The driving factors for embedded system design over the past few years have been size, performance and cost. Throw in time to market and it’s a tough challenge for any designer. And there’s no reason to assume the future will be any different.
Embedded systems have broadly similar technology requirements. They need some form of computational element, which could be a microcontroller, a dsp or even an fpga. They need power handling – through dc/dc converters, for example – they need analogue components and they need software, including some form of operating system.
“One of the key trends for all electronic devices in the coming years will be energy efficiency,” said Salvatore Napolitano, signal path marketing manager for National Semiconductor. “Increasing functionality in portable equipment demands greater battery life and mains powered equipment will be constrained by financial and environmental energy costs.”
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