EMBEDDED SYSTEMS INPUT AND OUTPUT

Group 4
Leader: Santiago, John Lhenard
Members: Bernardo, Jerald M.
Llarves, Gerwin M.
Morales, Patricia

I. DEFINITION

Embedded systems are comprised of various hardware components that allow it to perform its
intended function. These components usually include a processor such as a microcontroller or
microprocessor, a power supply, timers/counters, input and output devices, memory, and
communication ports such as CAN, SPI, I2C, USB, Ethernet, UART, etc.

In particular, the input and output devices component, otherwise known as I/O or IO devices, is used
to transfer data to or from a computer. In other words, input devices are used to send data to a CPU,
and output devices receive data from the CPU. Incorporating inputs/outputs within embedded systems can
allow users to control the computer/system and allow the computer/system to interact with the user.

II. TYPES OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM INPUT AND OUTPUT

a. Digital Input/output (GPIO) - GPIO pins are used to send or receive digital signals,
representing binary values (0 or 1). These pins can be configured as inputs or outputs and are
fundamental for tasks like controlling LEDs, reading switches, or interfacing with sensors.
b. Analog Input/output - Analog I/O deals with continuous voltage levels and is essential for tasks
such as reading analog sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) or generating analog signals (e.g.,
audio output). ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters) and DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters)
are used for analog I/O.
c. Serial Communication - Embedded systems often communicate with other devices through
serial interfaces like UART, SPI, or I2C. UART is asynchronous serial communication, while SPI
and I2C are synchronous, allowing for various data transfer modes.
d. Network Communication - Many embedded systems are connected to networks, either through
Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or other wireless technologies. Network communication enables data exchange
with remote systems or cloud services.

III. INPUT IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

a. Sensors - Embedded systems often rely on sensors to gather data from the environment. These
sensors can include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, accelerometers, and more.
b. Interrupts - To efficiently handle external events, embedded systems use interrupts. When a
specific event occurs (e.g., a button press), it can trigger an interrupt, allowing the system to
respond quickly.
c. Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) - ADCs are essential for converting analog sensor data
(e.g., voltage levels) into digital values that the microcontroller can process.
 IV. OUTPUT IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

a. Actuators - Embedded systems use actuators like motors, solenoids, and relays to control
physical processes or devices. For example, in robotics, motors are used to control the movement
of robotic arms.
b. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) - PWM is a technique used to control the intensity of output
signals, such as the brightness of an LED or the speed of a motor.
c. Digital-to-Analog Conversion (DAC) - DACs are employed when an embedded system needs to
produce continuous analog signals, such as in audio playback or analog voltage generation.

V. COMMUNICATION INTERFACES

a. Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) - UART is commonly used for serial

VI. INPUT VS. OUTPUT DEVICES

a. Input Devices

An input device is a hardware component that connects to a primary device, such as a computer, and
delivers data to the processing element. Inputs, which are often peripheral devices, allow users to interact
and control the computer or system. Inputs convert physical input to binary information which is sent
to the processing unit to then perform computations to execute a specific task. Inputs are exposed as
pins and can be serial or parallel and also analog or digital.

Example of Input

Inputs can include a keyboard, touchpad, camera, microphone, GPS, and various sensors.

b. Output Devices

An output device is a hardware component that connects to a primary device, such as a computer and
transforms received data from the processing unit into a human-perceptible form that users can
understand and use. This can be text, graphics, audio, or video. Often output devices are peripheral
devices that are used by humans to help perform an action or task. Outputs are exposed as pins, and can
also be serial or parallel and analog or digital.

Example of Output

Monitors and projectors are examples of video outputs, headphones and computer speakers are
examples of audio outputs, and printers are examples of text/graphic outputs.
 VII. ES COMPONENTS

a. Processing Element - Embedded systems require a processing element, such as a CPU, to carry
out all tasks. The processor is considered to be the main chip within the system that responsible
for fetching and decoding data and then executing an operation based on the instructions it is
given from the memory device.
b. Memory - Memory is used to store temporary or permanent information within an embedded
system that is used for processing. There are multiple types of memory that can be used,
including RAM, ROM, or EEPROM. Memory is responsible for storing data that is needed to
boot up the system or temporarily store data that is collected from input devices.
c. Transferring Data between Inputs/Outputs, Memory, and Processor - Altogether, inputs,
outputs, memory, and the processor all have their own function that allows the system to intake
information and transform it into an action

VIII. INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

Input and output devices are used in parallel with other embedded system components such as the
processing element, such as a CPU, and memory. Together, they allow the system to collect certain
data to execute a specific task and also allows users to easily control and interact with the embedded
system.

IX. PARALLEL INPUT AND \OUTPUT

Parallel input and output (PIO) in embedded systems involves the simultaneous transfer of multiple
bits of data between the microcontroller or microprocessor and external devices. It is a crucial aspect
of interfacing with various peripherals and managing data efficiently.

Parallel Input

a. Keypad Matrix - Embedded systems often use parallel input to read keypads with multiple
buttons. A matrix arrangement allows for efficient scanning to detect key presses.

b. Parallel ADC - Some applications require a higher-speed ADC interface. Parallel ADCs can
sample multiple analog channels simultaneously, which is useful in data acquisition systems.
c. Camera Interfaces - Parallel input interfaces are used in embedded systems that capture images
from cameras. Parallel data transfer ensures high-speed image acquisition.

Parallel Output

a. LCD Displays - Parallel output is common for driving LCD displays, where each bit or byte
represents a pixel's state. This is essential in applications like handheld devices and industrial
displays
b. Parallel DAC - Some embedded systems require precise analog voltage outputs, and parallel
DACs can provide these outputs simultaneously. This is valuable in applications like audio
processing.
c. Parallel Communication Ports - Microcontrollers often have parallel communication ports (e.g.,
parallel ports) for fast data transfer to external devices or peripherals.
 X. ADVANCE TOIPCS ON EMBEDDED SYSTEMS I/O

a. DMA (Direct Memory Access) - DMA allows peripherals to transfer data directly to or from
memory without CPU intervention. It's used to offload data transfer tasks from the CPU,
improving system efficiency.
b. Memory-Mapped I/O - Memory-mapped I/O is a technique where peripheral registers are
mapped to memory addresses. This allows reading and writing to peripherals like memory access,
simplifying I/O operations.
c. Interrupt Handling - Advanced interrupt handling involves prioritizing interrupts, nested
interrupts, and efficiently managing interrupt service routines (ISRs) for real-time responsiveness.
d. I/O Synchronization Techniques - In multi-threaded or multi-core embedded systems, ensuring
proper synchronization of I/O operations is critical to prevent data corruption and race conditions.
e. I/O Expander ICs - I/O expander integrated circuits provide additional GPIO pins when the
microcontroller's native pins are insufficient. They are useful in scenarios requiring a large
number of I/O connections.
f. I/O Protection and ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) handling - Robust embedded systems need
to protect against voltage spikes, ESD, and other electrical hazards that can damage I/O pins.
Techniques like using diodes and capacitors are employed.
g. Virtual I/O and Emulation - Virtual I/O techniques allow simulation and testing of embedded
systems I/O without physical hardware. This is beneficial during development and testing phases.

XI. CONCLUSION

Input and output devices have very important roles within embedded systems. They provide the system
with the needed data that allows it to perform a specific task as a result. Inputs/outputs, memory, and
processing units all operate together to allow the system to function as intended. Total Phase offers
various tools to help embedded systems engineers develop well-functioning systems, allowing them to
emulate and test certain components such as the CPU and peripheral devices, and quickly program
memory. Engineers can also monitor the bus in real-time to help pinpoint any communication
errors between such devices.