Computer Timer program

Hello.

Unfortunately, all computers today come from the factory only with digital comunication ready. THis means that you cannot control analog voltages directly from your motherboard. A software will not help too much.

What you need is an I/O board. They normally come with inputs and outputs, all configurable. The more recent ones are USB based, and are really handy and easy to use. They also usually come with some kind of programming language, so you can do the software yourself.

If you're playing and learning, check out the datacq web page. They send/sell a really inexpensive learning kit. I have mine, with serial connection, and it works fine.

For a more professional use, check national instruments web page. I've been using their hardware for years, works very well.

Smarter depends on what we're talking about .

National Instruments sell cards that you can install in your computer. B&B Electronics also sells gadgets that you can insert into your RS232 or USB ports. They also have a few models that do this over Ethernet. Check them out.

Hello,

There is no need to buy a computer software for this application.

You could use as a delay timer the delay(millisecond) command in C language.

But for a more accurate timing, something less than 1 millisecond, you could simply write (in C) an interrupt program using the 1C (clock tick). Make a loop incrementing a number, I suggest using unsigned long integer, and count the number of loops made within one click tick. This will be your delay timer.

As for sending the signal of 0 or 10 volts, you could use the parallel port. Get the port address, and the pin you wish to poll the signal, and send in hexadecimal, eg. 0x0000 for 0 volts or 0xFFFF for 10 volts using the outportb() command.

Using the combination of sending and timing, you could even write a program to create a pulse width modulation to suit your own need.

Thanks guys, i really appreciate your input....

Don

Thanks guest. I didn't know about that. I don't think it can provide much in the way of current though. You'd still need to buffer the output before interfacing it to something. Still, it's a great idea. Thank a lot!

Pare, that's how we did it during the archaic (early 90s) time of DOS/UNIX in UP. For interfacing the output, one can also design a card to be inserted in the PC, and an amplifier for controlling servo and or steppers.

Hey, really nice! I didn't know that. But I'd still recommend caution with current draw. It will not be usefull for most applications unless an amplifier or output board is connected.

Could you sketch the wiring diagram in a simple picture?

I'd love to try to do that in a rainy sunday afternoon.

Regards.

The most economical device I've run into lately is Labjack. Comes with software.

Here: http://www.labjack.com/