CE 478

Microcontroller Systems
Spring 2011
Prof. Dan Ernst

http://www.cs.uwec.edu/~ernstdj/courses/ce478
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Welcome
Class overview

Policies etc.
What are embedded systems?
Why are they interesting?
Why are they needed?

Note: There is no required textbook for this class!

Office hours:
Wednesday: 9 11 am
Friday: 1 3 pm
or by appointment
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Labs and Equipment

Fridays are Lab days in P 122. (not 171!)
There may be some exceptions (watch your e-mail!)

In labs you will sometimes be in groups of 2

Equipment needs to stay in the lab area.

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Grading*
Item
======
Labs/Homeworks
Exams (2)
Project
Quizzes

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Weight
=========
30%
30% (15% midterm; 15% final)
30%
10%

Dan Ernst

Final Project
Final Project will involve constructing a polished digital system
Implement the hardware and software involved in your design
Ideas and examples of projects are/will be posted on the class website

Project will involve multiple phases

Proposal
Implementation
Presentation/Documentation

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

What we will cover*

PowerPC architecture and assembly language

Bus protocols and interfacing
Including P6, PPC, and maybe others
Digital design review
Common I/O devices
Timers, A/D converters, serial I/O, etc.
Interrupts
I/O devices demanding attention
Direct Memory Access (DMA):
I/O devices talk directly to memory
Memory technologies: SRAM, DRAM, Flash etc
Analog to digital and back again.
Error correction and other special topics.
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Administrivia
P122 access:
Youre welcome to work in P122 on 478-related projects anytime,
except Weds. 2 4 pm and Tues. 3:30 5:30 pm ( CS 278 lab)
If you can avoid it, dont leave the boards out there will be plenty of
cabinet space, and other classes (CS 278) need to use the space. You
will receive a key to the cabinets on the first lab day.
Please dont distribute the access code, or let in extra people!
http://www.cs.uwec.edu/comdistro
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

General Purpose Computers

Microcomputers are computers based on microprocessors
General purpose microcomputers
PCs, Macs, etc.
Generally require a large amount of
support circuitry
Memory, communications, I/O, keyboard,display...

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Inside a General Purpose Computer

Address Bus
Data Bus

CPU

Control Bus

PCI
Bus
Bridge

ROM

RAM

Clock,
Reset
circuitry

PCI Bus

Disk
Controller

Video
Memory

Parallel
Interface

Serial
Interface

Real-time
Clock

Keyboard/
Mouse
Controller

...
Disk
Interface

Video
Display
Controller

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Does One Size Fit All?

Advantages of a general-purpose computer
Flexible - can run lots of programs and interface with lots of devices
Expandable - can be updated with new hardware
Cost-effective - the cost of adding a new program is small
Economy of scale - millions are being produced

Disadvantages
Must be a super system, capable of running any program
High price
Relatively large, short battery life
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Embedded Systems
Embedded Systems are small, special-purpose computer systems

Rocket guidance systems

Toaster control systems
Handheld electronics
Toys

Only the necessary parts are included

Cheaper, smaller
Simpler --> more reliable?

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Needs of Typical Embedded Systems

Consider the following embedded systems:

Programmable thermostat
Blood Glucose Meter
iPod Touch
Automobile System Controller

Single-purpose
Small
Inexpensive
Reduced computation needs (most of the time)
Special interfaces
Lightweight (often hand held)
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

So

You don't need a traditional user interface to decide which programs should be
running

You don't need to dynamically load programs into your devices

You don't need to waste time waiting for the O/S to load
if one is needed, then it doesn't have baggage that make it slow to load

You don't need to load programs or data from a slow disk drive - most
information needed will be in fast ROM

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Why PCs Arent Practical for Everything

What does it take to build a blood glucose meter using a typical PC

microprocessor?
1 Intel/AMD/other CPU

Dynamic RAM, controller

ROM (one or two chips) for program
Real-time clock
LCD panel
Serial interface ports, drivers
A/D Converter
Random support chips (five or six chips)

This is going to take around 5+ chips, use > 100 W, and cost > $400.
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

ASICs: The Other End of the Spectrum

Since consumer electronics are made to do one thing, we should just
be able to hardwire a solution!
Construct an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
Custom chip that does a single thing, but does it VERY well!
Very little need for software support

Downside: making a custom mask will cost you a fortune

Lots of engineering design time
At least $10,000 up front to make a mask
$$$ to reserve time in the fab (or build your own fab)

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

FPGA a middle solution?

Could use an Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
(a la 278)

Advantages:
Programmable
Much cheaper than ASICs
(at least in small quantities)

Disadvantages:
Not as intuitive as software
Still not super-cheap
Take up a lot of space/power relative to the capability they bring

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

The Spectrum of Hardware/Software Solutions

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

Why Consumer Electronics make Money

A Microcontroller is a small CPU with support devices built into the chip
Small CPU
Small ROM
RAM, EEPROM
Parallel ports
RS232 ports
A/D Converter
Timer

Typically, a microcontroller uses little power and costs $0.50 to $100.00

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

A Generic Microcontroller
Flash
EEROM
2KB 256KB

Timer
16-32 Bit

RAM
256B 64KB

Small CPU Core

8-32 Bits
2-40 MHz

RS232/
USB

I2C/SPI
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

ADC
8-14 Bits

GPIO

Memory Bus
16-24 Bits
Dan Ernst

Embedded Systems
Definition:
Dedicated to controlling a specific real-time device or function
Self-starting, not requiring human intervention to begin. The user
cannot tell if the system is controlled by a microprocessor or by
dedicated hardware (or magic!)
Self-contained, with the operating program in some kind of non-volatile
memory

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

How are things controlled?

Switches
Switches can be used to switch things on or off e.g. lights can be on or off
They can also be used to switch between values e.g a heater can be set
to a number of values
Sensors
Sensors can tell if something is on or off
Sensors can tell you the value of something e.g. temperature
Timers
Timers can control the duration of other activities, such as how long a light
is on, or the time between ADC samples
Analog controllers
Things such as voltage can be set for analog devices such as motors

CS 478: Microcontroller Systems

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst

What we will cover*

PowerPC architecture and assembly language

Bus protocols and interfacing
Including P6, PPC, and maybe others
Digital design review
Common I/O devices
Timers, A/D converters, serial I/O, etc.
Interrupts
I/O devices demanding attention
Direct Memory Access (DMA):
I/O devices talk directly to memory
Memory technologies: SRAM, DRAM, Flash, etc.
Analog to digital and back again.
Error correction or other special topics
CS 478: Microcontroller Systems
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Dan Ernst