Embedded Star » Articles

Leveraging Open Source Software in Embedded Software Development

Ken Cheung — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:36:49 +0000

Open source software has become an entrenched component of embedded systems within the last decade. Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape and the key investor in LinkedIn, recently announced that “software is eating the world.” There are more instances of embedded software in the world today than any other type of software combined. It is at the heart of transportation, safety, health care, food, agriculture, defense, entertainment and therefore virtually every sector of industry that one way or another touches our everyday lives.

Twitter @embeddedstar : : Free Publications : : Jobs : : Embedded Star : : FPGA Blog : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog :: Dad Blog
© 2012 Online Destiny Ltd : : Embedded Star is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd

Model-Based Design Reduces ASIC Development Time

Ken Cheung — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:46:32 +0000

Semtech, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, reduced their ASIC development time by adopting Model-Based Design (with MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink). Using system models for simulation and automatic HDL generation, Semtech engineers created FPGA prototypes 50% faster, reduced verification time from weeks to days, and shortened development time by 33% compared to their previous hand-coded VHDL methodology.

Twitter @embeddedstar : : Free Publications : : Jobs : : Embedded Star : : FPGA Blog : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog :: Dad Blog
© 2011 Online Destiny Ltd : : Embedded Star is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd

Contributed Article: Best Practices – Memory Management in C and C++

Ken Cheung — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:36:50 +0000

C and C++ programmers very often allocate and de-allocate memory on the heap without the proper understanding on how these low-level facilities work and what happens underneath. But these memory related problems becomes a great concern in the systems with shortage of almost all the resources including memory, like embedded real-time systems. This dynamic behavior tends to be non-deterministic and the failure is hard to contain. Similarly memory allocation failure on such systems can be fatal. Unlike a desktop application, most embedded systems do not have the opportunity to pop up a dialog and discuss options with the user. Often, resetting is the only option, which is unattractive. This technical paper attempts to discuss the strategies to achieve clean code and appropriate memory management.

The Importance of Integration in Product Design

Ken Cheung — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:05:05 +0000

Integration is important in the product development world. Nearly every manmade object we come into contact with was likely the result of a team effort. As products continue to grow more complex and more integral to our lives, so do the required interactions and values amongst the development team involved. Companies now are under ever increasing pressures to differentiate through features, functions, manufacturing or materials. Products can no longer be simply passed down an assembly line of firms, receiving strategic insight, research, industrial, mechanical, electrical and other development work separately. Development programs must now allow transparency across the team, enabling each member to become highly involved with each step. Only then can we integrate goals, expertise and methodologies successfully.

Power Architecture Enabled Differentiated Solution for LTE

Ken Cheung — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:15:59 +0000

By Fawzi Behmann

This article is intended to provide status on LTE as a key technology enabler that will have impact on the entire telecom supply chain. LTE impact affects semiconductor SoC, communications networking infrastructure, mobile devices, applications and quality services transforming means of communications to a new level – higher speed, multimedia content and enriching personal experiences. The article will cover a number of important topics covering the needs for LTE, LTE market positioning and benefits, LTE market trends, deployment and applications, and LTE roadmap. The article will conclude with how Power Architecture technology is enabling differentiated solution for LTE.

Twitter @embeddedstar : : Free Publications : : Jobs : : Embedded Star : : FPGA Blog : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog :: Dad Blog
© 2010 Online Destiny Ltd : : Embedded Star is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd

Speeding FPGA Prototype Debug Process with Active Debug and Full Visibility

Ken Cheung — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:08:41 +0000

By Joe Gianelli and Tom Huang

Introduction
System integration continues to drive the semiconductor design market. This is most obvious when looking at the increased system integration associated with System on Chip (SoC) design over the last few years. Integrating complex hardware features with complex software applications onto one silicon device makes the validation process for today’s SoC designs a tricky one to say the least.

What have been increasingly popular to aid in this complex validation process are FPGA prototype systems. They run extremely fast, almost as fast as the production SoC, and have doubled in capacity every 18 months for the last 5 years. They also enable real world system interfaces to DDRAM, PCI, Ethernet, while using high-speed serial interfaces over 10 Gb/s.

Despite their current strides in speed, capacity, and real world high-speed interfaces, using these FPGA devices to help verify and validate SoC designs are difficult at best due to the many and long FPGA P&R compile times and poor visibility. InPA Systems proposes to address these issues with their active debug and full visibility technology.

Selecting the Right Computer on Module Vendor

Ken Cheung — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:21:24 +0000

By Maheshwari

Introduction
Engineers have always been faced with the question of whether or not a Computer-on-Module (COM) company is the right vendor to partner with. To help with the decision, I have written an article to help engineers select the ideal COM partner.

Target Usage
First, it is important to identify the applications for which a Computer-on-Module will be used for. Engineers have a range of applications and want to have the computer on module working across different applications. Obviously, engineers prefer not to develop expertise with several different COMs. To avoid this situation, engineers need to focus on the target applications. Think about the applications that will most likely be deployed in the next couple of years and determine if the COM will work with the apps. Once this is done, short list the vendors that can provide the COMs that meet the requirements.

35 Test Cases for User Interface Testing

Ken Cheung — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:48:12 +0000

By Steve Miller

A test case in applications development is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester will determine whether an application or software system is working correctly or not. When testing user interfaces, it is easy to overlook test cases that would be helpful for a more thoroughly tested solution. The following list identifies twenty test cases that should be considered when testing user interfaces.

Twitter @embeddedstar : : Free Publications : : Jobs : : Embedded Star : : FPGA Blog : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog :: Dad Blog
© 2009 Online Destiny Ltd : : Embedded Star is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd

Intel ATOM Processor Technology for Embedded Designs

Ken Cheung — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:43:21 +0000

Shrinking product development cycles coupled with demanding product requirements and increasingly complex design implementations can overwhelm a design team. The technical risk of employing new, complex, high-speed processor technology can often deter engineers from incorporating new technology in product designs.

Intel Corporation’s ATOM processor and low power chipset solution is a technology choice which cannot be overlooked. The ATOM processor has the potential for wide application in deeply embedded, low power, fanless industrial, medical, communications, automotive, and consumer applications. The technology demands attention.

Direct Digital Synthesis Components

Ken Cheung — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:37:34 +0000

Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) is a method for generating arbitrary frequency sine waves with high accuracy and spectral purity. The ability to generate spectrally pure sine waves at programmable arbitrary frequencies is useful for instrumentation, communications products, and other applications. Today’s Direct Digital Synthesis components (DDS) provide highly accurate, spectrally pure sine wave generation with reasonable power requirements. Modern DDS components have added communications features such as chirp programming, FM modulation, AM modulation, programmable gain settings, and the ability to generate period digital data strobes. All terrific features for an electronic engineer’s bag of tricks.