Transmission of signals between a data processing system and input and output units

Claim 2

A circuit arrangement for transmitting signals between a data processing means and external input means and external electromechanical output means, said arrangement comprising, in combination: a plurality of terminals connected to said data processing means; a plurality of first switching means, each associated with a respective one of said terminals, said first switching means normally connecting their respective terminals with said external electromechanical output means; and control means having its input coupled to said external input means to determine the presence, at said external input means, of information to be supplied to said data processing means and in response thereto switching said first switching means for causing said terminals to be temporarily connected to said external input means.

Claim 3

A circuit arrangement for transmitting signals between a data processing means and external input means and external electromechanical output means, said arrangement comprising, in combination: a plurality of terminals connected to said data processing means; a plurality of first switching means, each associated with a respective one of said terminals, said first switching means normally connecting their respective terminals with said external electromechanical output means; and control means having its input coupled to said external input means to determine the presence, at said external input means, of information to be supplied to said data processing means and in response thereto switching said first switching means for causing said terminals to be temporarily connected to said external input means.

Claim 4

A circuit arrangement for transmitting signals between a data processing means and external input means and external electromechanical output means, said arrangement comprising, in combination: a plurality of terminals connected to said data processing means; a plurality of first switching means, each associated with a respective one of said terminals, said first switching means normally connecting their respective terminals with said external electromechanical output means; and control means having its input coupled to said external input means to determine the presence, at said external input means, of information to be supplied to said data processing means and in response thereto switching said first switching means for causing said terminals to be temporarily connected to said external input means.

Claim 5

An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said data processing means is in the form of an integrated circuit.

Claim 6

An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said data processing means comprises an internal input means, an internal output means and a plurality of second switching means, each associated with a respective one of said terminals for selectively connecting one of said internal output and input means to said terminals, said second switching means normally connecting said internal output means to said terminals; and said control means being connected to said second switching means for causing said internal input means to be temporarily connected to said terminals during the times when said external input means are connected to said terminals.

Claim 7

An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said internal output and input means are output and input registers, respectively.

Claim 8

A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 4, further comprising recoil suppression means, and wherein said external input means includes an input keyboard having a plurality of contacts, and said recoil suppression means connects said input keyboard to the input of said control means, so that said external input means only provides input signals to said control means after any vibrations of said contacts of said keyboard have died out.

Claim 9

A circuit arrangement for transmitting data signals between a data processing unit, including an internal data input means and an internal data output means, and external input and electromechanical output units, said arrangement Comprising in combination: a plurality of input/output data terminals for said data processing unit; a like plurality of first switching means, each associated with a respective one of said data terminals, for connecting said data terminals to said external electromechanical output unit when in a first position and for connecting said data terminals to said external input unit when in a second position, each of said first switching means normally being in said first position; a like plurality of second switching means, disposed within said data processing unit and each associated with a respective one of said data terminals, for connecting said data terminals to said internal data output means when in a first position and for connecting said data terminals to said internal data input means when in a second position, each of said second switching means normally being in said first position; and control means coupled to said external input unit and responsive to the presence, at said external input unit, of data to be supplied to said data processing unit for temporarily switching all of said first and second switching means to said second position, thereby causing said data terminals to be temporarily connected between said external input unit and said internal data input means, and for thereafter returning all of said first and second switching means to said first position, thereby causing said data terminals to be connected between said external electromagnetic output unit and said internal data output means.

Claim 10

A circuit arrangement for transmitting data signals between a data processing unit, including an internal data input means and an internal data output means, and external input and electromechanical output units, said arrangement Comprising in combination: a plurality of input/output data terminals for said data processing unit; a like plurality of first switching means, each associated with a respective one of said data terminals, for connecting said data terminals to said external electromechanical output unit when in a first position and for connecting said data terminals to said external input unit when in a second position, each of said first switching means normally being in said first position; a like plurality of second switching means, disposed within said data processing unit and each associated with a respective one of said data terminals, for connecting said data terminals to said internal data output means when in a first position and for connecting said data terminals to said internal data input means when in a second position, each of said second switching means normally being in said first position; and control means coupled to said external input unit and responsive to the presence, at said external input unit, of data to be supplied to said data processing unit for temporarily switching all of said first and second switching means to said second position, thereby causing said data terminals to be temporarily connected between said external input unit and said internal data input means, and for thereafter returning all of said first and second switching means to said first position, thereby causing said data terminals to be connected between said external electromagnetic output unit and said internal data output means.

Claim 11

A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein: said data processing unit includes a clock pulse generator means for controlling the operation of same; and said control means includes an AND-gate having one input connected to the output of said clock pulse generator means and a second input connected to said external data input unit, and a control pulse generator means having its input connected to the output of said AND-gate and its output connected to all os said switching means, said control pulse generator means being responsive to an output signal from said AND-gate for providing an output pulse to control the position of said switching means.