2. Embedded DSP Devices

As a consequence of the rapid surge in digital signal processing (DSP) technologies, DSP components and their specific algorithms continue to find uses in broad application areas, including the embedded systems arena. Embedded systems generally refer to systems that include dedicated hardware and computationally specific software. When several fundamental components of an embedded system are integrated onto a single silicon substrate it is referred to as a system-on-chip (SoC). These embedded systems, including SoCs, can either stand-alone or seen as a subsystem of a much larger and/or complex system. However, these systems are not without constraints, and constantly need to adapt to the drawbacks associated with limited hardware, restricted computational power and fewer resources. Recently, there has also been an increased interest in the use of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs) within embedded DSP devices. This can be seen as a trade-off between size, speed and flexibility, with the latter being the driving force. Embedded DSP devices have proliferated through society so much so that we have become virtually oblivious to their impact. Among the countless applications of embedded systems, some products that require a DSP component include our mobile phones, digital radios, digital televisions, digital satellite set-top boxes, DVD players, MP3 players, heart-rate monitors, GPS navigation devices and automotive control systems. This chapter gives a brief introduction into the theory of DSP, followed by a more detailed examination of the architectures, implementations, security and applications within real-time embedded systems.