Embedded Systems Midterm Revision 1

CISC and RISC

• CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) emphasizes hardware, with complex instructions, and uses single-clock, which results in high cycles per second and small code sizes.
• RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) emphasizes software, with reduced instructions, and uses multi-clock, which results in low cycles per second and large code sizes.
• CISC has memory-to-memory architecture, where "LOAD" and "STORE" are incorporated in instructions.
• RISC has register-to-register architecture, where "LOAD" and "STORE" are independent instructions.

MPU and MCU

• MPU (Microprocessor Unit) is used for general computing, such as laptops and tablets, with high speed, many peripherals, high cost, and medium to high energy use.
• MCU (Microcontroller Unit) is used for appliances and specialized devices, with relatively slow speed, few peripherals, low cost, and very low to low energy use.
• Examples of MPU vendors: Intel, AMD, and ARM.
• Examples of MCU vendors: Atmel, ST, TI, and Microchip.

MCU Programming

• Code is written in an integrated development environment (IDE) on a PC, using a programming language such as C, BASIC, or Assembly.
• The IDE debugs the code, compiles it into binary code, and transfers it to the microcontroller using a programmer, such as an ICSP (In-circuit serial programmer).
• Most modern microcontrollers contain an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) that converts analog voltages into digital values.

Embedded Systems Design

• Capturing requirements involves describing the system under design (SUD) in a natural language, such as English or Arabic.
• Expectations for tools include machine-readable version management, dependency analysis, and example tools like DOORS.
• Use cases describe possible applications of the SUD, and are included in UML (Unified Modeling Language).
• Sequence charts indicate the exchange of information, with vertical dimension reflecting time, and other dimensions reflecting distribution in space.

Embedded Systems Characteristics

• Embedded Systems are application-specific, efficient, dependable, and reactive, with real-time constraints, hybrid analog and digital systems, and dedicated UI.
• Characteristics of ES include: application-specific, efficient, dependable, real-time constraints, reactive, hybrid, and dedicated UI.
• ES Metrics include: performance, power, cost, size, flexibility, time-to-prototype, time-to-market, maintainability, correctness, and safety.

MCU and Embedded Systems

• A microcontroller is a mini-computer, an integrated circuit programmed to do a specific task, hidden in many appliances, gadgets, and electronics.
• Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) integrate computation with physical processes.
• Embedded Systems are computerized systems built for a specific application, not general-purpose information processing systems.