integrated circuit, interface

An integrated circuit that accomplishes the linkage of two systems or parts of a system that would otherwise be incompatible.

NOTE The signals present at the inputs and the outputs of the interface integrated circuit may take any one of the following forms:

a) digital inputs, analog outputs;

b) analog inputs, digital outputs;

c) analog inputs, analog outputs; or

d) digital inputs, digital outputs. (In this case, the levels of the digital signals at the inputs and the outputs are dissimilar.)

Some circuits of types a, b, and c may also be classified as linear integrated circuits.

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