ESC03 Introduction to Electronics Engineering

Unit – 4

Embedded Systems

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25

CO, Syllabus
CO 4: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to
Differentiate embedded systems versus general computing
systems and analyze different embedded architectures
Syllabus
 Embedded Systems – Definition, Embedded systems vs general
computing systems
 Classification of Embedded Systems
 Major application areas of Embedded Systems
 Elements and core of an Embedded System
 Microprocessor vs Microcontroller, RISC vs CISC .
 Sensors and Interfacing – Instrumentation and control systems,
 Transducers, Sensors, Actuators
 LED, 7-Segment LED Display

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 2

Introduction
 Electronic/Electro mechanical system designed to perform a
specific function
 Combination of both hardware and firmware (Software)
 Hardware and the firmware is highly specialized to the
application domain
 Inevitable part of any product or equipment in all fields
 Household appliances, telecommunications, medical
equipment, industrial control, consumer products etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 3

Comparison of embedded systems vs general computing system

General purpose
Criteria Embedded system
computing system

Combination of a generic combination of special

hardware and a general purpose hardware and
Contents purpose operating embedded operating system
system for executing a for executing a specific set of
variety of applications applications

contains a general may or may not contain an

Operating
purpose operating operating system for
System
system functioning

Applications are firmware of the embedded

alterable system is pre-programmed
Alterations
(programmable) by the and it is non-alterable by the
user user

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 4

Comparison of embedded systems vs general computing system contd.

General purpose
Criteria Embedded system
computing system

Application specific
Performance is the key requirements (like
deciding factor in the performance, power
Key factor
selection of the system requirements, memory
(faster is better) usage, etc.) are key
deciding factors

Power
More Less
Consumption

Response Critical for some

Not critical
Time applications

Deterministic for certain

Execution Need not be deterministic types of embedded system
like hard real time systems

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 5

Classification of embedded systems
The classification of embedded systems is done based on
 Generation
 Complexity & Performance Requirements
 Deterministic behavior
 Triggering

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 6

Classification of embedded systems
Classification of embedded systems (ES) based on generation
 1st Generation ES: built around 8-bit microprocessors like 8085
and Z80 and 4-bit microcontrollers
Ex: stepper motor control units, Digital Telephone Keypads etc.
 2nd Generation ES: built around 16-bit microprocessors and 8 or
16-bit microcontrollers
Ex: SCADA, Data Acquisition Systems etc.
 3rd Generation ES: built around high performance 16/32 bit
Microprocessors/controllers, Application Specific Instruction set
processors like Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).
 Instruction set is complex and powerful.
Ex: Robotics, industrial process control, networking etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 7

Classification of embedded systems contd.
Classification of embedded systems (ES) based on generation
 4th Generation ES: built around System on Chips (SoC‟s),
Reconfigurable processors and multicore processors
 High performance, tight integration and miniaturization
into the embedded device market
Ex: Smart phone devices etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 8

Classification of embedded systems contd.
Based on Complexity & Performance Requirements
 Small Scale ES: built around low performance and low cost 8 or
16 bit microprocessors / microcontrollers.
 Suitable for simple applications, where performance is not
time critical
 May or may not contain OS. Ex: Electronic toy
 Medium Scale ES: built around medium performance, low cost
16 or 32 bit microprocessors / microcontrollers or DSPs
 Slightly complex in hardware and firmware.
 May contain GPOS / RTOS
 Large Scale / Complex ES: built around high performance 32 or
64 bit RISC processors / controllers
 Requires complex hardware and software

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 9

Classification of embedded systems contd.
Based on deterministic behavior
 Applicable for Real Time systems
 The application / task execution behavior for an embedded
system can be either deterministic or non-deterministic
 Classified in to two types
1. Soft Real time Systems: Missing a deadline may not be
critical and can be tolerated to a certain degree
Ex: PC, DVD players
2. Hard Real time systems: Missing a program / task execution
time deadline can have catastrophic (causing sudden and
very great harm or destruction) consequences (financial,
human loss of life, etc.)
Ex: airplane sensor and autopilot systems.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 10

Classification of embedded systems contd.
Based on Triggering
Classified into two types
 Event triggered: Activities within the system (e.g., task run-
times) are dynamic and depend upon occurrence of different
events
 Time triggered: Activities within the system follow a statically
computed schedule (i.e., they are allocated time slots during
which they can take place) and thus by nature are predictable

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 11

Major application areas of embedded systems
Application areas and the products in the embedded domain are
countless. Few important domains and products are
 Consumer Electronics: Camcorders, Cameras, etc.
 Household appliances: Television, DVD players, Washing
machine, Refrigerator, Microwave oven, etc.
 Home automation & security systems: Air conditioners,
sprinklers, intruder detection alarms, closed circuit television
cameras, fire alarms, etc.
 Automotive industry: Anti-lock breaking system (ABS), engine
control, ignition systems, automatic navigation systems, etc.
 Telecom: Cellular telephones, telephone switches, handset
multimedia applications, etc.
 Computer peripherals: Printers, scanners, fax machines, etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 12

Major application areas of embedded systems contd.

 Computer networking systems: Network routers, switches,

hubs, firewalls, etc.
 Healthcare: Different kinds of scanners, EEG, ECG machines,
etc.
 Measurement & Instrumentation: Digital multi meters, digital
CROs, Logic analyzers, PLC systems, etc.
 Banking & Retail: Automatic teller machines (ATM), currency
counters, point of sales (POS), etc.
 Card Readers: Barcode, smart card readers, hand held devices,
etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 13

Elements of an embedded systems
The elements of embedded systems

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 14

Elements of an embedded systems contd.

Contains a single chip controller,

(master brain of the system)
which can be a
 Microprocessor/Microcontroll
er
 Field Programmable Gate
Array (FPGA) device
 Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
 Application Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASIC) /
Application Specific Standard
Product (ASSP).

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 15

Elements of an embedded systems contd.

Embedded hardware / software

systems are basically designed to
 Regulate a physical variable
or to manipulate the state of
some devices by sending
some control signals to the
actuators or devices
connected to the output ports
of the system,
 in response to the input
signals provided by the end
users or sensors connected to
the input ports.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 16

Elements of an embedded systems contd.

Input devices
 Keyboards, push button
switches, etc.
Output devices
 Light emitting diodes
(LEDs), liquid crystal displays
(LCDs), piezoelectric buzzers,
etc.
Ex. Mobile handset :
Keyboard for performing
operations, display unit for
providing users the status of
various activities in progress.

8-Jan-25
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 17
Core of the Embedded System
Domain and application specific, built around a central core
The core falls into any of the following categories
 General purpose and domain specific processor
 Microprocessors/Microcontrollers
 In industrial control and monitoring applications
microprocessors or microcontrollers are used
 Digital signal processors
 Speech coding, speech recognition, etc. make use of
digital signal processors
 Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)
 Specialized electronic circuit designed for a particular use
 to enhance performance
 miniaturize equipment by integrating specific functions
on a single chip
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 18
Core of the Embedded System contd.
 Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)
 Electronic component used to build reconfigurable digital
circuits where, the function of a PLD is undefined at the
time of manufacture.
 Commercial off-the-shelf Components (COTS)
 Hardware standard product that already exists and is
available from commercial sources.
 Products are designed to be easily installed and
interoperate with existing system components

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 19

Microprocessors vs Microcontrollers

Microprocessor Microcontroller

 Silicon chip representing a  Microcontroller is a highly

Central Processing Unit (CPU) integrated chip

 Capable of performing  Consists a CPU, scratch pad RAM,

Special and General purpose Register
arithmetic as well as logical
Arrays, On Chip ROM / FLASH memory
operations according to a pre-
for program storage, Timer and
defined set of Instructions
Interrupt control units and dedicated
I/O ports
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 20
Microprocessors vs Microcontrollers contd.

Microprocessor Microcontroller

 is a dependent unit  is a self contained unit

 Requires the combination of  doesn‟t require external
other chips like Timers, Program Interrupt Controller, Timer, UART
and data memory chips, Interrupt etc for its functioning
controllers etc for functioning

 Most of the time general  Mostly application oriented or

purpose in design and operation domain specific

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 21

Microprocessors vs Microcontrollers contd.

Microprocessor Microcontroller

 Doesn‟t contain a built in I/O  Most of the processors contain

port multiple built-in I/O ports
 I/O Port functionality needs to  can be operated as a single 8 or
be implemented with external 16 or 32 bit Port or as individual
Programmable Peripheral port pins
Interface Chips (8255)
 Targeted for high end market  Targeted for embedded market
where performance is important where performance is not so
critical (presently this
demarcation is invalid)
 Limited power saving options  Includes lot of power saving
compared to microcontrollers features

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 22

Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) vs Complex Instruction Set
Computing (CISC)

RISC CISC

 Lesser number of instructions  Greater number of instructions

 Instruction pipelining and  Generally no instruction

increased execution speed pipelining feature

 Orthogonal instruction set  Non-orthogonal instruction set

(allows each instruction to (all instructions are not allowed
operate on any register and use to operate on any register and
any addressing mode) use any addressing mode. It is
instruction specific)

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 23

Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) vs Complex Instruction Set
Computing (CISC) contd.

RISC CISC

 Operations are performed on  Operations are performed on

register only, the only memory registers or memory depending
operations load and store on the instruction

 A large number of registers are  Limited number of general

available purpose register

 Programmer needs to write  Instructions are like macros in C

more code to execute a task since language.
the instructions are simpler ones  Programmer can achieve the
desired functionality with a single
instruction which in turn provides
the effect of using more simpler
single instructions
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 24
Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) vs Complex Instruction Set
Computing (CISC) contd.

RISC CISC
 Single, fixed length instructions  Variable length instructions

 Less silicon usage and pin count  More silicon usage since more
additional decoder logic is
required to implement the
complex instruction decoding

 With Harvard architecture  Can be Harvard or Von-Neumann

architecture

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 25

Sensors and Interfacing
Instrumentation System

 Physical quantity to be measured (e.g. temperature) acts upon a

sensor that produces an electrical output signal
 Output of the sensor may be small or suffer from the noise
 Signal conditioning is required for signal processing, display
and recording
 Since signal processing may use digital rather than analog
signals, analog to digital conversion may be required
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 26
Sensors and Interfacing contd.
Control System

 Uses negative feedback in order to regulate and stabilize the

output
 Possible to set the input / demand and leave the system to
regulate itself by comparing it with a signal derived from the
output (using a sensor and appropriate signal conditioning)
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 27
Sensors and Interfacing contd.
Control System

 Comparator senses the difference in input and feedback signal

and if discrepancy is found the input to the power amplifier is
adjusted accordingly
 This signal is referred as error signal (it should be zero when the
output exactly matches the demand)
Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 28
Sensors and Interfacing contd.
Control System

 The input (demand) is often derived from a simple potentiometer

connected across a stable d.c. voltage source while the controlled
device can take many forms (e.g. a d.c. motor, linear actuator,
heater, etc.)

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 29

Transducers
 Transducers convert energy in the form of sound, light, heat, etc.,
into an equivalent electrical signal, or vice versa
 For example, Loudspeaker is an output transducer which
converts low frequency electric current into audible sounds
 Microphone is an input transducer which converts sound
pressure variations into voltage or current (reverse of speaker)
Block diagram of transducer

 Contains two parts, sensing element and transducing element

 Sensing element  sensor: device producing measurable
response to change in physical conditions
 Transducing element  sensor output to electrical signal

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 30

Need of input and output Transducers
 Very helpful to convert the physical variable into electrical signal
 because sophisticated technologies available to amplify, filter
and digitize electrical signals
 For maximum flexibility and capability it is best to sense the
environment using the desired input transducer
 employ an amplifier / conditioner to direct the electrical
signal from the transducer to an analog to digital converter
 Similarly, when attempting to create a stimulus in the physical
environment, it‟s optimal to process an electrical signal (typically
in digital form, via software) in the desired fashion prior to
converting the signal into energy of a different physical form
 Once digitized the signal can be subject to software-based
processing

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 31

Need of input and output Transducers contd.
 When attempting to influence the environment, via some type of
physical stimulus,
 it‟s optimal to employ software to establish the nature of the
stimulus signal
 then use a digital to analog converter to transform the digital
-software produced- signal back into an electrical signal form
 Finally, an output transducer can be used to transform the
electrical signal into the desired physical signal

Examples of input transducers (physical to electrical)

 Dynamic microphone for sound (pressure change)
 Thermocouple for temperature
 Rotary potentiometer for angular position
 Tachometer for angular velocity

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 32

Need of input and output Transducers contd.
Examples of input transducers (physical to electrical)
 Photocell for light level
 Reed switch for proximity
 Rotating vane flow for flow
 Micro switch pressure sensor for pressure
 Resistive strain gauge for strain
 Load cell weight
 Electromagnetic vibration sensor for vibration

Examples of output transducers (electrical to physical)

 Loud speaker for sound (pressure change)
 Heating element (resistor) for temperature
 Rotary potentiometer for angular position, etc.

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 33

Sensors
Sensor  transducer that converts one form of energy to another
form for any measurement for control system
 Signal produced by a sensor is electrical analogy of physical
quantity (distance, velocity, acceleration, temperature,
pressure, light level, etc.)
 Signals from a sensor, together with control inputs from the
user / controller (as appropriate) will subsequently used to
determine output from the system
 Choice of sensor is governed by factors like accuracy,
resolution, cost and physical size
 Sensors can be either active / passive
 Active sensor generates a current / voltage output
 Sensors can be either digital / analog

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 34

Sensors contd.
 Output of a digital sensor can exist in only two discrete states,
either „on‟ / „off‟, „low‟/ „high‟, „logic 1‟ / „logic 0‟, etc.
 Output of an analog sensor can take any one of an infinite
number of voltage or current levels (continuously variable)

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 35

Actuators
Actuator  transducer device (mechanical or electrical) which
converts signal to corresponding physical action (output device)
 If embedded system is designed for any controlling purpose,
it will produce some changes in the controlling variable to
bring the controlled variable to the desired value
 This is achieved through an actuator connected to the output
port of the embedded system
 If the embedded system is designed for monitoring purpose
only, there is no need for including an actuator in the system.
 For example, the ECG machine is designed to monitor the
heart beat status of a patient and it cannot impose a control
over the patient‟s heart beat and its order

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 36

I/O Subsystem
I/O subsystem facilitates the interaction of the embedded system
with the external world
 Interaction happens through the sensors and actuators
connected to the input and output ports respectively
 Sensors may not be directly interfaced to the input ports
 instead may be interfaced through signal conditioning and
translating system like ADC, optocouplers, etc.
Examples
 Light Emitting Diode (LED)
 7-Segment LED display
 Optocoupler, Stepper motor, Relay
 Piezo buzzer, Push button switch
 Keyboard, Programmable Peripheral Interface (PPI)

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 37

Light Emitting Diode (LED)
 LED  important output device for visual indication
 Can be used as an indicator for the status of signals or situations
 Ex.: indicating the power conditions like “Device ON”,
“Battery low”, “Charging of battery” (battery operated devices)
 LED  p-n junction diode, contains anode and cathode
 Anode should be connected to +ve terminal and cathode to –ve
terminal of the power supply
 Current through LED must be limited below the maximum current
that it can conduct (hence resistor is used in series with power
supply and LED)

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 38

7 Segment LED Display
 Output device for displaying alphanumeric characters
 Consists eight LED segments arranged in a special form
 Seven are used for displaying alphanumeric characters
 One is used for representing “decimal point”

 LED segments are named „a‟ to „g‟, decimal point as DP

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 39

7 Segment LED Display contd.
 Available in two different configurations
 Common anode
 Anodes of the eight LED segments are connected together

 Common cathode
 Cathodes of the segments are connected together

Unit – 4 Embedded Systems I Semester 8-Jan-25 40