Microprocessor real-time signal processing
H.B. GATLAND · 1977
Microprocessor elements can economically replace minicomputers or hardwired logic assemblies for signal processing operations including filtering, delay, convolution or correlation. Such a replacement can lower the cost of the facility and, because of the reduced complexity of inter-connection, increase the reliability. A switch register enables simple programs to be placed in memory but permanent program storage can readily be provided by erasable read-only memory. Most microprocessors have more register storage than is usual for a minicomputer and, coupled with an implicit addressing facility, signal operations are easy to program. Fortunately the availability of low-cost analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters has kept pace with microprocessor development, enabling the use of dedicated converters, thereby eliminating much of the inconvenience associated with multiplexing. Applications for signal delay, probability density display, and integration are described.