First Steps with Embedded Systems

This book is intended to fill the need for an intermediate level overview of programming microcontrollers using the C programming language. It is aimed specifically at two groups of readers who have different, yet overlapping needs. The first group are familiar with C but require an examination of the general nature of microcontrollers: what they are, how they behave and how best to use the C language to program them.


The second group are familiar with microcontrollers but are new to the C programming language and wish to use C for microcontroller development projects.

First Steps with Embedded Systems will be useful both as an introduction to microcontroller programming for intermediate level post-secondary programs and as a uide for developers coping with the growth and change of the microcontroller industry.


Download Ebook

Model-Based Design for Embedded Systems

The demands of increasingly complex embedded systems and associated performance computations have resulted in the development of heterogeneous computing architectures that often integrate several types of processors, analog and digital electronic components, and mechanical and optical components—all on a single chip. As a result, now the most prominent challenge for the design automation community is to efficiently plan for such heterogeneity and to fully exploit its capabilities.

A compilation of work from internationally renowned authors, Model-Based Design for Embedded Systems elaborates on related practices and addresses the main facets of heterogeneous Model-Based Design for embedded systems, including the current state of the art, important challenges, and the latest trends. Focusing on computational models as the core design artifact, this book presents the cutting-edge results that have helped establish Model-Based Design and continue to expand its parameters.
The book is organized into three sections: Real-Time and Performance Analysis in Heterogeneous Embedded Systems, Design Tools and Methodology for Multiprocessor System-on-Chip, and Design Tools and Methodology for Multidomain Embedded Systems. The respective contributors share their considerable expertise on the automation of design refinement and how to relate properties throughout this refinement while enabling analytic and synthetic qualities. They focus on multi-core methodological issues, real-time analysis, and modeling and validation, taking into account how optical, electronic, and mechanical components often interface.
Model-Based Design is emerging as a solution to bridge the gap between the availability of computational capabilities and our inability to make full use of them yet. This approach enables teams to start the design process using a high-level model that is gradually refined through abstraction levels to ultimately yield a prototype. When executed well, Model-Based Design encourages enhanced performance and quicker time to market for a product. Illustrating a broad and diverse spectrum of applications such as in the automotive aerospace, health care, consumer electronics, this volume provides designers with practical, readily adaptable modeling solutions for their own practice.

Download Ebook

What is an embedded syatem?

An embedded system can be defined as a computing device that does a specific focused job. Appliance such as the air-conditions, VCD players, DVD players, printers, fax machine, mobile phone etc. are examples of embedded systems. Each of these appliances will have a processor and special hardware to meet the specific requirement of the application along with the embedded software that is executed by the processor for meeting that specific requirement. The embedded software is also called “firmware”.

Embedded systems are characterized by some special feature listed below:

• Embedded system do very specific task, they cannot be programmed for different things. 

• Embedded systems have very limited resources, particularly the memory. Generally, they do not have secondary storage device such as the CDROM or the floppy disk.

• Embedded systems have to work against some deadlines. A specific job has to be completed within specific time. In some embedded system, called real-time systems, the deadlines are stringent. Missing deadline may cause a catastrophe-loss of life or damage to property.

• Embedded systems are constrained for power. As many embedded systems operate through battery, the power consumption has to be very low.

• Embedded systems need to be highly reliable. Once in a while, pressing ALT+CTR+DEL is OK but you cannot afford to reset your embedded system.

• Some embedded systems have to operate in extreme environmental condition such as very high temperature and humidity. 

• Embedded system that addresses the consumer market (for example, electronic toys) are very cost sensitive. Even a reduction of $0.1 is lot of cost saving, because thousands or millions system may be sold. 

• Unlike desktop computers in which the hardware platform is dominated by Intel and the operating system is dominated by Microsoft, there is wide verity of processor and operating systems for the embedded systems. So, choosing the right platform is the most complex task.