Micro-controller and digital signal processing : an investigation into digital signal processing with emphasis on simplicity and practicality

Abstract

New advances in digital electronics have made it possible to manufacture microcontrollers which are capable of analyzing and processing signals. Now applications that require bulky components and complex hardware can be implemented by using microcontrollers. The auto industry is using these single chips to monitor and control the speed of the motor, fuel injection rate and spark timing. Precision electronic instruments, peripheral devices, communication devices such as pagers, laser printers, color copiers, are all equipped with one or more microcontroller chips. A modern approach, which takes full advantage of the microcontroller's programmability, has made it feasible to simulate such tasks as filtering in the digital domain. This thesis investigates the design and implementation of a 5-band audio signal analyzer by using the latest 16-bit microcontroller manufactured by Motorola. Methods and techniques involved in the areas of analog-to-digital conversion, digital signal processing, serial interfacing, and related programming routines are discussed and developed. Hardware as well as software design goals, with the emphasis on programmability of microcontrollers, are presented,