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Embedded System Design Articles
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Embedded System Design Articles

From 1991 through 1998, Scott Rosenthal of SLTF wrote a column for Personal Engineering & Instrumentation News magazine on the issues involved with designing embedded systems — the hardware, the software, and the business aspects. The following articles are adapted from his PE&IN column:

USABILITY

bulletApplication-defined hardware/software tradeoffs mark the difference between success and failure
bulletFunctionality alone won't guarantee a successful design
bulletA good user interface is as important as proper functionality
bulletA project in the field must adapt to harsh reality

SOFTWARE PRACTICES

bulletIs C++ the not-ready-for-prime-time embedded language?
bulletGood programmers don't need C++ to think for them
bulletSystem initialization requires as much care as the rest of your design
bulletNow that the processor's reset, here's how to get the code running
bulletFor digging out hardware bugs, monitor programs fill the bill
bulletMonitors are valuable, easy to use and create
bulletThe search for the perfect software might be never ending, but it's not pointless
bulletAdequate testing means more than just checking against the specification
bulletLanguage-localization tips aid overseas sales
bulletCooperative operating systems impose RTOS discipline without its complexity
bulletDesktop engineers: beware pitfalls when transitioning to embedded systems
bulletTips from the trenches: tweak your way to improved C compiler output

FUZZY LOGIC

bulletThe future of high precision is fuzzy
bulletBuilding a fuzzy-logic controller doesn't require an AI degree---just common sense

EMBEDDED HARDWARE

bulletSerial EEPROMs provide secure data storage for embedded systems
bulletValidating data acquisition saves debugging time
bulletFlash memories are useful--but they're not magic
bulletElectronic cam significantly eases development of microcontroller code
bulletDon't forget bit basics while using an HLL
bulletThe trick to hot-plugging is not frying the module---or your patience
bulletInterrupts might seem basic, but many programmers still avoid them
bulletPC Cards as EPROM replacements remove one last code-development bottleneck
bulletThe road to loquacious instrumentation is rough but passable
bulletOff-the-shelf hardware and multimedia bring voice output within easy reach
bulletSelecting an embedded processor involves both simple and nontechnical criteria
bulletSmall PIC12C family provides programmability and speed at a price

SYSTEM DESIGN

bulletPC chipsets build a firm foundation for embedded applications
bulletPC chipsets have a dark side, too
bulletCheck out lower-performance processors, too
bulletThe true test for a new technique is the real world -- not a development lab
bulletWhy don't programmers think like normal people?
bulletFor alerting an operator, all beeps weren't created equal
bulletStandard ICs make it difficult to build an alarming instrument
bulletIt sometimes takes a microcontroller to boot up an FPGA
bulletInterfacing to large switch banks requires more than stringing a few additional wires
bulletModern development tools remove complications--but at what price?
bulletConsumer products guide the way in low-cost product design
bulletA requirements document before a project pays big dividends in time and money
bulletAlthough testing assures a product works, a test document defines what "works" means
bulletWith most embedded systems, many bad problems lie inside "the box"
bulletIt takes more than technical skill to consult in the embedded market
bulletConsulting in the embedded world requires diplomacy
bulletGood enough is exactly that
 

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