Embedded Systems Books

Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach (Prentice Hall Open Source Software Development Series)

Christopher Hallinan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Comprehensive Real-World Guidance for Every Embedded Developer and Engineer

This book brings together indispensable knowledge for building efficient, high-value, Linux-based embedded products: information that has never been assembled in one place before. Drawing on years of experience as an embedded Linux consultant and field application engineer, Christopher Hallinan offers solutions for the specific technical issues you’re most likely to face, demonstrates how to build an effective embedded Linux environment, and shows how to use it as productively as possible.

Hallinan begins by touring a typical Linux-based embedded system, introducing key concepts and components, and calling attention to differences between Linux and traditional embedded environments. Writing from the embedded developer’s viewpoint, he thoroughly addresses issues ranging from kernel building and initialization to bootloaders, device drivers to file systems.

Hallinan thoroughly covers the increasingly popular BusyBox utilities; presents a step-by-step walkthrough of porting Linux to custom boards; and introduces real-time configuration via CONFIG_RT--one of today’s most exciting developments in embedded Linux. You’ll find especially detailed coverage of using development tools to analyze and debug embedded systems--including the art of kernel debugging.

• Compare leading embedded Linux processors
• Understand the details of the Linux kernel initialization process
• Learn about the special role of bootloaders in embedded Linux systems, with specific emphasis on U-Boot
• Use embedded Linux file systems, including JFFS2--with detailed guidelines for building Flash-resident file system images
• Understand the Memory Technology Devices subsystem for flash (and other) memory devices
• Master gdb, KGDB, and hardware JTAG debugging
• Learn many tips and techniques for debugging within the Linux kernel
• Maximize your productivity in cross-development environments
• Prepare your entire development environment, including TFTP, DHCP, and NFS target servers
• Configure, build, and initialize BusyBox to support your unique requirements

About the Author

Christopher Hallinan, field applications engineer at MontaVista software, has worked for more than 20 years in assignments ranging from engineering and engineering management to marketing and business development. He spent four years as an independent development consultant in the embedded Linux marketplace. His work has appeared in magazines, including Telecommunications Magazine, Fiber Optics Magazine, and Aviation Digest.

Serial Port Complete: COM Ports, USB Virtual COM Ports, and Ports for Embedded Systems (Complete Guides series)

Jan Axelson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Jan Has It Covered! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

If you work with or need to work with RS-232, USB or RS-485, this book is a must-have reference. The subject matter of this book is heavy on the embedded side of serial communications as Jan covers .NET serial programming and explains how to completely configure a serial port on a microcontroller. Jan then goes on to tell you how to bring up an RS-485 network. Leaving no stone unturned, Jan explains how to design and deploy an embedded RS-232 network.

In addition to the discussion of traditional serial data formats and serial hardware implementations, Jan includes tips on how to use the special-function FTDI USB/Serial IC. She even explains why wires pick up noise and how to choose the right wire for the application.

Jan's new book is a one-stop serial communications reference which includes serial connector pinouts, data format illustrations, example soource code and a multitude of schematic representations. If you need to know how to successfully deploy serial links, you need to have this book on your desk.

Editorial Review:

PC COM ports, USB virtual COM ports, and ports in embedded systems are all addressed in this updated guide to programming, interfacing, and using serial ports. Topics include using .NET’s SerialPort class for COM-port communications on PCs; upgrading existing RS-232 designs to USB or wireless networks; and creating serial networks of embedded systems and PCs. Example circuits and code provide a quick start to projects. Installation and maintenance staff will also find tips for ensuring reliable operation and problem tracking.

Building Embedded Linux Systems

Karim Yaghmour, Jon Masters, Gilad Ben-Yossef, Philippe Gerum

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Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

There's a great deal of excitement surrounding the use of Linux in embedded systems -- for everything from cell phones to car ABS systems and water-filtration plants -- but not a lot of practical information. Building Embedded Linux Systems offers an in-depth, hard-core guide to putting together embedded systems based on Linux.

Updated for the latest version of the Linux kernel, this new edition gives you the basics of building embedded Linux systems, along with the configuration, setup, and use of more than 40 different open source and free software packages in common use. The book also looks at the strengths and weaknesses of using Linux in an embedded system, plus a discussion of licensing issues, and an introduction to real-time, with a discussion of real-time options for Linux.

This indispensable book features arcane and previously undocumented procedures for:

• Building your own GNU development toolchain
• Using an efficient embedded development framework
• Selecting, configuring, building, and installing a target-specific kernel
• Creating a complete target root filesystem
• Setting up, manipulating, and using solid-state storage devices
• Installing and configuring a bootloader for the target
• Cross-compiling a slew of utilities and packages
• Debugging your embedded system using a plethora of tools and techniques
• Using the uClibc, BusyBox, U-Boot, OpenSSH, thttpd, tftp, strace, and gdb packages

By presenting how to build the operating system components from pristine sources and how to find more documentation or help, Building Embedded Linux Systems greatly simplifies the task of keeping complete control over your embedded operating system.

Programming Embedded Systems: With C and GNU Development Tools, 2nd Edition

Michael Barr

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Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you have programming experience and a familiarity with i-the dominant language in embedded systems--"Programming Embedded Systems," Second Edition is exactly what you need to get started with embedded software. This software is ubiquitous, hidden away inside our watches, DVD players, mobile phones, anti-lock brakes, and even a few toasters. The military uses embedded software to guide missiles, detect enemy aircraft, and pilot UAVs. Communication satellites, deep-space probes, and many medical instruments would have been nearly impossible to create without embedded software.

The first edition of "Programming Embedded Systems" taught the subject to tens of thousands of people around the world and is now considered the bible of embedded programming. This second edition has been updated to cover all the latest hardware designs and development methodologies.

The techniques and code examples presented here are directly applicable to real-world embedded software projects of all sorts. Examples use the free GNU software programming tools, the eCos and Linux operating systems, and a low-cost hardware platform specially developed for this book. If you obtain these tools along with "Programming Embedded Systems," Second Edition, you'll have a full environment for exploring embedded systems in depth. But even if you work with different hardware and software, the principles covered in this book apply.

Whether you are new to embedded systems or have done embedded work before, you'll benefit from the topics in this book, which include: How building and loading programs differ from desktop or server computers Basic debugging techniques--a critical skill when working with minimallyendowed embedded systems Handling different types of memory Interrupts, and the monitoring and control of on-chip and external peripherals Determining whether you have real-time requirements, and whether your operating system and application can meet those requirements Task synchronization with real-time operating systems and embedded Linux Optimizing embedded software for size, speed, and power consumption Working examples for eCos and embedded Linux

So whether you're writing your first embedded program, designing the latest generation of hand-held whatchamacalits, or managing the people who do, this book is for you. "Programming Embedded Systems" will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to achieve proficiency with embedded software.

Praise for the first edition: ""This lively and readable book is the perfect introduction for those venturing into embedded systems software development for the first time. It provides in one place all the important topics necessary to orient programmers to the embedded development process."
--Lindsey Vereen, Editor-in-Chief, Embedded Systems Programming

Professional Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)

Samuel Phung

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Microsoft -> Operating Systems -> Windows - General

Editorial Review:

Windows Embedded CE is a Microsoft operating system that addresses the needs of handheld, mobile, and embedded devices. This timely book will help you become familiar with the Windows Embedded CE environment quickly and efficiently. You’ll explore how different pieces of Windows Embedded CE come together to develop and build various devices and discover what makes Windows Embedded CE the best embedded development environment from the cost, risks, and time-to-market perspectives.

Practical UML Statecharts in C/C++, Second Edition: Event-Driven Programming for Embedded Systems

Miro Samek

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Editorial Review:

Practical UML Statecharts in C/C++ Second Edition bridges the gap between high-level abstract concepts of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and the actual programming aspects of modern hierarchical state machines (UML statecharts). The book describes a lightweight, open source, event-driven infrastructure, called QP that enables direct manual coding UML statecharts and concurrent event-driven applications in C or C++ without big tools.
This book is presented in two parts. In Part I, you get a practical description of the relevant state machine concepts starting from traditional finite state automata to modern UML state machines followed by state machine coding techniques and state-machine design patterns, all illustrated with executable examples. In Part II, you find a detailed design study of a generic real-time framework indispensable for combining concurrent, event-driven state machines into robust applications. Part II begins with a clear explanation of the key event-driven programming concepts such as inversion of control (Hollywood Principle), blocking versus non-blocking code, run-to-completion (RTC) execution semantics, the importance of event queues, dealing with time, and the role of state machines to maintain the context from one event to the next. This background is designed to help software developers in making the transition from the traditional sequential to the modern event-driven programming, which can be one of the trickiest paradigm shifts.
The lightweight QP event-driven infrastructure goes several steps beyond the traditional real-time operating system (RTOS). In the simplest configuration, QP runs on bare-metal microprocessor, microcontroller, or DSP completely replacing the RTOS. QP can also work with almost any OS/RTOS to take advantage of the existing device drivers, communication stacks, and other middleware. The accompanying website to this book contains complete open source code for QP, ports to popular processors and operating systems, including 80x86, ARM Cortex-M3, MSP430, and Linux, as well as all examples described in the book.

*Focuses on core concepts rather than tools which are always changing allowing the reader to continue to use this information with various projects
*Provides a complete, ready-to-use, open source software architecture for small and large embedded systems
*Includes an extensive example using the ARM Cortex-M3 throughout the book highlighting issues programmers and architects encounter in everyday life

An Embedded Software Primer

David E. Simon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"I sincerely wish (this book) had been available when I had to learn all this stuff the hard way." --Steve Vinoski "An excellent job of introducing and defining the jargon associated with embedded systems. This makes the text extremely easy to read." --David Cuka An Embedded Software Primer is a clearly written, insightful manual for engineers interested in writing embedded-system software. The example-driven approach puts you on a fast track to understanding embedded-system programming and applying what you learn to your projects. This book will give you the necessary foundation to work confidently in this field. Building on a basic knowledge of computer programming concepts, this book will help you to: *Learn core principles and advanced techniques of embedded-system software. *Find out what a real-time operating system (RTOS) does and how to use one effectively. *Experiment with sample code and the A C/OS RTOS version 1.11 (on the accompanying CD). *Apply what you learn, no matter which microprocessor or RTOS you use. After reading this book, you will be able to tackle the challenges of embedded system programming and quickly reap the benefits of your new skills.020161569XB04062001

FPGA Prototyping ByVerilog Examples

Pong P. Chu

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best introductory book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is perhaps the best introductory Verilog book. It introduces the digital system design methodology and demonstrates the key language concepts and constructs via a series of practical examples, all of them can be physically implemented and tested in an inexpensive Xilinx FPGA board.

There are three parts:
-Part 1 introduces key Verilog language constructs, and systematically shows how to construct combinational circuit, sequential circuit, FSM, and FSMD (FSM with data path) by these constructs.
-Part 2 utilizes the methodologies and techniques of part 1 to design interface and control circuits for an array of I/O modules of the prototyping board, including UART, keyboard, mouse, SRAM, graphic VGA, and textual VGA.
-Part 3 introduces PicoBlaze (an 8-bit soft-core micro-controller) and demonstrates how to integrate a processor to an FPGA design and develop customized I/O.

Pros:
-It utilizes a hands-on approach to introduce Verilog and design methodology.
-It introduces Verilog from hardware's point of view (rather than C's point of view) and emphasizes the key concepts behind HDL.
-The design methodology and coding practice used the in the book are sound and can be applied to larger system.
-It contains an advanced chapter that clarifies several confusing Verilog constructs, such as blocking/non-blocking assignments and signed data type.
-It contains a chapter on soft-core micro-controller and shows the integration of general-purpose processor and customized circuit.

Cons (actually caveats):
-The book is more towards applying Verilog for digital system design rather than the Verilog language. It only covers key Verilog language constructs. You may need another book to learn the complete "language."
-You need to purchase a prototyping board (around $100) to take full advantage of this book.
-The book covers PicoBlaze (a simple 8-bit processor), not its the full-blown big brother, MicroBlaze (a 32-bit processor). The later perhaps is too complicated for an introductory book.

Editorial Review:

FPGA Prototyping Using Verilog Examples will provide you with a hands-on introduction to Verilog synthesis and FPGA programming through a “learn by doing” approach. By following the clear, easy-to-understand templates for code development and the numerous practical examples, you can quickly develop and simulate a sophisticated digital circuit, realize it on a prototyping device, and verify the operation of its physical implementation. This introductory text that will provide you with a solid foundation, instill confidence with rigorous examples for complex systems and prepare you for future development tasks.

Designing Embedded Systems with PIC Microcontrollers: Principles and Applications

Tim Wilmshurst

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This book is a hands-on introduction to the principles and practice of embedded system design using the PIC microcontroller. Packed with helpful examples and illustrations, it gives an in-depth treatment of microcontroller design, programming in both assembly language and C, and features advanced topics such as networking and real-time operating systems. It is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing copies of all programs and software tools used in the text and a 'student' version of the C complier.

Designing Embedded Systems with PIC Microcontrollers: Principles and Applications is ideal for students of electronics, mechatronics and computer engineering. Engineers in industry and informed hobbyists will also find this book a valuable resource when designing and implementing both simple and sophisticated embedded systems using the PIC Microcontroller.

Support material, including new and supporting information, links to useful sites, and errata, is available from the book's companion site.

*Gain the knowledge and skills required for developing today's embedded systems, through use of the PIC microcontroller.

*Explore in detail the 16F84A, 16F873A and 18F242 microcontrollers as examples of the wider PIC family.

*Learn how to program in Assembler and C.

*Work through sample designs and design ideas, including a robot in the form of an autonomous guided vehicle.

*Accompanied by a CD-ROM containing copies of all programs and software tools used in the text and a 'student' version of the C complier.

Designing Embedded Hardware

John Catsoulis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Embedded computer systems literally surround us: they're in our cell phones, PDAs, cars, TVs, refrigerators, heating systems, and more. In fact, embedded systems are one of the most rapidly growing segments of the computer industry today.

Along with the growing list of devices for which embedded computer systems are appropriate, interest is growing among programmers, hobbyists, and engineers of all types in how to design and build devices of their own. Furthermore, the knowledge offered by this book into the fundamentals of these computer systems can benefit anyone who has to evaluate and apply the systems.

The second edition of "Designing Embedded Hardware" has been updated to include information on the latest generation of processors and microcontrollers, including the new MAXQ processor. If you're new to this and don't know what a MAXQ is, don't worry--the book spells out the basics of embedded design for beginners while providing material useful for advanced systems designers.

"Designing Embedded Hardware" steers a course between those books dedicated to writing code for particular microprocessors, and those that stress the philosophy of embedded system design without providing any practical information. Having designed 40 embedded computer systems of his own, author John Catsoulis brings a wealth of real-world experience to show readers how to design and create entirely new embedded devices and computerized gadgets, as well as how to customize and extend off-the-shelf systems.

Loaded with real examples, this book also provides a roadmap to the pitfalls and traps to avoid. "Designing Embedded Hardware" includes:

The theory and practice of embedded systems

Understanding schematics and data sheets

Powering an embedded system

Producing and debugging an embedded system

Processors such as the PIC, Atmel AVR, and Motorola 68000-series

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) architectures

Protocols (SPI and I2C) used to add peripherals

RS-232C, RS-422, infrared communication, and USB

CAN and Ethernet networking

Pulse Width Monitoring and motor control

If you want to build your own embedded system, or tweak an existing one, this invaluable book gives you the understanding and practical skills you need.