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525.415 - Microprocessor Systems Course Homepage

Instructor Information

Patrick Stakem

Email: pstakem1@jhu.edu
Work Phone: 301.867.0013

Mr. Stakem has degrees in Applied Physics and Computer Science from JHU/APL.

His undergraduate degree is BSEE from Carnegie Mellon Univrsity.

Course Information

Course Description

This course applies microprocessors as an integral element of system design. Techniques required for successful incorporation of microprocessor technology are studied and used. Hardware and software design considerations which affect product reliability, performance, and flexibility are covered. Students use hardware to gain familiarity with machine and assembly language for software generation, interfacing to a microprocessor at the hardware level, and emulation to check out system performance.

Prerequisites

Some experience in designing and building digital electronic systems and 525.411 Theory of Digital Systems or equivalent knowledge.

Course Goal

To gain an understanding of the hardware, software, and system design of embedded systems, to allow the synthesis of end-to-end design solutions.

Course Objectives

  • To gain familiarity with embedded systems hardware features and trade-offs, hardware-software interaction, and interfacing with sensors and actuators.
  • To gain familiarity in programming embedded systems in both assembly and a high-order language. A good working knowledge of the c programming language is suggested.
  • To be able to define and execute architectural trade-offs, including hardware-software, for an embedded system.

When This Course is Typically Offered

This course will be offered in the Fall semester at APL.

Syllabus

Topics Covered

  • Embedded system design
  • embedded software design - assembly
  • embedded software design - c
  • hardware-software trades
  • I/O and device drivers
  • interrupt handers
  • operating system
  • functional decomposition
  • debugging of embedded systems
  • case studies
  • test and integration
  • sensor integration
  • verification and validation

Student Assessment Criteria

final exam 30%
lab projects 60%
homework 10%

All homework is due within one week of its assignment. Late homework will not be accepted without the prior permission of the instructor.

Computer and Technical Requirements

background in computer architecture, some programming skills, c language preferred; binary math, some familiarity with logic design and boolean expressions.

Participation Expectations

lab-based projects that may be done in groups, but students are expected to perform and present their own work. Final exam, in class, to verify the acquisition of key skills and concepts.

Textbooks

Textbook information for this course is available online through the MBS Direct Virtual Bookstore.

Course Notes

There are notes for this course.

Final Words from the Instructor

This course will delve deeply into the hardware-software interface, with hands-on work with a particular embedded system, and "real-world" problems. We will work "inside the box" at the chip and bit level.

(Last Modified: 08-07-2009 at 10:30:10 AM)