Components of Embedded Systems – A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction to Components of Embedded System

The main components of an embedded system involve hardware like peripheral timers, software including application software to do concurrent tasks, and RTOS(real-time operating systems).

The?components of an embedded system?can vary depending on the application but typically include a microcontroller or microprocessor, memory, sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces. The microcontroller or microprocessor is the heart of the system, controlling the behavior of the other components.?Memory is used to store instructions and data, while sensors and actuators are used to interact with the environment. Communication interfaces, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, are used to connect the embedded system to other devices or networks. Understanding the components of an embedded system is essential for designing and developing reliable and efficient systems.

What are Embedded Components?

Embedded components?are modules that are integrated into a big system to perform a specific task. The embedded components involve embedded controllers, actuators, sensors, and power devices along with Ethernet applications.

Embedded components are classified into hardware and software. Hardware involves controllers, memory, and clock circuitry whereas software components involve a debugger, emulator compiler, and assembler.

Emulator: An emulator is a piece of software or hardware that mimics the behavior of another system. If a user wishes to replicate features of another system, they can do so by connecting an emitter to their system. The emitter will replicate the same behavior as the target system.

Debugger: An error-detection program is a tool that assists in the detection and correction of errors in a program. In some cases, the code does not execute as expected, so errors are identified by the debugger.

What are the 3 Main Components of Embedded System?

Generally embedded system components are classified as hardware, software and RTOS.?

Hardware diagram

Components of Embedded Systems and their Functions

The embedded system components involve hardware, software and RTOS.

Power supply:

An embedded system necessitates a power supply in order to operate. Generally, a 5V power supply is required, or a power supply in the range of 1.8 V to 3.3 V using an adapter.

Embedded processor:?It is the core of the computer processing unit (CPU) and is responsible for determining the system’s performance. Core types include 8-bit 16-bit and other types.

Memory:

A processor executes the instructions based on memory. It involves data memory and program memory.

Hardware Components of the Embedded System

Embedded system also contains other?hardware components?includes timers and counters, interrupt controller and communication ports.

Embedded processors solely operated based on timer circuits which help in generating the delay function and setting the time in real-time products like washing machines and ovens.

Interrupt controller:

In many?embedded systems, there are a greater number of external sources for interrupt signals than the interrupt pins present on the processor, necessitating the use of an interrupt controller. An interrupt controller can perform a variety of functions, including:

Providing a high number of interrupt pins, which can be allocated to a variety of external devices. Any devices need to communicate with a processor it will indicate based on interrupt requests and initiate a communication.

Software Components of Embedded System

The embedded system development tools are normally described as IDE. Based on the microcontroller company, the software name is modified. The main components of software involves linker, debugger and emulator along with that designer can make use of compilers and assembler.

Compiler/Assembler:

?In?embedded systems, Coding is done by any higher languages like c or assembly which converts the code into machine code. The difference c compiler converts higher language to low level and assembly usage is with instructions converted into a hex file or object file.

Linker:

A computer program is a compilation of one or more Object Code Files and Libraries into a single final program. the importance of breaking a large program down into smaller parts and functions to facilitate coding and those small parts must ultimately be combined into one final program, which necessitates the use of a linker.

Communication Components of Embedded System

In embedded system the main function of communication system is to enable a communication between core and input and output devices. To initiate that communication, Ethernet, SPI, I2c RS232, RS485, UART, USB, and so on.

RS232:

The Serial Communication Standard (RS232) is a widely used method of connecting external equipment to computers. It was developed by the EIA and TIA and defines the signals that are exchanged between DTEs and DCEs. Examples of DTEs include computers, data communication equipment (DCE), and data circuit terminators (DCEs).

Uart:

Universal asynchronous receiver transmission. It is half-duplex and is used for serial communication with short distances. Uart operates based on the baud rate.

Sensor Components of Embedded System

Sensors are widely used in?embedded systems?to develop real-time applications. The sensors involve temperature proximity humidity and IR sensors. Using these sensors embedded system design develops crucial applications in an easier way. Sensors apply in all fields, including PLC cloud monitoring ABS in cars and automation.?The sensors used in embedded systems are object detection (proximity sensor) and temperature detection, light sensors, and alcoholic sensors all embedded in the processor for real-time applications.?

Power Management Components of Embedded System

Any system designed in real-time relies on power management. The power management involves battery life-size and storage capacity. Not only that it also relies on analog components design and digital components. The power consumption relies on the embedded system based on peripherals and sensors interfaced with it. To consume less power in?embedded systems, protocols are used as a receiver circuit.

Memory Components of Embedded System

Embedded memory refers to the memory utilized by the processor of an embedded device in order to carry out its functions and allow the device to operate. It may be stored on the embedded device’s system on a chip, or it may be stored on a separate chip.

The main types involved in?embedded systems?are primary and secondary memory. The primary memory involves RAM which is a data memory and secondary memory involves an program memory called ROM. Data memory is classified as SRAM DRAM and SDRAM. Program memory contains EEPROM and flash memory. These are the memories often used in embedded systems to consume less power. These memories are configured with internal or external types. These memory variants are also used in off-chip mode.

Peripheral Components of Embedded System

Peripherals are sections of silicon that are used to interact with systems beyond the microcontroller and directly and indirectly interact with their environment in the real world through sensors, motor controllers, or human interfaces, such as displays or keyboards. Most?Microcontrollers?contain more than a CPU, RAM or Flash Memory, and are collectively referred to as Peripherals. Peripheral devices like sensors, motors actuators and input/output devices like ADC PWM watchdog timer, and many more devices interacted in real-time applications.

Conclusion

Embedded systems?play a major role in each and every?application in the real-time world.