Embedded Systems

This course examines the structure and application of real-time operating systems (RTOS) in embedded systems. Students explore methods of achieving concurrency, including multithreading models, context switching, and synchronization mechanisms such as semaphores, mutexes, and spin locks. The course addresses scheduling techniques, thread states, and challenges such as priority inversion and resource starvation, along with industry-standard solutions. Learners investigate memory management strategies, including static and dynamic allocation, memory pooling, and shared memory. Emphasis is placed on preparing and deploying an RTOS by configuring hardware resources, exploring APIs, and integrating driver libraries. Through a major project, students design, implement, and evaluate a working embedded system employing a real-time operating system.

This course introduces the student to VHDL (VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Hardware Description Language) and applications with a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Students will focus on design synthesis to implement basic combinational and sequential logic operations including more advanced topics such as signal decoding and state machine applications. FPGA functional and post-route timing simulation is studied to verify timing and assist during development. Asynchronous external interfacing topics are discussed and implemented to provide students with solutions to many common challenges in FPGA design.

Students apply the practical aspects of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design from theory learned in EM 416. Industry-standard EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools are used for schematic design/capture including BOM (Bill of Material) generation, and the use and design of custom component libraries. A study of schematic flow and segmentation along with functional circuit simulation prepares the student to move on to the second part of the course in PCB layout. The physical realization of electronics design is studied following IPC (Institute for Printed Circuits) standards and best practices. IBIS (I/O Buffer Information Specification) models will be used to show effects of components and PCB layout features on signal integrity. The relationship between schematics and the PCB layout is applied using design directives for voltage, current, impedance, and frequency requirements. PCB layout challenges and solutions are presented including thermal transfer, noise reduction for EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility), manufacturability, and cost reduction.