Résumé de section

  • This chapter introduces the fundamental concepts of processor architectures and their critical role in embedded and computing systems .

    It explains how the internal organization of a processor affects performance, energy efficiency, and system complexity, with a focus on the interaction between the processor, memory, and peripherals.

    The chapter presents the two main architectures:

    • Von Neumann architecture, known for its simplicity and flexibility but limited by the bottleneck effect,
    • Harvard architecture, which offers higher performance through parallel access to instructions and data.

    A detailed comparison between these architectures is provided, along with the key criteria for selecting the most suitable architecture based on system requirements such as performance, cost, and power consumption.

    The chapter also introduces the differences between microprocessors and microcontrollers, highlighting their roles, structures, and application domains in embedded systems.

    Finally, it explores modern and hybrid architectures, as well as widely used microcontroller boards (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, STM32, ESP32), linking theoretical concepts to practical implementations.

    Overall, this chapter provides essential knowledge for understanding, comparing, and selecting processor architectures in embedded system design.