Embedded Systems

Definition:

                Any electronic system that uses a computer chip, but that is not a general-purpose workstation, desktop or laptop computer. Such systems use microcontrollers (MCUs) or microprocessors (MPUs) or they may use custom-designed chips.

              An embedded system is a single-purpose computer built into a larger system for the purposes of controlling and monitoring the system. A general purpose computer (e.g. a personal computer) is defined not to be an embedded system.

A Simple Block Diagram of Embedded System:

A Definition Given By Scientist:

                                      ―Any sort of device which includes a programmable computer, but itself is not intended to be a general-purpose compute.
                                                                                                                                       – Wayne Wolf
A software system that is completely encapsulated by the hardware that it controls.

Examples: 

              cell phones, DSTV decoders, MP3 players, washing machines, coffee makers, vacuum cleaners, ABS breaking systems, and satellite guidance avionics.

Some more Examples:

             Aibo, the Robotic Dog of Sony Corp., incorporates Emotion-Detecting Sensors, Voice Recognition System, a CCD Camera, and Distance Measurement Sensor. It has 18 Joints that can generate different types of movements.

LG Electronics has introduced Refrigerators that can check E-Mail, Surf the Web, Watch TV, and make Videophone Calls. Users have access to information like Real-Time Grocery Prices and Stock Prices.

Carrier and IBM have developed Air-conditioners that can be controlled over the Internet.

Embedded Life Cycle:

Industry requirements:

          Though demands for processing capability is increasing, traditional 8bit MCU is still the mainstream product in low-cost applications.

          Atmel Corp., Microchip Technology Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, RDC Semiconductor Co. Ltd, Epson and other companies features their respective MCU products. Infineon's latest 8bit MCU product family has flash memory and other peripherals designed for engine control and automotive application.

Microchip Technology has :

Its PICMicro MCU devices based on different memory configurations, I/O and peripheral ports.

 Its latest product line is PIC18, aimed at low-power consumption.

Targeted at the consumer electronics field:

Altera has launched the Nios series 32bit embedded processors that it says can help customers accelerate programmable design for displays, digital cameras, DVD players, STBs, computer peripherals etc.

The Latest All-In-One project Kit Uni-Board version1.1

           The uNiBoard version 1.1 is an ideal open source development platform for Embedded and Real Time Systems Programming. Powered by a RISC machine (ATMega64) that provides a throughput of 16 MIPS and up to 64KB of internal storage (flash), the board would be suitable for any sort of embedded application development.

On‐board peripherals like Joystick along with the communication ports (RS232) and the Gtkterm driver (hyper‐terminal for Windows) make the board apt for basic game development in an Embedded (non‐OS) as well as OS based environment like RTOS. 

The board is powered by the USB port.The board is powered by the USB port. The board is also programmable through USB port thereby making it complete stand‐alone lab equipment needing nothing apart from a basic PC/laptop to get started with the development process. The open interface (open LED interface, open ports) extend the platform’s role for prototyping applications like external device/sensor interfacing. The controller by itself supports protocols like SPI, I2C (on‐board I2C based RTC), UART (dual programmable UART) which can be used for multi‐board communication. 

For Complete Reference and Projects Guide please refer following link:

http://code.google.com/p/uniboard/     

Pin Description and Schematic Diagrams of Uni-Board:  

Uni-Board V1.1 Reference Manual free download:

Atmege32 Controller Discription and Features: 

Atmege32 DataSheet Down load here

A Programmer Toolchain for programming to avr controller:

Win AVR Software free to download  

Please go through the Uni-Board manual and do some practice for developing large application based projects. The project list is posted soon.....................Please fallow the blog regularly..!!

The Atmege32 AVR based list of projects with source code and data sheet available in this link:

A List of 523 projects on atmege AVR controller