BUSES, WHICH TIE BOARDS TO DATA, CONTROL, AND POWER-LINES, FORM THE BACKBONE OF COMPUTER-SYSTEMS

Putting together a data processing or process control system requires appropriate interface standards. Ten microcomputer and communication standard buses are presented and their principle characteristics are summarized. These characteristics include the number of data and control lines, the dedicated power lines available for supporting specific processors and I/O functions, the means of arbitrating disputes among processors that request control of data lines, and the various techniques for handling interrupts. Mechanical characteristics, such as board sizes and the number of lines that a bus physically accomodates, are also presented.