University of Gondar Institute of Technology

Embedded Systems(ECEg4202 )

Lecture 01:

Introduction to
Embedded System

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By Beyene Jember
Outline

Embedded Systems Definition

Examples and Application Areas of Embedded Systems

Characteristics of an Embedded System

Contrast between embedded systems and General

purpose computer systems

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 Introduction
 What is a system?
 A system is a way of working, organizing or doing one or many tasks according to a fixed
plan, program or set of rules.
 A set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific
activity, perform a duty, or solve a problem.
 A system is also an arrangement in which all its units assemble and work together according
to the plan or program.
 An organized, purposeful structure that consists of interrelated and interdependent
elements (components, entities, factors, members, parts etc.).
 These elements continually influence one another (directly or indirectly) to
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maintain their activity and the existence of the system, in order to achieve the goal
 Introduction

 All systems have

 Inputs, outputs and feedback mechanisms
 Maintain an internal steady-state (called homeostasis) despite a changing external
environment
 Display properties that are different than the whole (called emergent properties) but are not
possessed by any of the individual elements
 Have boundaries that are usually defined by the system observer.

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 Introduction
 System Examples
 WATCH It is a time display SYSTEM
 Parts: Hardware, Needles, Battery, Dial, Chassis and Strap
 Rules
1. All needles move clockwise only
2. A thin needle rotates every second
3. A long needle rotates every minute
4. A short needle rotates every hour
5. All needles return to the original position after 12 hours

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 What is an embedded system ?
 Embedded means something that is attached to another thing.
 An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function within a larger
electrical or mechanical system, sometimes with real-time computing constraints.
 It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical
parts.
 Simply, it is application-specific systems which contain hardware and software tailored for
a particular task and are generally part of a larger system.
 Sometimes it can be an independent system
 It is a microcontroller or microprocessor based system which is designed to perform a
specific task.
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 What is an embedded system ?
 In general, an Embedded System:
 can be defined as a control system or computer system designed to perform a specific task.
 Is a system built to perform its duty, completely or partially independent of human
intervention.
 Interacts with physical elements in our environment

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 Embedded System Components
 An embedded system has the following components:
 It has hardware.
 It has software
 Application software.
 Real Time Operating system (RTOS) that supervises the application software and
provide mechanism to let the processor run a process as per scheduling by following a
plan to control the latencies.
 RTOS defines the way the system works and It sets the rules during the execution
of application program. A small scale embedded system may not have RTOS.
 So we can define an embedded system as a Microcontroller based, software driven, reliable,
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real-time control system.
Examples of Embedded Systems

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 Examples of Embedded Systems
 Cell phones
 digital cameras
 Camcorders
 DVD players
 Portable video games
 Calculators
 Personal digital assistants etc.

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 Examples of Embedded Systems
 Cell phones

 A typical mobile phone handset should include standard I/O devices (keyboard, LCD), plus a microphone,
speaker and antenna for wireless communication.
 The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) performs the signal processing, and the micro-controller controls the user
interface, battery management, call setup etc.
 The performance specification of the DSP is very crucial since the conversion has to take place in real time.
This is why almost all cell phones contain such a special processor dedicated for making digital-to-analog
(DA) and analog-to- digital(AD) conversions and real time processing such as modulation and
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demodulation etc.
 Examples of Embedded Systems
 Car as an integrated control, communication and information system

 ABS: Anti-lock braking systems

 ESP: Electronic stability control
 Airbags
 Efficient automatic gearboxes
 Theft prevention with smart keys
 Blind-angle alert systems
 In-car entertainment systems
 ... etc ...
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 Examples of Embedded Systems
 Aircraft

 ABS: Anti-lock braking systems

 Flight control systems,
 Anti-collision systems,
 Pilot information systems,
 Power supply system,
 Flap control system,
 Entertainment system,
 …

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Examples of Embedded Systems

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 Examples of Embedded Systems
 Information systems, for example wireless communication (mobile phone, Wireless LAN,
…), end-user equipment, router, …

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 Applications Area of Embedded Systems

Aircraft & Aircraft autopilots, avionics and navigation systems, automatic landing
Military Systems systems, guidance systems, engine controls.
Biomedical CAT scan and Ultrasound imaging systems, patient monitors, heart
Systems pacers.
Engine control, anti-lock braking systems, traction control systems, air
Cars bag controls, heating and air conditioning controls, GPS mapping,
Satellite Radio, On-board Diagnostics
Communications Communication Satellites, network routers, switches, hubs
TVs, ovens, dishwashers, DVD players, stereos, security systems, lawn
Consumer
sprinkler controls, thermostats, cameras, clock radios, answering
Electronics
machines, set top boxes, other appliances
Computer I/O Keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, displays, modems, hard disk
Devices drives, DVD drives, graphics cards, USB devices.
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 Applications Area of Embedded Systems

Electronic Data acquisition systems, oscilloscopes, voltmeters, signal generators,

Instrumentation logic analyzers.
Elevator controls, surveillance systems, robots, CNC machines,
Industrial
Programmable Logic Controllers, industrial automation and control
Equipment
systems.
Office Machines FAX machines, copiers, telephones, calculators, cash registers.
Cell phones, portable MP3 players, Video players, Personal Digital
Personal Devices Assistants (PDAs), electronic wrist watches, handheld video games,
digital cameras, GPS systems.
Industrial robots, autonomous vehicles, space exploration robots (i.e.
Robots
Mars robots)
Toys Video Game systems, “Aibo”, "Furby“, and “Elmo” type robot toys.

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 Characteristics of an Embedded System
 Single-functioned
 An embedded system usually performs a specialized operation and does the same
repeatedly. For example: A pager always functions as a pager.
 Tightly constrained
 All computing systems have constraints on design metrics, but those on an embedded
system can be especially tight.
 Design metrics is a measure of an implementation's features such as its cost, size, power,
and performance.
 It must be of a size to fit on a single chip, must perform fast enough to process data in
real time and consume minimum power to extend battery life.
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 Characteristics of an Embedded System
 Tightly constrained…
 Reliable: Embedded systems should be very reliable since they perform critical functions.
For instance, consider the embedded system used for flight control.
 Specialized Hardware: Since embedded systems are used for performing specific
functions, specialized hardware is used.
 Low cost: As embedded systems are extensively used in consumer electronic systems, they
are cost sensitive. Thus their cost must be low.
 Robustness: Embedded systems should be robust since they operate in a harsh
environment. They should endure vibrations, power supply fluctuations and excessive
heat. Due to limited power supply in an embedded system, the power consumed by the
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components of the embedded system should be kept to a minimum.
 Characteristics of an Embedded System
 Reactive and Real time
 Many embedded systems must continually react to changes in the system's environment
and must compute certain results in real time without any delay.
 A real-time system is one in which the correctness of the computations not only
depends on the accuracy of the result, but also on the time when the result is produced.
 For example, a patient monitoring system should process the patient’s heart signals
quickly and immediately notify if any abnormality in the signals is detected.
 Consider an example of a car cruise controller; it continually monitors and reacts to
speed and brake sensors. It must compute acceleration or deaccelerations repeatedly
within a limited time; a delayed computation can result in failure to control of the car.
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 Interfacing with the Physical Environment
 CPS & ES hardware is frequently used in a loop (“hardware in a loop“)

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 Interfacing with the Physical Environment
 Sensor − It measures the physical quantity and converts it to an electrical signal which can be
read by an observer or by any electronic instrument like an A2D converter.
 A sensor stores the measured quantity to the memory
 A/D Converter − An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal sent by the sensor
into a digital signal.
 D/A Converter − A digital-to-analog converter converts the digital data fed by the processor to
analog data
 Actuator − An actuator compares the output given by the D/A Converter to the actual
(expected) output stored in it and stores the approved output

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 ES Vs. GPC
 General Computer System(GPC)
 A GPC system is what you think of when someone says the word "computer."
 The defining feature of a GPC is that it can be reconfigured for a new purpose.
 It is a computer that is built to be customizable in software, like desktop PCs and
laptops, you can make it do many thing, sometimes together, with low or no constraints
on power, performance or cost, also a general computing system is contained in itself,
it’s not a part of a larger system.. it is the system itself.

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 ES Vs. GPC…
 Embedded System(ES)
 As it appears from its name, is a part of a bigger system, a computer restricted to one
function (or a finite set of functions) that controls, monitors or integrate with larger
systems
 It is dedicated to a single purpose, or a small set of purposes
 Embedded systems can be found in nearly every single piece of modern electronics--in
fact, they are the electronics.
• A modern television, a portable music player, a computer-controlled air conditioning
system etc.
 They have very tight constraints regarding size, performance, memory, price and durability,
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also an embedded system is required in most cases to respond in real time.
 ES Vs. GPC…
General Purpose Embedded
Runs a few applications often known at design
Intended to run a fully general set of applications
time
End-user programmable Not end-user programmable
Operates in fixed run-time constraints, additional
Faster is always better
performance may not be useful/valuable
May or may not contain an OS for
Contain general purpose OS
functioning
Response requirements are not The response time requirements
time critical are very critical
Differentiating features:
Differentiating features:
 Power
 Speed (need not be fully predictable)
 Cost (eg RM2 vs RM2.50)
 Software compatibility
 Size
 Cost (eg RM3k vs RM5k per laptop)
 Speed (must be predictable)
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 There is no better
teacher than experience!

Thank you!