1. What’s an Embedded System?

• Embedded systems =
– information processing systems that
interact with physical processes and are
embedded into a larger product
• Two types of computing
– Desktop – produced millions/year
– Embedded – billions/year
• Non-Embedded Systems
– PCs, servers, and notebooks
• The future of computing!
– Automobiles, entertainment,
communication, aviation, handheld
devices, military, medical equipment …
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 1. What is an embedded system?
• Embedded system is
– any device that includes a programmable computer but is not itself a
general-purpose computer - Wayne Wolf
– An embedded computer system includes a micro-computer with
mechanical, chemical and electrical devices attached to it, programmed
for a specific dedicated purpose, and packaged as a complete system -
Jonathan W. Valvano
– An embedded system is one that has computer-hardware with software
embedded in it as one of its most important component - Raj Kamal

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 2. Embedded System Models
Application software layer
System software layer
Hardware layer

• Application software:
– application programs, GUI, control programs…
• System software
– Operating system, system drivers, system library
• Hardware
– Processors, memory, peripherals, input/output devices, PCB
…
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 3. Embedded System Features
Components of Embedded Systems

Clock Display Power Embedded

software
Peripherals ROM
Embedded Processor
Buttons RAM

Sensors A/D I/O Actuators

• Embedded processor is a heart of the embedded system:

– micro-processor: 8086, ARM7, ARM9…
– micro-controller: 8051, ARM Cortex-M, PIC16F, 68HC11,

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 3. Embedded System Features
• Memory
– ROM: embedded program
– RAM: processing data
• Embedded program
– OS / non-OS supported
– realtime / non-realtime
– timer, interrupt, serial port…
• Clock:
– crystal
• Power:
– +5V / +3.3V / +2.5V
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 3. Embedded System Features
• Peripherals:
– I/O port
– UART
– I2C
– ADC
– PWM
• User interface:
– Button / keypad / switch
– LCD / 7-segment LED / LED indicator
• Sensors:
– temperature, light, ultrasound, pressure, …
• Actuators:
– motor, solenoid, relay, …

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 3. Embedded System Features
Common Characteristics:
• Single-functioned
– Executes a single program, repeatedly
• Tightly-constrained
– Low cost, low power, small, fast, etc.
• Reactive and real-time
– Continually reacts to changes in the system’s environment
– Must compute certain results in real-time without delay

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 3. Embedded System Features
3 Common Characteristics:
• Single-functioned
– Executes a single program, repeatedly
• Tightly-constrained
– Low cost, low power, small, fast, etc.
• Reactive and real-time
– Continually reacts to changes in the system’s environment
– Must compute certain results in real-time without delay

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 Embedded System Requirements
• 5 basic requirements for an embedded system
Real-time/
reactive
operation

Cost / Small size/

resource low weight

Safe and Low power,

reliable cooling

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 Embedded System Quality
• 8 basic dimensions of quality
1. Performance: The primary operating characteristics of a product.
2. Feature: Those characteristics that supplement a product’s basic
functions
3. Reliability: The probability of a product malfunctioning
4. Durability: A measure of the amount of use one gets from a
product before it breaks down
5. Serviceability: Ease and time to repair after breakdown
6. Conformance: the degree to meet standards
7. Aesthetics: How a product looks
8. Perceived quality: This dimension is associated with reputation

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 4. Real-time Embedded Systems
• Definition:
– A real-time system is one that must process information
and produce a response within a specified time
– Any system in which the time at which output is produced
is significant.
• Almost embedded systems are real-time

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 4. Real-time Embedded Systems
• Hard real-time system:
– missing a deadline is a total system failure.
– Many of these systems are considered to be safety critical
– In general there is a cost function associated with the
system

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 4. Real-time Embedded Systems
• Soft real-time
– the system's quality of service degrades after its deadline
– Deadline overruns are tolerable, but not desired
– Often connected to Quality-of-Service (QoS)

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 4. Real-time Embedded Systems
Examples
• Hard real-time system
– a car engine control system is a hard real-time system
because a delayed signal may cause engine failure or
damage.
– heart pacemakers is hard real-time systems
• Soft real-time system
– Multimedia systems
– LED display control systems

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