the operational states of a plurality , p , of devices is controlled in response to pre - programmed information stored in m channels of a memory device , where m is an integer . the stored information is represented by m digital signals . an encoder combines n of the m digital signals , where n & lt ; m , and generates a set of encoded signals . a gating circuit gates the digital signals not encoded by the encoder with the set of encoded signals and generates a plurality , p , of output signals , where p & gt ; m , for controlling the operational states of the p devices .