Designing Embedded Systems

with PIC Microcontrollers:

Principles and Applications

2nd Edition. Tim Wilmshurst

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 Chapter 1
Tiny Computers, Hidden Control

The aims of this chapter are to introduce:

• The meaning of the term ‘embedded system’;

• The microcontroller which lies at the heart of the embedded system;
• The Microchip PIC® family;
• A first PIC microcontroller, the 12F508.

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What is an embedded system?

What examples of embedded

systems do you know?
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Example 2: Car Door Control, within a Larger Network

windowcontrolbuttons
windowstallsensor

windowm otor
lockcontrol
lockactuator opendoorsensor

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Example 2: Car Door Control, within a Larger Network
Right
Door

Dash Climate
Board Control

Driver's
Steering Seat

Central
Control Air Radio
Bag & CD

CAN Bus

Left
Door
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Example 3: The Derbot Autonomous Guided Vehicle

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 Ultrasound
Ranging
Module
Pulse Echo

Bump Sensor Bump Sensor

Left Right

Light Sensor Analog to Digital Light Sensor

Left Converter Right

Light Sensor Ultrasound

Rear Servo

Serial Data
PIC Compass
Power 5V
Microcontroller Serial
Clock
Regulation &
Management
Serial Extension Bus
9V
Alkaline Pulse Width Modulation
Stream x2

9V Motor Drive
Interface

Motor Motor
Left Right 7
 (User Interface)
Generic Block Diagram (display, keypad etc.)

Conditioning
Embedded Computer

Conversion
Signal

Output
Input

Drive
Data
Output
Variables Software Variables

Hardware

(Link to other Systems)

An embedded system is a system whose principal function is not computational,

but which is controlled by a computer embedded within it.
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The Embedded System - What Disciplines does it Involve?

Digital Integrated Circuit

Electronics Design

Analogue
Electronics Computer Architecture

Embedded Systems
Sensors and Software Engineering
Measurements

Data
Electric Motors & Communications
Actuators Control
Engineering

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 What can the Computer Actually Do?

• A computer “executes” instructions in its (ALU).

• Running through a series of instructions called a program.
• The ALU in turn forms part of the (CPU).
• (A) is the “Accumulator”, a digital register where the
computations actually occur.
• (M) is a location in memory.
• A typical 8-bit ALU can do the list shown below.
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What can the Computer Actually Do?

Increment A A = A plus 1
Decrement A A=A-1
Add A to M A = A plus M
Subtract M from A A=A-M
AND A with M A = A.M
OR A with M A=A+M
Exclusive OR A with M A = A+ M
Shift A left A = 2A
Shift A right A = A/2
Rotate A left
Rotate A right
Complement A A = NOT A
Clear A A=0
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How Instruction Sets are Made: “CISC”

• CPU has a set of instructions that it recognizes and responds to

all programs.
• We want computers to execute code as fast as possible.
• This leads to CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer).
• A CISC has many instructions, but sophisticated.
• Simple ones can be expressed in a short instruction code, say
one byte of data, and execute quickly.
• Complex ones need several bytes, and take a long time. 12
How Instruction Sets are Made: “CISC”

A CISC machine is generally recognised by:

• Many instructions (say < 100), with considerable sophistication
• Instruction words are of different length;
• Instructions take different lengths of time to execute.

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How Instruction Sets are Made: “RISC”

• RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) keep the CPU very

simple and fast, and have a limited instruction set.
• One characteristic of the RISC approach is that each instruction
is contained within a single binary word.
• That word must hold all information necessary, including:
(instruction code - address - data ).
• Every instruction takes the same amount of time.

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 How Instruction Sets are Made: “RISC”

A RISC machine is generally recognised by:

• Few instructions (say > 100),
• Each performs a very simple action;
• All instructions are single word;
• Almost all instructions take the same length of time to execute.

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The Microcontroller

A microcontroller is a microprocessor designed primarily to

perform simple control functions.
Microcontrollers usually have these features
• low cost,
• physically small,
• input/output intensive, and capable of easy interfacing,
• limited memory capability,
• ability to operate in a real-time environment. 16
The Microcontroller

In certain applications, following further features are essential:

• ability to operate in hostile environment, e.g. high or low
temperature, tolerant to electromagnetic interference,
• low power, with features adapted to battery power.

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 Program Further
Power Memory Peripheral

Data Further
Memory Peripheral

Digital
I/0
Microprocessor
Reset Core
Interrupt(s) Analog
I/0
Internal Data &
Address Buses
Clock Counters
& Timers

A microcontroller = microprocessor core + memory + peripherals

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 A Gathering of Microprocessors and Microcontrollers

Motorola PIC 16F877

PIC 16C72 68HC05B16
PIC 16F84A

Motorola 68000

PIC 12F508

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Comparison of 8-bit PIC families:
Family Example Instruction Stack Number of Interrupt
Devices word size size instruction vectors
(words)
Baseline 10F200, 12-bit 2 33 None
12F508,
16F57
Mid-range 12F609, 14-bit 8 35 1
16F84A,
16F631,
16F873A
High 18F242, 16-bit 32 75, 2
Performance 18F2420 including (prioritized)
hardware
multiply
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Microcontroller - PIC 12F508/509

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The PIC 12F508/509
block diagram

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 Summary

• An embedded system is a product that has one or more computers

embedded within it (Microcontroller).
• Microcontrollers are designed according to accepted electronic and
computer principles.
• A microcontroller = microprocessor core + memory + peripherals

• Microchip offers a wide range of microcontrollers, with different families.

• Each family has identical (or very similar) central architecture and
instruction set.

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End of Chapter 1

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