EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

DATE: 18.01.2004

ABSTRACT

An embedded system is a combination of hardware and software along with

necessary interfaces and connections to electromechanical components, sensors and
actuators etc., for performing the desired function.
Sensors provide the interface between external environment and the embedded
system. While maintaining the environment, sensors read input signals/data/. Data if
analog is digitalized to make it usable for digital processing unit. This data is then
Processed and outputted in some specific format user(s) and may also generate and
transmit commands for actuators for specific functionality.
In our paper we also implemented the model of an automatic door opening
system. All the requirement phase components are discussed in our paper which can be
implemented and applied further through programming.

Some of the applications are:

Automotive – aircraft, automobiles etc.

Communication devices – Modems, cellular phones, embedded Internet, etc.
Consumer electronics – VCR, Pcs, PDAs, Micro oven, etc.,
Industrial electronics – power plants, satellite control, anti – lock breaking system etc.,

We conclude this paper with Indian scenario of Embedded Systems Market.

Introduction:

Embedded systems interact with the physical world to perform a single

application or a small set of tasks e.g. control, protection and monitoring of processes,
machinery, environment, and equipments. It is a combination of hardware and software
along with necessary interfaces and connections to electromechanical components,
sensors and actuators etc., for performing the desired function. Although an embedded
system has some component, it is not itself a general-purpose computer. These systems
are embedded usually in a larger system for some specific purpose other than to provide
general purpose computing.

Organization of embedded system:

Embedded system are often developed with off-shell microprocessor/digital signal

processor (DSP)/microcontrollers and ASICs/FPGAs for minimizing the cost and
development time. In these systems the hardware, software and associated components
are optimized for the given application or given set of tasks under the prevailing
conditions keeping the size, cost and performance requirements in view.

A typical embedded system is a specialized computer system that has some sort of
logical decision making capability and ability to interact with their task environment and
the user in real time and an integral part of more intelligent and larger system.
 Embedded system

Application software
S A/D A/D A
E C cpu C C
N O O T
S N memory N U
O V V A
R E Auxillary system E T
S R R O
T I/O systems T R
E E S
R R

Organization of an embedded system

Sensor provide the interface between external environment, sensors read input
signals/data. Data if analog is digitized to make it usable for digital processing unit. This
data is then processed and outputted in some specific format users and may also generate
and transmit commands for actuators for specific functionality.
Functions of an embedded system:
The function of embedded system can be broadly classified into two classes.
⇒ It monitors and controls the environment.
⇒ It makes necessary transformation and processing of
information.

Categories:

In terms of their characteristics, the embedded systems may be placed under various
categories as follows:
 DSP system.
 Reactive system.
 Distributive system and
 Consumer electronic system.

Design issues:
The design process start with the system specification of the product which is
derived from the assessment of requirements to be fulfilled by the system, performances
with the various constraints relating to the environment of the embodying system,
performance, cost and power consumption etc. the next step in design flow begins with
the description of the functional architecture and the behaviors of the constituent
components.
The functional solution is then partitioned and allocated on to the hardware and
software architecture that must specify the desired functionalities and system constraints
of the application under consideration.. After the hardware and software components are
synthesized , the next step in design flow is system simulation and validation. The
validation is basically done to see that the system functionally correct and it meets the
time requirements and other constraints. The validation is performed by a simulator ,
which allows all the heterogeneous parts of the system to be simulated together. After the
completion of the validation phase, finally prototype of the design is brought up for
actual testing and performance.

Requirement
assessment

System
specifications

Functional and
architectural design

System simulation and

validation

Prototype
development

Design issues of an embedded system

Implementation strategies:
System on Chip (SOC):
An SOC in general consists of heterogeneous mixture of hardware and software
components where fixed small size program are being repeatedly executed by the processor ,
which is implemented from the IP core, provided by various vendor. The high level integration
from IP core, provided by various vendor. The high level integration of millions of gates
provided by advancement in microelectronics has made ASCIs, FPGAs, dedicated chips and
generalized processors available in plenty. This advancement in the technology has led further to
integrate microprocessor/micro controller / DSP, ASICs, FPGAs and memory components all on
a single integrated circuit to constitute a system – on- chip. Some of the areas where we use
SOCs are FAX, modems, laser printers and cellular phones.
Commercial – off- the shelf (COTS):
The availability of the low cost constituent components makes the COTs based approach
cost effective and convenient. Due to its support for flexible reuse of hardware and software
components it is suitable for quick modification of overall design to meet the desired
specification. COTS based embedded systems can be implemented every often with simple
incremented modification, which is an additional advantage over the customer implementation.
Distributed embedded system:
Certain applications require the embedded components to remain physically distributed
across the entire system. In such system distributed system comes up as an attractive choice
where the embedded system functionalities are distributed among the constituents components
including low cost microprocessor or microcontrollers or DSPs etc. which communicate among a
shared medium.
In the distributed system heterogeneous buses connect different types of processors in
general where the designers of embedded system have many choices in connecting them as per
requirement. For an embedded system with modest communication requirements, connections
orient protocols may be cost effective solution.

Characteristics of an embedded system:

An embedded system will have the following characteristics:
o Physically distributed system.
o Heterogeneous system.
o Safety and reliability.
o Cost sensitivity.
o Weight.
o Reactive nature.
o Reaction with working environment.
o Speed.
Applications:
Automatic door opening system:

Automatic door opening system is one of the embedded applications,

which consists of two sensors on either side of the door for sensing when a person enters.
Sensors A on front side will sense when a person stands in front of the door and sends control to
the motor to switch ON and wait for some delay time. Sensor B also performs the same operation
as that of A but when the returns back from the room.

If object detected

Sensor

Switch on the motor and wait for some time

Automatic door opening system:

Algorithm:
 Initialize the ports of the 8051 microcontroller.
 If object is detected by the sensor,
⇒ Switch ON the motor
⇒ Wait for a delay
⇒ After delay, close the door by driving the motor in reverse
direction.
 Else
⇒ Remain in the same state.

Indian scenario:
The global players are primarily focused on the back-end development work for the
company’s offshore assignments. There are a significant number of global companies preferred
outsourcing several activities in their value chain of which embedded system development
assignment is one. India is preferred choice for outsourcing due to low development cost,
availability of technically qualified and cheap man power especially in software segment.
The total revenue generated is keep on increasing time to time in both domestic and international
markets.

Future of embedded system:

The idea of printing a customized remote control for a color television any look far
fetched, but the researchers at the university of California are already developing ink jet
technology to print fully assembled electric and electronic gadgets at one go. When this
technique is perfected, devices such as light bulbs, radios, remote controls, mobile phones and
toys can be printed out as fully functional systems without expensive, labor intensive and
Error-prone production on an assembly line. Embedded system is widely recognized as the future
of computing.
The rapid increase in the use of embedded computers and communication technology has
resulted in a large number of “ user hostile” systems. We have all seen VCRs which are difficult
to program and flash 12.00 on their displays because they are so awkward to program.
Successful implementation also requires that the designer have familiarity with hardware,
software, and communication aspects of the system. There are significant opportunities for firms
and individuals who can successfully implement “invisible” embedded system which are simple
to use and reliable.

Conclusion:
The popularity of embedded system is growing at very fast rate along with growing
range of applications, advancement in hardware, software and other related technology. It is
gaining further momentum with emergence of grand digital convergence arising out of
convergence of appliances, platforms and technologies. Further scope of work remains wide
open in design and implementations for Internet infrastructure, broadband and wireless network,
consumer electronic products and smartcards apart from real time and online control systems.
Successful implementations also require that the designer have familiarity with the hardware,
software, and communication aspects of the system. There are significant opportunities for firms
and individuals who can successfully implement “ invisible” embedded systems which are
simple to use and reliable.