Introduction to Embedded Systems Using the MSPM0+

An embedded system is a system that performs a specific task and has a computer embedded inside. A system is comprised of components and interfaces connected for a common purpose. This book is an introduction to embedded systems. Specific topics include the MSPM0+ microcontroller, finite-state machines, debugging, fixed-point numbers, the design of software in assembly language and C, elementary data structures, programming input/output, interrupts, measurements with analog to digital conversion, graphics, sound production with digital to analog conversion, introduction to networks using serial communication, and real-time systems.

This book is the first in a series of three books that teach the fundamentals of embedded systems as applied to the MSPM0+ family of microcontrollers. This first book is an introduction to computers and interfacing, focusing on assembly language and C programming. The second book focuses on hardware/software interfacing and the design of embedded systems. The third book is an advanced book focusing on operating systems, high-speed interfacing, control systems, and robotics. The third volume could also be used for professionals wishing to design or deploy a real-time operating system onto an ARM platform. This first book is an introductory book that could be used at the college level with little or no prerequisites.

The area of embedded systems is an important and growing discipline within electrical and computer engineering. A number of embedded system paradigms must shift in order to accommodate this growth in complexity. First, the number of calculations per second will increase from millions/sec to billions/sec. Similarly, the number of lines of software code will also increase from thousands to millions. Thirdly, systems will involve multiple microcontrollers supporting many simultaneous operations. Lastly, the need for system verification will continue to grow as these systems are deployed into safety critical applications. These changes are more than a simple growth in size and bandwidth. These systems must employ parallel programming, high-speed synchronization, real-time operating systems, fault tolerant design, priority interrupt handling, and networking. Consequently, it will be important to provide our students with these types of design experiences. The ARM platform is both low cost and provides the high-performance features required in future embedded systems. In addition, the ARM market share is large and will continue to grow. Furthermore, students trained on the ARM will be equipped to design systems across the complete spectrum from simple to complex.

This book employs many approaches to learning. It will not include an exhaustive recapitulation of the information in data sheets. First, it begins with fundamentals, which allow the reader to solve new problems with new technology. Second, the book presents many detailed design examples. These examples illustrate the process of design. There are multiple structural components that assist learning. Checkpoints, with answers in the back, are easy to answer questions providing immediate feedback while reading. The book includes an index and a glossary so that information can be searched. The most important learning experiences in a class like this are of course the laboratories. Each chapter has suggested lab assignment on the book web site http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~valvano/mspm0. Posted here are Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio projects for each of the example programs in the book. You will also find data sheets and Excel spreadsheets relevant to the material in this book.

The book will cover embedded systems for ARM® Cortex™-M microcontrollers with specific details on the MSPM0G3507. Although the book is specific for the MSPM0G3507, it will be possible to use these books for other ARM derivatives.