Course detail

Embedded Systems and Microprocessors

FEKT-BPC-MICAcad. year: 2018/2019

The course is focused on fundamentals of microprocessor and embedded systems. Students are familiarized with basic principals of microprocessor function, on-chip peripheral subsystems of microcontrollers, memory systems and memory management. The students will achieve practical experience with programing of the embedded systems in assembler and C language.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Graduate should be able to:
- explain difference between microprocessor, microcontroller, DSP and signal controller,
- enumerat and describe methods of I/O peripherals.
- create software for simple embedded system in assembly and C language,
- expaline principles and describe characteristics of SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, DDR RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH (NOR, NAND FLASH), FeRAM, MRAM memories,
- describe memory hierarchy and explain usage of cache memory,
- explain segmentation, paging, swapping and virtual memory,
- design connection of external memory with microcontroller,

Prerequisites

The student should be able to create simple C language program and explaine function of the elementary electronic parts.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Literature

LIČEV, L., MORKES D.: Procesory - architektura, funkce, použití. Brno: Computer press, 1999. 260 s. ISBN 80-7226-172-X. (CS)
PINKER, J., POUPA, M.: Číslicové systémy a jazyk VHDL. Praha: BEN, 2006. 349 s. ISBN 80-7300-198-5. (CS)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Techning methods include lectures and laboratory lectures. Students have to create assignments during the laboratory lectures.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Up to 40 points for the laboratory lectures (2 tests up to 30 points, assignments up to 10 points).
Up to 60 points for the final oral examination. Minimal needed points from oral examination is 20.

Language of instruction

Czech

Work placements

Not applicable.

Course curriculum

1. Introduction to the course. Von Neumann architecture, base parts of the computer. Base computer cycle. Harvard architecture, modified Harvard architecture. Microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, digital signal controller.
2. Instruction set, type of instructions. Addressing modes. Machine code.
3. Assembly language: mnemonic codes, assembly directives, labels. Instruction set of microcontrollers used in laboratory lectures.
4. Subroutines, arguments passing, saving return values, stack. Subroutine vs. macro.
5. Principles of I/O handling: busy waiting, interrupt, DMA. Memory map, separated and hybrid peripherals. Interrupt servicing. Mask, non-mask and pseudo-mask interrupts. Nested interrupts. Processor RESET.
6. Using of C language for embedded programming and programming of I/O operations. Peripheral subsystems of microcontrollers: ports, system clock generating units, real-time clocks, watchdogs.
7. Peripheral subsystems of microcontrollers: counters and timers, Input Capture and Output Compare functions, time interval measurement. PWM subsystems.
8. Peripheral subsystems of microcontrollers: A/D, D/A convertors, SCI (UART), SPI, IIC.
9. Principle a characteristics SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, DDR RAM memories.
10. Principle a characteristics ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH (NOR, NAND FLASH), FeRAM, MRAM memories.
11. Embedded system memory subsystem: Serial vs. parallel memory interface. Address decoder. Incomplete address decoding – memory mirroring. Memory hierarchy. Cache memories.
12. Pipelining. Superscalar architecture. Multiprocessor systems. CISC, RISC and Post RISC processors.
13. Memory management: Address space. Logical and physical address, MMU. Contiguous memory allocation, segmentation, paging. TLB. Swapping. Virtual memory.

Aims

The aim of the course is to give base information about principles of the microprocessors systems, subsystems of microcontrollers and design of embedded system software.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The laboratory lectures are mandatory, the properly excused missed laboratory lectures can be compensate.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-AMT Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, 6 credits, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Exercise in computer lab

39 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer