Practical Digital Signal Processing using Microcontrollers

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is the process of capturing, analysing, and manipulation of usually an analog signal by a digital processor, e.g. a digital computer.

The theory of DSP is quite complex and requires good understanding of high level mathematics. Students new to DSP are usually taught the theory in great detail with very little or no practical application. For example, in many cases a student can derive complex equations for digital filters, but is unable to implement a digital filter in real life.

Some institutions use tools such as MATLAB to derive the coefficients of digital filters and then simulate the behaviour of these filters on a PC. Although simulation can be an invaluable tool in teaching, it is never the same as real-time and real-life implementations.

The aim of this book is to outline the basic principles of DSP and to introduce DSP from a practical point of view, using minimum of mathematics. The practical implementation is described using widely available low-cost general purpose microcontrollers so that DSP applications can be designed with ease. The book makes use of the high-end PIC18F series of microcontrollers.