Microcomputers and Laboratory Instrumentation
The invention of the microcomputer in the mid-1970s and its subsequent low-cost proliferation has opened up a new world for the laboratory scientist. Tedious data collection can now be automated relatively cheaply and with an enormous increase in reliabil
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MICROCOMPUTERS AND LABORATORY INSTRUMENTATION
David J. Malcolme-Lawes King's College London London, England
PLENUM PRESS • NEW YORK AND LONDON
Ubrary of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Malcolme-lawes, D. J. Microcomputers and laboratory instrumentation. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Physical instruments-Data processing. 2. Physical laboratories-Data processing. 3. Microcomputers. 1. Title. QC53.M27 1984 530 1 7'02854 84-3328 ISBN 978-1-4615-7433-0 ISBN 978-1-4615-7431-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4615-7431-6
© 1984 Plenum Press, New York Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1si edition 1984 A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation 233 Spring Street, New York, N.Y. 10013 AII rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ar transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, ar otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
To Louisa and James
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PREFACE
The invention of the microcomputer in the mid-1970s and its subsequent low-cost proliferation has opened up a new world for the laboratory scientist. Tedious data collection can now be automated relatively cheaply and with an enormous increase in reliability. New techniques of measurement are accessible with the "intelligent" instrumentation made possible by these programmable devices, and the ease of use of even standard measurement techniques may be improved by the data processing capabilities of the humblest micro. The latest items of commercial laboratory instrumentation are invariably "computer controlled", although this is more likely to mean that a microprocessor is involved than that a versatile microcomputer is provided along with the instrument. It is clear that all scientists of the future will need some knowledge of computers, if only to aid them in mastering the button pushing associated with gleaming new instruments. However, to be able to exploit this newly accessible computing power to the full the practising laboratory scientist must gain sufficient understanding to utilise the communication channels between apparatus on the laboratory bench and program within the computer. This book attempts to provide an introduction to those communication channels in a manner which is understandable for scientists who do not specialise in electronics or computers. The contents are based on courses given to undergraduate and postgraduate science students at King's College London. The objective of those courses was to provide students with an understanding of how modern microcomputers can communicate with laboratory apparatus for measurement and control purposes. It was not expected that all the students would have to design and build interfaces to achieve their ends, but rather that they should understand the principles on which interfaces operate and the capabilities and limitations of practical devices, so that they could design experiments in their own fields with a foundation knowledge of how a microcomputer could be employed. The co
