This is a basic RS-232 transmit/receive circuit that is necessary for PIC microcontrollers to reliably communicate with a PC serial port.
http://www.semifluid.com/RS-232_level_converter.html
The interface described in this article is based on a Microchip PIC16c84 microcontroller.
http://www.funet.fi/pub/cbm/documents/projects/interfaces/mouse/Mouse.html
a simple 8-bit analogue to digital converter circuit which is connects to PC serial port
http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/ad_serial.html
using PIC16F628
http://jap.hu/electronic/irtx_pic.html
http://www.edn.com/archives/1995/101295/21di5.htm
allows you to control low-cost, three-wire D/A converters through a PC serial port
http://www.edn.com/archives/1997/030397/05DI_03.htm
AVR-Based
http://www.happy-beginnings.de/IR/
In this simple application of the 68HC68 microcontroller serial-I/O utility, the goal is to configure a simple circuit, driven by any LPT parallel-printer port, which you can use as a remote I/O for a PC. You can independently program each I/O line as eit
http://www.edn.com/article/CA159689.html
description, organizations, IC manufacturers, connector specifications, cable and software
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_USB.html