IBM-PC Microcomputer Principles and Interface Technology (Revised Edition)

Author: Chief Editor: Zhaoli Ping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features:
Introduction This book is a textbook for undergraduate (college) non-computer majors in the "Microcomputer Principles and Applications" course. Based on the teaching basic requirements formulated by the National Education Commission's Engineering Computer Basic Course Teaching Guidance Committee in May 1992, it is written with the IBM-PC series microcomputer (8086/8088 microprocessor) as the background. The book is divided into eight chapters, introducing computer fundamentals and the basic composition of microcomputers, with a focus on assembly language programming and I/O interface technology. It concludes with an introduction to the structural principles of the microprocessor 80286/80386. The book is well-chosen in content and well-structured, suitable for systematic teaching or for teachers to organize and arrange according to different levels and requirements. Excerpt:
2. Applications of Computers The emergence of electronic digital computers has led to a great technological revolution. The scientific and technological level, production scale, and application extent of electronic computers have become important indicators for measuring a country's modernization. As a tool for human thinking and logical reasoning, electronic computers will undoubtedly drive profound changes in science and technology, as well as have a far-reaching impact on social production and life. Computers are being increasingly widely used in various fields of scientific research, industry, agriculture, national defense, and social life, which can be roughly summarized in the following aspects:
(1) Scientific and Technological Computing The calculations encountered in the development of science and technology in production are collectively referred to as scientific and technological computing. Using computers for numerical calculations can save a significant amount of time, manpower, and material resources. Some scientific and technological problems may not have complex calculation methods, but the workload is so large that it is impossible to compute manually. For example, in the mid-19th century, a mathematical problem called the "Four Color Theorem" in map coloring was proposed. It means that to color a map so that adjacent countries do not share the same color, only four colors are needed. However, this theorem remained unproven in mathematics for a long time, becoming a major challenge. It was not until 1976 that scientists used a high-speed electronic computer to prove it after 1,200 hours of computation, which caused a sensation worldwide. If calculated manually, even if one person worked day and night, it would take tens of thousands of years! Another example is the calculation of pi "π." In the Southern and Northern Dynasties period of China, Zu Chongzhi calculated π to 3.1415926, which was already remarkable at the time. In the 18th century, British mathematician John Machin spent 20 years advancing it to 707 decimal places (with 527 of them incorrect). The birth of computers provided a new means for calculating π. In 1962, it reached 100,000 decimal places, and by 1973, it exceeded 1 million decimal places. In the early 1980s, two Japanese researchers, after 6.8 hours of computation on a high-speed computer, broke the record with 8 million decimal places. Another category of problems involves manual calculation being too slow, so by the time the result is obtained, it has already lost significance. For example, weather forecasts for large regions, using computers, can produce results in less than an hour. If a mechanical calculator is used, it would take several weeks. Additionally, some problems may not be able to find the optimal solution through manual calculation. In modern engineering, design selection is often a critical issue due to high investment and long cycles. To choose an ideal solution, detailed calculations of dozens or even hundreds of options are often required, from which the best can be selected. Only with the use of computers can this be achieved.
(2) Automatic Control (Real-Time Control) Real-time control refers to the ability to promptly collect and detect necessary data from the controlled object and to automatically adjust and control it based on the best conditions. Since the controlled object is a physical or production process, it is also known as process control. With the help of computers, the accuracy of automatic control can be improved, achieving high levels of automation in complex production processes, thereby increasing product pass rates, improving product quality, and reducing costs. Microcomputers are particularly active in this field. Using computers to control machine tools (CNC machines) not only reduces the labor intensity of production workers but also increases production efficiency and processing accuracy. For example, computer-controlled milling machines can process complex-shaped turbine blades without molds, as long as the design requirements are programmed. The machine can then accurately and quickly produce the blades, with processing precision reaching 0.013 mm and processing time shortened from 3 weeks to 4 hours. One or more computers can control multiple devices to form a production line, controlling the production of a workshop or even an entire factory, with even more significant economic and technical effects. Unmanned aircraft, missiles, satellites, space exploration, and more all rely heavily on computers. In modern aircraft's fire control and navigation systems, computers are at the center of control.
(3) Data and Transaction Processing Humans obtain vast amounts of information in scientific research, production practice, economic activities, and daily life, such as experimental data, observational data, statistical data, and raw data. The task of data processing is to organize, sort, classify, and statistically process this data according to different requirements, presenting data distribution curves or printing relevant reports. Data processing generally does not involve complex mathematical problems but requires handling large amounts of data with strong time sensitivity. Data processing accounts for a significant proportion of computer applications. Only with computers can data processing be timely and accurate. A typical example is the population census. In transaction management, from personal family life to national planning management, as well as in various fields such as enterprise management, banking transaction management, air traffic management, and flight and train ticketing, as well as military air defense system management, computers have been widely used and are continuously expanding their scope, penetrating into every aspect.
(4) Computer-Aided Design Using Computer-Aided Design (CAD), the design process can be made semi-automated or fully automated, which is a new application field for computers. The main equipment for CAD includes electronic computers, image displays, and a component called a light pen. People use the light pen to draw design diagrams on the display screen, and after processing by the computer, the graphics and dimensions are displayed. If it is not satisfactory, it can be modified using the light pen until it is. Finally, the design data is stored in the computer's memory system. For example, the design of large-scale integrated circuits uses CAD methods to create complete graphical images of each layer of the circuit's mask. More significantly, using computer-aided design can design a new computer. In industrial production, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-Aided Testing (CAT) technologies are also used.
(5) Intelligent Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Computers can simulate advanced human thinking activities, such as playing chess, expert systems, automatic translation, pattern recognition, information retrieval, cryptanalysis, fingerprint identification, robots, and tactical research.
1.1.2 Development and Applications of Microcomputers The introduction of the Intel 4004 microprocessor in 1971 marked the beginning of the microcomputer era in the rapid development of computers. Over the past 20 years, the research and development of microcomputers have advanced at an incredible pace, with microprocessor performance and integration doubling almost every two years, and accelerating like a snowball. The development of microcomputer systems and applications has been even faster. Like general-purpose computers, microcomputers have also gone through four generations, with the most advanced fourth-generation microcomputers already on the market and moving toward the fifth generation. Unlike general-purpose computers, the four generations of microcomputers do not replace each other but coexist, each used in its appropriate field.
I. Microprocessor and Microcomputer The birth of the microprocessor is a significant achievement of digital system technology. Thanks to its advanced technology, it is possible to construct the central processing unit (CPU) chip on a very small chip. However, the microprocessor chip itself cannot perform independent processing work. It must be provided with data and programs to process, and after the program's operations are completed, the results must be output through corresponding devices. Therefore, storage units for data and programs, as well as input/output circuits and other components, must be equipped for the microprocessor. These components and input/output devices together form the hardware part of the microcomputer system., it constitutes a microcomputer system. It can be seen that the microprocessor is the core component of the microcomputer, but it is not a microcomputer. The two should not be confused. Currently, both microcomputers and microprocessor products are available on the market, each with different applications.