Architecture for an input and output device capable of handling various signal characteristics

Abstract

An Input/Output device has programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry capable of receiving signals, scaling the received signals to a predetermined voltage range, determining signal type for each of the received signals, and controlling input/output circuitry of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry for accessing input signals and generating output signals. The I/O device further includes conversion circuitry for receiving the output signals and converting the output signals from analog to digital to enable these signals to be digitally processed, and also receives digitally processed signals, converts the digitally processed signals to analog signals, and transmits the analog signals as input signals to the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry. Bus interface logic circuitry coupled to the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry for interfacing the I/O device with a bus for transferring information to and from the I/O device is also included. The I/O device may be provided with high current and/or voltage conditioning circuitry for conditioning the signals within current and voltage ranges which are tolerable to microelectronics of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry; and signal specific conditioning circuitry for conditioning the signals to match the electrical characteristics of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry.