28. In a communication system having a digital host computer and an instrument which generates a stream of serial digital outputs to be processed by the host computer, and interface communicatively coupled between the host computer and the instrument, the interface comprising: a microprocessor having executive means for executing instructions entered one at a time by the host computer into the microprocessor; means for controlling the timing of communication of the digital outputs to the host computer, the controlling means comprising a scratchpad memory means for storing digital outputs from the instrument in response to a corresponding instruction to the executive means from the host computer, the digital outputs stored in the scratchpad memory means communicated to the host computer in response to a corresponding instruction to the executive means from the host computer; and means for converting prohibited digital data characters from the instrument into digital characters which are allowed inputs to the host computer.
28. In a communication system having a digital host computer and an instrument which generates a stream of serial digital outputs to be processed by the host computer, and interface communicatively coupled between the host computer and the instrument, the interface comprising: a microprocessor having executive means for executing instructions entered one at a time by the host computer into the microprocessor; means for controlling the timing of communication of the digital outputs to the host computer, the controlling means comprising a scratchpad memory means for storing digital outputs from the instrument in response to a corresponding instruction to the executive means from the host computer, the digital outputs stored in the scratchpad memory means communicated to the host computer in response to a corresponding instruction to the executive means from the host computer; and means for converting prohibited digital data characters from the instrument into digital characters which are allowed inputs to the host computer. 29. An interface according to claim 28 further comprising: physical compatibility means for (a) conforming all digital signals entering the interface from the host computer and the instrument into a standard physical format compatible with the microprocessor means and (b) conforming the digital signals exiting the interface into the physical format corresponding to either the host computer or the instrument, respectively, whichever is the destination of the exiting signals.