Character Structure and Character Parity Sense for Serial-by-Bit Data Communication in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

The article describes the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII). This standard specifies the character structure and sense of character parity for serial-by-bit, serial-by-character synchronous and asynchronous data communication in the ASCII. This standard applies to general information interchange at the interface between Data Processing Terminal Equipment and Data Communication Equipment (such as data sets, modems). The character structure for synchronous data communication shall consist of eight bits (seven ASCII bits plus one character parity bit), having equal time intervals. The character structure for asynchronous data communication shall consist of 10 signal elements having equal time intervals; "0" (spacing) start element, seven ASCII bits, one character parity bit, and one "1" (marking) stop element. The intercharacter interval (the time interval between the end of a stop element). The intercharacter interval (the time interval between the end of a stop element and the beginning of the next start element) may be of any length, and is of the same sense as the stop element, i.e., 1 (marking).