Chapter 1

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Embedded Embedded Systems

Systems Introduction
By Abebe B.
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 Have a Clear understanding of

Embedded Systems, Component and
its Characteristics.
Objective
 Differentiae Embedded systems and
generic computer systems.
Systems
• What is System?
• System is a way of working, organizing or
performing one or many tasks according to a
fixed set of rules, program or plan.
• It is an arrangement in which all the unit combined to

perform a work together by following certain set of
rules in real time computation.
• It can also be defined as a way of working, organizing
or doing one or many tasks according to a fixed plan.
Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 3
Hardware/Software Introduction, (c) 2000 Vahid/Givargis
Systems
 For example, a watch is a time displaying

system.
• Its components follow a set of rules to show time. If
one of its parts fails, the watch will stop working. So
we can say, in a system, all its subcomponents
depend on each other.
 Some other examples include computer systems; solar
systems; telephone systems; Fire alarm System;
weapons systems; space systems; etc.

Real-Time Systems
The term “real-time system” refers to 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.
• The crucial distinction among real-time systems lies in what
happens if a deadline is missed.
 hard real-time system and
 soft real-time system
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Hard real-time system
• This type of system can never miss its deadline.

• Missing the deadline may have disastrous
consequences.
• The usefulness of results produced by a hard real-time
system decreases abruptly and may become negative if
tardiness increases. Tardiness means how late a real-
time system completes its task with respect to its
deadline.
• Example: Flight controller system.
Soft real-time system
• This type of system can miss its deadline occasionally

with some acceptably low probability.
• Missing the deadline have no disastrous consequences.
• The usefulness of results produced by a soft real-time
system decreases gradually with an increase in
tardiness.
• Example: Telephone switches.

Computing systems
• Computing systems are everywhere

• Most of us think of “desktop” computers
– PC’s
– Laptops
– Mainframes
– Servers
• But there’s another type of computing system
– Far more common...

Embedded systems
• What is Embedded System?

– As its name suggests, Embedded means something that is
attached to another thing.
– An embedded system can be thought of as a computer
hardware system having software embedded in it.
– An embedded system can be an independent system or it can
be a part of a large system.
– An embedded system is a microcontroller based system which
is designed to perform a specific task.
– For example, a fire alarm is an embedded system; it will sense
only smoke.
Embedded systems overview
• So, embedded systems are;

Computers are in here...
– Computing systems embedded within
electronic devices. and here...
– Hard to define. Nearly any computing and even here...

system other than a desktop computer
– Billions of units produced yearly,
versus millions of desktop units
– Perhaps 50 per household and per
automobile Lots more of these,
though they cost a lot
less each.

A “short list” of embedded systems
Anti-lock brakes Modems
Auto-focus cameras MPEG decoders
Automatic teller machines Network cards
Automatic toll systems Network switches/routers
Automatic transmission On-board navigation
Avionic systems Pagers
Battery chargers Photocopiers
Camcorders Point-of-sale systems
Cell phones Portable video games
Cell-phone base stations Printers
Cordless phones Satellite phones
Cruise control Scanners
Curbside check-in systems Smart ovens/dishwashers
Digital cameras Speech recognizers
Disk drives Stereo systems
Electronic card readers Teleconferencing systems
Electronic instruments Televisions
Electronic toys/games Temperature controllers
Factory control Theft tracking systems
Fax machines TV set-top boxes
Fingerprint identifiers VCR’s, DVD players
Home security systems Video game consoles
Life-support systems Video phones
Medical testing systems Washers and dryers
And the list goes on and on

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Some common characteristics of ES
• 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

An embedded system example -- a digital
camera
Digital camera chip
CCD
CCD preprocessor Pixel coprocessor D2A

A2D
lens
JPEG codec Microcontroller Multiplier/Accum
DMA controller Display ctrl
Memory controller ISA bus interface UART LCD ctrl
• Single-functioned -- always a digital camera

• Tightly-constrained -- Low cost, low power, small, fast
• Reactive and real-time -- only to a small extent

Characteristics of a Real Time Embedded
Systems (RTES)
• Constant Response :
– A real-time embedded system always responds in the same
manner to a certain situation, it is not allowed to deviate from
its normal designated output.
– An air-conditioner is not allowed to throw hot air in summers.
• Accuracy :
– In case of any malfunctioning, the system failure can cause
havoc, what would happen if the pacemaker can't maintain the
heartbeat, patient would eventually die!

Characteristics of a RTES
• Quick Response:
– It is the most important characteristic of all, the real-time
embedded system must be swift enough to respond to the
changing external environment with immediate effect.
• Deadline :
– A deadline is crucial to the working of an embedded system,
a missed deadline can cost lives and finances.

Components of RTES
• Hardware:
– Hardware is physically used component that is physically connected with
an embedded system.
– The hardware parts include a microcontroller or a microprocessor, Input
and Output ports, sensors , actuators , relays, power supply or batteries
and several other peripheral parts according to the design and function of
the embedded system.
• Application software:
– Application software allows the user to perform varieties of application to
be run on an embedded system by changing the code installed in an
embedded system.
– Real time embedded systems have embedded software which directs the
system for performing designated tasks.
Components of RTES
• Real-Time Operating system (RTOS):

– RTOS supervises the way an embedded system work. It act as an interface between
hardware and application software which supervises the application software and
provide mechanism to let the processor run on the basis of scheduling for controlling
the effect of latencies.

Real time operating system (RTOS)
• One of the most important components that go into today's

embedded systems is the RTOS or real time operating system,
which is responsible for scheduling tasks to enabling high-
level languages (C, Python etc.).
• RTOS are implied in the embedded systems which are time
sensitive.
• Time constraints are the key, a task completed after due time or
deadline would be rendered useless or would have a negative
impact on the users.

Why Embedded Systems Are
Different?
• Embedded systems are dedicated to specific tasks,

whereas PCs are generic computing platforms.
• Embedded systems are supported by a wide array of
processors and processor architectures.
• Embedded systems are usually cost sensitive.
• Embedded systems have real-time constraints.

Different?
 If an embedded system is using an operating system at

all, it is most likely using a real-time operating system
(RTOS), rather than Windows 9X, Windows NT,
Windows 2000, Unix, Solaris, or HP- UX.
 The implications of software failure is much more
severe in embedded systems than in desktop systems.

Different?
 Embedded systems often have power constraints.

 Embedded systems often must operate under extreme
environmental conditions.
 Embedded systems have far fewer system resources
than desktop systems.
 Embedded systems often store all their object code in
ROM.
Advantages
 Easily Customizable
 Low power consumption
 Low cost
 Enhanced performance

Disadvantages
 High development effort

 Larger time to market

Trends in Embedded Computing
Reading Assignment

27
ES defined as-

 A Microcontroller based,
 A software driven,
 A reliable, and
SUMMARY
 A real-time control system.
 A Dedicated for single task/function
 They are low-cost, low-power-
consuming, small computers.
Assignments
Research on;
1.Recent Trends & Challenges in the field of Embedded Systems.
2.Low-power Computing and Design considerations for low power
embedded systems.
3.Embedded and Real-Time Operating Systems
4.Networked Embedded Systems
5.Embedded System Design: Challenges of Hardware and Software
Development.
(min 4 and max 6 pages)28
Deadline :- Monday, 05/02/2024
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Embedded Embedded Systems

 Have a Clear understanding of

• It is an arrangement in which all the unit combined to

 For example, a watch is a time displaying

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 4

The term “real-time system” refers to any

• This type of system can never miss its deadline.

• This type of system can miss its deadline occasionally

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 8

• Computing systems are everywhere

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 9

• What is Embedded System?

• So, embedded systems are;

– Hard to define. Nearly any computing and even here...

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 11

And the list goes on and on

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 14

CCD preprocessor Pixel coprocessor D2A

JPEG codec Microcontroller Multiplier/Accum

DMA controller Display ctrl

Memory controller ISA bus interface UART LCD ctrl

• Single-functioned -- always a digital camera

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 15

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 16

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 17

• Real-Time Operating system (RTOS):

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 19

• One of the most important components that go into today's

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 20

• Embedded systems are dedicated to specific tasks,

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 21

 If an embedded system is using an operating system at

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 22

 Embedded systems often have power constraints.

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 24

 High development effort

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 25

Embedded Systems Design: A Unified 26

ES defined as-

Next>>> Embedded Systems Design

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