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Logging real world events - beginner

  • 17-11-2005 8:19pm
    #1
    GoneShootin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,478 ✭✭✭


    Lew

    Out of boredom I would like to try my hand at trying to use the PC (USB/RS232) to receive some single event, like a switch/button, and show the event toggle on screen using some software.

    What kits/tips would you advice?


Comments

  • #2
    BrayHead
    Closed Accounts Posts: 74 ✭✭BrayHead


    A nice simple thing you can do is use the pc sound card input to record voltage signals. This only works for AC signals due to DC blocking capacitor in input circuit. You can download some PC oscilloscope freeware that will display and record your transient signals.

    For USB, National Instruments (ni.com) have nice and cheap USB data acquisition modules with analog and digital IO and counter/timers. Software can be written in Labview or Labwindows/CVI to control all sorts of nifty stuff.

    RS232 can be used for all sorts ... don't know where to start.


  • #3
    GoneShootin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,478 ✭✭✭GoneShootin


    Sound cards eh? Interesting scratchchin.gif


  • #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,567 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    a joystick port can take in 4 on/off switches
    and measure resistance (though too slow for audio)

    If you are running NT / 2k / xp you may not be able to talk to the HW directly
    http://www.beyondlogic.org/porttalk/porttalk.htm
    A problem that plagues Windows NT/2000 and Windows XP, is it's strict control over I/O ports. Unlike Windows 95 & 98, Windows NT/2000/XP will cause an exception (Privileged Instruction) if an attempt is made to access a port that you are not privileged to talk too. Actually it's not Windows NT that does this, but any 386 or higher processor running in protected mode.
    http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/pc_joystick.html - joystick interrfacing

    http://www.cpcug.org/user/clemenzi/technical/Languages/SerialIO.htm - serial stuff


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