- Email: [email protected]
An interactive microprocessor-based system for processing of photoacoustic spectrometer data
Busch, l R and Kondoff, A l 'Disc caching in the system processing units of the HP 3000 family of computers' Hewlett-PackardJ. Vol 36 No 2 (February 1985) pp 21-39 Performance of low-cost processors may be ever increasing, but movinghead discs have not become much faster in recent years; thus many systems suffer from low processor utilization. Approaches to this problem have usually focussed on reducing disc access times or the frequency of disc access. Busch and Kondoff consider alternative approaches, taking into account current trends in processor and memory technology. They apply their chosen solution -application of excess main memory and processor capacity to prefetch and cache disc regions and to deliver data at main-memory speed -- to the HP 3000 minicomputer family. This report discusses disc-caching design alternatives including fetch, replacement and write handling
Ferranti has speeded u
p
policies. An overview of tools developed for performance analysis is given and evaluation with respect to performance and other factors is covered.
Beat, R 'The memory tester: its architecture and micro-code' Test Electron. Vol 1 No 2 (February 1985) pp 10-13, 16 The increasing complexity and capacity of RAM devices is leading to new failure modes and lengthening of test times. Architecture of test devices therefore becomes increasingly important, points out Beat. The author gives a brief oveMew of RAM testing, describes some characteristics of the three types of RAM device (static; clocked static; dynamic) and discusses types of memory fault that may occur. Tester requirements are outlined and an operational field description and programming examples are given.
EI-Dhaher, A H G, Kaouri, H A, Abu-Zeid, M E and Adili, M S 'An interactive microprocessor-based system for processing of photoacoustic spectrometer data' J. MicrocompuL Appl. Vol 7 No 3/4 (July/October 1984) pp 203-215 EI-Dhaher et al. develop a microprocessor-based system to perform online processing of data from a photoacoustic spectrometer. The system is based on an iSBC 80/24 CPU board and an iSBX 331 mathematics board. Interfacing to the spectrometer is via an RS232 link. A software-controlled circuit has been designed to allow the same RS232 port on the CPU to be used for the user terminal as well as for incoming data. Software is divided into two parts: utility software (system hardware initialization, disc management etc.), loaded on a 16 k EPROM; and application software, stored on floppy disc. Data processing and graphics routines are presented.
~
microprocessor g~me wi@
Operating at over 300 KiPS iCs te.~d to play for the next gcnexation of de~mc.e and aerospace sFstems ~nd to mcct their cnvLtonmental demands. F2OO-L isthe advanced successorto our famous FIOO-L and boatersthe same radiationhardness. In factthe two are fullycompatible and F2OO-L can replace FIOO-L in existingsystems. To get the winning points in microprocessors, play the F200-L. Contact: Cwmbran (06333) 71111 BrackneU (0344) 483232 Oldham (061) 624 0281 Ferrami Computer Systems Limited, Product Sales, ITy Coch Way, Cwmbran, Gweut~ NP44 7XX. Telex: 497686 FERC~¢M G
d~
b,
7
~°+i~: o' . ~
_RRAN It 258
microprocessors and microsystems
To demonstrate the system, an example of a spectrometric experiment is given.
Laughery, K R 'Modeling human operators on a microcomputer: a micro version of SAINT' Simulation Vol 44 No 1 (January 1985) pp 10-16 Many simulation models may now be effectively developed on microcomputers if suitable simulation languages are available. Laughery discusses the modelling of human tasks using Micro SAINT, a version of the SAINT (systems analysis of integrated networks of tasks) modelling language for microcomputers. Micro SAINT iS a FORTRANbased language designed (so far) to run on an Apple II microcomputer with 48 kbyte of RAM. The paper covers construction of the task network; user-code development; execution of the model; and the efficiency and limitations of Micro SAINT.
Man'in, K 'ATE sparks renewed interest in GPIB fast-slewing dc supplies' EDN Vol 29 No 25 (13 December 1984) pp 232-238 Marrin reviews the characteristics of high-slew-rate GPIB-programmable DC power supplies and gives a data table for relevant models from Hewiett-Packard, Kepco, Kikusui, Sorenson and Systron-Donner. The performance characteristics of the various units are compared with respect to various automatic test equipment (ATE) applications. In particular, the tradeoffs between slewing speed and noise immunity and stability are discussed.
for switched-capacitor networks is reviewed. Particular attention is given to Fleischer and Laker's technique for designing switched-capacitor filters (Bell SysL Tech. J. Vol 58 (December 1979)), favoured by many because of its monolithic integration capability.
Schreier, P G 'Next-generation I/O software requires minimal programming' EDN Vol 29 No 25 (13 December 1984) pp 284-296 Analogue I/O boards for personal computers can provide a cheap way of monitoring and controlling variables in the laboratory or factory, but suitable software support is not always readily available. Schreier reviews recent product developments in the field of I/0 software. Software packages from 14 US suppliers are compared and their hardware requirements are discussed.
Thomas, H, Rowland, l J and Stoddart, l L 'A microprocessor-based instrument for measuring plant growth' J. Microcomput. AppL Vol 7 No 3/4 (July/October 1984) pp 217-223 A 6802-based device for measuring the extension of plant tissues is described. An optical linear transducer and comparator circuit converts growth into a series of digital pulses. These are fed to a microprocessor system comprising two Eurocardsized boards. One of these boards carries an RS232 interface and the other carries the CPU and the remaining components. Each comparator is monitored by an LED. Four separate transducer inputs may be handled by the present system. Software routines are discussed, as are the applications of the instrument to plant growth studies.
Sanz, l L and Cobi~In, F 'Switched capacitor filters - - an updated report' Mundo Electr6n. No 149 (March 1985) pp 117-124 (in Spanish)
Wohlers, T T 'The phenomenal promise of microbased CAD' Comput. Graphics World (February 1985) pp 43-50
The expanding field of applications
Nearly 25 000 microcomputer-based
vol 9 no 5 june 7985
CAD systems have been installed in the last 21/2 years, more than the last ten years' installations of minicomputer- and mainframe-based systems, says Wohlers. His paper touches on the economics of and markets for CAD workstations. A brief review of available configurations (software; display enhancers; input and output devices) is given, and the attractions and limitations of microbased systems are discussed. The author outlines the training requirements for micro-based CAD, and a case study of one US university's involvement in the field is given.
Wright, M 'Memory-management-chip schemes respond to super-lJC requirements' EDN Vol 30 No 4 (7 February 1985) pp 97-106 Memory-management chips are now approaching the complexity required by 32-bit microcomputers. In fact, says Wdght, some memorymanagement-unit (MMU) schemes have hardware which accomodates demand-paged virtual memory, a necessity for systems based on 32-bit microprocessors. The paper describes and compares MMUs from Motorola, National Semiconductor, Zilog and Intel. In addition, the workings of demand-paged virtual memory and the use of operating systems for memory management are discussed. A glossary of relevant terms is given.
'Introducing GPIB' Wireless World Vol 91 No 1589 (March 1985) pp 49-60 Conceived some 20 years ago, the general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) is now used throughout the world for linking a variety of instruments to computers. A brief overview is given of GPIB standards, specifications, implementation and compatibility problems. Types of device which may be connected to GPIB are discussed. A catalogue is provided of nearly 80 manufacturers of GPIB instruments and their products.
259
Ferranti has speeded u
p
policies. An overview of tools developed for performance analysis is given and evaluation with respect to performance and other factors is covered.
Beat, R 'The memory tester: its architecture and micro-code' Test Electron. Vol 1 No 2 (February 1985) pp 10-13, 16 The increasing complexity and capacity of RAM devices is leading to new failure modes and lengthening of test times. Architecture of test devices therefore becomes increasingly important, points out Beat. The author gives a brief oveMew of RAM testing, describes some characteristics of the three types of RAM device (static; clocked static; dynamic) and discusses types of memory fault that may occur. Tester requirements are outlined and an operational field description and programming examples are given.
EI-Dhaher, A H G, Kaouri, H A, Abu-Zeid, M E and Adili, M S 'An interactive microprocessor-based system for processing of photoacoustic spectrometer data' J. MicrocompuL Appl. Vol 7 No 3/4 (July/October 1984) pp 203-215 EI-Dhaher et al. develop a microprocessor-based system to perform online processing of data from a photoacoustic spectrometer. The system is based on an iSBC 80/24 CPU board and an iSBX 331 mathematics board. Interfacing to the spectrometer is via an RS232 link. A software-controlled circuit has been designed to allow the same RS232 port on the CPU to be used for the user terminal as well as for incoming data. Software is divided into two parts: utility software (system hardware initialization, disc management etc.), loaded on a 16 k EPROM; and application software, stored on floppy disc. Data processing and graphics routines are presented.
~
microprocessor g~me wi@
Operating at over 300 KiPS iCs te.~d to play for the next gcnexation of de~mc.e and aerospace sFstems ~nd to mcct their cnvLtonmental demands. F2OO-L isthe advanced successorto our famous FIOO-L and boatersthe same radiationhardness. In factthe two are fullycompatible and F2OO-L can replace FIOO-L in existingsystems. To get the winning points in microprocessors, play the F200-L. Contact: Cwmbran (06333) 71111 BrackneU (0344) 483232 Oldham (061) 624 0281 Ferrami Computer Systems Limited, Product Sales, ITy Coch Way, Cwmbran, Gweut~ NP44 7XX. Telex: 497686 FERC~¢M G
d~
b,
7
~°+i~: o' . ~
_RRAN It 258
microprocessors and microsystems
To demonstrate the system, an example of a spectrometric experiment is given.
Laughery, K R 'Modeling human operators on a microcomputer: a micro version of SAINT' Simulation Vol 44 No 1 (January 1985) pp 10-16 Many simulation models may now be effectively developed on microcomputers if suitable simulation languages are available. Laughery discusses the modelling of human tasks using Micro SAINT, a version of the SAINT (systems analysis of integrated networks of tasks) modelling language for microcomputers. Micro SAINT iS a FORTRANbased language designed (so far) to run on an Apple II microcomputer with 48 kbyte of RAM. The paper covers construction of the task network; user-code development; execution of the model; and the efficiency and limitations of Micro SAINT.
Man'in, K 'ATE sparks renewed interest in GPIB fast-slewing dc supplies' EDN Vol 29 No 25 (13 December 1984) pp 232-238 Marrin reviews the characteristics of high-slew-rate GPIB-programmable DC power supplies and gives a data table for relevant models from Hewiett-Packard, Kepco, Kikusui, Sorenson and Systron-Donner. The performance characteristics of the various units are compared with respect to various automatic test equipment (ATE) applications. In particular, the tradeoffs between slewing speed and noise immunity and stability are discussed.
for switched-capacitor networks is reviewed. Particular attention is given to Fleischer and Laker's technique for designing switched-capacitor filters (Bell SysL Tech. J. Vol 58 (December 1979)), favoured by many because of its monolithic integration capability.
Schreier, P G 'Next-generation I/O software requires minimal programming' EDN Vol 29 No 25 (13 December 1984) pp 284-296 Analogue I/O boards for personal computers can provide a cheap way of monitoring and controlling variables in the laboratory or factory, but suitable software support is not always readily available. Schreier reviews recent product developments in the field of I/0 software. Software packages from 14 US suppliers are compared and their hardware requirements are discussed.
Thomas, H, Rowland, l J and Stoddart, l L 'A microprocessor-based instrument for measuring plant growth' J. Microcomput. AppL Vol 7 No 3/4 (July/October 1984) pp 217-223 A 6802-based device for measuring the extension of plant tissues is described. An optical linear transducer and comparator circuit converts growth into a series of digital pulses. These are fed to a microprocessor system comprising two Eurocardsized boards. One of these boards carries an RS232 interface and the other carries the CPU and the remaining components. Each comparator is monitored by an LED. Four separate transducer inputs may be handled by the present system. Software routines are discussed, as are the applications of the instrument to plant growth studies.
Sanz, l L and Cobi~In, F 'Switched capacitor filters - - an updated report' Mundo Electr6n. No 149 (March 1985) pp 117-124 (in Spanish)
Wohlers, T T 'The phenomenal promise of microbased CAD' Comput. Graphics World (February 1985) pp 43-50
The expanding field of applications
Nearly 25 000 microcomputer-based
vol 9 no 5 june 7985
CAD systems have been installed in the last 21/2 years, more than the last ten years' installations of minicomputer- and mainframe-based systems, says Wohlers. His paper touches on the economics of and markets for CAD workstations. A brief review of available configurations (software; display enhancers; input and output devices) is given, and the attractions and limitations of microbased systems are discussed. The author outlines the training requirements for micro-based CAD, and a case study of one US university's involvement in the field is given.
Wright, M 'Memory-management-chip schemes respond to super-lJC requirements' EDN Vol 30 No 4 (7 February 1985) pp 97-106 Memory-management chips are now approaching the complexity required by 32-bit microcomputers. In fact, says Wdght, some memorymanagement-unit (MMU) schemes have hardware which accomodates demand-paged virtual memory, a necessity for systems based on 32-bit microprocessors. The paper describes and compares MMUs from Motorola, National Semiconductor, Zilog and Intel. In addition, the workings of demand-paged virtual memory and the use of operating systems for memory management are discussed. A glossary of relevant terms is given.
'Introducing GPIB' Wireless World Vol 91 No 1589 (March 1985) pp 49-60 Conceived some 20 years ago, the general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) is now used throughout the world for linking a variety of instruments to computers. A brief overview is given of GPIB standards, specifications, implementation and compatibility problems. Types of device which may be connected to GPIB are discussed. A catalogue is provided of nearly 80 manufacturers of GPIB instruments and their products.
259