INTRODUCTION TO EMBEDDED MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS: MOTOROLA 6811 AND 6812 SIMULATIONS (W/CD)

Jonathan Valvano's new text provides students with an introduction to the field of microcomputer programming and interfacing using the Motorola 6811 and 6812 chips. The objective of this book is to present basic computer architecture, teach assembly language programming, and introduce microcomputer interfacing. Valvano develops these topics around the TExaS simulator. Included free with the book on CD, the TExaS simulator is a self-contained program for testing microcomputer hardware and software. The simulator shows activity internal to the chip so one can experience the architecture by observing activity inside the microcomputer. Also, TExaS provides the ability to connect external hardware devices like switches, LEDs, LCDs, keyboards, serial port devices, motors, and analog circuits. One can use TExaS to learn microcomputer programming and interfacing, develop software in assembly language using the TExaS assembler, and program in C using a cross-compiler. Compared with Valvano's more advanced book titled "Embedded Microcomputer Systems: Real Time Interfacing," this book contains more hands on use of the TExaS simulator and places less emphasis on theory.

Jonathan W. Valvano is a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to teaching and writing, Dr. Valvano researches perfusion, the transmission of blood in the microcirculation, an important factor in surgery, tissue transplants, heart disease and cancer therapy. Despite its importance, no clinical method of measuring perfusion is currently available. Dr. Valvano's group develops thermal methods to measure this important parameter. Much debate considers which heat transfer model best describes tissue blood flow. Until recently, researchers widely adopted a model suggested by Pennes to demonstrate the heat transfer effects of perfusion. The model's validity has been disputed. Dr. Valvano's group develops new thermal models founded on basic principles. Their research integrates analytic bioheat transfer, finite element numerical modeling, transducer design, analog instrumentation, microcomputer interfacing, interactive computer software, animal experimentation and clinical studies.