PERIPHERAL DATA ACQUISITION, MONITOR, AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR A PER- SONAL COMPUTER

A peripheral data acquisition, monitor, and control device is disclosed which utilizes an Input/Output (I/O) Bridge device for interfacing signals from electronically-controlled peripheral devices to a personal computer (PC) via the keyboard port, thus permitting data, such as measurement data, to be automatically and directly entered into application programs such that the PC can take action and control outputs based upon the measurement data. The I/O Bridge device automatically inputs information into the host computer without having to manually type the information on the keyboard, and also interfaces with the host computer in order to monitor and control various real-world tasks, such as manufacturing functions.