1.
Introduction to Embedded Systems (Beginner Level)
• What are Embedded Systems?
o Definition and characteristics of embedded systems
o Examples: Microcontrollers in appliances, automobiles, IoT devices
o Difference between embedded systems and general-purpose computing
systems
• Embedded C Basics
o Overview of the C programming language
o Why Embedded C? (C vs C++, Assembly in Embedded Systems)
o Role of C in microcontroller programming
• Embedded Hardware Overview
o Microcontroller architecture (e.g., AVR, ARM, PIC, MSP430)
o Understanding of CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O ports, and timers
o Basic peripherals: GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, DAC
• Development Tools & Setup
o Setting up development environments (e.g., Keil, MPLAB, STM32CubeIDE)
o Basic tools: Compiler, Debugger, IDEs
o Understanding of flashing and programming microcontrollers
2. C Programming Concepts for Embedded Systems (Beginner Level)
• C Basics for Embedded Systems
o Functions, data types (char, int, float), operators
o Arrays, strings, and pointers
o Control structures: if-else, switch, loops (for, while, do-while)
• Memory Management
o Stack vs. Heap memory
o Static vs. dynamic variables in embedded systems
o Understanding memory limitations of embedded systems (Flash, RAM)
• Embedded-specific C Features
o volatile keyword
o inline functions
o const keyword usage in embedded systems
• GPIO Programming
o Setting GPIO pins as input/output
o Simple programs to blink LEDs, read switches
• Delays and Timing
o Timer-based delays vs. software delays
o Using hardware timers in microcontrollers
3. Intermediate Concepts (Embedded Systems Programming)
• Peripheral Interfacing
o Digital I/O: Controlling LEDs, switches
o Analog I/O: ADC (Analog-to-Digital Conversion), DAC, Potentiometers
o UART: Serial communication basics (TX/RX)
o SPI: Master-slave communication between devices
o I2C: Interfacing with sensors and EEPROMs
• Interrupts & Interrupt Service Routines (ISR)
o Understanding interrupts: External interrupts, Timer interrupts
o Writing ISRs for different events (button press, timer overflow, UART)
o Nested interrupts and interrupt priority
• Communication Protocols
o SPI, I2C, UART: Basics of data transfer, configuration, and usage
o CAN Bus (Controller Area Network) for automotive and industrial applications
o Wireless communication (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee) for IoT devices
• Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Basics
o What is RTOS? (FreeRTOS, CMSIS-RTOS)
o Tasks, scheduling, and multitasking
o Task states, context switching, and task synchronization
4. Advanced Embedded C Programming Concepts
• Advanced Memory Management
o Memory sections: ROM, SRAM, EEPROM, Flash
o Managing memory in resource-constrained systems
o Pointers and pointer arithmetic for efficient memory management
• Advanced Interrupt Handling
o Nested interrupts and interrupt vector tables
o Interrupt priority management (Critical vs non-critical interrupts)
o Context switching in ISRs
• Advanced Peripherals Interfacing
o DMA (Direct Memory Access) for efficient data transfer
o I2S (Inter-IC Sound) interface for audio applications
o Implementing and debugging communication protocols
• Advanced C Features in Embedded Systems
o Using bitwise operations for efficient manipulation of hardware registers
o Macros and preprocessor directives
o Memory-mapped I/O for accessing peripherals
o Circular buffers and queues for data handling
• Power Management in Embedded Systems
o Low power modes in microcontrollers
o Techniques for power optimization (Sleep modes, clock management)
• Optimizing Embedded C Code
o Optimizing for size and speed
o Using compiler optimizations
o Writing efficient assembly code when needed
5. Embedded Software Design & Debugging (Intermediate to Advanced)
• Embedded System Design
o Firmware architecture: Bootloader, main application, libraries
o Structured programming: Modular design, abstraction, and encapsulation
o Hardware abstraction layer (HAL)
• Debugging Techniques
o Debugging using hardware debuggers (JTAG, SWD)
o Debugging with logic analyzers and oscilloscopes
o Use of printf(), breakpoints, and watchpoints
o Handling memory issues and pointer bugs
• Version Control and Development Practices
o Version control with Git for embedded systems
o Unit testing and integration testing in embedded systems
o Test-driven development (TDD) in embedded systems
6. Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and Advanced Concepts
• FreeRTOS and Task Management
o Task creation, task switching, and scheduling
o Semaphores, mutexes, and message queues for inter-task communication
o Event groups and timers in FreeRTOS
• Advanced RTOS Topics
o Real-time constraints and priority management
o Handling resource contention and deadlock prevention
o Implementing ISR-based tasks and handling timeouts
• Advanced Communication Protocols
o Custom protocol implementation (e.g., UART protocol for communication)
o Advanced CAN Bus usage
o Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ZigBee for IoT
7. Embedded C for IoT (Advanced Topics)
• IoT Fundamentals
o What is IoT? Overview of sensors, actuators, and connectivity
o Cloud integration (e.g., MQTT, HTTP)
• Wireless Communication in Embedded Systems
o Working with Wi-Fi (ESP32/ESP8266), Bluetooth (BLE), LoRa modules
o Interfacing sensors with cloud platforms
• Security in Embedded Systems
o Basic cryptography techniques (AES, RSA, hashing)
o Secure boot, encryption/decryption, secure firmware updates
8. Interview Preparation for Embedded Systems
• Interview-focused Topics
o C Language Basics: Pointers, dynamic memory allocation, structures, bitwise
operations, and function pointers
o Embedded-specific Concepts: Volatile, memory-mapped I/O, interrupt
handling, UART, I2C/SPI, real-time constraints
o Problem-solving & Algorithm Design: Examples include calculating
checksums, data encoding/decoding, timing-related problems, and buffer
manipulation
• Common Interview Questions
o Write code to toggle an LED using GPIO
o Implement a simple UART communication
o How would you optimize a piece of embedded C code for size or speed?
o Explain how to debug a system with memory leaks or stack overflows
o Design an interrupt-driven system and explain its real-time behavior
• Hands-on Projects for Interviews
o Design a simple device (e.g., smart temperature logger, home automation)
o Work on integrating external hardware modules (e.g., sensors, actuators,
displays)
• System Design Interviews
o Be prepared to design embedded systems and explain trade-offs, including
performance, cost, and power consumption.
9. Final Project (Capstone Project)
• Project-Based Learning
o Design and implement an embedded system with multiple peripherals (e.g.,
sensor interfacing, communication protocols)
o Example project: Smart Home System with IoT integration, or Wearable Health
Monitoring System with sensors
• Project Documentation
o Writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code
o Creating design and architecture documentation
