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Introductory text covers commercial integrated circuits
Book reviews the code for NOP to the data pins of the microprocessor we are not told firmly enough, either in words or in the diagram, to disconnect these pins from the rest of the system. Not doing so could be disastrous. The book contains a wealth of useful information which is well arranged, and many practical circuits, and as such is good value for money.
For the reasons given above, however, it will not be possible to recommend it wholeheartedly until it has been subject to a thorough revision.
Introductory text covers commercial integrated circuits
(with particular reference to the microprocessor trainer) but with a brief mention of the 8085, 6502, 6809 and 68000 devices. Also covered is address decoding, memories, I/O devices and software. Most of these topics are given a reasonably detailed discussion, although the description of a UHF modulator as a 'small circuit encapsulated in a metal box' seems to be rather oversimplified! Fault finding, with very simple case studies, rounds offthe main body of the text. In its favour, the book concentrates extensively on commercial, rather than hypothetical, devices, and is reasonably up to date. There are a few lapses in accuracy - RS422 is not a current loop, for e x a m p l e - - but these are few. However, the overriding impression is of an attempt to cram too much material into a small space, resulting in little more than a catalogue of devices with a limited treatment and no central theme. In conclusion, Integrated circuits and microprocessors would be useful as a text for a nonelectrical familiarization course or as a library purchase for BTEC level 1 or 2 technician diplomas and certificates. Its usefulness to the more academically demanding school certificate courses, in my opinion, would be limited.
errors readily enough, but the inexperienced could waste a great deal of time over them. Information in a book of this sort must be both clear and correct. Information for technicians should be more categorical too. The description of free running fixtures is an example where the book falls short in this respect. After we have hardwired
R C Holland
Integrated circuits and microprocessors Pergamon, Oxford, UK (1986) £10.50 $14.50 pp 200 Historians in future centuries will undoubtedly record the development of the transistor in the 1940s as the key to the development of the society that it operates from. For the transistor, in its various manifestations, became the integrated circuit, the lynchpin of the electronic revolution. With this in mind, it is probably a reflection of the conservatism of approach of both government and education that electronics only became a respectable topic in schools during the 1980s. This late conversion has meant that there is a considerable lack in the teaching profession of the skills required not only to understand the topic in depth, but to pass on knowledge to students. Keeping these difficulties in mind, it is obvious that a great deal is to be expected by both lecturer and student from an introductory nonspecialist text in this area. An accurate and coherent coverage is required, with sufficient detail to be
Vol 11 No 8 October 1987
useful but not to obscure the fundamental principles. To encourage further study, the 'romance' of the subject should not be lost in a welter of facts. Aimed at 'the electronics student or practising engineer who has a rudimentary knowledge of electrical and electronic principles', how does Holland's book measure up to these criteria? Analogue, digital, microprocessor and related integrated circuits and fault finding are all described in this text. Such an encyclopaedic coverage in just under 200 pages (plus appendices) obviously targets the readership as the novice. The first six chapters mainly cover digital electronics and devices. After a discussion on integrated circuits in general, there follows an overview of gates (mainly using old lEE symbols) and a fairly detailed treatment of logic families. Combinational logic, bistables, latches, registers, counters and binary arithmetic complete this topic. Analogue electronics are chiefly represented by operational amplifiers, with some coverage of A/D interconversion and the phaselocked loop. Chapters 10-13 are devoted to microprocessors, mainly the Z80
Gerry Bergman King's College, London, UK
S J Cahill University of Ulster, lordanstown, UK
463
For the reasons given above, however, it will not be possible to recommend it wholeheartedly until it has been subject to a thorough revision.
Introductory text covers commercial integrated circuits
(with particular reference to the microprocessor trainer) but with a brief mention of the 8085, 6502, 6809 and 68000 devices. Also covered is address decoding, memories, I/O devices and software. Most of these topics are given a reasonably detailed discussion, although the description of a UHF modulator as a 'small circuit encapsulated in a metal box' seems to be rather oversimplified! Fault finding, with very simple case studies, rounds offthe main body of the text. In its favour, the book concentrates extensively on commercial, rather than hypothetical, devices, and is reasonably up to date. There are a few lapses in accuracy - RS422 is not a current loop, for e x a m p l e - - but these are few. However, the overriding impression is of an attempt to cram too much material into a small space, resulting in little more than a catalogue of devices with a limited treatment and no central theme. In conclusion, Integrated circuits and microprocessors would be useful as a text for a nonelectrical familiarization course or as a library purchase for BTEC level 1 or 2 technician diplomas and certificates. Its usefulness to the more academically demanding school certificate courses, in my opinion, would be limited.
errors readily enough, but the inexperienced could waste a great deal of time over them. Information in a book of this sort must be both clear and correct. Information for technicians should be more categorical too. The description of free running fixtures is an example where the book falls short in this respect. After we have hardwired
R C Holland
Integrated circuits and microprocessors Pergamon, Oxford, UK (1986) £10.50 $14.50 pp 200 Historians in future centuries will undoubtedly record the development of the transistor in the 1940s as the key to the development of the society that it operates from. For the transistor, in its various manifestations, became the integrated circuit, the lynchpin of the electronic revolution. With this in mind, it is probably a reflection of the conservatism of approach of both government and education that electronics only became a respectable topic in schools during the 1980s. This late conversion has meant that there is a considerable lack in the teaching profession of the skills required not only to understand the topic in depth, but to pass on knowledge to students. Keeping these difficulties in mind, it is obvious that a great deal is to be expected by both lecturer and student from an introductory nonspecialist text in this area. An accurate and coherent coverage is required, with sufficient detail to be
Vol 11 No 8 October 1987
useful but not to obscure the fundamental principles. To encourage further study, the 'romance' of the subject should not be lost in a welter of facts. Aimed at 'the electronics student or practising engineer who has a rudimentary knowledge of electrical and electronic principles', how does Holland's book measure up to these criteria? Analogue, digital, microprocessor and related integrated circuits and fault finding are all described in this text. Such an encyclopaedic coverage in just under 200 pages (plus appendices) obviously targets the readership as the novice. The first six chapters mainly cover digital electronics and devices. After a discussion on integrated circuits in general, there follows an overview of gates (mainly using old lEE symbols) and a fairly detailed treatment of logic families. Combinational logic, bistables, latches, registers, counters and binary arithmetic complete this topic. Analogue electronics are chiefly represented by operational amplifiers, with some coverage of A/D interconversion and the phaselocked loop. Chapters 10-13 are devoted to microprocessors, mainly the Z80
Gerry Bergman King's College, London, UK
S J Cahill University of Ulster, lordanstown, UK
463