Embedded Systems Flashcards
What’s the meaning of embedded systems?
It’s an entire computer system built-in into a larger product e.g. like dishwashers
What’s the design principle of embedded systems?
Typically to aid in the industry, it can have a medical application
What embedded systems strive for?
Low energy uses hence energy classes are present, smaller and smaller chips and it has to be fast and reliable
What’s ubiquitous computing?
Cultural movement - applies that embedded systems to human interaction such as artistic intentions
Who’s was the founder of ubiquitous computing?
Marc Wiser, 1988
What’s mindful computing?
People being freaked out due to loss of control over AI and computers
Explain an inside embedded system function
- Receives data from the world
- Sends the data to the sensor then through ADC to a microcontroller
- Microcontroller gives it an IP and FPGA
- DAC
- Actuators that cause events in the world
What’s a sensor?
Capture physical or chemical to convert it to analogue electricity
What’s an actuator?
To put into action or motion
What’s an ABS in a car?
Anti-lock brake system
What does microcontroller include?
Low power CPU, memory often Harvard Architecture, analogue to digital conversion and I/O modules
What’s a consequence of having microcontroller in your system?
- Size, although it can fit everywhere
- Performance is lower than a desktop CPU
- Cheaper
- Low power consumption
- Higher battery life
Microcontroller’s memory is…
…much smaller than PC’s but faster than SRAM and is volatile can store temporary data
What’s a timer
Measures elapsed time for each cycle
What’s a counter
Counts number of times an event or process occurred
Watchdog Timer, what is it?
An automatic reset of the MCU in case of failure
What’s a digital port of output writing?
1 is on and 0 is off, normally control LED’s
What’s a digital port of input writing?
1 is on and 0 is off, keyboards
Why does MCU need to communicate?
External devices like sensors or extra memory and other systems like hosts they need to exchange data
Three types of communicators?
Serial communication, UART and Radio Frequency
The most embedded system run only one program because…
…more complex one might run several but they need embedded OS like RT Linux
What is an I^2C Bus?
Inter-Integrated Circuit Bus to connect chips together
Why use practical I^2C?
It’s a standard way to access I2C from user code e.g. in robots
What’s a CAN bus?
Controller Area Network
What does CAN bus do?
It’s specialised for inside communications that connect components inside a vehicle
Is Controller Area Network (CAN) a true serial bus or not?
True
What is Arduino good for?
Prototyping then producing the final product
What is PIC microcontrollers used for?
…in a large series of microcontrollers of different powers like Arduino requires less soldering
Give a full name for a DSPs
Digital Signal Processors
What does DSP (digital signal processor) do?
It’s used to handle real-time signals like DVD platers or radars
What’s a PLA?
Programmable Logic Arrays
What does PLA do?
Mass-producible logic array and it’s connected to everything else
What’s an FPGA?
An evolution from PLA, Field Programmable Gate Arrays
What does FPGA do and where is it used?
Simply repeated blocks containing a few gates each and in embedded devices to prototype chips before next stage
What’s a SCADA security?
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
What does SCADA do?
Industrial control, networking and factory plants it currently extremely concerns for security and it will never be connected to the internet
