I have a USB-powered colorimeter, (a device with a sensor that can detect color), and I would like to find a way to use this sensor to send data to my Arduino UNO.
Is this possible? I have searched around and I have not found a discussion quite on this topic.
The sensor has a USB connection, but perhaps I could splice an outgoing USB cable so that the data ports are connected to Arduino pins set as inputs, and the USB power cables are connected to the Arduino power pins so that the sensor could be powered by the Arduino.
Basically, the Arduino would power the sensor, and the sensor would send voltages to the Arduino. Could it be this simple? Or am I missing something big here? I have never worked with USB devices before, so I'm unsure how to go about this.
As GM says USB will probably need custom drivers written for an Arduino host shield but you can get arduino compatible colour detectors like this though I'm not sure what accuracy they have and you need.
The advantage of using a ready made colorimeter is not only that it uses a lot more colours (12, I think), but also it contains the logic to convert the readings into a meaningful RGB-value. I was thinking along the same lines recently since I was able to rekindle life into my DataColor printfix device. The trick will be to send a read-command to the colorimeter and receive the reading in terurn. I expect it will be easier to have the software reside on the computer and have arduino only to move the stage with the color target. DataColor's own software can do it, so in theory it is possible. I haven't yet studied the software at a lower level, so I couldn't tell you anything practical yet.
Once you are in command of the colorimeter, the USB-line can be chained to the arduino-device to do the locational movements.