iii
When Renesas asked us to create a book on the RL78 microcontroller family, we jumped
at the chance. It gave us the opportunity to present embedded systems as built upon con-
cepts from critical areas (such as computer architecture and microarchitecture, memory
systems, compilation methods, software engineering, kernels and operating systems, inter-
process communication, and real-time systems) in a way which applies to traditional em-
bedded systems. Many embedded texts present these concepts as they are applied to re-
source-rich PC-like devices such as smartphones — the trade-offs and resulting outcomes
are quite different. We hope we have succeeded.
This book can be used on its own for an Introduction to Embedded Systems class or as
a graduate level Embedded System Design, Analysis and Optimization class. It can also be
used as a supplement in other types of classes where a microcontroller-based implementa-
tion is necessary.
This book would not have been possible had it not been for the assistance of numerous
people. Several students and educators contributed to some of the chapters, including:
Adam Harris (2), Suganya Jebasingh (2, 7), Michael Plautz (8), Sunil Gurram (11), Aswin
Ramakrishnan (11), Vivek Srikantan (12), and Paul Mohan Das (12).
Thanks go to the compositor, Linda Foegen, and especially to June Hay-Harris, Rob
Dautel, and Todd DeBoer of Renesas for their help in getting this book produced and pub-
lished (and for their patience!). Many, many thanks go to the reviewers who offered valu-
able suggestions to make this book better, especially Mitch Ferguson and Anthony Harris.
Alex Dean: I would like to thank Bill Trosky and Phil Koopman for opening the doors
into so many embedded systems through in-depth design reviews. I would like to thank my
students in my NCSU embedded systems courses for bringing their imagination, excite-
ment, and persistence to class projects. I would also like to thank my wife Sonya for shar-
ing her passion of seeking out and seizing opportunities, and our daughters Katherine and
Jacqueline for making me smile every time I leave work to head home. Finally, I would like
to thank my parents for planting the seeds of curiosity in my mind.
Jim Conrad: I would like to personally thank my parents, the Conrads, and my in-laws,
the Warrens, for their continued assistance and guidance through the years while I worked
on books. Also, I would especially like to thank my children, Jay, Mary Beth, and Caroline,
and my wife Stephanie, for their understanding when I needed to spend more time on the
book than I spent with them.
Alexander G. Dean and James M. Conrad
March 2012
Preface
