| Our world today is full of electronic devices. We | | | | computer hardware, and the second is the design |
| see a lot of them in our homes, in our offices and | | | | of the computer software. |
| at shopping malls. Each device has their own | | | | In the hardware design phase, a company in need |
| characteristic, and they are all equipped with | | | | of a new industrial machine may opt to design |
| computers embedded deep in their system. | | | | their own embedded SBC in-house. They hire |
| These small computers are called single board | | | | engineers to design the SBC for them. |
| computers (SBCs). | | | | Alternatively, they can ask an SBC manufacturer |
| Single board computers are small circuit boards | | | | to make an embedded SBC custom-designed for |
| that contain all the components (i.e. processor, | | | | their specific application. |
| memory, I/O, etc.) necessary to function as a | | | | Today, most companies purchase SBCs that are |
| complete digital computer. These computers are | | | | already pre-designed -- often called off-the-shelf |
| actually similar in appearance to your typical | | | | SBCs. As opposed to custom SBCs, off-the-shelf |
| desktop computer motherboard, although much | | | | embedded SBCs adhere to certain standards that |
| smaller. Single board computers are found in many | | | | are determined by their form factor. Most |
| applications we use today. They are often used | | | | common form factors for embedded SBCs are |
| as the base for personal computers like laptops | | | | the PC/104, EBX and EPIC form factor. |
| and notebooks. Single board computers are | | | | So how can these off-the-shelf embedded SBCs |
| designed to be integrated with other electronic | | | | perform a specific function if they have the same |
| components to form an industrial machine or an | | | | designs? The answer is the software design. For |
| electronic product. | | | | the computer to perform a specific function, a |
| But how can the combination of a processor, | | | | computer program must be developed instructing |
| memory, and other computer components | | | | the computer what to do. Companies usually hire |
| automate the functions of a specific electronic | | | | software engineers for this design phase. |
| product or industrial machine? There are actually | | | | Embedded SBC manufacturers often provide |
| two phases in the design of embedded single | | | | extensive software support. |
| board computers. The first is the design of the | | | | |