John...
"Embedded" chips refer simply to chips that actually contain logic. The process of programming a chip is simple and can be performed by anybody with access to the hardware.
Sorry, but that is just about the silliest and uninformed thing that I have read in a long time.
First of all, your definition is wrong. An embedded chip (which, by the way often is used as a synonym for 'embedded system') refers to a collection of controlling logic that oversees, controls, monitors some larger system. This infers a highly specialized and often nonstandard architecture.
It is not 'burning' a new chip that is difficult, rather what to burn into the chip. Embedded systems need to access the outside world (maybe a temp sensor for a toaster, or an optical quadrature encoder to sense the position of a robotic arm, or a pressure sensor for a force feedback system in a car's brakes) So, you are saying that CSC or CA has the specific knowledge to understand these highly specific systems? (I doubt it)
Furthermore, it is not just a software (or firmware) problem. There are RTC (Real Time Clock) and microcontroller chips that could spit out bad data after the Y2K.
What is the difference between a microcontroller and a microprocessor? (what you find in your PC - the CPU) Glad you asked. Well, a microcontroller not only contains a microprocessor (or CPU) but a whole host of support hardware as well. Things such as parallel data registers to interface with dumb on/off type of circuits, AURT (Async Universal Receive/Transmit) serial port to communicate with smarter systems such as LCD displays or smart sensors, on board memory for both program storage and variable/data storage, AND RTCs! Does CA know the inner workings of a Motorola HC68HC11F1 micro or an Intel 8051? (both of these are of the simplest 8 bit sort)
Hell, often the code is not even burned it but manufactured with the customer's code already in place (for large production runs - no quartz window makes it much cheaper). What do you do then? What if the RTC in the microcontroller is at fault, what then?
Remember, in the nice neat orderly world of the PC/main & miniframe the details of the hardware is removed from the application programmer. It is all nice and standard. This is exactly the opposite in the embedded world. So please, in the future, think twice before issuing statements such as
Embedded logic seems to be the latest buzzword in the whole Y2K doomsday hysteria. It's no different than logic on any other device.
Just my 2›
JohnnyH |
