Abstract:
Traditional computer interfacings (for robot control, measurements, reading and logging data, etc.) have been mostly achieved through the serial port or parallel port. However, the modern trend utilizesthe USB in interfacing with the computer system. For instance, mobile PCs such as the laptops, mini-laptops, etc. no longer come with the serial or parallel port; hence project development using these computers becomes a challenge to the project developer whose interface knowledge is limited to the serial or parallel port. This is even more challenging for developing countries where projects of this kind would require importing some advance components (development boards) at extra expenses. This paper focuses on practical USB interfacing using PIC18F4550 as the microcontroller for the device; mikroC as the C language development environment for the PIC18F4550; and visual basic (VB9) in developing the windows based application. A USB test device was built as well as its windows based test application. The computer is used to generate control signals to switch ON or OFF some LEDs. This work presents students, lectures, researchers, industrialists, etc. in institutions and industries with an alternative to computer interfacing.
