Application of a Laboratory Analog-Digital Computer System to Data Acquisition and Reduction for Quantitative Analyses

A flexible, general purpose program for a laboratory data acquisition and reduction system employing a minicomputer for off-line processing of digitized data readings from electroanalytical instrumentation was developed. Instrument data from the on-line operation of a hard-wired analog-to-digital data acquisition subsystem in conjunction with an atomic absorption instrument, a colorimeter, or a pH/millivolt meter for speeific-ion electrode determinations, are transformed into concentration units by using a linear interpolation method. The relationship between instrument measurements and quantitative data is approximated by several straight-line segments between the graphical coordinates associated with each of the reference standards analyzed. The coordinates are determined by calibrating readings and known concentrations. Routines are included to edit incorrect raw readings and to make corrections to compensate for unavoidable deviations from standard analytical procedure. The FOCAL-8 language program, therefore, permits unattended processing of sequentially read paper tape input. The results punched on paper tape are easily transferred to a large computer for more sophisticated data analysis and storage.

HYBRID—a user-developed hybrid interpretive language

An interpretive hybrid programming language, HYBRID, has been developed by The Foxboro Company, for use in a small hybrid computer system. The TELETYPE* oriented language comprises a command structure resembling FOCAL and offers hybrid instructions similar to HOI. It provides features seldom found in software for small (mini) computers with limited core, such as computed (variable) part and step numbers in go-to instructions, foreground- background operational modes, monitor functions, and a full assortment of hybrid and interrupt handling capabilities. The HYBRID program occupies approximately 4K of core in a PDP-7t 18-bit computer and includes routines for drum (disc) and paper tape input- output of source and data files. It permits the use of assembly (machine) language routines to be called by source program commands. The variable list (Symbol Table) is referenced in a binary search mode, which results in fast execution speed as well as efficient running of the source program. The language contains a number of error-checking and source-program protection provisions to make it as user-friendly and fault-tolerant as possible .