Embedded Systems Midterm Exam Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

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 (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.

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.

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 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.

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.