in APL) and a (hardware) circuit
(described by a gate diagram). The
exercises following each chapter
make it a valuable candidate for
course adoption.
G Chroust, IBM Osterreich,
Laboratory Wien, Austria
An introduction to
microcomputers. Vol I -
Basic concepts and
Vol 2 - Some real
products.
8080 programming for
logic design
A Osborne. Adam Osborne &
Associates (obtainable from
Sybex Publications
Department, Paris) (1976) (2nd
edJ, 289 pp, 368 pp and 273 pp,
respectively, $7.50 each
(paperback).
Vol I deals with the basic ideas and
architecture of microcomputers, and
begins with an interesting, though
short, history. This is followed by an
explanation of the binary number
system, binary arithmetic and Boolean
algebra (common to virtually all
books on logic design). The
architecture proper is then
developed. Memory organization is
discussed from a hardware viewpoint,
continuing with the central processor
unit and I/O controllers. The book
finishes by discussing microcomputer
machine/assembly language
instructions. (The distinction between
machine language and assembly
language is not made clear on first
reading.)
Vol 2 deals with a number of
microprocessors currently on the
market (though this is not a
comparative study), with one chapter
of nineteen devotedto arparticular
product. 4-bit, B-bit, one 12-bit and
16-bit devices are examined,
including associated components and
bit-slice types. (This material will of
course soon date.) The distinction
between minicomputer replacement
types and random logic replacement
types is made. Bringing together this
information in one book could be
vol I no 5 june 77
very useful for immediate reference
purposes, and great detail is provided,
including data sheets and Sources of
devices.
The third volume deals with the use
of the 8080 microcomputer for
simulation and replacement of
traditional random logic circuitry,
using a printer interface as a running
example. Included is a complete
description of the 8080 instruction set.
The three books have been printed
in two type faces, a bold type to
indicate important ideas, and
standard type for expansion and
further explanation of the bold-type
material. Key words are highlighted.
This allows a reader with some prior
knowledge (none is assumed) to skip
sections and look for particular
definitions and explanations, which is
quite successful. In fact, it is almost a
necessity, for some of the material is
laboriously developed. The
differences and similarities between
microcomputers and minicomputers
are mentioned in several places
throughout. Illustrations are profuse,
with emphasis on packages and pin
connnections.
These books can be recommended
as suitable for reference and for a
determined reader who would obtain
detailed knowledge of current
microcomputers.
A B Wilkinson, University College
Cardiff, Wales
EDN microprocessor
design series - Volume
II
Cahners Publishing Co.,
Boston, Mass. 02116, USA
(1976) 171 pp
The second in the EDN
microprocessor design series contains
22 papers, and is divided into sections
on directories and market (three),
evaluations and comparisons (six),
software and programming (five) and
design and applications (eight).
Representative papers include
-'Second annual microprocessor
directory', 'Single-chip
microprocessors move into the 16-bit
arena', 'Software for the hardware
designer- Parts 1 and 2' and 'Pitfalls to
avoid in applying microprocessors'.
Proceedings of the
symposium on design
automation and
microprocessors
I EEEComputer Society/ACM,
Palo Alto, CA, USA (February
24-25, 1977) IEEE(1977) 107 pp
The proceedings contains 19 papers
on the iJse of design automation with
microprocessors, and includes papers
on 'Computer aids for the design of
manufacturable microcomputer-
based systems' by L A O'Neill (Bell
Labs.), 'Simulation hierarchy for
microprocessor design' by W
Sherwood (DEC) and 'Capability
requirements in a
multimicroprocessor,
hardware/software simulation
environment' by P J Drongowski
(Ford Aerospace and
Communications).
Applications of
microcircuits to
telecomm unication
equipment
Colloquium Digest 1977/19,
Institution of Electrical
Engineers (1977)
The colloquium was devoted entirely
to the application of custom-designed
microcircuits to telecommunications
equipment. Papers presented
included 'MOS reliability' by
R C Ambrose (British Post Office),
'Microcircuits in pushbutton
telephones' by D C A Connelly (GEC
Telecommunications Ltd.) and
'Application of microcircuits to
telecommunication equipment' by
J G L Rhodes (Pye TMC Ltd.).
The papers demonstrated that the
custom-designed LSI unit approach
will play amucb.greater role in future
telecommunications equipment, both
in the area of subscriber apparatus,
where its application is almost
mandatory, owing to the
requirements of low power
consumption, high reliability and low
cost, and also in large systems.
339