Embedded CONTROLLER is particularly called with Notebooks a "“small"” computer system, what is turned on quasi constantly and takes over various control problems.

A Embedded CONTROLLER has the typically following tasks:

• Receipt of depressing the key signals, both of the Notebook keyboard and of other keys and switches (e.g. activation key, eyelid SWITCH)
• Switching of the actual computer system on and off
• Load control of the Akkus
• Measurement of the temperature
• Controlling of the exhausts and other radiator
• Shift the actual computer system in a sleep mode (Standby) and the rearousing from it (Resume)
• Controlling of possible LEDs at the system

The Embedded CONTROLLER is nearly always turned on, i.e. whenever there is at least one power source (Akku or power pack).

Frequently the actual computer system with the Embedded CONTROLLER can communicate. But one of the following communication forms is often used:

• ACPI Embedded CONTROLLER
• SMBus
• Shared MEMORY

Software

The Embedded CONTROLLER has own RAM and nearly always Flash ROM, on which the software which can be required is stored. This software is differently designated depending upon manufacturer:

• "“Firmware"” or "“EC firmware"” or "“Embedded CONTROLLER firmware"”
• "“EC BIOS"” or "“Embedded CONTROLLER BIOS"”
• "“Microcontroller software"”
• "“Key board BIOS"” or "“key board CONTROLLER BIOS"” or "“KBC BIOS"”

Many "“BIOS updates"” contain an actualization of the Embedded CONTROLLER firmware of the actual BIOS software apart from the actualization also, without this must be at all conscious the users.

In the cases, where there is no separate in each case firmware for BIOS and Embedded CONTROLLERs, the chances are not small that the Embedded CONTROLLER as well as the actual CCU has common access to the only Flash memory of the system. This common accesses means often also the communication form Shared MEMORY.

Name

The name "“key board CONTROLLER BIOS"” therefore agitates that the Embedded CONTROLLER nearly always takes over the task of the keyboard price increase of the Notebook keyboard. Also historically seen to the Embedded the CONTROLLER developed, which in former times only the keyboard CONTROLLER was. This very day, if with a ACPI Embedded CONTROLLER one communicates, the same way (haven 0x62 and haven 0x66) is used, as it was usual in former times for communication with the keyboard CONTROLLER.

Architectures

Frequently used architectures for Embedded CONTROLLER are:

• Hitachi H8
• National Semiconductor CompactRisc16A ("“CR16A"”) (e.g. for national the Semiconductor PC87570 Embedded CONTROLLER)
• Intel 8051

Admitted Embedded CONTROLLER models

• National Semiconductor PC87570
  • common accesses of host (actual CCU) and CONTROLLER to common Flash memory
• SMC LPC47N253
  • uses Intel 8051-Architektur
• EnE KB3886
• EnE KB3910 "“EnE 910"”

Ergonomics

Even if the Embedded is CONTROLLERs much "“deeply"” in the system in it, he can be for the user nevertheless importantly, i.e. because of that usually him which is incumbent on task of the controlling of the cooling. Frequently Notebooks (even with current savings technology like "“Centrino"”) produce so much waste heat that the control decides on the basis the temperature to turn the exhaust on. The exhaust is not simply turned on thereby, but leave "“wound up"” for short time and then on a lower number of revolutions, until a desired temperature was fallen below. This can be very unpleasant for ergnomisches working, in particular if this arises regularly and the exhaust - particularly in calm areas - is clearly audible.

Remedy creates here a change of the control: The exhaust no longer at first in such a way "“wound up"” and the number of revolutions remains very low - at moderate temperatures -. In this case the chances are well that the resulting separates no longer turbulent is laminar, the exhaust thereby hardly still audible are. Often the cooling performance of a in such a way modified system is nearly just as good as the original system. If it is it however not, then a ventilation procedure, until the goal temperature was fallen below, lasts longer. This is however usually no disadvantage, but an advantage, finally so the turning on switching off cycles and the user extend by an untwisting exhaust are so less often disturbed.

Around such a modification to convert, usually a change of the Embedded CONTROLLER firmware is necessary. Sometimes a change of the ACPI DSDT is enough out (then, if the exhaust price increase is accomplished not by the Embedded CONTROLLER, but by the ACPI interpreter of the system).

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