An embedded system is a dedicated computer system used to perform independent functions. It consists of microelectronic chips (including microprocessors, timers, sequence generators, controllers, memory, sensors, and other microelectronic chips and devices) and a miniature operating system, control, and application software embedded in ROM, RAM, and/or FLASH memory to implement various automated processing tasks. The main functions of an embedded system are real-time control, monitoring, and management of mobile computers, data processing, etc., or assisting other devices in completing various automated processing tasks. Embedded systems are application-centric, based on semiconductor technology, control technology, computer technology, and communication technology. They emphasize the synergy and integration of hardware and software, and the software and hardware can be customized to meet the system's requirements for functionality, cost, size, and power consumption. The simplest embedded system has only the ability to perform a single function. It contains only a control program implementing that single function in a single ROM, without a miniature operating system. Complex embedded systems, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and handheld computers (HPCs), have almost the same functions as PCs. The essential difference is that the miniature operating system and application software are embedded in ROM, RAM, and FLASH memory, rather than stored on disks or other media. Many complex embedded systems are integrated from several smaller embedded systems. With the advent of the post-PC era, customers in industry and other related fields are increasingly focusing on using intelligent embedded industrial control configuration software that meets their specific needs. This type of configuration software can significantly shorten the time to market for embedded products, and enables products to have rich human-machine interfaces, embedded web interfaces, and control logic functions compliant with IEC 61131-3. It can also store a considerable amount of historical data, partially fulfilling the functions of a field workstation-level computer. Here are some application examples from different industries: 1. Manufacturing and process control: HMI control panels, machine tool control, motor drives, testing equipment, environmental monitoring, power transmission and distribution equipment, oil refinery equipment, remote unmanned data acquisition and monitoring stations. 2. Medical and health equipment: X-ray machines, CT scanners, medical administration management systems, ward monitoring systems. 3. Building automation and commercial retail outlets, commercial POS, security monitoring equipment. 4. Office equipment and information appliances, set-top boxes, mobile phone embedded systems, program-controlled telephones. 5. Networked configurable devices. In summary, we can outline the application models of embedded configuration software in industrial processes. The HMI component of the application software, based on Windows NT, can obtain operation and monitoring data from the field controller through network services on this platform. There are also other HMI extension components to complete specific functions (such as trend analysis, reporting, and historical data). The Internet component located in the embedded system can publish the designed HMI interface to the Internet through its embedded web service program, allowing operators to monitor it via a browser. The logic and flow control components are based on field-level controllers with real-time operating systems, utilizing IEC 61131-3 to complete embedded control functions. Generally speaking, embedded industrial automation configuration software is embedded application software for embedded systems with network capabilities (including Internet service capabilities). An embedded system refers to a device with intelligence (i.e., a microprocessor or microcontroller) that can be embedded into a device or product and connected to a network. Embedded configuration software consists of a development system and a runtime system. The development environment for embedded configuration software typically runs on a Windows operating system with a user-friendly interface, while the runtime environment can be based on various embedded operating systems such as Windows CE, DeltaOS, NT Embedded, LINUX, and DOS, or even directly support specific CPUs. The runtime system of embedded automation configuration software is mostly a component-based, scalable configuration structure, generally including: a human-machine interface (HMI) component (including optional modules such as historical data browsing, reports, and trend charts), a historical data recording component, a network communication component, an Internet component, control logic and flow control components, and a real-time kernel. Beijing Kunlun Tongtai's upcoming embedded configuration software package (Mcgs For Embedded) includes two main parts: a configuration environment and a runtime environment. The configuration environment runs on a Windows operating system with a user-friendly interface, possessing the same configuration environment interface as Beijing Kunlun Tongtai's existing general-purpose and WWW versions of configuration software. This effectively helps users build complete solutions ranging from embedded devices and field monitoring workstations to enterprise production monitoring information networks; and facilitates the smooth migration of user-developed projects across these three levels. This embedded configuration software package includes the following configuration environment: 1. Project manager (including management of projects, real-time databases, devices, etc.). 2. Screen configuration, including trend charts, alarms, and reports. 3. Configuration of real-time and historical databases. 4. Compilation and download system, configuration security system. 5. The control system configuration, which is the core of the embedded configuration, includes the following components:

[*] Soft logic configuration: A soft PLC system that implements logic control functions. [*] Continuous process configuration and setup: A flowchart system that implements process control. [*] Debugging tools: Allows online monitoring of the values ​​of various internal variables, monitoring of process execution sequence, and allows resetting and restarting of process operation. [*] Simulation tool: Simulates and runs the control process in the development environment, and tests the control effect offline.

This embedded configuration software package includes an embedded real-time multitasking operating system that can run on low-end hardware platforms. Typical application platforms are as follows:

[＊] 24MHz Intel386EX high-performance 32-bit microprocessor. [＊] 2MB system RAM, including 640KB basic memory supporting DOS and corresponding high-end memory. [＊] 512KB Flash memory. [＊] 10BASE-T Ethernet control interface, NE2000 compatible. [＊] One standard RS232C serial port. [＊] Can connect to character or dot-matrix LCD interface, also supports digital LED interface. [＊] Can connect to an extended keypad. [＊] Can connect to an LCD screen or monitor. [＊] Directly supports M-System's DiskOnChip 2000 series chips. [＊] 5V power supply, 330mA operating current. [＊] For higher performance requirements, a more powerful CPU, larger memory, and expanded serial ports or bus acquisition devices can be used, etc.

Running within the runtime environment are the control flows and business logic configured by the configuration environment. The entire runtime system is organized by tasks. Each task includes a control flow, executed by a control flow executor. Tasks can be invoked by events or interrupts, timed intervals, system errors or alarms, and instructions from the host computer. Special states of the runtime environment (e.g., startup, shutdown) have corresponding events. Each task has a priority setting; higher-priority tasks can interrupt lower-priority tasks. Programs with the same priority but different time interval settings can compete for CPU resources. Logical and mathematical operations, flow judgment and execution, device scanning and processing, cyclic calculations of control algorithms, and network communication can be performed within the control flow. In addition to the control flow, the runtime environment also includes the following system services.

[*] Communication service: Enables data exchange between MCGS systems and with other systems. [*] Storage service: Enables storage and processing of collected data. [*] Log service: Enables system operation log recording. [*] Debugging service: Assists in debugging during the development process.

Due to the cross-platform development characteristics of embedded configuration software and its special requirements for real-time performance and stability, debugging tools play a crucial role throughout the development process. It can be said that the ease of use and powerful functionality of debugging tools are among the core factors contributing to the acceptance of embedded configuration software by users. MCGS embedded configuration software provides the following debugging functions: 1) Breakpoint setting function: Allows stopping at any point in the control flow execution within any task. 2) Monitoring the running system's operating status: Collects the values ​​of various data objects in the real-time database of the running system via serial port or TCP/IP network communication and displays them in the debugging environment of the host computer. 3) Online modification: In online mode, modifications to some configuration results or parameters can be made, and the running environment can accept commands from the configuration environment, stopping execution at any time, re-downloading the configuration results, updating some configuration results, and restarting execution. 4) Observation and forced change of the values ​​of data objects in the real-time database of the running system to facilitate system debugging. 5) Simulation operation: Allows testing of control logic in offline mode (without connection to the embedded system). In simulation mode, the following operations are allowed: breakpoints can be set; the execution status of each process and the current value of each variable are displayed intuitively; simulation I/O results are displayed; input is achieved by directly clicking the status light of the corresponding input point; digital input allows direct modification of analog quantities, pops up potentiometer or digital input interfaces; analog quantities and counter/timer values ​​can be directly output digitally. Furthermore, due to the functionally tailored nature of embedded configuration software and its embedded real-time multi-tasking operating system, it can ensure the small size, low cost, high real-time performance, and high reliability of the entire embedded system, while allowing users without embedded software development experience to quickly develop an embedded system in a very short time, greatly shortening the time it takes for embedded products to reach the market.