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PEDGREE PROTECTION—Watchdog Circuits

by Bob Perrin

Start • Applying Watchdogs to Embedded Systems • Failure in Embedded Systems • What is a Watchdog Timer? • How are Watchdog Timers Implemented? • Handling Watchdogs in Software • Sources

A favorite axiom of one of Z-World’s engineers is, "Once a year, all engineers should be put on a life support system they helped design." Many engineers have come to regard electrical engineering as nothing more than playing with techno-Legos. Need gain? Grab an op-amp. Want a sensor’s output in digital form? Grab an ADC. Want to crunch some numbers? Grab a PIC. Want to drive a pump? Grab a big FET.

Engineering is a delicate blend of art and science. Silicon manufacturers are rolling big mojo into tiny chips, but developing reliable hardware still requires relentless attention to detail. Designing robust systems will never be as simple as plugging together Legos. Considering The Details is devoted to examining the details associated with practical engineering.

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