Introduction
In today’s era of technology, devices play a crucial role in simplifying our lives. However, the seamless functioning of these devices requires drivers, which integrate them with a computer’s operating system. Moreover, to support various devices in the same operating system, developers use the concept of platform devices. In this article, we will discuss the concept of platform devices, their importance, and their working in detail.
Understanding Platform Devices
A platform device is a type of hardware device that has known characteristics for a given platform. Platform devices h*e a unique ID, and manufacturers define them for a particular system-on-chip(SoC). The hardware functionalities provided by the device are similar across different systems that run on the same platform.
Importance of Platform Devices
In modern-day technology, developers aim to design highly efficient and cost-effective devices that are compatible with multiple platforms. This compatibility requires a unified driver interface for such devices. As a result, the importance of platform devices in reducing development costs and minimizing hardware complications grows.
The Working of Platform Devices
In general, a platform device has various features, including reg, compatible, and others. The reg attribute contains the device’s memory-mapped I/O region, while the compatible attribute has the device’s unique identification string. The kernel driver uses this identification string to match the device to its corresponding driver. Once the matching process is complete, the kernel driver binds the device to the corresponding driver.
Examples of Platform Devices
Some examples of platform devices include timers, interrupt controllers, and GPIO controllers. These devices are common across multiple systems and OS platforms, and manufacturers often define their characteristics for specific hardware or SoCs.
Conclusion
To summarize, the integration of devices with an operating system requires a unique set of drivers. Platform devices provide developers with a way to support various devices in the same operating system. By understanding the definition, importance, and working of platform devices, engineers can design highly efficient and cost-effective devices, making life simpler for us all.