LECTURE NOTES 2 – TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM

TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM contains ALU, Control Unit, and working

• Contains a single chip controller (master brain of registers. A microprocessor is a dependent
the system) unit and it requires combination of other
• Can be microprocessor, microcontroller, field hardware like memory, timer unit, and interrupt
programmable gate array, or digital signal controller, etc. for proper functioning.
processor b. Microcontroller. Highly integrated chip that
Example: contains a CPU for control unit, scratch pad
- Microprocessor: For general-purpose RAM for temporary storage of data/variable,
computation e.g. Intel 8085 special and general – purpose register arrays
- Microcontroller: For specific task or control for operations, on chip ROM/FLASH memory
functions e.g. Atmel AT89C51 for program storage, timer, and interrupt
- Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA): For control units, and dedicated I/O ports for digital
digital logic circuits and analog pinout.
- Digital Signal Processor (DSP): For signal and
image processing operations

c. General Purpose Processor (GPP) vs.

Application-Specific Instruction Set Processor
(ASIP)
o GPP are processors designed for
general computational task
(Microprocessor)
o ASIP are processors with architecture
and instruction set optimized to
• Embedded hardware / software systems – specific application (Microcontrollers)
designed to regulate physical variable or d. Digital Signal Processors. Powerful special
manipulate state of some devices by sending purpose 8/16/32 bit microprocessors designed
some control signal for embedded audio, video, and
communication applications
• Input Signals – provided by the end users or
sensors e.g. keyboards, push button, switches
• Output Signals – response to the input signals e.g.
LEDs, LCDs, piezoelectric buzzers
• Memory – hold control algorithm
o ROM – store permanent data, examples of
ROM are OTP, PROM, UVEPROM,
EEPROM, and FLASH.
o RAM – store temporary data, examples of
RAM are SRAM, DRAM, and NVRAM e. Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) vs
Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC)
CORE OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM o RISC possess lesser number of
Embedded system are domain and application specific instructions, typically in the range of
and are built around a central core. Core of embedded 30 to 40 therefore programmers need
falls into any of the following categories: to write more code to execute a task.
1. General Purpose and Domain Specific Processors o CISC possess complex and high
2. Application and Specific Integrated Circuits number of instructions therefore
(ASICs) programmers can achieve desired
3. Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) functionality with a single instruction.
4. Commercial off-the-shelf Components (COTS) f. Harvard vs. Von-Neumann Processor /
Controller Architecture
General Purpose and Domain Specific Processors o Von-Neumann architecture shares a
a. Microprocessor. Silicon chip representing a single common bus for fetching both
CPU which is capable of performing arithmetic instructions and data. Program
as well as logic operations. In general, CPU instructions and data are stored in a
Prepared by: Engr. Rhodonelle S. Duatin
Department of Computer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering
 LECTURE NOTES 2 – TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM

common main memory. This • Fixed Logic Devices perform one function or set of
architecture based processors / functions – once manufactured, it cannot be
controllers first fetch an instruction and changed.
then fetch the data to support the • Programmable Logic Devices has wide range of
instruction from code memory. Von- logic capacity, features, speed, and voltage
Neumann is also referred to as characteristics – and these devices can be re-
Princeton architecture. configured to perform any number of functions at
o Harvard architecture have separate any time
data bus and instruction bus. This
allows the data transfer and program
fetching to occur simultaneously on
both buses. Data memory can be read
and written while the program memory
is being accessed.

Fixed Logic Device

g. Big-Endian vs. Little-Endian Processors /
Controllers
Endianness specifies the order in which the
data is stored in the memory by processor
operations in a multi byte system

o Little Endian means the lower-order

byte of data is stored in memory at the
lowest address, and the highest-order
byte at highest address
o Big Endian means the higher-order
byte of the data is stored in the
memory at the lowest-address, and
the lowest-order byte at highest Programmable Logic Device
address.
Commercial Off-the-Shelf Components (COTS)
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)
• Provide easy integration and interoperability with
• Microchip designed to perform a specific or unique existing system components
application
• Can be developed around a general purpose or
• Used as replacement to conventional general domain specific processor
purpose logic chips
• Typical example of COTS hardware unit are
• Integrates several functions into a single chip and remote controlled toy car control units including
there by reduces the system development cost the RF circuitry part, analog-to-digital converters,
• ASICs consumes a very small area in the total optoelectronics devices, etc.
system and thereby helps in the design of smaller • Other example are network plug-in modules
systems with high capabilities / functionalities.
MEMORY
Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) Some processors / controllers contain built in memory
• Logic devices provide specific functions, including and this memory is referred as on-chip memory.
device-to-device interfacing, data communication, Others do not contain any memory inside the chip and
signal processing, data display, timing, and control requires external memory to be connected with the
operations. controller / processor to store the control algorithm, it is
• Logic devices can be classified into two categories called off-chip memory.
– fixed and programmable

Prepared by: Engr. Rhodonelle S. Duatin

Department of Computer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering
 LECTURE NOTES 2 – TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM

Program Storage Memory (ROM) a. Static RAM (SRAM). It stores data in the form
of voltage. They are made up of flip-flops.
SRAM is the fastest form of RAM available.

a. Masked ROM (MROM). One-time

programmable device. It is called "masked"
because the data is fixed at the time of
fabrication, typically by using a mask that
defines the data pattern during the
semiconductor manufacturing process.
b. Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) /
One Time Programmable (OTP). One-time
programmable device but it is not pre-
programmed by the manufacturer.
c. Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory b. Dynamic RAM (DRAM). It stores data in the
(EPROM). Allows for data storage and form of charges. They are made up of MOS
reprogramming, but with added feature of eras transistor gates and capacitor. DRAM are
ability. EPROM memory cells can be used for the refreshing operation. Refresh
programmed with data, and when needed, the operation is done periodically in milliseconds
entire memory chip can be erased and interval. (Reads the data and rewrite the data
reprogrammed with new data by exposing chip back to the cell)
to UV light.
d. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory (EEPROM). Allows for data
storage and reprogramming that can be both
electrically programmed and erased. It
enables electrical read and write operations,
making it more convenient for modern
electronic devices and system.
e. FLASH. Latest ROM technology and is most
popular. It combines the re-programmability of
EEPROM and the high capacity of standard
ROMs.
f. Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). RAM with battery
back-up. It contains static RAM based memory
and a minute battery for providing supply to
the memory in the absence of external supply.
NVRAM is used for storing critical data and c. Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM). RAM with battery
settings that should not be lost in the event of backup. It contains static RAM based memory
a power outage or system restart. and a minute battery for providing supply to
the memory in the absence of external power
Read – Write Memory / Random Access Memory supply.
(RAM)
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS

Sensor
A sensor is a device or transducer that detects or
measures physical properties, environmental
conditions, or changes in the surroundings and
converts them into electrical signals or data that can
be easily processed and analyzed. Common examples
of sensors include temperature sensors, light sensors,
motion detectors, and pressure sensors.

Prepared by: Engr. Rhodonelle S. Duatin

Department of Computer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering
 LECTURE NOTES 2 – TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM

Actuator
An actuator is a device that converts electrical signals f. Piezo Buzzer. Piezoelectric device for
or control inputs into physical actions. Actuators are generating audio indications
responsible for executing specific tasks or making g. Push Button Switch.
changes in the physical world based on the information o Push to Make – normally open state,
received from sensors. These actions can be and it makes circuit contact when it is
mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic in pushed or pressed
nature. Examples of actuators include electric motors, o Push to Break – normally closed state,
solenoids, valves, and relays. and it breaks circuit contact when it is
pushed or pressed
I/O Subsystem h. Keyboard. For large number of input keys for
The I/O subsystem facilitates the interaction of the user input.
embedded system with the external world. Interaction
happens through sensors and actuators connected to
the input and output ports respectively of the
embedded system.

a. Light Emitting Diode (LED). Important output

device for visual indication in any system.
b. 7 – Segment LED Display. Display alpha-
numeric characters, contains 8 light – emitting
diode (LED) arranged in the special form.

i. Programmable Peripheral Interface (PPI). For

extending I/O capabilities of processors /
controllers.
c. Optocoupler. Solid state device to isolate two
parts of a circuit; combines an LED and a
phototransistor in a single package.

d. Stepper Motor. Electro-mechanical device

which generates discrete displacement
(motion) in response to dc electrical signals. It
differs from normal dc motor. Stepper motor
produces discrete rotation in response to the
dc voltage applied to it.
COMMUNICATION INTERFACE
Communication Interface can be viewed into two
different perspectives namely Device/board level
communication interface (Onboard Communication
Interface) and Product Level Communication Interface
(External Communication Interface).

Onboard Communication Interface

a. Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) Bus. Physical bus
interface that allows multiple devices to
e. Relay. Electro-mechanical device, contains
communicate with each other over a two-wire
relay coil made up of insulated wire on a metal
bus. (Half Duplex)
core and metal armature with one or more
contacts.

b. Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Bus.

Synchronous bi-directional full duplex four-wire
interface bus.
Prepared by: Engr. Rhodonelle S. Duatin
Department of Computer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering
 LECTURE NOTES 2 – TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEM

c. IEEE 1394 (Firewire). Wired, isochronous high

speed serial communication bus. It is also
c. Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
known as High Performance Serial Bus.
(UART). UART is asynchronous, meaning that
data is transmitted without a shared clock
signal. Instead, both the sender (transmitter)
and receiver use agreed-upon baud rates to
determine the data transmission speed.

d. Infrared. Serial, half-duplex, line of sight based

wireless technology for data communication
between devices.
e. Bluetooth (BT). Low cost, low power, short
range wireless technology for data and voice
communication.

d. 1 – Wire Interface. It uses a single bidirectional

data line for both data and power delivery.

f. Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). Popular wireless

communication technique for network
communication devices.
e. Parallel Interface. In this interface, data is g. Zigbee. Low power, low cost, wireless network
transmitted over multiple data lines, often communication protocol.
organized as a bus e.g. 36-pins connectors.

External Communication Interfaces

a. RS232 & RS485. RS means recommended
standard. RS232 extends the UART
communication signals for data
communication.

Integrating Activity 2
Create an embedded system incorporating Near-
b. Universal Serial Bus (USB). Wired high speed Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. Please refer
serial bus for data communication. It transmits to the following outline.
data in packet format. It follows star topology.
Title
I. Introduction
II. Block Diagram
III. Materials
IV. Methods
V. References

Prepared by: Engr. Rhodonelle S. Duatin

Department of Computer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering