitioning should be as delayed as possible For upgrades design reuse is an important criterion IP reuse, object oriented development
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ECE DEPT
DSP Characteristics
Signals are increasingly being represented digitally as a
sequence of samples ADCs are moving closer to signals; RFs are also treated digitally Typical DSP processing includes: Filtering, DFT, DCT etc. Speech and image: Compression, decompression, encryption, decryption etc. Modems: Equalization, noise and echo cancellation, better SNR Communication channel: encoding, decoding, equalization etc.
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Distributed Characteristics
Components may be physically distributed
Communicating processes on multiple processors Dedicated hw connected through communicating
channels
Often economical 4 x 8 Bit controllers may be cheaper than a 32 bit
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microcontroller Multiple processors can perform multiple time critical tasks DEPT ECEBetter logistics devices being controlled may be physically distributed
Design Metrics
Unit cost the $ cost for each unit excluding
development cost NRE cost: $ cost for design and development Size: The physical space reqd. determined by bytes of sw, number of gates and transistors in hw Performance: execution time or throughput of the system Power: lifetime of battery, cooling provisions Flexibility: ability to change functionality without heavy NRE cost
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Design Metrics
Time to market = Time to prototype + Time to refine +
Time to produce in bulk Correctness: Test and Validation Safety:
Often these metrics are contradictory hence calls for
optimization Processor choice, partitioning decisions, compilation knowledge Requires expertise in hw and sw both
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Major Subtasks of Embedded System Design
Modeling the system to be designed and constraints Experimenting with different algorithms and their preliminary
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evaluation Factoring the task into smaller subtasks and modeling their interaction Refinement HW-SW partitioning Allocating the tasks into hw, sw running on custom hw or general purpose hw Scheduling allocation of time steps for several modules sharing the same resource Implementation: Actual hw binding and sw code generation Simulation and Validation Iterate if necessary
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Co-design
Traditional design SW and HW partitioning done at an early stage and
development henceforth proceeds independently CAD tools are focussed towards hardware synthesis For embedded systems we need several components DSPs, microprocessors, network and bus interface etc. HW-SW codesign allow hw and sw design to proceed in parallel with interactions and feedback between the two processes Evaluation of trade offs and performance yields ultimate result
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Application areas
Automotive electronics
Aircraft electronics
Trains
Telecommunication
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Application areas
Medical systems
Military applications
Authentication
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Application areas
Consumer
electronics
Fabrication equipment
Smart buildings
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Importance of Embedded Software and Embedded Processors
... the New York Times has estimated that the average American comes into contact with about 60 microprocessors every day.... [Camposano, 1996]
Latest top-level BMWs contain over 100 microprocessors [Personal communication]
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Most of the functionality of embedded systems will be implemented in software!
conclusion
It is estimated that each year embedded software
is written five times as much as 'regular' software The vast majority of CPU-chips produced worldwide today are used in the embedded market ... ; only a small portion of CPU's is applied in PC's ... the number of software-constructors of Embedded Systems will rise from 2 million in 1994 to 10 million in 2010; ... the number of constructors employed by software-producers 'merely' rises from 0.6 million to 1.1 million.
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