This very well-written textbook brings together the fields of electronic measurement and digital computing hardware and software, as applied to microprocessor applications in measurement and control. The main emphasis is on the use of microprocessors embedded in systems to provide greater power, flexibility, and effectiveness. The book was written to be useful to readers having only a passing knowledge and experience of measurements, digital and analog electronics, and programming; as well as to extend their knowledge into the area of intelligent instrumentation. No prior knowledge of microprocessors is required, nor is the book based on any specific microprocessor family. As a textbook, it has been designed for use by students taking undergraduate courses in measurements, control, digital electronics, computer science, and instrumentation, or graduate courses which provide conversion from a scientific discipline to an applied technology, and by applications engineers investigating Intelligent Instrumentation for the first time. The latter will find the text suitable for general reading before attempting specialized design work in a particular measurement area.

The book is structured in 22 short chapters, including: how temperature, force, weight, pressure, and flow are measured; how digital transducers work; microprocessor hardware and software; and analog to digital conversion, interfacing, and signal processing. Each chapter progresses from the fundamentals to more complex details, and worked-out examples are provided throughout. Timed exercises are provided at the end of each chapter to enable readers to gauge their understanding of the material. A few actual case studies are included at the end of the book. These tend to enhance the reader’s overall understanding of intelligent instrumentation processes. An extensive glossary of terms is included. This is an excellent introductory textbook of anyone wanting to learn the design of intelligent embedded microprocessor control systems.