Hardware Components and Processors

Hardware Components

• Embedded systems are composed of hardware and software components.
• Hardware components can be analog or digital.
• Analog components include sensors, actuators, and controllers.
• Digital components include processors, coprocessors, memories, controllers, buses, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC).
• Converters, such as analog-to-digital (A2D) and digital-to-analog (D2A) converters, are also important components.

Processor Types

• Processors are artifacts that compute (run algorithms).
• They consist of a controller and a data path.
• General-purpose (GP) processors can perform a variety of computation tasks, offering flexibility and low cost at high volumes.
• Single-purpose (SP) processors are optimized for one specific task, leading to faster and more power-efficient operation, but with higher costs at low volumes.

General-Purpose Processor Architecture

• GP processors have a programmable controller and a datapath.
• The controller manages program execution, while the datapath performs operations on data.
• The datapath includes a register file and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
• GP processors are suitable for applications requiring flexibility and low cost, but they can be slower and consume more power compared to SP processors.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)

• ASICs are custom-designed digital circuits that execute a single predefined program.
• They are highly efficient for specific tasks but lack flexibility and have high development costs.
• ASICs are advantageous when ultimate performance or energy efficiency is crucial and large volumes are expected.

Storage

• Memories are artifacts that store bits.
• Write-ability refers to how easily and quickly data can be written to memory.
• Storage-permanence describes how well memory retains stored bits.

Memory Types

• Different memory types, including flash, SRAM, DRAM, and ROM, offer various combinations of write-ability, storage permanence, and cost.

Communication

• A bus is a set of electrical conductors that allow communication between different components of a computer system.

Wireless Communication

• Infrared (IR) communication utilizes electromagnetic waves below the visible light spectrum, requiring line of sight and limited range.
• Radio frequency (RF) communication uses electromagnetic waves in the radio spectrum, allowing for longer range and line-of-sight independence.

Peripherals

• Peripherals are specialized hardware components that perform specific tasks.
• Custom single-purpose processors are designed for unique tasks, while standard single-purpose processors are pre-designed for common tasks.

Timers

• Timers measure time intervals and can be used to generate timed events or measure input events.
• They have specific ranges and resolutions.

Counters

• Counters are similar to timers, but they count pulses on a general input signal rather than a clock, enabling applications like counting objects.
• Counters can often be configured as either timers or counters.

Watchdog Timer

• A watchdog timer is a safety mechanism that requires an external process to reset it periodically to prevent system failure.

Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART)

• UARTs are used for serial communication and are responsible for converting parallel data to serial format and vice versa.
• They often employ parity bits for error checking and have defined start and stop bits.
• Baud rate represents the number of signal changes per second, determining the bit rate.

Pulse Width Modulator (PWM)

• PWM generates pulse signals with specific high and low durations, controlled by the duty cycle.
• It is commonly used to regulate the average voltage to electrical devices, offering a simpler solution compared to DC-DC converters or digital-analog converters.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

• LCDs are display devices that use liquid crystals to create images, controlled by a micro-processor interface.

Keypad

• A keypad is a user input device.
• It allows users to enter data by pressing buttons.

Stepper Motor Controller

• Stepper motors move in fixed increments when given "step" signals.
• Stepper motor controllers are used to simplify and manage the voltage sequence applied to stepper motor coils to achieve desired rotations.

Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)

• ADCs convert analog signals to digital values, representing them as binary numbers.
• ADCs play a vital role in interfacing analog sensors and actuators with digital systems.

Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)

• DACs convert digital values back to analog signals, enabling the control of analog devices with digital systems.

Summary

• Hardware components are crucial for information processing in embedded systems.
• Understanding the functionality and features of different hardware components is essential for effective embedded system design.

Este quiz tracta de componentes de hardware e processoros in sistemas incorporatos. Discute le differentias inter componentes analog e digital, e il compara processoros de proposito general e specific. Testa tu cognoscentia in hardware e architettura de processor.