A fast microcomputer language for signal acquisition, processing and display.

Abstract

Data Acquisition and Display (DAD) language was designed to facilitate the application of 8080- and Z80-based microcomputers to problems involving signal acquisition, processing and display. DAD supports instructions that are similar to those BASIC but also has instructions found in the structured programming languages. Implemented as an interactive compiler and designed around a hardware arithmetic processing unit interfaced to the S100 bus, DAD executes its instructions considerably faster than most high-level languages. DAD supports floating point, double-precision integer and an additional single-byte-integer data structure for the acquisition and processing of 8-bit resolution data. DAD interfaces with peripherals that use the unsigned-magnitude or 2'-s-complement data format. A hardware programmable interval timer supplies accurate timing for many of DAD's instructions. DAD operates under and relies upon the CP/M operating system for its console and disk file input/output.