Importance

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Abstract

A serial keyboard interface (28) connects a self scanning programmable serialized keyboard (40) to the system bus (10) of a data processing system. A cable (42) containing only a clock wire (52) and a data wire (58) provides the connection. The keyboard transmits a 9-bit scan out code consisting of a start bit followed by eight serial data bits. The keyboard clock line (52) is connected to the clock or shift terminal of a serial-to-parallel shift register encoder (62) for shifting the data bits on data line (58) into the encoder which has eight parallel output data lines (A, B . . . G, H) connected to the system bus. When the encoder (62) contains a complete scan out frame, the start bit is in the most significant stage (h') and sets the D-type latch (68) to apply a CPU interrupt request to the system bus (10). At this time, the Q output of latch (68) pulls down the data line to ground potential, thereby disabling the data line and preventing further keyboard transmission of data. When the interrupt request is granted by the CPU, a clear signal resets latch (68) to remove ground potential from data line (58) and thereby permit further transmission of data.

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First Claim