ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we discussed embedded systems in detail. These are computer systems that are tailored to perform specic functions within a larger system. Examples include MP3 players and trafc light controllers, systems simple in their functionality to complex systems such as smart cellular phones. In this chapter, we discuss two prominent paradigms in today’s technology that extend the applicability of embedded systems: mobile processors and systems on a chip (SoC). Since the early 1970s, the microprocessors have continued to evolve at an impressive and steady rate. Their remarkable growth can aptly be warranted by the success of Moore’s law, which states that the number of transistors on integrated circuits (ICs) doubles approximately every 2 years. Earlier IC technology allowed the fabrication of a small number of transistors on an IC chip, thus limiting the functionality provided by the chip. Microprocessors were then built using multiple interconnected chips.
