Design Of Microprocessor-based System Research Articles

Incorporating DRAGON12-light trainer board in an introductory microprocessors course

The HCS12 microcontroller and DRAGON12-Light Trainer boards are extensively utilized in microprocessor system design education. This paper details the rationale, approach, and outcomes from implementing the DRAGON12-Light Trainer board in teaching an upper-level undergraduate microprocessors course at Oakland University. The course’s primary goal is for students to acquire the skills necessary to design both hardware and software for microprocessor-based systems, with applications across various industries. The paper assesses the effectiveness of employing the Motorola HCS12 microcontroller for its real-world relevance and integrates the Freescale CodeWarrior IDE v5.1 environment for software development. This research uniquely contributes by measuring the improvement in students’ practical skills, specifically in hardware and software design using assembly and C programming, through hands-on lab assignments. It reports on the development of students’ abilities to engage in microprocessor-based system design and critically evaluates the applied aspects of pedagogy by incorporating the DRAGON12-Light Trainer in lab exercises, such as those involving ’Measuring Human Reaction Time’ and ’Servo motor interfacing.’ Quantitative results, derived from student surveys and assessments, indicate significant improvements in students’ programming competencies. The paper provides statistical results showcasing the increase in students’ self-rated confidence levels in assembly and C language programming before and after course completion. Additionally, qualitative insights are discussed, reflecting students’ experiences and the perceived applicability of the skills they acquired. These results underscore the pedagogical value of integrating practical training devices like the DRAGON12-Light Trainer board into microprocessors curricula.

A technique of building a value function at the stage of conceptual design of microprocessor systems

The aim of this study is to formalize the selection of optimal technical solutions early in the design of microprocessor-based systems, which allows developers to analyze the recommended solutions, and has, in comparison with the traditional «intuitive» approach, at least two undeniable merits. First, the accepted assumptions and limitations are clearly formed. Secondly, it is defined precisely, in what sense the decision is optimal. When designing microprocessor systems (systems hereafter), several characteristics have to be taken into account at the same time. In general, when n properties are taken into account for each of the compared systems, then the solution of the task of choosing “the best” system depends on choosing a function-criterion. Such function is called a value function in the article. A simple quadratic function is suggested as the value function, it can be interpreted as the distance in Euclidean space of systems technical data. The system, which corresponds to the point nearest to the point characterizing the master system with “limiting” characteristics, is considered the best one. This function approximates the designer’s system of preferences signifi cantly better than a “classical” linear value function. In conclusion, note that the developed recommendations allow the designer of complex technical systems to analyze the proposed solutions in the early stages of design and, in case of disagreement with them, to indicate the reasons why he considers them inadequate. The designed machine optimization of technical solutions in conjunction with the traditional engineering approach should allow more reasonable choosing the structure of systems at the stage of systems conceptual design.

An overview of MICKEY: A knowledge-based hardware-software codesign framework for microprocessor-based systems

We present the architecture of a second-generation expert system for the automated design of microprocessor-based systems. A novel feature is the integration of a device handbook knowledge base with a shallow expert system, to provide resilience and deep reasoning capability. The design tasks, knowledge sources, behaviour modelling scheme, behaviour mapping algorithms, and inter-layer communication are briefly described.

Design of microprocessor-based systems: a knowledge-based approach

The widespread use of microprocessors in industrial applications such as process control, data logging, monitoring, etc., demand that the design of such systems be automated. Algorithmic methods are inadequate for this task, as knowledge from several sources need to be combined to produce the resulting design. In this paper the authors present a knowledge-based approach to the design of such systems, which includes the design of the hardware configuration as well as the application software. The knowledge requirements and the functional modules of the design task are elicited, and practical designs are demonstrated.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Design of microprocessor-based system for positioning servomechanism with induction motor

Digital control algorithms are proposed for a position-controlled system with an inverter-fed induction motor. Two structures for the positioning servomechanism are suggested in which the appropriate digital control laws are applied and a straightforward method for adjusting of controller parameters is developed. The method enables the designer to match the desired dynamic performance and to eliminate the steady-state position error due to the presence of a constant or a slowly varying load disturbance. Particular attention is paid to the nonlinear position control design, which preserves the desired response even in the case when electrical torque reaches limits imposed by the inverter current capacity. To illustrate the proposed design procedure and to verify the efficiency of the nonlinear control laws, simulation results and waveforms from an experimental setup are presented. >

Fault tolerance and self-checking techniques in microprocessor-based system design

Fault tolerant design is receiving considerable attention at present in order to safeguard against improper operation of digital systems in critical applications. A number of multiprocessor systems featuring hardware fault tolerance are now available commercially. The paper presents an overview of some of the work done so far in the application of fault tolerance techniques to improve the reliability and availability of microprocessor-based systems. An alternative approach to enhance the reliability of a system is to apply self-checking techniques, primarily through the use of error detecting codes. By merging the fault tolerance and the self-checking techniques, the reliability and the maintainability of microprocessor-based systems can be significantly improved.

An Engineering-Oriented Design Approach to Microprocessors

This paper presents the engineering design approach to microprocessors. The methods of using some simple tools such as block diagrams, flowcharts, maps and program listings for microprocessor-based system design are considered around a real product. The design method satisfies the disciplined documentation requirements necessary in engineering designs.

Floppy discs. The storage medium for microprocessor systems

The rapid growth of the market for small microprocessor-based systems has made the floppy-disc drive, which provides mass storage at a price/performance level ideally suited to these systems, probably the most widely used system component of all time. As the performance of a system&apos;s mass storage devices can determine its overall performance, detailed knowledge of the floppy-disc drive&apos;s operating characteristics is essential for all those engaged in the design of microprocessor-based systems

Advances in Microcomputer Development Systems

The advent of the microprocessor has enabled designers to prove that they can now perform the same tasks previously accomplished with TTL or minicomputers but at the same time achieve much greater product complexity. Thus, results are not simply products that replace old ones with greater cost effectiveness, but ones which incorporate a magnitude of new features. The next generations of product design after the conversion to microprocessors will be characterized largely by a mastery of reconfiguration of memory and peripherals. However, a key problem that will remain in configuring microcomputer systems is the generation of microcomputer software and, in particular, its integration with the microcomputer hardware. Designers of first-generation microprocessor systems were often disturbed by their inability to significantly reduce the design and development time and indeed the cost of the product. The microprocessor-based system design learning curve was at least as steep as that of TTL design. The microprocessor represents a new logic family which requires new tools for development, because both hardware and software are required simultaneously for generation of the logic.