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> Analog digital i/o board for pc vb c java etc
Analog digital i/o board for pc vb c java etc
Analog digital i/o board for pc vb c java etc
How often have you wanted to control or sense the real world with a PC? The GP-3 kit makes it easy. Using a standard ActiveX control, you can write programs in practically any language (Visual Basic, Visual C++, Windows Scripting Host, Delphi - even Active Server Pages) that sense and control the real world. If you aren't using Microsoft tools, the GP-3 responds to an efficient serial protocol, so you only have to send and receive serial data from whatever platform you are using. The GP-3 has an impressive slate of features:
8 general purpose I/O lines (digital input/output with special features like PWM or pulse output)
5 10-bit A/D inputs (separate from digital pins)
1 hardware PWM output (operates continuously)
1 hardware counter input (operates continuously)
True RS232 from onboard 5V supply
EEPROM for storing configuration or serial numbers (128 bytes)
ActiveX control (OCX) and DLL supplied; or control via serial protocol (57600 baud)
Java object for use with Java (requires javax.comm support)
This versatile kit can be customized to use different power supplies or provide TTL level outputs, if required. Imagine the power of real world I/O in your next project. Here are just a few ideas:
- Monitor temperatures or voltages
- Control a motor or fan using PWM
- Control solid state relays or other devices
The ActiveX control (or DLL) supplied makes it simple to control the GP-3. Here's a summary of the functions available:
high/low - Set output pin high/low
tris - Set direction of I/O pins
portopen - Connect or disconnect
count - Count pulses on input pin
led - Set state of indicator LED
pulseout - Output a single pulse
rctime - Measure an RC discharge time
setcounter - Configure timer/counter
counter - Read hardware timer/counter
All you supply is a DC power supply (the GP-3 has an onboard 5V regulator, or you can supply 5V regulated directly to it). This kit is based on our GPMPU28 board, and you may want to read the manual for that board as well as the GP3 manual.
How easy is using the GP-3? Easy! Here's a simple Visual Basic event handler that reads an analog input:
If you want to convert the raw counts to a voltage and format the data, that's easy to do in Basic:
Volt0.Caption = Format(GP3IO1.a2d(0) / 1023 * 5#, "0.##")
Want to turn on an LED from an ASP Web page? That's easy too:
set io = Server.CreateObject("AWCGP3DLL.GP3DLL")
io.led=Request("LED") ' set LED based on user request
You can do the same sort of thing from an Excel spreadsheet (using VBA).
// To run: java GP3Script gp3test.js
io.openPort("COM7"); // change to match your COM port!
return io.a2d(n)/1023.0*5.0;
print(readvolt(0)); // print voltage on analog in 0
The board also includes free DAQ software that can plot your data graphically
Note: This is a kit which allows you to easily customize the device for your needs. However, you do need basic soldering skills and a few tools. All components are through hole and the PC board is solder masked, so the kit is very easy to assemble. The picture shows the board with some user-supplied components and a solderless breadboard which are not included. The picture above shows an assembled kit with some user-prodvided customizations and a solderless breadboard.
The kit includes a high-quality PC board, and all the components required to build a working board including a 9V battery connector and a reset connector. A pin header on the edge of the board makes it easy to plug the board into a solderless breadboard or you can omit the header and use the holes to make your own permanent connections.
- Introduction to the GP3 : covers basics, Visual Basic, ASP, WSH, and more
- The GP3 and Excel: find out how to acquire data with a GP3 and Excel
- Dot Net/C Sharp Oscilloscope - Michael Gold writes about creating a scope with C Sharp and a GP-3 on the C# Corner Web site.
Core library install (includes OCX, DLL, and all required files, plus demo exe)
Source for temperature demo (Visual Basic)
Source for chart recorder demo (Visual Basic)
Visual C++/MFC demo (uses ActiveX)
Spreadsheet example (requires ActiveX DLL)
Standard non-ActiveX DLL (use C, C++, or DECLARE in VB)
Temporary Email: J_byrd@dontscrapit.com (Johanna Byrd)
