EMBEDDED SYSTEM

An embedded system is a product that has one or more computers embedded within it, which
exercise primarily a control function. An embedded system is an applied computer system, as distinguished
from other types of computer systems such as personal computers (PCs) or supercomputers.
DEFFINITION OF AN EMBEDDED SYSTEM:
A combination of hardware and software which together form a component of a larger machine.
Common descriptions of an embedded system:

Embedded systems are more limited in hardware and/or software functionality than a personal
computer (PC).
Hardware limitations:
o processing performance
o power consumption
o Memory
o Hardware
o Functionality
Software limitations:

o PCfewer applications
o scaled-down applications
o no operating system (OS) or a limited OS or less abstraction-level code
An embedded system is designed to perform a dedicated function
An embedded system is a computer system with higher quality and reliability requirements
than other types of computer systems.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL PURPOSE SYSTEM AND EMBEDDED SYSTM

General purpose system

o Like desktop pc, laptop etc..,
Embedded system
o Special purpose system which are either used as standalone or a part of big system

A typical embedded system would have:

A micro-controller to provide the intelligence

Interfacing circuits to connect with the main application
Real time software
Dedicated hardware for functions whose implementation in software might be too slow
Test and maintenance hardware

EXAMPLES OF AN EMBEDDED SYSTEM:

MP3 music players

Mobile phone units
Domestic appliances
Data switches

Automotive controls
Embedded memories to keep configuration information
EG: REFRIGERATOR

Fig 1.1: Refrigirator

CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES:
Embedded systems are more than part of human life. For instance, one cannot imagine life without
mobile phones for personal communication. Its presence is virtually unavoidable in almost all facets of
human endeavour.

Multicore in embedded :

With a lot functionalities being added, the need for high performance in embedded systems has become
inevitable and so developers are increasingly leaning towards multicore processors in their systems
design decision. While this range of new applications also demands low thermals in small form factor
setting, the mechanicals and packaging is also becoming a sub specialization of its own.

Conventionally, chip manufacturers developed faster single core processors to meet the ever increasing
performance requirements but soon they realized that increasing frequency, though offered certain
benefits had drawbacks too such as:
1. It drove to higher power consumption and so the higher thermals.

2. Overall cost increased as the peripherals surrounding also needed to operate at matching
speed which was truly not practical in all cases, there by driving the costs.

Companies like Transmeta, Philips semiconductor, Netsilicon etc., are all aiming at embedded apps.
Philips is all set to introduce its LPC2000 series MCU based on ARM7 kernel, which has flash
memory, RAM, ADC, CAN and PWM channel and can be applied to automotive electronics,
industry control and medical equipment, Netsilicon as another example has NET+ARM series
processors, among which NS9775 is a 32bit, 200MHz microprocessor including four independent

video channels, TI too, is planning new in its most successful OMAP architecture series.
Transmeta has Crusoe TM5700 and TM9500 and both offers better performance and form factor is
halved compared to its last generation products.

Although the demand for processing is ever increasing for new embedded applications, traditional
applications are still in mainstream and they are now offering ultra low cost and power requirements and
increased onchip memory (both RAM and Flash) with new interfaces are key differentiators companies
like Atmel Corp., Microchip Technology Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, RDC Semiconductor Co. Ltd,
Epson and other companies are featuring their respective MCU products in these space.
Embedded operating systems

Emerging multicore also needs multimission, multithread, multiprocess, multiprocessor, multiboard

debugging and has to operate on open source tool chains such as eclipse etc.,
Most of the new designs today are moving away from proprietary OS and tool chains and are more
and more opting for opensource platforms both of development and deployment as the key market

differentiator for them is cost.

OS like Linux embedded and new OS such as Android are making inroads into places where
traditionally Windows CE/Vxworks etc., used to play. Today many new handhelds and smart phones

are embracing Android.

Even Wind River (acquired by Intel has embraced Linux and now offers it in its portfolio of
products. Eclipse, the open source project for building development platforms offers an environment
that crosses over RTOS boundaries. It comprises extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for
building, deploying and managing software throughout its lifecycle.

Embedded digital security and surveillance

Digital security and surveillance is currently in the host of new applications in the embedded arena

which is benefiting from multicore phenomenon.

Older systems needed more human intervention, but new systems offer intelligent systems to
operate multisite, integrated and net centric systems that optimize the resources needed to complete
the job.

The applications based on computer vision and tracking offers multiple benefits in capturing, post
processing and identification and alerting of security video in realtime.

Healthcare

Electronic medical device and other technological innovations with the convergence of biotech,
nanotech, manufacturing tech, communication tech and device, sensor technologies are making

breathtaking transformations in healthcare delivery and creating new health care paradigms.
Bio med devices tech is being applied into wide variety of analytical problems including medicine,
surgery and drug discovery, these devices are portable diagnostic imaging and home monitoring such
as cholesterol monitors, blood glucose meters and with recent innovations paving way for
miniaturization of devices, replacement organs and tissues, earlier use of more accurate diagnostics,

and advances in information technology, became available thru Silicon Chip revolution.
the convergence of wireless communication with the sensors created the BAN body area network
which is today used to monitor, heart ECG, pulse rate, temperature, oxygen, blood pressure etc.,
sleep disorders can also be monitored using a clip device fixed to head band.

Automotive:

Media oriented systems transport (MOST) is one of the technologies being deployed by OEMs for

multimedia and infotainment networking.

This technology is designed to provide an efficient and cost-effective fabric to transmit audio, video,
data and control information between devices attached even to the harsh environment of an
automobile.
All these are going to be delivered through the continuous gathering of intelligence, choices and
users and recent transactions. The devices are becoming multimodal, iPod and other new androids
offer gesture recognition and also the new devices are offering augmented reality applications that
are going to be future killer applications for smart phones integration of real physical world with

the virtual computing world this drives the camera, display, MEMS based position and other
Tracking device technology to advance in the smart phone/tablets.

INTEGRATION IN SYSTEM DESIGN:

System Integration: The task of creating a properly functioning system from its constituent components
Hardware
Firmware
Software
System Hardware Integration
Are the components wired together correctly?
System Software Integration
Typically assumes hardware integration is largely complete
The final step before acceptance testing and deployment

SYSTEM INTRGRATION DESIGN IS AS FOLLOWS:

Fig 1.2: Integration in System Design