Embedded systems fundamentals with arm cortex-m based microcontrollers: a practical approach - alexander g. dean

Microcontrollers are embedded into larger systems to provide benefits such as better performance, more features, better efficiency, lower costs and better dependability.

This textbook introduces students to creating microcontroller-based embedded systems featuring an ARM Cortex-M CPU core.

Chapter 1 introduces students to the concepts of MCU-based embedded systems, and how they differ from general-purpose computers.

It then introduces the ARM Cortex-M0+ CPU, the Kinetis KL25Z MCU, and the low cost FRDM-KL25Z MCU development board.

Chapter 2 presents the general purpose I/O peripheral to provide an early, hands-on experience with reading switches and lighting LEDs using C code.

It also introduces the CMSIS hardware abstraction layer, which simplifies software access to peripherals.

Chapter 3 introduces multitasking on the CPU, with the goals of improving responsiveness and software modularity while reducing CPU overhead.

The interplay of interrupts, peripherals and schedulers (both cooperative and preemptive) is examined.

Chapter 4 presents the ARM Cortex-M0+ processor core, including organization, registers, memory, and instruction set.

It then discusses interrupts and exceptions, including CPU response and hardware configuration.

Designing software for a system with interrupts is discussed, including program design (including partitioning work), interrupt configuration, writing handlers in C, and sharing data safely given preemption.

Chapter 5 first gives an overview of tool-chain which translates a program from C source code to executable object code.

It then shows side-by-side the source code and the object code the tool-chain has generated to implement it.

Topics covered include functions, arguments, return values, activation records, exception handlers, control flow constructs for loops and selection, memory allocation and use, and accessing data in memory.

Chapter 6 presents analog interfacing, starting with theory and ending with practical implementations.

Quantization and sampling are presented as a foundation for digital to analog conversion, and analog to digital conversion.

The DAC, ADC and analog comparator peripherals are presented and used.

Chapter 7 presents timer peripherals and their use for generating a periodic interrupt or a pulse-width modulated signal, or for measuring elapsed time or a signals frequency.

Watchdog timers, used to detect and reset an out-of-control program, are also discussed.

The SysTick, PIT, TPM and COP timers are exa.