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Chapter 2 General Information
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7. Timer control is made easier.
To perform processing at 10 ms intervals, the microcomputer timer function was formerly used to pe-
riodically initiate an interrupt. However, as the number of usable microcomputer timers was limited,
timer insufficiency was compensated for by, for instance, using one timer for a number of different
processing operations.
When the real-time OS is introduced, however, it is possible to create programs for performing proc-
essing at fixed time intervals making use of the real-time OS time management function without paying
special attention to the microcomputer timer function. At the same time, programming can also be
done in such a manner as to let the programmer take that numerous timers are provided for the mi-
crocomputer.
8. Software maintainability is enhanced
When the real-time OS is put to use, the developed software consists of small program modules called
tasks. Therefore, increased software maintainability is provided because developed software mainte-
nance can be carried out simply by maintaining small tasks.
9. Increased software reliability is assured.
The introduction of the real-time OS makes it possible to carry out program evaluation and testing in
the unit of a small module called task. This feature facilitates evaluation and testing and increases
software reliability.
10. The microcomputer performance can be optimized to improve the performance of microcom-
puter-based products.
With the real-time OS, it is possible to decrease the number of unnecessary microcomputer operations
such as I/O waiting. It means that the optimum capabilities can be obtained from microcomputers, and
this will lead to microcomputer-based product performance improvement.