Computer vision is probably the most exciting branch of image processing, and the number of applications in robotics, automation technology and quality control is constantly increasing. Unfortunately entering this research area is, as yet, not simple. Those who are interested must first go through a lot of books, publications and software libraries. With this book, however, the first step is easy. The theoretically founded content is understandable and is supplemented by many practical examples. Source code is provided with the specially developed platform-independent open source library IVT in the programming language C/C++. The use of the IVT is not necessary, but it does make for a much easier entry and allows first developments to be quickly produced. The authorship is made up of research assistants of the chair of Professor Ruediger Dillmann at the Institut für Technische Informatik (ITEC), Universitaet Karlsruhe (TH). Having gained extensive experience in image processing in many research and industrial projects, they are now passing this knowledge on. Among other subjects, the following are dealt with in the fundamentals section of the book: Lighting, optics, camera technology, transfer standards, camera calibration, image enhancement, segmentation, filters, correlation and stereo vision. The practical section provides the efficient implementation of the algorithms, followed by many interesting applications such as interior surveillance, bar code scanning, object recognition, 3-D scanning, 3-D tracking, a stereo camera system and much more.

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Microcontrollers have become an indispensable part of modern electronics. They make things possible that vastly exceed what could be done previously. Innumerable applications show that almost nothing is impossible. There’s thus every reason to learn more about them, but that raises the question of where to find a good introduction to this fascinating technology. The answer is easy: this Microcontroller Basics book, combined with the 89S8252 Flash Board project published by Elektor Electronics. However, this book offers more than just a basic introduction. It clearly explains the technology using various microcontroller circuits and programs written in several different programming languages. Three microcontrollers from the 8051 family are used in the sample applications, ranging from the simple 89C2051 to the AN2131, which is designed to support USB applications. The programming tools include assemblers, Basic-52 and BASCOM-51, and several C compilers. Every reader can thus find the programming environment most suitable to his or her needs. In the course of the book, the reader gradually develops increased competence in converting his or her ideas into microcontroller circuitry. All of the sample programs can be downloaded from the Elektor Electronics website or the author’s website. That has the added advantage that the latest versions are always available.

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Like its predecessors in the 300 series of electronics projects books, 303 Circuits is aimed at the active electronics enthusiast, professional or amateur. Since the series was started in the early 1980s, many thousands of readers have found in these books that new approach, new concept, or new circuit they were looking for. In 303 Circuits you will find new ideas, new concepts and new circuits covering the gamut of electronics. The book is arranged in subject sections to make it easier for you to find the circuit or idea you are looking for.

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The software simulation of gauges, control-knobs, meters and indicators which behave just like real hardware components on a PC’s screen is known as virtual instrumentation. In this book, the Delphi program is used to create these mimics and PIC based external sensors are connected via a USB/RS232 converter communication link to a PC. Detailed case studies in this Book include a virtual compass displayed on the PC’s screen, a virtual digital storage oscilloscope, virtual -50 to +125 degree C thermometer, and FFT sound analyser, a joystick mouse and many examples detailing virtual instrumentation Delphi components. Arizona’s embedded microcontrollers – the PIC's are used in the projects and include PIC16F84A, PIC16C71, DSPIC30F6012A, PIC16F877, PIC12F629 and the PIC16F887. Much use is made of Microchip’s 44 pin development board (a virtual instrument ‘engine)’, equipped with a PIC16F887 with an onboard potentiometer in conjunction with the PIC’s ADC to simulate the generation of a variable voltage from a sensor/transducer, a UART to enable PC RS232 communications and a bank of 8 LED's to monitor received data is also equipped with an ISP connector to which the ‘PICKIT 2’ programmer may easily be connected. Full source code examples are provided both for several different PIC’s, both in assembler and C, together with the Pascal code for the Delphi programs which use different 3rd party Delphi virtual components.

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