The
Configuration of a Microcomputer
Introduction:
A microcomputer is a complete computer on a smaller scale and
is generally a synonym for the more common term, personal computer or PC, a
computer designed for an individual. A microcomputer contains a microprocessor
(a central processing unit on a microchip), memory in the form of read-only
memory and random access memory, I/O ports and a bus or system of
interconnecting wires, housed in a unit that is usually called a motherboard .The development of the microcomputer as a
personal computer has made a third wave of computer technology accessible to
the engineer. At the same time, this advance makes new demands on the user.
Description:
· The Microcomputer
This
paper is restricted to a discussion of the use of the microcomputer for
controlling experiments and does not cover its use for data storage. The experimental
example is one involving sensory preconditioning using the classically conditioned
nictitating membrane response of the rabbit. It comes assembled on a single 8 x
11 in. board, which contains the microprocessing unit, two input-output (I/O) ports
for communicating with the experimental environment, circuitry fOJ sending information
to and receiving information from both an ordinary cassette recorder and a Teletype,
1,110 bytes of programmable storage, a keyboard for entering programs into the
microcomputer, and a seven-segment digital display for reading the contents of the
microcomputer. In addition, the KIM·l has a single-step function that is very
useful for debugging programs. The unit has an interval timer and the I/O ports
are directly addressable. The KIM-I is an 8-bit machine; the words or data manipulated
are 8 bits long. It uses the hexadecimal numbering system (i.e. numbers to the
base 16, 0·9, and A.F). Thus the binary number 110 is equal to hexadecimal C
and the binary number 11111100 is equal to hexadecimal FC.
· MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS
IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Necessary, be readily extended to other
configurations; although, in many instances this aspect of a microcomputers specification
is not relevant to the concept anyway. The technology behind the 16-bit
microcomputer is sufficiently advanced for several such machines to be
commercially available and even more powerful devices are development. Since
the 16-bit microcomputer can transfer 16 bits of data in a single operation,
then this machine is potentially faster in operation than the 8-bit machine.
Further, 16-bit machines are usually designed to access more memory; reference
is made to this point in section.
· microcomputer
system
A minimum system that is likely to be considered
for engineering applications would include: A central processor. Read/write memory (random access memory or
RAM). Read only memory (ROM). A visual display unit and keyboard. A tape
cassette, and/or a disk drive. A printer. Such a system is shown diagrammatically
in the function of each of these units will be briefly reviewed below, even though
this information is fairly widely known. A more difficult aspect arises when the
question of capacity figures is raised. For example, what is the significance
of having 16 Kbytes of read/write memory or a 1.5 megabyte disk? The answers to
these questions will depend on the intended application of the microcomputer,
and further guidance will be given later on these points. However, it is
appropriate now to look at the center of a mionclusion:
Tcrocomputer and build up an
appreciation from there.
Che
microcomputer described is used to run rabbits automatically in a sensory preconditioning
experiment. The only information the system requires before a run is whether the
particular subject is in the stimulus- pairing or in the control group. Once that
information is loaded, all that is necessary is to push the "go" button
and wait for the run to finish. The value of such a system is in the complexity
of the experiment it can control, and that programs rather than wires are changed
to alter an experiment this can be accomplished easily.
Reference :
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