What are Embedded Systems?

Question: What are Embedded Systems?

An embedded system is a special-purpose system which performs a specific task with its own hardware. The embedded system is different from a general purpose computing devices (Like PC) because of its size, functionality and resources. Since the system is dedicated to specific tasks, design engineers can optimize it by reducing the size and cost of the product to a larger extent which requires good designing skills. Embedded systems are often mass-produced; in order to have cost savings multiplied by millions of items.
Physically, embedded systems range from portable consumer devices (such as MP3 players, PDA's, Mobile phones, gaming devices) to large Enterprise products (such as Enterprise routers, Networking switches and Industrial automation systems). From an engineering point of view embedded systems development is very different from an application development.

another Definition:

An embedded system is some combination of computer hardware and software, either fixed in capability or programmable, that is specifically designed for a particular kind of application device. Industrial machines, automobiles, medical equipment, cameras, household appliances, airplanes, vending machines, and toys (as well as the more obvious cellular phone and PDA) are among the myriad possible hosts of an embedded system. Embedded systems that are programmable are provided with a programming interface, and embedded systems programming is a specialized occupation.Usually a low power consumption CPU with a limited amount of memory is used in embedded Systems

Certain operating systems or language platforms are tailored for the embedded market, such as EmbeddedJava , Embedded C, Windows XP Embedded and Embedded Linux.
However, some low-end consumer products use very inexpensive microprocessors and limited storage, with the application and operating system both part of a single program. The program is written permanently into the system's memory in this case, rather than being loaded into RAM (random access memory) like programs on a personal computer.

source:http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid39_gci837507,00.html

Electronics Helpful Websites

Welcome to the Electronics Club

Link : http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/index.htm
My Rating : Excellent
Description :-
Helps IN :
If you are Looking for Tutorial That help You in the following

- How To Solder and How to build electronic circuits and understanding circuits diagrams
- Contain excellent explanation to some electronic components and how to connect and test them such as Resistors ,Capacitors , transistors , relays , switches ,LEDs

- Contain explained projects that make you practice
such as Drive a LED , Traffic light generator , dice , and more here

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Understanding Electronics Components
link : http://www.mikroe.com/en/books/keu/00.ht

Description :-
teaches the basic components and how the are used in circuits starting with resistors till transistors and ICs and other components like speakers and microphones .It also include some practical circuits using these components

Helps IN:
If you want t to start electronics fast without going into more details ,laws, calculations and so on .
it also helps as a revision if you studied electronics before and want to revise basics in a fast way.

added: 20-8-2008

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doctronics Educational Publishing for Design & Technology

http://www.doctronics.co.uk

Configure Eclipse to work with C++ and QT

Hi All ,

I Just wanted to provide a guide tutorial to help you for the start up configuration to write GUI apps in C++ using QT library and Eclipse IDE.

note:

Thses configurations done using : eclipse ganymede SR1 and OpenSource QT 4.4.3 . You can Map it easly for any other version .

Steps:

Step1: Setup Eclipse To Be a C++ IDE Envieonment

- download eclipse here

- inside Eclipse

-- Go to help menu and choose softwareupdates

-- select Eclipse C/C++ development platform / tools

-- This Step is to Install and configure The CDT (C/C++ Development Tools). The CDT is Nedded to provides a fully functional C and C++ IDE for the Eclipse platform .

Click update and wait for installation to finish.

-- after finishing , you may restart your PC if u asked to do so.

Step2 : QT configuration

1- download QT , here

2- install it and during installation you may be asked to install MinGW (gcc),this is the C/C++ compiler. Download and nstall it if you already don't have it installed.

3- build it . Go to start Menu and choose QT > QT command prompt

- write the command "configure" and press Enter .

- Wait for the configuration process to be done. (don't be in hurry , it takes 15-30 minutes).

- after finish ,you will be informed that Qt is configured for building and asked to write the command "mingw32-make" to build it.

- Wait for the building process , it takes about 1-2 hours according to your PC capabilities.

after finish , close the command Prompt.

Now , You have a fully functional C++ IDE (Eclipse ) and you may Test the configuration by starting a new c++ project and compile and run it .

You also Have the QT library installed and built.

step3: integrate QT with Eclipse

1- download QT Eclipse integration here

2- install it in your System and during installation you will be asked to set the Eclipse path . Browse the file system and select the eclipse path in ur hard drive.

3- To start working , open QT eclipse integration from the path you installed it or from start menu > all programs >QT Eclipse integration and choose

start Eclipse with MinGW




Done.

Inside Eclipse , click File menu > New > other ( or press CTRL + N) and select QT as the project type and start

click Next .. and start coding ;) .



Any correction are welcomed.

good luck

Time Delay C#

If you want to make a time delay in C# (Pause your program for any purpose) you may use this line

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(timeinmillisecond);

and if you have a problem with the interface or controls update you may need to add this small line

this.Refresh();

good luck

How to configure QT with V.S.2005

youtube Video tutorials shows how to configure QT library to work with visual studio 2005 with example.

1-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mswLcSOh-w

2-
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=7mNCU9zAF0A&feature=related
3-
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=ILBYNde225Y&feature=related
4-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXrbqIBJWfU&feature=related
5-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc3VCL4FUis&feature=related

QT Tutorials

Start Learning QT : (check the following links)

1- How To Learn QT (have a look)

2-Tutorial 1 (coding by hand with out designer help)

3-Using Designer

4- address book tutorial



all found here



I will post here tutorials I find regulary .

Control Home devices using PC

Hello every one .

I am showing you today a small PC_based control circuit that I made , I hope you like it .

Description:
Small electrical circuit that can control any electrical appliances (Lamp , T.V , Fan , .... etc.) from your PC .

Idea:
Using the parallel port of the PC to send a control signal (ON/OFF) to a Relay that's connected to the electrical device you want to control.

Timing functionality is also added by the control program not electronic components. So ,you can switch the device on and off after some duration or at specific time .

The circuit is controlled by a small C# Program

some photos of the circuit

On Breadboard


On StripBoard



With Parallel Port cable


Connected to 220 v Lamp (Circuit OFF)


Circuit On





Video of the circuit and timing test




picture of the Program that control the circuit

Want To DO it ?
Check helpful Tutorials Here

http://searchguide.wetpaint.com/
Tutorials category.