Data communication cable for a data terminal for simultaneously connecting multiple peripheral devices and selecting the peripheral devices based on data rate

摘要

A splitter cable provides a means for simultaneously connecting a data terminal's communications port to a plurality of peripheral devices. The cable provides for the flow of data between the data terminal and the peripheral devices. A diode connected to each peripheral device's receive data line protects the device from electrical current associated with data being transmitted by the other peripheral devices. The connected peripheral devices each respond to unique data characteristics. The invention uses the data characteristics to control the transmission of data between the data terminal and the peripheral devices. Communication with the desired peripheral device is accomplished under program control without manual intervention by the user.