Helen Writings
Whenever the word microprocessor is mentioned, it conjures up a picture of a desktop or laptop computer running an application such as a word processor or a spreadsheet. While this is a standard application for microprocessors, it is not the only one and the fact is most people use them indirectly in common objects and consumer electronics without realising it. Without the microprocessor, these products would not be as sophisticated or cheap as they are today. The embedding of microcontrollers into equipment and mobile devices started before the appearance of the home computer and consumes the majority of microprocessors that are made today. In this way, embedded microprocessors are more deeply ingrained into everyday life than any other electronic circuit that is made. A large car may have over 50 microcontrollers controlling functions such as the engine through engine management systems, brakes with electronic anti-lock brakes, transmission with traction control and electronically controlled gearboxes, safety with airbag systems, electric windows, air-conditioning and so on. With a well-equipped car, nearly every aspect has some form of electronic control associated with it and thus a need for a microprocessor within an embedded system.
A washing machine may have a risc microcontroller that contains the different washing programs, provides the power control for the various motors and pumps and even controls the display that tells you how the wash cycles are proceeding. Mobile phones contain more processing power than a desktop processor of a few years ago. Many toys contain microprocessors and there are even kitchen appliances such as bread machines that use microprocessor-based control systems. The word control is very apt for embedded systems because in virtually every embedded system application, the goal is to control an aspect of a physical system such as temperature, motion, and so on using a variety of inputs. With the recent advent of the digital age replacing many of the analogue technologies in the consumer world, the dominance of the embedded system is ever greater. Each digital consumer device such as a digital camera, DVD or MP3 player all depend on an embedded system to realise the system. As a result, the skills behind embedded systems design are as diverse as the systems that have been built although they share a common heritage.
There are many definitions for this but the best way to define it is to describe it in terms of what it is not and with examples of how it is used.
An embedded system is a microprocessor-based system that is built to control a function or range of functions and is not designed to be programmed by the end user in the same way that a PC is. Yes, a user can make choices concerning functionality but cannot change the functionality of the system by adding/replacing software. With a personal computer, this is exactly what a user can do: one minute the PC is a word processor and the next it’s a games machine simply by changing the software. An embedded system is designed to perform one particular task albeit with choices and different options. The last point is essential because it differentiates itself from the world of the PC where the end user does reprogram it whenever a different software package is bought and run. However, PCs have provided an easily accessible source of hardware and software for embedded systems and it should be no surprise that they form the basis of many embedded systems. To reflect this, there are many popular microcontroller projects to build a simple hobby gadget or a sophisticated data logging system for a race car.
If this need to control the physical world is so great, what is so special about embedded systems that has led to the widespread use of microprocessors? There are several major reasons and these have increased over the years as the technology has progressed and developed.
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Tags: Embedded System
Posted in Hardware · August 23rd, 2010 · Comments (0)
For a lot of businesses, possessing the proper equipment is a crucial component of being a profitable company. This is even more true nowadays when technical knowledge advances at such an accelerated speed. Sadly, all kinds of apparatus are capable of malfunctioning. When this occurs at an important point in time, the effect can be very disastrous for a company. Printers, for example, are one kind of product that is especially common in the business world. These pieces of technology are put to use in many offices to print off texts such as reports, memos, letters, charts, graphs, and lots of other texts.Although the rise of electronic documents has reduced the need for printing, traditional printers are still very important, and often times it is smarter to fix them or purchase a refurbished model rather than buying a new one.
Because quite a few companies perform on a tight budget, it is not always possible to purchase new equipment to replace products that break. Thus, it is imperative to get broken printers functioning once more in short order. This means that selecting an accomplished printer repair company is necessary. There are a few elements that one must look for when picking out this kind of business. Possessing extensive background in the field is of course a major concern and thus should be considered. However, it is not the only aspect. An excellent printer repair business will look into your business’s needs and assess what programs will function best for you. Additionally, they can set you up with a yearly maintenance plan to help minimize your overall repair costs. This is particularly useful for those companies that use many printers. Finally, a good Pittsburgh printer repair company will travel to your business to fix the apparatus that is not working.
Although getting printers fixed is a good substitute to shelling out a good deal of money on a new one, it is not the only option available. In many cases buying a Refurbished Laser Printers is a more cost effective option. Although very quick advancements in technology constantly make new models available, these new items are not always required to remain viable. A qualified carrier of refurbished printers can typically give you a large selection of laser scanners, barcode label printers, laser printers, and other related items. Choosing a business with a significant stock list is helpful because there is a greater chance that they will stock the exact model you need. One more aspect to think about is whether your supplier will help configure the refurbished printer to meet the requirements of your company. Finding a company that can manage this job can be particularly important for those that are not very tech savvy.
When all is said and done, it is necessary for any business to make sure their printers are in good working order. The best way to accomplish this goal is to locate a printer repair business that also carries refurbished models.
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Tags: printers
Posted in Hardware · June 17th, 2010 · Comments (0)