Microcontroller Based Systems

Architectural basics
Central units of digital systems: architectural comparison of microprocessors and microcontrollers, basic rules for architecture selection. 8/16/32 bit systems, CISC/RISC and DSP architecture. Importance of architecture selection, and its effect on system-wide properties (speed, bit handling, fractional numbers, internal memory, register banks). Examples showing how to select the proper architecture. Detailed description of microcontroller architectures through concrete microcontrollers (8051, ARM and DSP).

Low level software development
Low level programming using assembly language. The process of software development. Programming languages, development for desktop PC-s and embedded systems. Software development model, the properties of the instruction set. Typical development environments (SiLabs, Keil, Eclipse), the structure of the firmware (configuration, startup code, interrupt handling.) Assembly inserts and subroutines. ASM and C code snippets for solving simple tasks. Case study:  software planning for a real-time control system, using microcontrollers (SiLabs C8051F04x, STM32F407 Cortex-M4).

Integrated peripherals of microcontrollers
Clock generators (internal, external, PLL circuits), reset and watchdog circuits. Memories (OTP ROM, flash, RAM, EEPROM). Timer and counter units (working modes, QEP, capture module, PWM). Integrated asynchronous and synchronous communication units and protocols (SCI, SPI, I2C, CAN). Digital input and output modules, the internal design of microcontroller ports. Analog input and output modules.  Interrupt subsystem and priority handling. Configuration, crossbar.

Connecting external peripherals to microcontrollers, typical connections
External clock generators, connection external memories (serial, parallel, using internal CSUNIT-s, wait cycle problems). Analog and digital IO connection problems, special peripherals(RTC, programmed logic, ASIC circuits). Signal conversion for physical levels (RS232, RS485, CAN). EMC and decoupling. Case study: design a concrete hardware from task description to circuit schematic.

Basic concepts and steps of hardware development
Using CAD systems for hardware development: schematic, simulation, PCB design systems and the most important features of them. Form and content of a hardware plan, technology considerations (through hole and surface mounted parts, number of PCB layers, soldering technology, etc.). EMC considerations. Wakeup, programmer and test interfaces. Importance of in-circuit programming. Custom and standardized (JTAG) interfaces. Internal and external bootloaders, firmware update.

Embedded operation systems (uC-OS)
Most important attributes of time and event driven systems, synchronization concepts, control constructs. Scheduling, task management, context switch. Synchronization of tasks: critical section, semaphore, mutex, message handling, task priority. The basic features of μC/OS-II operating system (structure, configuration options, major services, differences between 8- and 32-bit systems).
Case studies: implementation of a complete control system using μC/OS-II operating system.