Embedded Controller(EC) Firmware Development on Upcoming Platform

Abstract

The embedded controller (EC) is a fundamental segment in ultra-mobile, mod- ern mobile and implanted PC frameworks. Embedded controllers are frequently used in I/O systems, low power designs, different management functions. The de- vices that connected to the platform are USB type c port, serial debug port, CPU fan, PMIC, scan matrix controller and mouse, thermal sensors etc. EC is directly interfacing to host through LPC/eSPI bus. Notifications related to these devices are sent to Operating System (OS) via embedded controller. EC provides ACPI function that defines hardware and software communication between an embedded controller and OS driver. EC can control and manage different I/O and internal features to perform that the Operating System does not handle. Those tasks can be power management, battery management, thermal management, the host interface, user input etc. Development of this chip by writing firmware for different driver modules like PWM for fan control, GPIO, ADC for hardware monitoring, a timer to get the delay be- tween two tasks, Watchdog timer, Interrupt to handle the events, eSPI, SMBus for battery management etc. Then compiling these drivers by Make file commands and after that binary file will be generated. This firmware image will be implemented on board through SPINOR and get desired output for each driver modules.