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Data acquisition systems
logic arrays, programmable array logic, programmable multiplexers etc.), which is rapidly becoming an important tool of the designer, particularly in minimizing the package count of a given digital system. The topic is introduced by means of a very readable account of state machine and automatic theory, and is followed by a number of design examples. The next section deals with microprogramming and (inevitably) uses the AMD2900 series of bit-slice components as a model. I was pleased to see that Klingman has modified AMD's literature and improved their diagrams, and has not simply regurgitated their application notes as some others have. The final part of Microprocessor systems design presents three examples of special-purpose digital machines. I
found the first example of a twodimensional digital filter using fast Fourier transforms a little out of place. Unless the reader is taking a degree course in electronics he will find the mathematical content of this chapter hard going. The next example, a microprogrammed floating-point unit, is much better and deals with many of the problems facing the designer of a special-purpose digital machine. In both this and the following example the Intel 3000 series of bit-slice components is chosen. I would have liked to see the 2900 series used for consistency and to reinforce the teaching of earlier sections The third example considers the problem of encoding digital data from a facsimile machine, and then decoding it at the end of a data link. This example goes into the details of the
Basic data acquisition for engineers A H Van Doren 'Data acquisition systems' Prentice Hall (1982) £6.45 pp 291 A pleasantly surprising feature on first opening this book, is that it does not contain a lengthy series of progressively more complex data acquisiton systems. A more surprising feature is that it does not contain any descriptions of such systems. In fact, the book is intended as an introduction for engineers entering or intending to enter the field, and as such it succeeds very well. Its aim is to collect all the relevant material into a single volume, and to present it in a form that is understandable to a newcomer to the field. This is particularly valuable; there are far too many topics in technology which are distinctly difficult to break into, largely because the available books are too advanced, too elementary or too diverse. The book starts by defining a data acquisition system as 'an electronic instrument, or group of interconnected electronic hardware items, dedicated to the measurement and quanti. zation of analogue signals for digital analysis or processing'. Although acquisition of digital signals is relatively trivial, it seems unfortunate that the definition appears to exclude them, but this is more a matter of the author's choice of words than a restric-
volume 7 no 4 may 1983
tion on the content of the book. The properties of analogue signals are then described, including Fourier theory, convolution and sampling, followed by quantization and signal recovery. These sections are fairly compact, occupying about 50 pages out of the total of nearly 300. The study is continued in chapters on system parameters, in which important parameters such as linearity, aperture time etc. are explained and defined, along with analogue multiplexers. There is a particularly useful chapter on signal conditioning, with sections on the various operational amplifier configurations, sample and hold circuits and noise; the latter is all too often forgotten about, or added as an afterthought. This is followed by D/ACs and A/DCs and a section on error analysis. The book is concluded by a detailed section on timing and control (which is the nearest it ever comes to the description of a complete system), a section on storage/output devices and a very compact chapter on digital computers. This is too condensed to be of much use and would have been better as an appendix. I think this book will be valuable to engineering undergraduates, as a course book on the subject, and to graduates and others who wish to learn the basics of data acquisition or who aim to enter the field. Apart from some minor points men-
deviations of suitableencoding/decoding algorithms and their implementation in terms of bit-slice components. These three examples nicely balance the theoretical material of the earlier chapters. Another critic might point out that Klingman's book is unbalanced, because it leaves out much practical detail. He does not deal with the electrical parameters and complex timing arrangements of digital systems, and microprogramming is almost entirely neglected. I found it a superb introduction to array logic and bitslice architecture, because Klingman does not hide the basic principles behind a mass of fine detail. I would not hesitate to recommend it to any student of computer design.
A Clements Teesside Polytechnic tioned above, it is well and clearly written (rather too spelled out in places) with many well-presented figures. The only addition I would have preferred is one reasonably detailed description of a specific data acquisition system.
A user-oriented survey of computer networks for offices A J Mayne 'Linked local area netwo~s' October
Press (1982) £38.00, pp 485 This is generally an excellent text, containing a wealth of factual material. It is particularly suitable for both academics and technical managers involved in specifying computer systems for office environments. The author has largely achieved his objectives in providing a moderately detailed user-oriented survey of computer networks, and generally the text is easy to read. Perhaps a more detailed treatment of the potential of linked computer systems in manufacturing applications could have been presented, but the book is certainly worth the price.
R H Weston
Loughborough University
183
found the first example of a twodimensional digital filter using fast Fourier transforms a little out of place. Unless the reader is taking a degree course in electronics he will find the mathematical content of this chapter hard going. The next example, a microprogrammed floating-point unit, is much better and deals with many of the problems facing the designer of a special-purpose digital machine. In both this and the following example the Intel 3000 series of bit-slice components is chosen. I would have liked to see the 2900 series used for consistency and to reinforce the teaching of earlier sections The third example considers the problem of encoding digital data from a facsimile machine, and then decoding it at the end of a data link. This example goes into the details of the
Basic data acquisition for engineers A H Van Doren 'Data acquisition systems' Prentice Hall (1982) £6.45 pp 291 A pleasantly surprising feature on first opening this book, is that it does not contain a lengthy series of progressively more complex data acquisiton systems. A more surprising feature is that it does not contain any descriptions of such systems. In fact, the book is intended as an introduction for engineers entering or intending to enter the field, and as such it succeeds very well. Its aim is to collect all the relevant material into a single volume, and to present it in a form that is understandable to a newcomer to the field. This is particularly valuable; there are far too many topics in technology which are distinctly difficult to break into, largely because the available books are too advanced, too elementary or too diverse. The book starts by defining a data acquisition system as 'an electronic instrument, or group of interconnected electronic hardware items, dedicated to the measurement and quanti. zation of analogue signals for digital analysis or processing'. Although acquisition of digital signals is relatively trivial, it seems unfortunate that the definition appears to exclude them, but this is more a matter of the author's choice of words than a restric-
volume 7 no 4 may 1983
tion on the content of the book. The properties of analogue signals are then described, including Fourier theory, convolution and sampling, followed by quantization and signal recovery. These sections are fairly compact, occupying about 50 pages out of the total of nearly 300. The study is continued in chapters on system parameters, in which important parameters such as linearity, aperture time etc. are explained and defined, along with analogue multiplexers. There is a particularly useful chapter on signal conditioning, with sections on the various operational amplifier configurations, sample and hold circuits and noise; the latter is all too often forgotten about, or added as an afterthought. This is followed by D/ACs and A/DCs and a section on error analysis. The book is concluded by a detailed section on timing and control (which is the nearest it ever comes to the description of a complete system), a section on storage/output devices and a very compact chapter on digital computers. This is too condensed to be of much use and would have been better as an appendix. I think this book will be valuable to engineering undergraduates, as a course book on the subject, and to graduates and others who wish to learn the basics of data acquisition or who aim to enter the field. Apart from some minor points men-
deviations of suitableencoding/decoding algorithms and their implementation in terms of bit-slice components. These three examples nicely balance the theoretical material of the earlier chapters. Another critic might point out that Klingman's book is unbalanced, because it leaves out much practical detail. He does not deal with the electrical parameters and complex timing arrangements of digital systems, and microprogramming is almost entirely neglected. I found it a superb introduction to array logic and bitslice architecture, because Klingman does not hide the basic principles behind a mass of fine detail. I would not hesitate to recommend it to any student of computer design.
A Clements Teesside Polytechnic tioned above, it is well and clearly written (rather too spelled out in places) with many well-presented figures. The only addition I would have preferred is one reasonably detailed description of a specific data acquisition system.
A user-oriented survey of computer networks for offices A J Mayne 'Linked local area netwo~s' October
Press (1982) £38.00, pp 485 This is generally an excellent text, containing a wealth of factual material. It is particularly suitable for both academics and technical managers involved in specifying computer systems for office environments. The author has largely achieved his objectives in providing a moderately detailed user-oriented survey of computer networks, and generally the text is easy to read. Perhaps a more detailed treatment of the potential of linked computer systems in manufacturing applications could have been presented, but the book is certainly worth the price.
R H Weston
Loughborough University
183