How to Succeed in Life

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How to Succeed in Life
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General Purpose Computers

• Microcomputers are computers based on
  microprocessors
• General purpose microcomputers
• PCs, Macs, etc.
• Generally require a large amount ofsupport
  circuitry
• Memory, communications, I/O, keyboard,display...

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Inside a General Purpose Computer
PCIBusBridge
PCI ExpBusBridge
Clock,Resetcircuitry
ROM
CPU
RAM
PCI Bus
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Does One Size Fit All?

• Advantages of a general-purpose computer
• Flexible - can run lots of programs and interface
  with lots of devices

• Expandable - can be updated with new hardware

• Cost-effective - the cost of adding a new program
  is small

• Economy of scale - millions are being produced

• Disadvantages
• Must be a super system, capable of running any
  program

• High price

• Relatively large, short battery life

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Embedded Systems

• Embedded Systems are small, special-purpose
  computer systems
• Rocket guidance systems
• Toaster control systems
• Handheld electronics
• Toys

• Only the necessary parts are included
• Cheaper, smaller
• Simpler --gt more reliable?

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A Problem needing a Solution
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Needs of Typical Embedded Systems

• Consider the following embedded systems
• Intelligent thermostat
• Blood Glucose Meter
• Handheld Game System
• Automobile System Controller

• Single-purpose

• Small

• Inexpensive

• Reduced computation needs (most of the time)

• Special interfaces

• Lightweight (often hand held)

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Why Consumer Electronics are Impractical

• What does it take to build a blood glucose meter
  using a typical microprocessor?

• 1 CPU

• Dynamic RAM, controller (about 20 chips)

• ROM (one or two chips) for program

• Real-time clock

• LCD panel

• Serial interface ports, drivers

• A/D Converter

• Random support chips (five or six chips)

• This is going to take around 40 chips, use 50 W,
  and cost 500.

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Why Consumer Electronics make Money

• A Microcontroller is a small CPU with many
  support devices built into the chip

• Small CPU (8- or 16-bit, 4-32 MHz)

• ROM (8-64 KB)

• RAM (About 256 bytes), EEPROM (About 512 Bytes)

• Parallel ports

• RS232 ports

• A/D Converter

• Timer

• Typically, a microcontroller uses little power
  and costs 0.50 to 5.00.

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A Generic Microcontroller
FlashEEROM2KB 256KB
RAM256B 16KB
Small CPU Core8-16 Bits 2-32 MHz2-16 Registers
ADC8-14 Bits
Timer16-32 Bit
GPIO
RS232/USB
I2C/SPI
Memory Bus16-24 Bits