Embedded System Lab

What is an embedded systems? An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system, often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer (PC), is designed to be flexible and to meet a wide range of end-user needs. Embedded systems control many devices in common use today.computer systemreal-time computingpersonal computer

Processor Processor is an important unit in the embedded system hardware. It is the heart of the embedded system. microcontroller market over 20 billion devices per year in 2010.

What Is the ARM Cortex-M3 Processor? Greater performance effi ciency, allowing more work to be done without increasing thefrequency or power requirements Low power consumption, enabling longer battery life, especially critical in portable products including wireless networking applications Enhanced determinism, guaranteeing that critical tasks and interrupts are serviced as quickly as possible but in a known number of cycles Improved code density, ensuring that code fi ts in even the smallest memory footprints Ease of use, providing easier programmability and debugging for the growing number of 8-bit and 16-bit users migrating to 32-bit Lower-cost solutions, reducing 32-bit-based system costs close to those of legacy 8- bit and 16-bit devices and enabling low-end, 32-bit microcontrollers to be priced at less than US$1 for the first time Wide choice of development tools

Background of ARM and ARM Architecture The Cortex-M3 processor is the central processing unit (CPU) of a microcontroller chip. In addition, a number of other components are required for the whole Cortex-M3 processor- based microcontroller. After chip manufacturers license the Cortex-M3 processor, they can put the Cortex-M3 processor in their silicon designs, adding memory, peripherals, input/output (I/O), and other features. ARM was formed in 1990 as Advanced RISC Machines Ltd., a joint venture of Apple Computer, Acorn Computer Group, and VLSI Technology.

This business model is commonly called intellectual property (IP)licensing. Unlike many semiconductor companies, ARM does not manufacture processors or sell the chips directly. Instead, ARM licenses the processor designs to business partners, including a majority of the world’s leading semiconductor companies. Based on the ARM low- cost and power-efficient processor designs, these partners create their processors, microcontrollers, and system-on-chip solutions. ARM （ Advanced RISC Machine ） : British company RISC (Reduced instruction set computing)

In 2011 alone, producers of chips based on ARM architectures reported shipments of 7.9 billion ARM-based processors, representing 95% of smartphones, 90% of hard disk drives, 40% of digital televisions and set-top boxes, 15% of microcontrollers and 20% of mobile computers.ARM-based processorssmartphoneshard disk drivesdigital televisionsset-top boxesmicrocontrollersmobile computers

ARM Version 7 (Cortex-A): Application processors required to run complex applications such as high-end embedded operating systems (OSs), such as Symbian, Linux, and Windows Embedded, requiring the highest processing power, virtual memory system support with Memory Management Units (MMUs), and, optionally, enhanced Java support and a secure program execution environment. Example products include highend mobile phones and electronic wallets for fi nancial transactions. (Cortex-R): Real-time, high-performance processors targeted primarily at the higher end of the real-time1 market—those applications, such as high-end breaking systems and hard drive controllers, in which high processing power and high reliability are essential and for which low latency is important. Cortex-M): Processors targeting low-cost applications in which processing effi ciency is important and cost, power consumption, low interrupt latency, and ease of use are critical, as well as industrial control applications, including realtime control systems.

Target Applications of Stellaris family Stellaris family are produced by Luminary Company, which is bought by TI They are positioned for cost-conscious applications requiring significant control processing and connectivity capabilities such as: ■ Gaming equipment ■ Network appliances and switches ■ Home and commercial site monitoring and control ■ Electronic point-of-sale (POS) machines ■ Motion control ■ Medical instrumentation ■ Remote connectivity and monitoring ■ Test and measurement equipment ■ Factory automation ■ Fire and security ■ Lighting control ■ Transportation