ECExplain

Embedded Systems

47 articles • Complete guide

Build real embedded projects with ARM Cortex, GPIO, timers, UART/SPI/I2C, RTOS, and ESP32 IoT from zero.
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Curriculum

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47 topics
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Introduction

Embedded basics, architecture, RTOS concepts

1

Embedded Systems Overview

Definition, constraints, design metrics.

9 min
2

Microprocessor vs Microcontroller

Architecture differences (Von Neumann vs Harvard).

6 min
3

Design Life Cycle

Waterfall model, V-model.

6 min
4

Hardware Software Co-design

Partitioning tasks.

7 min

ARM Cortex

ARM architecture, Cortex-M, instruction set

1

ARM Cortex-M Architecture

M3/M4 pipeline, bus matrix.

8 min
2

Programmers Model

Registers R0-R15, xPSR.

10 min
3

Stack Memory

MSP vs PSP stacks, operation.

8 min
4

Memory Map

Code, SRAM, Peripheral bit-band regions.

12 min
5

Instruction Set

Thumb-2 instruction set highlights.

8 min
6

Exception Handling

Entry/Exit sequences, tail-chaining.

11 min

GPIO & Interrupts

GPIO programming, external interrupts

1

GPIO Programming

Pin configuration, input/output modes, pull-up/down.

7 min
2

Interrupts and NVIC

Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller concepts.

9 min
3

Interrupt Priority

Preemption priority vs sub-priority.

9 min
4

External Interrupts

EXTI line configuration.

6 min

Timers & PWM

Timer modes, PWM generation, capture/compare

1

Timer Basics

Up/Down counting, pre-scaler, auto-reload.

10 min
2

SysTick Timer

System timer for OS heartbeats.

9 min
3

Input Capture

Measuring pulse width and frequency.

4 min
4

Output Compare

Generating precise delays and signals.

6 min
5

PWM Generation

Pulse Width Modulation for motor control, LED dimming.

5 min
6

Watchdog Timer

Independent vs Windowed watchdog.

10 min
7

Real Time Clock

RTC features and backup domain.

12 min

Serial Communication

UART, SPI, I2C, CAN protocols

1

UART

Asynchronous serial protocol, baud rate, framing.

9 min
2

SPI

Synchronous serial, master-slave, clock polarity/phase.

9 min
3

I2C

Two-wire interface, addressing, acknowledgement.

10 min
4

CAN Bus

Controller Area Network, arbitration ID.

6 min
5

USB Basics

Enumeration, endpoints, pipes.

12 min

ADC & Sensors

ADC interfacing, temperature, motion sensors

1

ADC Types

SAR, Flash, Sigma-Delta architectures.

10 min
2

ADC Interfacing

Sampling rate, resolution, reference voltage.

6 min
3

DAC Interfacing

R-2R ladder, PWM filtering.

8 min
4

Temperature Seniors

LM35, Thermistors, interfacing.

6 min
5

Accelerometers

MEMS sensor basics, I2C interface.

8 min
6

Interfacing LCD

16x2 Character LCD 4-bit mode.

5 min
7

Interfacing Keypad

Matrix keypad scanning.

12 min

IoT & Wireless

WiFi, Bluetooth, MQTT, ESP32

1

IoT Architectures

Edge, Fog, Cloud computing.

10 min
2

IoT Wireless Protocols

WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee comparison.

6 min
3

BLE

Bluetooth Low Energy GATT/GAP.

10 min
4

MQTT Protocol

Publish-Subscribe model for IoT.

4 min
5

CoAP

Constrained Application Protocol.

6 min

RTOS

FreeRTOS, tasks, scheduling, synchronization

1

RTOS Concepts

Real-Time Operating System vs GPOS.

7 min
2

Task Management

TCB, states (Ready, Running, Blocked).

6 min
3

Task Scheduling

Preemptive vs Cooperative scheduling, Round Robin.

12 min
4

Inter-Task Communication

Queues, Semaphores, Mutexes.

8 min
5

Priority Inversion

Problem and inheritance protocol solution.

12 min
6

Deadlocks

Conditions and prevention.

11 min

Other Topics

Low power, security, edge computing

1

Low Power Design

Sleep modes, clock gating.

4 min
2

Bootloader

Startup code, firmware update process.

8 min
3

PCB Design Basics

Schematic to layout, layers, EMI rules.

5 min