Spreadsheet programs are still favored by many engineers for basic design and analysis tasks for functions such as cascaded noise analysis and prediction of phase-locked-loop (PLL) performance. For those who would like to augment their spreadsheet-analysis capability, the latest version of the digital-signal-processing (DSP) analysis tool DADiSP from DSP Development Corp. (Cambridge, MA) provides hundreds of functions that are not contained in standard spreadsheet programs. In addition to supporting complete manipulation of spreadsheet files, Version 4.0 of DADiSP also offers a real-time interface with Microsoft's popular Excel spreadsheet.
Through dynamic data exchange (DDE), Version 4.0 of DADiSP allows data from Excel spreadsheets to be cut and pasted directly into a DADiSP graphical worksheet. Once in DADiSP, a user has access to a variety of powerful analysis tools and graphical displays. DADiSP is a menu-driven program that allows operators to visually interact with graphical representations of large sets of numbers and perform calculations on them. Simple analyses are stored in a worksheet while complex files are stored in a lab book.
A worksheet is comprised of as many windows as a problem requires, while a lab book consists of multiple worksheets. Each worksheet window can contain either raw data or data in graphical or tabular form. The data and graphs in each window can be related through formulas to those in other windows, permitting a user to define specific analysis chains without knowledge of programming code. Whenever raw data is loaded into a worksheet windows, dependent analysis windows are automatically recalculated and updated with respect to graphic presentation.
Nine supplemental programs complement the Excel interface. Among these, an advanced DSP program includes power-spectrum analysis and capabilities for design, analysis, and simulation of discrete or continuous linear time-invariant serial-in-serial-out (SISO) control circuitry. Another program transfers data between DADiSP and analog-to-digital-converter (ADC) data-acquisition cards. A data-import package allows ASCII or binary files to be directly imported into a DADiSP lab book. Additional supplemental programs include a neural-network program that allows users to construct and train back-propagation neural-networks, a statistical-analysis module, and digital filter-design package that supports the creation of finite-impulse-response (FIR) and infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filters.
The DADiSP/WAV add-on audio module provides a complete analysis, display, and editing environment for 8- or 16-b digital audio .WAV files. Using either simple function commands or easy-to-follow pop-up menus, an operator can manipulate digital audio files, turning a personal computer (PC) into an effective digital audio workstation (DAW).
DADiSP is useful as a stand-alone program when analyzing spreadsheet information from engineering or business files. In addition, the program can import ASCII data files from system simulators such as TESLA from TeSoft, Inc. (Roswell, GA) and SystemView from Elanix, Inc. (Westlake Village, CA) for DSP analysis of system functions. The addition of the program's DSP modeling capabilities allows system-level engineers to simulate signals from an antenna to a system's DSP circuitry.
Version 4.0 of DADiSP is supplied with comprehensive documentation, which contains numerous application examples of many of the software's functions. The software requires an IBM PC or compatible machine with Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher operating system, at least 8 MB of random-access memory (RAM), at least 6-MB available hard-disk memory, and a video-graphics-array (VGA) card/monitor. P&A: $1895 (optional modules are additional); stock.
DSP Development Corp., One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139; (617) 577-1133, fax: (617) 577-8211, e-mail: dspdev@world.std.com.
Alan Conrad
Special Projects Editor
Microwaves & RF Magazine
Copyright 1997 Penton Publishing, Inc.
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