The Art of Micro Design

ZX Computing

Patrick Cain

"The Art of Micro Design" is one of those 'Text book' books that manages to successfully cross over into the general interest category. Its ability to do that is due to the author's awareness of the difficulty that people have in putting together a sufficient understanding of the workings of a microprocessor. Maybe I should clarify what I mean by general interest. The book is aimed at engineers and enthusiasts who wish to gain a practical working knowledge of microprocessor system design. Naturally being of general interest it restricts itself to 8 microprocessor systems, you might imagine it amounts to fairly demanding reading; but it is of general interest as it assumes minimum previous knowledge of electronics, while it covers the topics in sufficient detail to allow the reader to design around microprocessor circuits. I met this fellow recently who lists being a fisherman and a defence systems designer on his C.V. He pointed to the fact that it now wasn't possible for the hobbyist to compete with technology from the kitchen table or anywhere else for that matter. Enthusiasts who have taken technology to where it is today are being forced from their pastimes because of it. I had to agree. Three hundred consuming pages later I'm not so sure. Using three actual MPU's - the Z80, 6800 and the 1802 - as examples Mr. Berk offers actual data and principles of reading data sheets which could be applied to any MPU. Subsequent discussions on bus structures, memory, input/output devices and interfacing are detailed and supported by examples. Later chapters develop this new knowledge to consider the use of the micro in computer systems from control and data collection machines to local area networks. No more is required of the reader than an understanding of logic gates and some general electronic theory. Four appendices offer any further background required and the text provides rather than assumes any more advanced knowledge. The author manages throughout to convey concepts and principles which are highly theoretical by reference to practical situations and standard hardware. His intention was to enable the reader to have a sufficiently complete understanding of microprocessor design to be practical; in this he has highly successful. "The Art of Micro Design" may plant the seed for a whole crop of micro controlled systems. I shall certainly recommend it to my hobbyist friend, his hitherto frustrated fellow enthusiasts and daunted and bewildered engineers. "The Art of Micro Design" is written by A.A. Berk and published by Newnes Technics Books. ISBNO-408-01403-2.

Personal Computer News

Kenn Garroch

'The Art of Micro Design' by A A Berk, published by Newnes Technical Books at £13.95 (paperback, 296pp) The Art of Micro Design is not only for the micro enthusiast but also for the layman and though rather technical in places, it begins where many introductory books end. It covers all the details on the hardware, and some of the software involved in getting microprocessors up and running. The author treats microprocessors as little black boxes into which instructions are put and out of which signals come. Starting with an overview of the various signals, three common processors are used (Z80, 6800, and 1802) to demonstrate various addressing modes and what these mean when attaching memory chips and other peripherals. Sadly omitted, though, is indirect addressing as used on the 6502, 6809 upwards; a feature which should not have been ignored. Other subjects are RAMs, ROMS, EPROMS, Bubble memories, and disks and how they are used as a means of storage. Then there's input/output possibilities, things like PIAs and VIAs and how they are used to an extent where manufacturers' data sheets should pose no problems. LEDs, video displays, keyboards, and voice synthesisers are among other subjects covered. The whole field is dealt with almost up to degree standard (more so in some cases). It is very readable and useful for anyone who is either studying micros or has read the beginner's books and wants to know more.