Patent Document ID: 4712184
Application ID: 06649862

Base Claim:
1. In a computer-controllable robotic device using a multipurpose microcomputer including an output port having several discrete input and output contacts, such microcomputer having programming modifiable to control the computer to provide a high or low voltage output signal to a selected single output contact of such port, and a robot having a plurality of different electrically-powered actions, the improvement comprising an interface operably connectable between such microcomputer port and such robot and including power-controlling means for receiving the output signal from such selected single output contact of the microcomputer port and for supplying electric power to the robot for effecting various different selected electrically-powered actions of the robot as determined by the programming of the microcomputer without reference to or being affected by the voltage at any other output contact of the microcomputer output port.

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Claim 3:
3. In the device defined in claim 1, the programming also being modifiable to control the computer to detect a high or low voltage signal at a selected single input contact of the port, the robot having a sensor for detecting whether or not a preselected condition exists at the robot, and including sensor-actuated means controlled by the sensor for providing a signal to only such selected single input contact of the microcomputer port to indicate whether or not the preselected condition exists at the robot.