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Author: John Mulindi

  • Programming Embedded Systems in Assembly Language vs. High-Level Language

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    John Mulindi
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    Assembly Language Programming Assembly language programming of an embedded system has the following advantages: High-Level Language Programming High-level programming languages like C, C++, Java, and Python are often used in place of Assembly language for programming of microprocessors. They have advantages when compared to Assembly language of being easier to use and that the same…

  • What is an Embedded System?

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    John Mulindi
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    Since this is an ever evolving field with advancement in technology, you will find various definitions of embedded systems out there but what stands out from all of them is that, they are electronic systems that contain either a microprocessor or a microcontroller, but we don’t think of them as computers, because the computer is…

  • PIC16F84 Microcontroller Features

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    John Mulindi
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    PIC16F84 belongs to a class of 8-bit microcontrollers of RISC architecture (i.e. microcontrollers with Reduced Instruction Set Computer). This is a low cost Microchip microcontroller with EEPROM flash memory for program and data storage. It has no built-in Analog to Digital converter (A/D) and Digital to Analog converter (D/A) or serial communication capability. Other PIC…

  • Features of a Serial Interface

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    John Mulindi
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    In a serial interface, the data is sent 1 bit after the other on a single wire. Serial data is classified as being either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous data require that the data bytes be sent as group in a “package”. It is employed in advanced communication systems that move a lot of data. Asynchronous…

  • Designing a System to Measure & Display a Shaft Rotation Speed

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    John Mulindi
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    We would like to design a system to measure and display the rotational speed of a shaft. To accomplish this, we shall use a number of integrated circuits (ICs) to create the desired functionality of this system. A simple technique to measure the speed is to count the number of shaft rotations during a given…

  • The Parts and Functions of a Valve

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    John Mulindi
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    A valve is a mechanical device that controls the flow of fluid and pressure within a system or process. A valve controls system or process fluid flow and pressure by performing any of the following functions: Notwithstanding the type of the valve, all the valves have the following basic parts: Valve Body The body, sometimes…

  • Analog vs. Digital Controllers

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    John Mulindi
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    Analog signals pass continuously through a full range of values for example a measuring device converts the process variable (PV), say temperature, into a signal corresponding to this temperature. Each temperature value corresponds to a value of the electrical signal. Digital signals belong to the group of discrete signals; here the individual signals are represented…

  • Position Control System using a Microprocessor-Based Controller

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    John Mulindi
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    Consider the following figure illustrating a position control system employing a microprocessor-based controller with parallel ports: The system above has one output port and three input ports (each port has its own address). The output port is partitioned: Six bits are converted in a Digital Analog Converter (DAC) to provide the analog motor-drive signal, the…

  • Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller

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    John Mulindi
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    A microprocessor by itself is not a computer. To be functional, the microprocessor must be connected to other ICs that provide the memory and I/O capability. A microcontroller is a computer on a single IC, designed specifically for control applications. It consists of a microprocessor, memory (RAM and ROM), I/O ports and can have additional…

  • The Varactor Diode

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    John Mulindi
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    The varactor also termed to as varicap, is a diode that behaves like a variable capacitor, with the PN junction working like the dielectric and plates of a common capacitor. Because of this, the symbol of the varactor is as shown below: A varactor diode employs a PN junction in reverse bias and has a…