Page 6 - The Mechatronics Handbook

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this fifth section, the focus is on computer hardware and associated issues of logic, communication,
networking, architecture, fault analysis, embedded computers, and programmable logic controllers. The
chapters, listed in order of appearance, are:
35. Introduction to Computers and Logic Systems
36. Logic Concepts and Design
37. System Interfaces
38. Communication and Computer Networks
39. Fault Analysis in Mechatronic Systems
40. Logic System Design
41. Synchronous and Asynchronous Sequential Systems
42. Architecture
43. Control with Embedded Computers and Programmable Logic Controllers

Section Six – Software and Data Acquisition
Given that computers play a central role in modern mechatronics products, it is very important to
understand how data is acquired and how it makes its way into the computer for processing and logging.
The final section of the Mechatronics Handbook is devoted to the issues surrounding computer software
and data acquisition. The chapters, listed in order of appearance, are:

44. Introduction to Data Acquisition
45. Measurement Techniques: Sensors and Transducers
46. A/D and D/A Conversion
47. Signal Conditioning
48. Computer-Based Instrumentation Systems
49. Software Design and Development
50. Data Recording and Logging

Acknowledgments
I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all the contributing authors. Taking time in otherwise busy and
hectic schedules to author the excellent articles appearing in the Mechatronics Handbook is much appre-
ciated. I also wish to thank my Advisory Board for their help in the early stages of planning the topics
in the handbook.
This handbook is a result of a collaborative effort expertly managed by CRC Press. My thanks to the
editorial and production staff:
Nora Konopka, Acquisitions Editor
Michael Buso, Project Coordinator
Susan Fox, Project Editor
Thanks to my friend and collaborator Professor Richard C. Dorf for his continued support and
guidance. And finally, a special thanks to Lynda Bishop for managing the incoming and outgoing draft
manuscripts. Her organizational skills were invaluable to this project.

Robert H. Bishop
Editor-in-Chief

©2002 CRC Press LLC