Method and apparatus for debouncing signals

Debounce and lockout filters (20) include an input part (22) for receiving a plurality of input signals (V1-VN) from switches (10), a microprocessor (24) and an output part (26). The filters (20) simultaneously process a plurality of input binary signals (V1-VN) in parallel according to a sequence of mask values which individually adjust the filter response function for each of the individual filter channels (1-N). A multichannel filter (20) has a filter simultaneously filtering each input signal of a plurality of input signals (V1-VN), the filter including a plurality of independent filter channels (1-N), each independent filter channel filtering a corresponding input signal (V) of the plurality of input signals to produce a corresponding output signal (F) of a plurality of output signals (F1-FN). The multichannel filter (20) also has a mechanism for independently adjusting a filter response time (Figs. 5,15) of each independent filter channel.