Question

question#1: List and describe various features of electronic systems.

question#2: List and discuss the steps in designing an embedded system.

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Answer 1

1) An Electronic System is a physical interconnection of components, or parts, that gathers various amounts of information together.

We can say that a simple electronic system consists of an input, a process, and an output with the input variable to the system and the output variable from the system both being signals.

An electronic system can be classed as “causal” in nature as there is a direct relationship between its input and its output.

for example in an audio system, a microphone (input device) causes sound waves to be converted into electrical signals for the amplifier to amplify (a process), and a loudspeaker (output device) produces sound waves as an effect of being driven by the amplifiers electrical signals.

An electronic system can be a simple and single operation or an interconnection of sub systems which work together for a single output

An electronic signals and systems can be of continuous-time or discrete-time in nature and may be analogue, digital or both.

Interconnection of Systems: One of the practical aspects of electronic systems is that they can be combined together in either a series or parallel combinations to form much bigger systems. Many larger real systems are built using the interconnection of several sub-systems.

Series Connected System: the original input signal is cascaded through a series connected system, so for two series connected subsystems, the equivalent single output will be equal to the multiplication of the systems, ie, y(t) = G₁(s) x G₂(s). Where G represents the transfer function of the subsystem.

Parallel Connected Electronic System: a parallel connected continuous-time system, each subsystem receives the same input signal, and their individual outputs are summed together to produce an overall output, y(t). Then for two parallel connected subsystems, the equivalent single output will be the sum of the two individual inputs, ie, y(t) = G₁(s) + G₂(s).

Closed-Loop Feedback System: Feedback systems are used a lot in most practical electronic system designs to help stabilise the system and to increase its control. If the feedback loop reduces the value of the original signal, the feedback loop is known as “negative feedback”. If the feedback loop adds to the value of the original signal, the feedback loop is known as “positive feedback”.

2) There are different steps involved in embedded system design process. These steps depend on the design methodology. Design methodology is important for optimizing performance, and developing computer aided design tools.

Requirements- Specification- Architecture Design- Hardware and Software components- System integration

Requirements: Requirements can be functional or non-functional requirements. Functional requirements need output as a function of input. Non-functional requirements includes performance, cost, physical size, weight, and power consumption.

Specification: Requirements gathered is refined into a specification. Specification serves as the contract between the customers and the architects. Specification is essential to create working systems with a minimum of designer effort.

Architecture Design: Implementation of the system is described by the Architecture. The architecture is a plan for the overall structure of the system. It will be used later to design the components.

Hardware and Software components: The architectural description tells us what components we need. The component design effort builds those components in conformance to the architecture and specification. The components in general includes both hardware and software modules.

System integration: After the components are built, they are integrated. Bugs are typically found during the system integration. By debugging a few modules at a time, simple bugs can be uncovered. By fixing the simple bugs early, more complex or obscure bugs can be uncovered. System integration is difficult because it usually uncovers problems. The debugging facilities for embedded systems are usually much more limited than the desktop systems.

The major goals of the design to be considered are:

? Manufacturing cost

? Performance (both overall speed and deadlines)

? Power consumption.