I would like to use the Arduino simply as a usb interface.
Can I read digital inputs /signals from the usb port rather than using the digital inputs from the arduino it self. My Application will raise an event, then needs to send a signal to the arduino to do something. I know this might be possible by using 2 arduinos, but the delay will be very slow.
If not, does any one know of an open source platform that gives such a usb interface?
Do you mean that your application in your computer that the arduino is connected to sends the signal to the Arduino via the USB cable then yes I believe this is possible, you need some software installed on the computer though...
If you mean connecting a sensor or something to the USB port, then no, that would not be possible (afaik)
Did I understand you correctly?
Maybe you can stick with the serial interface. Have a look at the playground
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/InterfacingWithHardware
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/InterfacingWithSoftware
Maybe this is what you need.
Cheers, Udo
Well not sensors to usb, that would be kind of silly.
To make things a little more clear i will describe what I want to do.
I've got a compro card in my pc that can pick up DVB-T signals. THis is for my Home theatre system. My Idea is to build an auto antenna tuner.
Thus i will need:
a High torque servo to turn the antenna. I've seen ones with 270 deg. and 360deg angles.
I will develop a driver that simply measures the digital broadcast signal.
Then I ned to plug in the ardiuno to usb, and the ardiuno will rotate the antenna.
Then a plugin that i will develop for windows home server will measure the signal, and record the signal strength and angle. Then it will step 5 degrees, and measure again. Once I have measured the signal accross all angles, it will autoset the angle to where the signal is at its strongest. There are other posibilites with this as well. I can automaticly enable a signal ampliefier as well if needed. etc...
Then I have a second project in mind. THis is actually a very old project that I would like to restart. Back in the days of windows 95 and 98 I built a system that switch lights on and off based on voice commands. For that I do not really need inputs though. The application will have a listener. If a voice command was recieved and tested against pre-progammed commands, it will raise the event and send a signal to the arduino to hit some relay via resistor, and transistor.
The old project worked by paralel port. You would set a pin to high.
On the board you have 12 volt external power. So via a resistor, you send the high signal to the transistor, and it enables the 12volt circuit, that then in turns enable the 220v relay circuit. and voila. when you say lights, it turns on the lights. But with technology that has advanced since the 90's I can even dim light by saying a command like lights 25% or light 100% etc...
If you just want to toggle pins on the Arduino from an app on the pc, look into Firmata. If you can program in .NET there is an implementation on the playground that even gives you UI controls.
As far as home automation, I personally like the Insteon protocol for what you are talking about. You may be able to do something different or better with Arduino, or you may prefer an open source platform, but it's worth checking out.
If you just want to toggle pins on the Arduino from an app on the pc, look into Firmata. If you can program in .NET there is an implementation on the playground that even gives you UI controls.
As far as home automation, I personally like the Insteon protocol for what you are talking about. You may be able to do something different or better with Arduino, or you may prefer an open source platform, but it's worth checking out.
That is true indeed, but then again, we play with things like the arduino because we have in interest in electronics and being creative on a technical level. perhaps even to challange our selves.
I will download Firmata, since I think this is exactly what I need.
Thanks for the input