Developing a secure, connected device that can also operate efficiently requires that developers select a microcontroller that includes specific hardware and software features. These features can range from true random number generators through secure libraries. Let’s examine several tips for the hardware and software that developers should consider having in their secure microcontroller. Tip #1 … Continue reading 7 Tips for Selecting a Secure Microcontroller
The way developers select a microcontroller for their embedded systems is dramatically changing. Traditionally developers have focused on the hardware first and thought about the software second. Selecting a microcontroller in this manner, will result in failure today. There are several new steps that developers need to follow if they are going to be successful … Continue reading Tips and Tricks – 10 Steps for Selecting a Microcontroller (2017)
Hardware In-Loop (HIL) testing runs the test case code on the target microcontroller rather than using a mocked software layer to act as the hardware. HIL testing can be extremely useful for verifying that hardware accesses from a HAL are working as expected and even test that all outputs from the system work as expected. … Continue reading Hardware In-Loop Testing
An embedded systems developer looking to build a workbench could spend tens of thousands of dollars on test equipment, development boards and miscellaneous tools. Unfortunately, most equipment just sits on the bench collecting dust and is rarely if ever used. Let’s examine the core tools that every developer needs to build an embedded workbench on … Continue reading Tips and Tricks – Build an Embedded Workbench for less than $1000
The April board is a break-out for the Imp Developer module. The April module provides the ability to power the Imp module using a standard USB-Mini cable, an optional battery connector, or through a standard .100 header. The April board also has an on-board 3.3V regulator that can with stand an input up to 17 … Continue reading Tools – The April Board
Connecting an embedded systems UART to a PC through a USB to UART converter is something that every embedded software developer is familiar with. Many developers don’t leave home without a FTDI232R board from Sparkfun (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12731). The only problem with this great little tool though is that it doesn’t provide any protection to the PC … Continue reading Tools – Isolated USB to UART
Interrupts play a critical role in a real-time embedded system but rarely is interrupt control ever associated with an application programming interface (API). Assembly language code or compiler intrinsics are usually sprinkled throughout the code making the use of interrupt functions hap hazard and difficult to understand.this post will explore what an interrupt API should … Continue reading Tips and Tricks – An API for Interrupts
One of the most overlooked processes in embedded software development is the microcontroller boot process. The reason for this is that silicon toolchains have become very good at providing and abstracting out the boot process so that developers generally don’t think about it. Unfortunately this can lead to a lack of understanding how the microcontroller … Continue reading Embedded Basics – Understanding the Microcontroller Boot Process
There are times when connecting two electronic systems can be dangerous! An electrical issue in one system can back feed into the other causing significant damage. This can be prevented by the use of an isolation circuit. Using a unity gain amplifier will provide this isolation. This is a great extra step to Turning a … Continue reading A simple buffer circuit
Signal generators are a handy thing to have around the lab. They are perfect for testing inputs on a new hardware design and verifying the behavior of a circuit before connecting all the pieces together. In recent years these lab tools have shrunken in size and many portable versions now exist on the market. This … Continue reading Turn a Smart Phone into a Signal Generator