Articles on design.
Comprehensive, searchable list of parts, tools and third-party IP.
Processor Tracker
Real-time updates for select processors and development tools.
Featured Articles
Robert Cravotta
The State of Voice User Interfaces
Published September 20th, 2011
Max Baron
Forward to the Past: A Different Way to Cope with Dark Silicon
Published February 8th, 2011
Voices of Industry
Unit, Regression and System Testing
Published February 20th, 2012
By Mark Pitchford at LDRA
This article is part of our ongoing Voices of Industry project. If you would like to submit an article, please contact us.
The Embedded Insights Lowdown
Embedded Insights "Basics"
The "Basics" Information Center is the home for original and supplemental material for tutorials and coursework. The inaugural material contains low power optimization datasheets that apply the concepts presented in Robert Cravotta's presentation in the EE Times Fundamentals on Low Power Design using the Intel Atom processor course to processors from a variety of companies and processor architectures. The datasheets represent an experiment with providing system level information about a processor's low power resources and features that will be added to the Embedded Processing Directory. Check out the datasheets and let us know how you think we can make them better.
Embedded Processing Directory
Last Updated February 21st, 2010!
The Embedded Processing Directory collects a wealth of information from more than 80 processor manufacturers and IP core suppliers into a single repository that embedded developers use to research and select the processors that will become the heart of their designs. Designers are able to drill down through the information in the compendium based on company name, architecture size, and target application space. If you are a manufacturer and would like to find out how to participate in this effort and include your parts, please contact us.
Embedded Insights Newsletter
2011, Issue 9 - Published September 16th, 2011!
The Embedded Insights Newsletter is a free bi-weekly e-newsletter for embedded developers that includes information and insights into design principles and industry trends. Each issue highlights articles, tools, and the "word on the street" for embedded systems. Rotating features include summaries of past questions of the week and highlights from active discussions in the embedded insights channels, as well as some light-hearted features. The newsletter is sent out on Thursdays.
We, at Embedded Insights, respect your privacy. We will not share your personal information without your explicit permission.
Recent Channel Updates
Unit, Regression and System Testing
Posted by Mark Pitchford on February 20, 2012
This is the second section of a three part article exploring unit testing via regression and system level testing – including SOUP (Software of Unproven Pedigree).
Are you using Built-in Self Tests?
Posted by Robert Cravotta on February 15, 2012
The opportunity to avoid catastrophic operation of safety critical or high costs systems via use of built-in self tests makes a lot of sense. Is a built-in self test a luxury or necessity for other types of less critical designs? Are you using Built-in Self tests in your designs?
Do you ever think about endianess?
Posted by Robert Cravotta on February 8, 2012
I remember when knowing your machine’s endianess was important – especially when implement assembly language programs. With efficient compilers and supplied drivers from tool providers, do software developers have common reason to be aware of endianess anymore?
Are software development tools affecting your choice of 8-bit vs. 32-bit processors?
Posted by Robert Cravotta on February 1, 2012
8-bit processors are still represented in a significant number of embedded designs. Is there a capability gap growing in the software development tools for 8- versus 32-bit processors that are affecting your choice of when to use either size architecture?
Do you employ “Brown M&Ms” in your designs?
Posted by Robert Cravotta on January 25, 2012
A rock band used a contract requirement using a bowl of M&Ms with the brown ones removed as a nearly costless cost way to see how well a contractor followed their large list of requirements. Do you employ any nearly costless methods to verify the environmental conditions that your systems are asked to operate on to improve quality and reliability?
Processor Tracker
NEW
Processor Tracker
Processor Tracker™ is a new publication that provides developers with product and ecosystem data for select processors and development tools. The publication tracks updates and newly available product specs, data sheets, support features, development tool capabilities, and more. These updates are incorporated in Processor Tracker™ as they become available in real-time.
Word on the Street
SOC Central
SOCcentral.com provides news, articles and a host of other information about ASIC, FPGA and SoC design, intellectual property (IP), EDA and EDA tools, and directory listings for more than 2000 suppliers.
Low-Power Publications
Low-Power Design and Low-Power Wireless are design sites that are all about energy efficient design. The power management techniques first developed for portable devices apply equally well to their plugged-in brethren. The site features staff written and aggregated news as well as in-depth design articles.
Gabe on EDA
GABE on EDA hosts thoughtful analysis of the semiconductors and EDA industry. It also offers reference tables of EDA vendors and the EDA Market information service.
Energy Harvesting Network
The Energy Harvesting Network is an EPSRC funded network of UK academic and industrial researchers and end-users of EH (energy harvesting) technology. The primary objectives of the Network are to: identify new challenges in EH research; facilitate the interaction and mobility of EH researchers; and support the dissemination of the advances in the science and the developments of the technology. A total of 88 people from 61 companies and institutions are currently registered with the Energy Harvesting Network.