Parallel interface - Revision history

Jnc: Avoid redirs

2025-09-21T13:57:02Z

Avoid redirs

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Comparison of Data Transmission Techniques

2024-07-27T13:40:36Z

‎Further reading: +Comparison of Data Transmission Techniques

Jnc: copyedit

2020-11-19T22:46:57Z

copyedit

Jnc: show use of logic

2020-11-18T20:00:55Z

show use of logic

Jnc: Long term trend of accepting more logic

2020-11-15T17:07:21Z

Long term trend of accepting more logic

Jnc: OK intro

2020-11-09T17:33:37Z

OK intro

New page

A '''parallel interface''' (or '''parallel port''') is a [[hardware]] [[port]] which uses many physical [[conductor]]s in parallel (hence the name) through which data can be transferred into and out of a computer. Use of a parallel port is generally simpler, and less likely to cause a problem if an error is made, than going directly to the machine's basic underlying [[bus]].

The [[voltage]]s, means of signalling when a new group of data are available, etc will vary from one machine (and interface) to another. For many years, [[personal computer]]s (especially [[IBM-compatible PC]]s) did include standardized parallel ports; they were most commonly used for attaching [[printer]]s, but a vast array of different [[device]]s used them: [[magnetic tape drive|tape drive]]s for [[backup]]s, [[scanner]]s, etc.

These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds.

[[Category: Hardware Basics]]

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-A '''parallel interface''' (or '''parallel port''') is a [[hardware]] [[port]] which uses many physical [[conductor]]s in parallel (hence the name) through which data can be transferred into and out of a computer. Use of a parallel port is generally simpler, and less likely to cause a problem if an error is made, than going directly to the machine's basic underlying [[bus]].
+A '''parallel interface''' (or '''parallel port''') is a [[hardware port]] which uses many physical [[conductor]]s in parallel (hence the name) through which data can be transferred into and out of a computer. Use of a parallel port is generally simpler, and less likely to cause a problem if an error is made, than going directly to the machine's basic underlying [[bus]].
-The [[voltage]]s, means of signalling when a new group of data are available, etc will vary from one machine (and interface) to another. For many years, [[personal computer]]s (especially [[IBM-compatible PC]]s) did include standardized parallel ports; they were most commonly used for attaching [[printer]]s, but a vast array of different [[device]]s used them: [[magnetic tape drive|tape drive]]s for [[backup]]s, [[scanner]]s, etc.
+The [[voltage]]s, means of signalling when a new group of data are available, etc will vary from one machine (and interface) to another. For many years, [[personal computer]]s (especially [[IBM-compatible PC]]s) did include standardized parallel ports; they were most commonly used for attaching [[printer]]s, but a vast array of different [[peripheral]]s used them: [[magnetic tape drive|tape drive]]s for [[backup]]s, [[scanner]]s, etc.
-These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so, for example, a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
+These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent, parallel conductors can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of lines; so, for example, a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
 ==Further reading==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:40, 27 July 2024
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	These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so, for example, a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.		These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so, for example, a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
		+
		+	==Further reading==
		+
		+	* ''Comparison of Data Transmission Techniques'', [[MicroNote]] #021

	[[Category: Hardware Basics]]		[[Category: Hardware Basics]]

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 The [[voltage]]s, means of signalling when a new group of data are available, etc will vary from one machine (and interface) to another. For many years, [[personal computer]]s (especially [[IBM-compatible PC]]s) did include standardized parallel ports; they were most commonly used for attaching [[printer]]s, but a vast array of different [[device]]s used them: [[magnetic tape drive|tape drive]]s for [[backup]]s, [[scanner]]s, etc.
-These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
+These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so, for example, a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
 [[Category: Hardware Basics]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The [[voltage]]s, means of signalling when a new group of data are available, etc will vary from one machine (and interface) to another. For many years, [[personal computer]]s (especially [[IBM-compatible PC]]s) did include standardized parallel ports; they were most commonly used for attaching [[printer]]s, but a vast array of different [[device]]s used them: [[magnetic tape drive|tape drive]]s for [[backup]]s, [[scanner]]s, etc.
-These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors.
+These have now generally been replaced with [[serial]] interfaces such as [[USB]] ports, as the [[synchronization]] of [[signal]]s coming across independent lines can be problematic, especially at higher speeds. Also, in general, the long-term trend has been to accept use of more [[logic]], to allow sharing of conductors; so a single serial input is fed into a [[shift register]], to convert the data back to a parallel form.
 [[Category: Hardware Basics]]