City Research Online

Abstract

Computer aided measurement (CAM) is a distinct branch of measurement science made possible by the fusion of discrete signal theory and real-time computing. Recent advances in these, and other, areas have increased the relevance of CAM from both the technological and economic viewpoints.

The roving slave processor (RSP) represents a novel extension of CAM which enhances the economic advantages by the use of inexpensive micro-processor systems, and removes the need for physical proximity between the CAM system and the experimental site. It thus affords the prospect of bringing real-time computing and digital signal processing to some difficult and urgent measurement tasks, which would otherwise remain neglected.

The design of an RSP is a critical balance between hardware and software realisations of measurement processes. Hardware increases speed at a cost in power consumption and reduced generality, whereas software maintains generality and conserves power at the expense of processing performance. The placing of the software-hardware boundary is thus critical. Signal processing, representing one of the more demanding CAM tasks, is used as a performance measure, and this demonstrates that many functions are still outside the capability of a practicable RSP.

The development work on the RSP, in demonstrating the need for careful optimisation of the system design, has underlined the lack of detailed knowledge of how a real-time system functions.

A basic RSP is described and demonstrated with a typical CAM application. A novel programming system is introduced, based on a high speed link to a host computer, and methods of testing, including by hierarchical connection, are suggested.

Details are given of an unorthodox programming language which has advantages of intelligibility and ease of de-assembly.

A dual processor RSP is described, and consideration is given to the difficulties of efficient synchronisation in a close-coupled system. An application of such a processor to a CAM task (pulse height analysis) is demonstrated.

The problems of efficient, programmable interfaces are discussed, and an unorthodox solution is proposed, based on a very simple, fast processor.

Finally, future developments are reviewed and the need for detailed performance analysis of the dual processor is underlined.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Department of Engineering School of Science & Technology > School of Science & Technology Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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