Computer Interfacing
About computer interfacing
The input-output interface connects the
computer to the outside world, and is therefore an essential part of
the computer system. When the CPU puts the address of a peripheral on
to the address bus, the input-output interface decodes the address and
identifies the unique computer peripheral with which a data transfer
operation is to be executed. The interface also has to interpret the
command on the control bus so that the timing of the data transfer is
correct. One further very important function of the input-output
interface is to provide a physical electronic highway for the flow of
data between the computer data bus and the external peripheral.
In many computer applications, including
their use within intelligent instruments, the external peripheral
requires signals to be in analog form. Therefore the input-output
interface must provide for conversion between these analogue signals
and the digital signals required by a digital computer. This is
satisfied by analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion
elements within the input-output interface.

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