Section outline

  • This chapter presents the fundamental principles of communication buses in embedded systems, which ensure data exchange between the processor, memory, and peripherals .

    It explains the basic communication mechanism based on three main buses:

    • address bus,
    • data bus,
    • control bus,
      and details the operation of       read and write cycles, which guarantee synchronized and reliable data transfers.

    The chapter introduces the different types of buses, including:

    • internal buses (such as AHB), used for high-speed communication within the processor,
    • external buses, used to interface with peripherals and external devices.

    A detailed study of communication protocols is also provided, focusing on widely used standards in embedded systems, such as:

    • UART (asynchronous communication),
    • SPI (high-speed synchronous communication),
    • I²C (multi-device communication with minimal wiring),
    • and CAN (robust communication for industrial and automotive systems).

    In addition, the chapter analyzes key bus characteristics, including width, transfer rate, and communication protocols, highlighting their impact on system performance, reliability, and energy consumption.

    Overall, this chapter equips students with the knowledge required to understand, select, and implement communication buses and protocols in embedded system design.