Dr.

Aimi Syamimi binti Ab Ghafar / Puan Azlina binti Bahari

D1-118
Office : 07-4533005 / Mobile : 0175233915
aimi@uthm.edu.my

Fill up the front rows!!

 General Purpose Computer

Embedded Systems
Examples of Embedded System

General Purpose vs Embedded

Processor Technology
Microprocessors
Microcontrollers

 A computer is a system that has the following or more components [3]:

1. A microprocessor
2. A large memory of the following two kinds:
a) Primary memory - Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only

Memory (ROM) and fast accessible caches (volatile vs non-volatile?)

b) Secondary memory hard disks, USB, optical memory in CD-ROMs
from which different user programs can be loaded into the primary
memory and run
3. Input units such as keyboard, mouse, scanner, touch screen, etc.
4. Outputs units such as an LCD screen, video monitor, printer, etc.
5. Networking units such as an Ethernet card, server, bus drivers, etc.
6. An operating system (OS) that has general purpose user and application
software in the secondary memory

An embedded system also has the

same structure but at a smaller size

 A system whose principal function is not computational, but which

is controlled by a computer embedded within it [1]

Embedded systems are information processing systems that are

embedded into a larger product and are normally not directly

visible to the users [5]
Any device that includes a programmable computer but not itself

intended to be a general-purpose computer [3]

Needs control? YES!

Hidden computer:
A computer is incorporated within the product
to undertake the control mechanism

 The domestic refrigerator

Compressor control
Alarm

Human interaction

Display
The
embedded
computer
Actual temperature
Required temperature

Disgusting
smell
Network interaction
(future)

 Car door mechanism

HOME

OFFICE AND
COMMERCE

MOTOR CAR

Washing machine

Photocopier

Door mechanism

Fridge

Checkout machine

Brake system

Burglar alarm

Printer

Engine control

Microwave oven

Scanner

In-car entertainment

Central heating
controller
Toys and games

Climate control

Connected to
physical
environment
through sensors
and actuators

Have to be dependable
Reliability will not fail
Maintainability can repair
Availability reliable + maintainable
Safety fail, will not cause any harm
Security secured data

Reactive systems

Idle

N
Input?
Y
Execute
task

Dedicated towards a
certain application
extra program
makes the system
less dependable

Dedicated user
interface push
buttons, pedals,
steering wheels

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Hybrid systems
include analog
and digital parts

cost

Have to be
efficient

energy
Real-time constraints
Hard
Soft

codesize

runtime

weight

GENERAL PURPOSE

EMBEDDED

Intended to run a fully general set of

applications

Runs a few applications often known

at design time

End-user programmable
Faster is always better

Not end-user programmable

Operates in fixed run-time constraints,
additional performance may not be
useful/valuable

Differentiating features:
Speed (need not be fully predictable)
Software compatibility
Cost (e.g. RM3k vs RM5k per laptop)

Differentiating features:
Power
Cost (e.g. RM100 vs RM200)
Size
Speed (must be predictable)

 A unit that centrally fetches and processes a set of general-purpose

instructions

Register

Bus

Store
info

Arithmetic
and logic
unit

Control Unit

Address Bus
Data Bus
Control Bus

 A single VLSI chip that has a CPU and may also have some other units

Microprocessor by itself is useless, must have external

peripherals to interact with the outside world

 An integrated chip that has processor, memory, and several other units

form the microcomputer part of the embedded system

MicroP
A chip that contains only the
processor need other chips to
make a working system
More flexible
Can have very few I/O or many I/O
devices using the same processor
Used as general-purpose processor
when large embedded software has
to be located in the external
memory chips

MicroC
A chip that contains all the
components of a computer
processor, memory, I/O
Less flexibility
Less component count
Less powerful
Used when a small or part of the
embedded software has to be
located in the internal memory and
when on-chip functional units such
as interrupt-handler, timer, etc. are
required

 Human and Physical Interfaces

Keypad
LED Displays
LCD

Sensors
Digital Input
Interfacing to Actuators