Embedded Systems and Computer Architecture
The author has taught the design and use of microprocessor systems to undergraduate and technician level students for over 25 years.
*A core text for academic modules on microprocessors, embedded systems and computer architecture
*A practical design-orientated approach
*FREE CD-ROM features a unique microprocessor simulator, and accompanying website contains solutions, FAQs and updates to software
Why Read This Book
You should read this book if you want a compact, design‑oriented introduction to how microprocessors are put together and used inside embedded systems; it emphasizes practical examples and includes a simulator so you can experiment. It teaches the hardware–software interface and system design considerations that form the foundation for firmware and embedded projects.
Who Will Benefit
Undergraduate students and early-career embedded engineers who need a systematic introduction to microprocessor architecture, memory and I/O interfacing, and basic firmware/hardware co-design.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic digital logic and electronics (gates, flip‑flops), elementary programming exposure (procedural language like C or basic assembly concepts).
Key Takeaways
- Explain the structure and function of CPU components (ALU, registers, control unit, pipelines at a basic level).
- Design basic memory systems and apply memory‑mapping for peripherals in an embedded system.
- Implement and reason about I/O interfacing and simple peripheral circuits for microprocessor systems.
- Develop simple assembly routines and understand how high‑level code maps to machine operations.
- Handle interrupts and exceptions and design basic interrupt‑driven software architectures.
- Use a microprocessor simulator to prototype and test instruction sequences and small system designs.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Microprocessors and Embedded Systems
- Number Systems, Codes and Basic Digital Logic Review
- CPU Organization: Registers, ALU and Control
- Instruction Sets and Addressing Modes
- Assembly Language Programming and Simple Compilers
- Memory Systems: RAM, ROM, Caches and Memory Mapping
- Input/Output: Buses, Ports and Peripheral Interfacing
- Interrupts, Exceptions and Basic Real‑Time Considerations
- Microprocessor System Design and Hardware/Software Partitioning
- Performance Metrics and Simple Optimization Techniques
- Practical Examples and Case Studies
- Using the Included Microprocessor Simulator
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Covers similar introductory embedded and architecture ground as Patterson & Hennessy's Computer Organization but with a more hands‑on, design‑oriented undergraduate focus; it is less modern/ARM‑specific than Valvano's ARM Cortex‑M texts.
