Intelligent Sensor Design Using the Microchip dsPIC

The use of intelligent sensors that not only measure parameters but also enhance and/or interpret those measurements is spreading rapidly across all industries. A new class of embedded computing element, the digital signal controller, is proving to be an optimal way of adding intelligence to such sensors because it combines the best features of both microcontrollers and digital signal processors. Through concrete, robust examples and in-depth information on real-world sensor systems, this book enables system designers to quickly become proficient in the application of the most popular digital signal controller, the dsPICO from Microchip, to problems in intelligent sensing. Unlike many embedded systems books that confine themselves strictly to firmware/software, this book also delves into the supporting electronic hardware, providing the reader with a complete understanding of the issues involved when interfacing to specific types of sensor and offering insight into the real-world problems designers will face. Meaningful software examples are implemented in both C and assembly language, with source code being included on an accompanying CD. To further aid the reader, the examples provide a complete, easily extensible code framework for sensor-based applications as well as basic support routines that are often ignored or treated superficially. The goal throughout is to make the reader truly productive in as short a time frame as possible while providing the thorough understanding necessary to design robust systems. BENEFIT TO THE READER: Reader will gain in-depth, real-world design information that will help him/her be more productive and get up to speed on sensor design skills more quickly. The book provides designers and students a leg up in a relatively new design area, imparting knowledge about a new microcontroller that offers some of the functionality of a DSP chip. In addition, having the computer code It's very good timing the digital signal controllers have been on the market long enough to be familiar to a sizable group of designers and to build a need for information, which is definitely still lacking. We will be one of the first, if not THE first, book specific to digital signal controllers. Intelligent sensors is also a rapidly growing technology area and the book will attract readers that are simply interested in more realworld design information on this topic. The author is enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable and has good connections at Microchip that should help us get them to promote and possibly buy copies of the book.