Digital Electronics and

Microcomputers
 Analog and Digital Signals
Types of chemical signals:
Analog - continuous signal
• pH
• molecular spectroscopy
Digital - discrete signal
• radioactive decay
• atomic absorption of radiation
 Binary Number

0 OR 1
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
28 possible values = 256 possible values
0 => 255
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Examples: 00010111 = 23
0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1
0 + 0 + 0 + 16 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 1
= 23
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
Examples: 10010000 = 144
128 + 0 + 0 + 16 = 144
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
01000010 = 66
64 + 2 = 66
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
00011100 = 28
16 + 8 + 4 = 28
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

11111111 = 255
128 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 255
 8 BIT Binary Data Bus
PA7 PA6 PA5 PA4 PA3 PA2 PA1 PA0
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
00000000 = 0
0+0+0+0+0+0+0+0 = 0
 Other Data Buses
16 Bit Bus
216 = 65,536 possible values

32 Bit Bus
232 = 4,294,967,296 possible values
 DtoAs
• D to A
• Digital to analog converter
• takes digital information from a computer
and converts it into an analog signal
 AtoDs
• A to D
• Analog to digital converter
• converts analog information to digital
information
example:
• port for joy stick or mouse input
• separate devices specific to purpose
Diagram of AtoD/DtoA Interface
 Microprocessors and
Microcomputers
Microprocessors
• integrated circuits dedicated to a specific
application with built in programming
Microcomputers
• contain microprocessors which are
dedicated to running a microcomputer
 Computer Terminology
Bits, Bytes and Words
• bit => two electrical states which differ
by 5-10 volts
• byte => 8 bits
• word => a series of bytes arranged
in sequence to represent a piece of data
 Computer Terminology
Registers => a physical device that can
store a complete byte or a word
 Computer Terminology
Hardware
A computer and the associated physical
equipment directly involved in the
performance of data-processing or
communications functions
 Computer Terminology
Software
The programs, routines, and symbolic
languages that control the functioning of the
hardware and direct its operation
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments

Three methods of using computers for

analytical measurements:
(a) off-line

Computer and Human Analytical

mass storage Operator Instrument
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments
Off-Line
operator between instrument and computer
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments
Three methods of using computers for
analytical measurements:
(b) on-line
Human
Operator

Computer and Analytical

mass storage Instrument
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments
On-Line
operator out of the line between instrument
and computer, computer "talks" to
instrument and operator, operator
"talks" to computer and instrument, and
instrument "talks" to computer and
operator
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments

Three methods of using computers for

analytical measurements:
(c) in-line

Human Analytical
Operator Computer
Instrument
 Operational Modes of
Computerized Instruments
In-Line
computer in the line between operator and
instrument, computer "talks" to
instrument and operator, operator
"talks" to computer, and instrument
"talks" to computer
Components of a Computer
Registers
Control Logic Arithemtic Logic Unit
Program Counter

Keyboard
Disk
Input Card Reader
Interfaces Analog to digital
converter
Clock

Memory

CRT
Data Bus Printer
Out Digital to
Address Bus Interfaces analog converter
Disk
Control Bus
 Components of a Computer
CPU - central processing unit
• the heart of the computer
• for microcomputer, the microprocessor
– composed of control unit and arithmetic logic
unit
 Components of a Computer
Buses
lines which connect the various parts of the
computer
 Components of a Computer
Memory
• Memory Chips
– RAM - random access memory
– ROM - read only memory
– EPROM - erasable program read only memory
– EAROM - electrically alterable read only
memory
 Components of a Computer
Memory
• Bulk Storage Devices
– floppy disk
• A flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material
and covered by a protective jacket, used primarily in
microcomputers and minicomputers to store data
magnetically
• come in sizes 3.5 in to 10 in
 Components of a Computer
Memory
• Bulk Storage Devices
– hard disk
• A rigid magnetic disk fixed permanently within a
drive unit and used for storing computer data. Hard
disks generally offer more storage and quicker
access to data than floppy disks do.
• sometimes called Winchester disk or Winchester
drive
 Components of a Computer
I/O Systems - Input/Output Systems
Input Devices
– Keyboard
– Disk
– Card Reader
– ADC
– Clock
 Components of a Computer
I/O Systems - Input/Output Systems
Output Devises
– CRT
– Printer
– DAC
– Disk
 Computer Programming
• a series of instructions that a COMPUTER
can interpret and execute
• also called software to distinguish them
from hardware
• cause the computer to perform arithmetic
and logical operations or comparisons
 Applications of Computers
passive
computer does not participate in the
operation of the experiment but is used
only for data handling, processing,
storing, file searching, or display
 Applications of Computers
active
the output from the computer controls
the sequence of steps required for
operation of the instrument