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Teaching materials

If you are new to embedded systems, our beginner’s guide demonstrates how you can learn how to program embedded systems in “10 easy steps” (without breaking the bank).

Two popular textbooks are available (in both English and Chinese editions). “Embedded C” provides a gentle introduction to the programming of embedded systems (using 8051 microcontrollers). “Patterns for Time-Triggered Embedded Systems” (also based on 8051 microcontrollers) provides more detailed coverage of the use of time-triggered techniques in reliable embedded systems.

Please note that “PTTES” can now be downloaded without charge from this website.

Cover of Embedded C

  • Pont, M.J. (2002) “Embedded C”, Addison-Wesley. ISBN: 0-201-79523-X.
  • Pont, M.J. (2003) “Embedded C”, Chinese Electric Power Press. ISBN: 7-5083-1814-5.
  • Pont, M.J. (2004) “Embedded C”, Pearson Education Taiwan. ISBN: 986-7491-52-1.

Cover of Pattern for Time-Triggered Embedded Systems

  • Pont, M.J. (2001) “Patterns for Time-Triggered Embedded Systems”, Addison-Wesley / ACM Press. ISBN: 0-201-331381.
  • Pont, M.J. (2004) “Patterns for time-triggered embedded systems”, Chinese Electric Power Press ISBN: 7-5083-2206-1.

If you are using “Embedded C” for teaching, a complete set of Powerpoint slides (10 files, zipped) is available. These would be suitable for use in an introductory course on embedded systems. These files were created by Dr. Jimmy To, a faculty member at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Lecture notes (related to both “EC” and PTTES”) are available. These provide an introduction to the programming of embedded systems with C (and go on to cover time-triggered techniques for single- and multi-processor systems). These notes are available from the University of Leicester (please scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the links to “lecture handouts”).

The “Rapid Development of Reliable Embedded Systems” book project begins by covering similar ground to “EC” and “PTTES”, with a focus on the use of microcontrollers with ARM cores (ARM7, ARM9, Cortex M3).

Various research papers on embedded systems (including papers on time-triggered architectures) are included in the proceedings of the UK Embedded Forum (2004 and 2005). You can download the 2005 proceedings by clicking here (7 Mbyte, PDF) and the 2004 proceedings by clicking here (10 Mbyte, PDF).