The Scientific Laboratory Instrument to Computer Coupler

Small inexpensive microprocessor based computers can be used to connect a wide variety of biomedical laboratory instruments to a large central time-sharing computer system. The Scientific Laboratory instrument to computer coupler (SLICC) is built around the 8080 microprocessor and has a modular bus structured design which permits the mininijzation of costs for each custom installation. The microprocessor acquires analog and digital data from laboratory equipment, formats it for transmission to the central computer, and can accept and display results returned to it from the central computer. The SLICC has some local storage capability to buffer data when the central computer is unavailable as well as to smooth out the data transfer rate. In addition, the SLICC can be used to interactively control laboratory experiments.