Table Of ContentEmbedded System Design
Mohit Arora
Embedded System Design
Introduction to SoC System Architecture
Mohit Arora
NXP Semiconductors
Austin, USA
[email protected]
ISBN 978-0-9972972-0-1 e-ISBN 978-0-9972972-1-8
Learning Bytes Publishing Austin
© Learning Bytes Publishing 2016
All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or
in part without the written permission of the publisher (Learning Bytes
Publishing , 16000 Cinca Terra Drive, Austin, TX, 78738, USA), except
for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in
connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic
adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed is forbidden.
The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and
similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as
an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to
proprietary rights.
This book is dedicated to my daughters Janya and
Prisha.
Preface
Ever since I got involved in chip design during my earlier career, designing
IPs, I got more involved into SoC architecture, before taking a full time
architect position focused on embedded systems. The role allowed me to
visit customers world-wide, validate requirements, before starting to write
detailed architectural specifications for the design team.
During this course, I realized, though looks simple, embedded applications
require some unique aspects that need specific attention to the chip
architecture, much different than typical consumer applications that are
mostly focused on features and processing capabilities.
This is my second book that is very natural extension of my first book titled
“The Art of hardware architecture” that was focused on design techniques,
while the current one extends that further to embedded systems
architecture.
“Embedded System Design” could be perceived as broad term and may
mean differently to different people/audience.
The book's aim is to highlight all the complex issues, tasks and techniques
that must be mastered by a SoC Architect to define and architect SoC for
an embedded application. Since “Embedded System design” is a broad
subject, the first revision of the book does not cover everything but make
an attempt to include essential elements and attributes that are important
to design an embedded system. The subsequent version of the book will
include extended topics to keep the book up-to date with any upcoming
trends.
The book is intended for a wide audience. Though it may be used in an
undergraduate or graduate course, book is mainly intended for those in
semiconductor industries who are directly involved with chip design and
requires deeper understand of the subject.
This book is distinguished from others by its primary focus on real
problems rather than theoretical concepts with its emphasis on architectural
vii
techniques across various aspects of chip-design, especially focused on
embedded systems.
The book covers aspects of embedded systems in a consistent way, starting
with basic concepts in Chapter 1 that provides introduction to embedded
systems and gradually increasing the depth to reach advanced concepts,
such as power management and design consideration for maximum power
efficiency and higher battery life.
Chapter 1 “Introduction to Embedded systems” help readers understand more
clearly the key attributes of embedded systems and how they differentiate
from general computer systems. This chapter includes some real-time
examples of embedded system across variety of applications.
Chapter 2 “Handling Interrupts” covers all on how interrupts should be
handled in an embedded system. Low Latency interrupt is the most
important attribute for any embedded applications that needs special
attention on how interrupts should be dealt with. Chapter describes various
types of interrupts, Interrupt Service Routine (ISR), Interrupt vector table,
Interrupt latency and methods to process interrupts for embedded
application.
Chapter 3 “Memory addressing” starts with memory classification based on
memory attributes, memory hierarchy and memory map. Chapter expands
on how memory addressing system should be designed for an optimal
performance. Chapter also covers how to handle endianness in design that
that may include several third-party IPs with different Endianness and the
way it can be handled in the design in an optimal way.
Chapter 4 focuses on all one need to know about embedded “System Boot”.
The chapter starts with Window XP boot as an example to start with as that
being very common consumer boot and expands the later sections to
include boot process and options in an embedded application. The chapter
includes challenges in embedded boot, Boot ROM and bootloaders for
embedded application including popular open source universal bootloader
(U-Boot).
Chapter 5 covers all about “System Integrity”. The chapter outlines the need
for robust Watchdog and the guidelines that must be considered while
designing a fault tolerant system monitor aka Watchdog.
viii
Chapter 6 covers several hardware as well as software “Debouncing
Techniques” to eliminate unwanted noise or glitch in the circuit caused by an
external input (usually some kind of switch).
Chapter 7 covers deep details on “Power Management” that outlines power
supply design models and design considerations to select the right
regulation system for target application. The chapter also covers some of
the real life power management examples for some of the popular
embedded applications.
Theoretical part has been intentionally kept to the minimum that is
essentially required to understand the subject. The guidelines explained
across various chapters are independent of any CAD tool or silicon process
and are applicable to any SoC architecture targeted for embedded systems.
Every possible effort was made to make the book self-contained. Any
feedback/comments are welcome on this aspect or any other related
aspects. Comments can be sent to me at the following mail:
[email protected].
MOHIT ARORA, MAY 2016
ix
Description:The book's aim is to highlight all the complex issues, tasks and techniques that must be mastered by a SoC Architect to define and architect SoC for an embedded application. This book is primary focused on real problems with emphasis on architectural techniques across various aspects of chip-design,
