An interface circuit includes a general-purpose CPU configured to transmit a clock to a serial encoder with which bidirectional serial communication of clock synchronization type is to be performed, the CPU being configured to transmit and receive data to and from the serial encoder; and an additional circuit configured to detect a start bit of reception data transmitted from the serial encoder. The general-purpose CPU starts counting the number of bits of the reception data in response to a detection signal from the additional circuit, the detection signal indicating the detection of the start bit. The CPU stops transmitting the clock to the serial encoder upon completion of counting a predetermined number of bits of the reception data.