087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

By: Raymond L. Barrett, Jr., PhD, PE

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Course Objective

This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description

087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

This course traces background history leading to current "Embedded Systems" from the introduction of system classification concepts through modern digital computer concepts, and first-practice digital computer embedded systems leading up to the current methodologies, tools, and practice involved in the design of Embedded Systems.

The digital computer hardware is traced from the vacuum-tube era through the advances of solid-state technology to today's integrated circuits. The software is shown in parallel with introduction of abstract languages, operating systems and "hard" real-time software, program code and library practices, through C-Code editing, compilation, and system building. Hardware Design Language (HDL) concepts are introduced in the context of adding digital functionality to the included microcomputer capabilities.

A Top-Down design methodology is used in the context of Embedded Systems development with both open-source and proprietary tools from an Engineering System Level (ESL) through an implementation at the demonstration-board level with two different examples. The design-flow through the use of tools is discussed prior to the example use of those tools so that the "big picture" is seen first. A simple Delta-Sigma (DS) analog-to-digital converter is used as an analog/digital or mixed-signal example with some modeling and simulation relating to the analog functions and some relating to the digital functions. The use of the top-down approach makes the system simulation of behavior clear prior to the "binding" of the functions to analog or digital components.

Two different implementation hardware boards: the BeagleBoard featuring a Texas Instruments (TI) OMAP™ IC with an ARM processor and TI proprietary Digital Signal Processor (DSP) onboard, and Cypress Semiconductor PSoC5™ with an ARM processor and proprietary configurable analog and digital blocks on a "First Touch" board are introduced as a hardware target candidates.

Software development tools are introduced and representative usage shown for both open-source and proprietary tools using a C/C++ path in both an open-source Linux environment and a MicroSoft Windows™ environment. Code generation automation is discussed and manual code entry discussed in the context of the tools.

The example system is explored in detail from within the context of the Cypress Semiconductor PSoC5™ "First Touch" environment with some alternatives introduced. The steps necessary and the code example for the PSoC5™ "First Touch" environment are referenced, as well as the necessary hardware and software requirements to enable the example in the BeagleBoard are shown and links provided to obtain the accelerometer, display, cables, and software required. The MathWorks PolySpace™ semantic run-time code checker software is shown with illustrations of the checking capabilities.

A 50% discount coupon on products from Cypress Semiconductor Corporation is included with this course.

Questions about this course? Email the Author: raybarrett@comcast.net

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(2.7) 7 Reviews

087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

Brett Nourrcier

10/09/2020

Verified Buyer

Wow! Not what i expected. It would have helped if i would have understood what i was buying ahead of time. I thought the preview was a "preview" and that the "course" would be more in depth. Nope. The "preview" is the "course". This "course" is a superficial look at embedded systems. Bad.

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087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

Don Edwards

12/07/2018

Verified Buyer

Fair coverage. It was a good introduction but some of the material was on a dated system.

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087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

Robert B. Walford

08/28/2017

Verified Buyer

This course was far too heavy on product descriptions. It should have been focused on the design process itself with any product descriptions only being used in support of the process.

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087-Embedded Systems; Analog, Digital, and Microcomputers

Bill Kearson

01/17/2017

Verified Buyer

Great course and I would recommend it to anyone in the embedded systems field.

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Reasonable Overview

anonymous

09/18/2011

The course is basically an overview of embedded systems. If that was the objective, however, the author should have been more careful about using terms that would be unfamiliar to the beginner.

1 of 1 customers found this helpful.

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Needs more focus on practical techniques

anonymous

02/22/2011

Having an embedded systems course for the PE area of practice is a great asset. Many engineers nowadays work with embedded applications. Yet this course focuses too much on terminology and providing lists of tools. It would be more useful it it concentrated on practical techniques such as hardware and software issues in i/o interfaces.

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(no title provided)

02/15/2011

This course is an information-dense 43-page discussion of popular development platforms and software/firmware tools. That was useful, but I was confused as to how a typical project goes and when to use which tools. The topic was so broad, it was hard to absorb the details. I think I would like a similar course focused on a particular development tool.

2 of 2 customers found this helpful.

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Course Code: 100206-11

Course PDH Hours: 4

Engineering Course Approvals

This course is accepted for engineering continuing education credit in all US states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces.
Ohio rules allow only 6-hours of unsupervised online courses such as this course per license renewal period
Kansas rules allow only 5-hours of self-study courses such as this course per license renewal period

About Course Approvals