Book excerpt: Embedded Microcomputer Systems: Real Time Interfacing provides an in-depth discussion of the design of real-time embedded systems using 9S12 microcontrollers. This book covers the hardware aspects of interfacing, advanced software topics (including interrupts), and a systems approach to typical embedded applications. This text stands out from other microcomputer systems books because of its balanced, in-depth treatment of both hardware and software issues important in real time embedded systems design. It features a wealth of detailed case studies that demonstrate basic concepts in the context of actual working examples of systems. It also features a unique simulation software package on the bound-in CD-ROM (called Test Execute and Simulate, or TexaS, for short) – that provides a self-contained software environment for designing, writing, implementing, and testing both the hardware and software components of embedded systems.