[An assembly program for a personal computer to receive data from a multi-channel pulse height analyzer via RS-232C]

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Data Acquisition Systems
• Scientific Instrumentation

Background:

• Efficient data transfer is crucial for scientific research involving multi-channel analyzers (MCA).
• The PC-9801 series personal computer and MS-DOS operating system were common platforms for scientific data handling.
• Interfacing MCA devices with personal computers requires specialized software for data acquisition and storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an assembly program for the PC-9801 series to facilitate data transfer from MCA devices.
• To enable the storage of 4096-channel data from S35 plus and S40 MCA units onto floppy disks.
• To provide a method for utilizing the acquired data within N83 BASIC programs.

Main Methods:

• Developed a short assembly program utilizing MS-DOS version 3.10.
• Implemented data transfer via the RS-232C serial communication interface.
• Utilized MS-DOS BIOS calls for byte-level data reception and processed data using N83 BASIC.

Main Results:

• Successfully created an executable program for the PC-9801 series.
• Demonstrated efficient data transfer of 4096 channels from MCA units in approximately 22 seconds at a 9600 baud rate.
• Provided source code and procedures for compiling and using the data.

Conclusions:

• The developed assembly program offers a practical solution for data acquisition from Canberra MCA devices on PC-9801 systems.
• The program significantly reduces data transfer time, enhancing workflow efficiency in scientific data management.
• The provided documentation facilitates the implementation and use of the data acquisition system.