Learn what to look out for in embedded microprocessors

To learn about embedded microprocessors, it is important to understand the characteristics of embedded microprocessors. Embedded microprocessors generally have four characteristics. First, it has a strong ability to support real-time multitasking, can complete multitasking and has a short interrupt response time.

Second, it has a strong storage area protection function. This is due to the modularization of the software structure of the embedded system, and in order to avoid erroneous cross-interaction between software modules, robust memory protection functions need to be designed. Third, a scalable processor architecture to enable the fastest development of the highest performance embedded microprocessors for the application.

Fourth, ultra-low power consumption, embedded microprocessors have very low power requirements, especially for battery-powered embedded systems in portable computing and communication devices. ZLG is doing this, you should know about it.

To learn embedded, we must pay attention to the characteristics of the embedded system, we must know what is the embedded system, the embedded system is based on computer technology, the software and hardware can be tailored, and the application system has strict requirements for function, reliability, cost, volume, power consumption, etc. Because it is embedded in the object system, it must meet the environmental requirements of the object system, such as high and low temperature of the physical environment, EMC reliability, and the embedded system is usually produced in large quantities, so the individual cost requirements are very strict. The embedded system meets the minimum hardware and software configuration required by the object, so both software and hardware can be tailored.

Such a computer must be equipped with interface circuitry that is appropriate to the target system.

1. It has a strong ability to support real-time and multi-tasking, can complete multi-task and has a short interrupt response time, so that the execution time of the internal ** and real-time operating system is reduced to a minimum;

2. It has a strong storage area protection function, which is due to the modularization of the software structure of the embedded system, and in order to avoid the cross-action of errors between the software modules, a strong storage area protection function needs to be designed, which is also conducive to software diagnosis;

3. Scalable processor structure to quickly expand high-performance embedded microprocessors to meet the application;

4. The power consumption of embedded microprocessors must be very low, especially for battery-powered embedded systems used in portable wireless and mobile computing and communication equipment, and the power consumption can only be MW or even W.

Choose the right chip for your desired features, pin count, technical support, and more.

The core of the hardware layer of the embedded system is the embedded microprocessor, the biggest difference between the embedded microprocessor and the general-purpose CPU is that the embedded microprocessor mostly works in the system designed for a specific user group, and it integrates many tasks completed by the board of the general-purpose CPU inside the chip, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the embedded system in the design, and also has high efficiency and reliability.

The architecture of the embedded microprocessor can be based on the Von Neumann system or the Harvard architecture; The command system can be reduced instruction set computer (RISC) and complex instruction set computer (CISC). The RISC computer contains only the most useful instructions in the channel, ensuring that the data channel executes each instruction quickly, thus improving execution efficiency and making the CPU hardware structure design easier.

Embedded microprocessors come in a variety of different architectures, and even within the same architecture, they may have different clock frequencies and data bus widths, or integrate different peripherals and interfaces. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 1,000 embedded microprocessors in the world, and there are more than 30 series of architectures, among which the mainstream systems are ARM, MIPS, POWERPC, X86 and SH. But unlike the global PC market, no single embedded microprocessor can dominate the market, and there are more than 100 embedded microprocessors in 32-bit products alone.

The choice of embedded microprocessor is determined on a case-by-application basis.