1. Introduction to Embedded Systems
Semicon Solutions

2. Computing Systems Desktop Servers Embedded Systems
PC, Workstations, Laptops
Servers
Tier-0: network appliance
Tier-1: webserver
Tier-2: application/database server
File servers, Storage-area-network
Embedded Systems
PDA
Cellphone
Routers
Microcontrollers

3. Embedded? Computing system embedded within electronic devices.
Combination of computer hardware and software designed to performance a specific function.
Any computing system that is not a desktop computer nor a server.

4. Area of Applications General purpose Control systems Signal processing
PDA
Control systems
Electronics, Automotive
Signal processing
Media player, Camera
Communication
Cellphone, switch

5. Market
Average household uses ~225 embedded processors; about 35 for automobile
Estimated 5 billion embedded processors in use
94% share of world market
6%: Pentium, PowerPC, etc.
[Source: World Semiconductor Trade Statistics Bluebook]

6. Key Issues User’s Point of View
Single function/application
Dedicated to specific type of tasks
Tight constraints
Size
Power
Cost
Time-to-market
Real-time
Respond to environment in real time
Safety/Reliability
Failure can result in critical damages

7. Key Issues Developer’s Point of View
Concurrent development of HW and SW, i.e. HW/SW codesign
Wide selection of uP’s.
Wide selection of OS, mostly real time (RTOS)
Few system resources
Specialized development tools
Debugging skills important
Robust HW/SW

8. Example

9. Elements

10. Trends High level of integration HW/SW co-design Design flow
System-on-chip (SoC)
Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC)
HW/SW co-design
Concurrent development
Optimization
Design flow
Design tools
Experiences

11. Microcontroller
Usually a simple uP plus peripheral support devices integrated in a single package

12. SoC A uP plus peripheral support devices integrated in a single chip
E.g. Intel StrongARM
SoC vs uController?

13. SoC Design Intellectual Property (IP)
Circuits or cores pre-deisgned/pre-verified for certain functions
Implications:
Lower design cost
Fast time-to-market

14. Requirements Functional Non-functional Functions I/O Performance Cost
Power consumption
Size/weight

15. Architecture How to implement the specifications Components
System structure
Hardware/software partitioning
HW/SW work together to solve a problem
Partitioning decided by
Performance
Flexibility
Cost

16. Architecture Design

17. Designing An Embedded System
Understand the big picture
Understand the details
Design SW with
Real time constraints
Low power
Small code size
Domain-specific knowledge