Chapter 1
Introduction to Embedded
computing
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Contents
• What is embedded system
• Components of an embedded system
• Examples of embedded systems
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
What is an embedded system
• Definition for: embedded system
• A combination of hardware and software which together form
a component of a larger machine.
• An example of an embedded system is a microprocessor that
controls an automobile engine.
• An embedded system is designed to run on its own without
human intervention, and may be required to respond to
events in real time.
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Application Areas
• Home appliances/entertainment devices
• TV and stereo
• remote control
• phone / mobile phone
• refrigerator
• microwave
• washing machine
• electric tooth brush
• oven / rice or bread cooker
• watch
• alarm clock
• electronic musical instruments
• electronic toys (stuffed animals, handheld toys, pinball, etc.)
• medical home equipment (e.g. blood pressure, thermometer)
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Application Areas
• Medical Systems
– pace maker, patient monitoring systems, injection systems, intensive
care units, …
• Office Equipment
– printer, copier, fax, …
• Tools
– multimeter, oscilloscope, line tester, GPS, …
• Banking
– ATMs, statement printers, …
• Transportation
– (Planes/Trains/[Automobiles] and Boats)
• radar, traffic lights, signalling systems, …
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Application Areas
• Automobiles
– engine management, trip computer, cruise control,
immobilizer, car alarm,
– airbag, ABS, ESP, …
• Building Systems
– elevator, heater, air conditioning, lighting, key card
entries, locks, alarm systems, …
• Agriculture
– feeding systems, milking systems, …
• Space
– satellite systems, …
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Application areas
• Found everywhere
Medical
Automotive
Communications
Military
Comsumer Industrial
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Characteristics of Embedded Systems
• Must be dependable:
– Reliability: R(t) = probability of system working correctly
provided that is was working at t=0
– Maintainability: M(d) = probability of system working
correctly d time units after error occurred.
– Availability: probability of system working at time t
– Safety: no harm to be caused
– Security: confidential and authentic communication
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Characteristics of Embedded Systems
(cont’)
• Must be efficient:
– Energy efficient
– Code-size efficient (especially for systems on a
chip)
– Run-time efficient
– Weight efficient
– Cost efficient
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Characteristics of Embedded Systems
(cont’)
• Many of them must meet real-time
constraints:
– A real-time system must react to stimuli from the
controlled object (or the operator) within the time
interval dictated by the environment.
– For real-time systems, right answers arriving too
late (or even too early) are wrong.
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Parts of an embedded system
• Has two main parts
– Hardware and software
• Hardware
– Microcontroller(processor)
– Timer, interrupt controller, I/O devices, sensor and
actuator, memory, etc
• Software
– Application software
– RTOS
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Microprocessor and microcontroller
Microprocessors Microcontrollers
Used for high performance Yes No
applications
Require external memory and Yes No
hardware
Used in desktop and laptop Yes NO
computers
Memory and IO on chip NO YES
Application specialized less flexible NO YES
Architecture Von Neumann Harvard
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Computer architectures
• Von Neumann and Harvard architectures
– Architecture refers to the way hardware parts of a
computer are arranged
– There are two basic architectures
• Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture
• First one is for microprocessor and second one is for
microcontroller
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Computer architecture
• Harvard architecture is used for embedded
systems (microcontrollers )
– It allows to use two memory types (ROM and
RAM)
– Every thing is on a single chip
– Peripheral devices are connected to the system
bus
– Cost effective but not flexible
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
Dr. Dereje Shiferaw Negash, AAIT
