The work and costs involved in hardware and software integration are often an underestimated issue for embedded systems: hardware and software are usually developed separately. The costs for this can be easily estimated individually, but combining the two areas into the finished system causes problems. It becomes even more complex when software is required for the hardware to function, but this first has to be custom-developed. Here, Ginzinger electronic systems enables planning and transparency with pre-integrated, pre-qualified and robust modules for multimedia content, Internet connection and convenient operation.
Hardware developers usually combine off-the-shelf processor modules with a self-developed base board for device interfaces and power supply. Supporting firmware in the form of Board Support Packages (BSPs) is available from the module manufacturer. Unfortunately, the quality of these BSPs is often lacking. In addition, the purchased standard processor modules either provide too many or too few necessary system signals, which makes price-performance optimization more difficult. Drivers must first be developed for new chips on the self-developed base board.
As a remedy, Ginzinger electronic systems offers a proven, scalable system of pre-integrated hardware and software components for microcontrollers and high-performance application processors. Ginzinger relies on the processor series of the ARM architecture: Cortex-M, ARM9 and Cortex-A der. Long-term available open source components are used for the software.
Image: Headquarters of Ginzinger electronic systems: The company enables hardware and software integration in embedded systems (Photo: Ginzinger)
