A Parallel 8-Bit Computer Interface Circuit And Software For A Digital Nuclear Spectroscopy System

Abstract

There are 3 errors that are associated with the measurement of nuclear radiations. These are from the noise accompanying an incident radiation pulse, the dead time required for the processing of the incident radiation pulse and the pile-up of pulses. We have designed and implemented a digital nuclear radiation processing system (DNRPS) that significantly solves the 3 problems as well as being less complex and cheap. The interfacing of the digital processing system to a computer has been achieved through a less complex and cheap interface circuit using discrete integrated circuit (IC) chips. The interface circuit accepted parallel 8-bit data which were simultaneously processed. Furthermore, the operation of the digital processing section involved only digital addition and subtraction of the parallel 8-bit data. This approach has removed the need for complex digital operations requiring the use of digital signal processor chips, microprocessors and other complex and expensive devices as in commercial digital pulse processing systems.

Keywords: Analog, Circuit, Computer, Digital, Interface, Parallel Port, Processing, Programming.