Interface device

Claim 1

In an electronic system including a computer having at least an input port and an output port, said computer outputting print data, which is in format for printing, in parallel format through said output port, and a remotely-controllable device which is operable in accordance with a plurality of remocon codes; an interface device comprising: a plurality of bus line terminals for transmitting said print data having more significant digits and less significant digits, a first set of said bus line terminals transmitting said more significant digits and a second set of said bus line terminals transmitting said less significant digits; code converter means for converting said print data to output data, said code converter means comprising in turn: a read-only memory connected to said bus line terminals; first BCD-decimal decoder having 8 bit parallel data bus lines, for receiving said more significant digits from said data bus lines; and a second BCD-decimal decoder having 8 bit parallel data bus lines, for receiving said more significant digits from said data bus lines; a remocon transmitting integrated circuit for receiving said output data from said code converter means and outputting a remocon code signal in accordance with said output data; amplifier means connected to said remocon transmitting integrated circuit for amplifying said remocon code signal; a timing circuit, including a first timer having a first time constant, and a second timer having a second time constant that is twice as long as said first time constant; and a video detection circuit for detecting a video signal in accordance with an output of said timing circuit.