INTRODUCTION TO

EMBEDDED SYSTEM

What is an embedded
system??
An

embedded system is an
electronic/electro-mechanical
system designed to perform a
specific function and is a
combination of both hardware
and firmware (software).
Unique.
h/w as well as firmware is highly
specialized to the application
domain.

Embedded systems vs General

computing systems
Embedded System

General Purpose Computing

System

system which is a
combination of special
purpose h/w and
embedded OS for
executing a specific set of
applications.
May or may not contain
OS for functioning.
The firmware of the
embedded system is preprogrammed and it is non
alterable by the end user.

system which is a
combination of a generic
h/w and a General
Purpose Operating
System for executing a
variety of applications.

Contains

General Purpose
Operating System
(GPOS).

Application

are alterable

by the
user(Programmable).

Application

specific
requirements(like
performance, power
requirements,
memory usage,etc)
are the key deciding
factors.
Response time
requirement is highly
critical.
Execution behavior is
deterministic for
certain types of ES
like hard real time
systems

Performance

is the
key deciding factor
in the selection of
the system.

Response

requirement are not

time critical.
Need

not to be
deterministic in
execution behavior.

History
Olden

days-embedded systems was

developed in low level languages.
Advance in semiconductor, nano technology
and IT revolution.
Apollo Guidance Computer(AGC)-MIT
Instrumentation Laboratory lunar
expedition.
Astronauts communicated with the AGC
using a numeric display andkeyboardcalled
theDSKY(DiSplay&KeYboard, pronounced
'DISS-key').

The

first mass-produced embedded

system was the guidance computer
for the Minuteman -I missile
-'Autonetics D-17' guidance
computer, built using discrete
transistor logic and a hard-disk for
main memory

CLASSIFICATION OF ES
1.

Based on generation
2. Complexity & performance
requirements
3. Based on deterministic behaviorRTOS-> hard and soft
4. Based on triggering-Reactive in
nature-.event triggered or time
triggered.

1. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON GENERATION

First

generation : 8 bit p
like 8085 & 4 bit c - simple
h/w f/w in assembly code.
Stepper motor, digital
telephonic keypads

Second generation : 16 bit p and

8/16 bit c instruction set much
more complex and powerful.
Data acquisition systems,SCADA
systems.

 Third generation : 32 bit p and 16 bit c DSP and

ASIC came to picture pipelining evolved
Robtics,media,industrial process control, n/wing.

Fourth

generation : 64 bit p and 32 bit c. advent of

SOC,reconfigurable, multi core processors- making use of
high performance RTES.
Smart phones devices.

2. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
COMPLEXITY AND PERFORMANCE
Small

scale embedded system:

Simple
Not time critical
Low performance
Low cost(8 or 16 bit mp or mc)
May or may not contain o.s

medium

scale embedded system:

Slight complex in h/w and s/w

Medium performance
Low cost(16 or 32 bit mp or mc)
Usually contain an o.s

Large

scale embedded system

Highly complex h/w and s/w

Demanding high performance(32 or 64 bit RISC mp or mc-RSoC)
May contain multi-core processors and co processors
Usually contain RTOS for task scheduling and prioritization management.
Response is time critical.

MAJOR APPLICATION AREAS

Consumer electronics
House hold appliances
Security systems
Automotive industry
Telecom
Computer networking systems
Healthcare
Measurement and instrumentation
Banking & retail
Card readers

PURPOSE OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Each embedded system is designed to
serve the purpose of any one or a
combination of the following tasks:
Data collection/storage/representation
Data communication
Data processing
Monitoring
Control
Application specific user interface