[SOLVED] Can you control LEDs using Visual Basic.

[ankitvirdi4]

Hey guys,
I am working on a project using Visual Basic( Ver. 2010 Express) which basically displays and controls the status of a few devices. There are 5 devices in all, I want to represent a device with a LED.

So, basically I just want to control 5 LEDs using VB. I know it possible using the serial port. I guess there are two ways in which we can do this.

1. Using UART of a microcontroller (I am bad at UART programming)

2. Making a serial to parallel converter and controlling the LEDs directly.


I have a few questions about the 2nd method.
Is that possible?
Which IC do I use in it?
What about the baud rate, will it affect the LEDs?
Has anyone done this before?

 

[zeyad.kassaby]

Yes,it's possible.
buy usb parallel converter and if your pc has a parallel port it will be much easier
baud rate will not be a problem if you have in your design a hold bit control
.just tell me if you have a parallel port or not
if not check at any computer store if they have a usb multi connection(parallel serial vga) if not all of these then build a usb to parallel or serial to parallel ,plz send feed back to help you more
Zeyad

 

[ankitvirdi4]

Thanks Zeyad.
I am working on my laptop which has just serial ports (USBs). Can you provide the circuit diagram for a USB to parallel conversion?

And by hold bit control what do you mean? should that be in my VB code or in the circuit?

 

[zeyad.kassaby]

software in C included you can customize it for any microchip controller
www.mikro.com

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/*
 * Project name:
     Uart1_Test (Usage of mikroC for dsPIC30/33 and PIC24 UART libraries)
 * Target Platform:
     dsPIC;
 * Copyright:
     (c) mikroElektronika, 2006.
 * Revision History:
     20060510:
       - Initial release;
 * Description:
     This simple example demonstrates usage of mikroC's UARTx libraries, through
     a 'loopback' interface. The data being sent to dsPIC through UART
     and sent back.
 * Test configuration:
     MCU:             dsPIC30F4013
     Dev.Board:       EASYdsPIC4
     Oscillator:      XT-PLL4, 10.000MHz
     Ext. Modules:    None.
     SW:              mikroC for dsPIC30/33 and PIC24 v4.0.0.0
 * NOTES:
     - You can use the same example for UART2 module, just change the '1's in
       library function names to '2', e.g. Uart1_Init() -> Uart2_Init();
 */
 
 
unsigned rx1;
 
void main() {
  //--- turn off A/D inputs
  ADPCFG = 0xFFFF;
  LATB = 0;
  TRISB = 0;
  LATC = 0;
  TRISC = 0;
  LATD = 0;
  TRISD = 0;
  LATF = 0xFFFF;
  TRISF = 0;
  
  Uart1_Init(9600);                 // initialize USART module
 
 
  //--- un-comment the following lines to have Rx and Tx pins on their alternate
  //    locations. This is used to free the pins for other module, namely the SPI.
    U1MODEbits.ALTIO = 1;
    Delay_ms(10);                     // pause for usart lines stabilization
    rx1 = Uart1_Read_Char();          // perform dummy read to clear the register
 
  Uart1_Write_Char('s');            // signal start
 
  while(1) {
    if (Uart1_Data_Ready())  {     // check if there is data in the buffer
     rx1 = Uart1_Read_Char();      // receive data
     Uart1_Write_Char(rx1);           // send data back
     if (rx1='R') {
        LATB = 1;
        Delay_ms(1000);
     }
     if (rx1='r') {
     LATB = 0;
     Delay_ms(1000);
     }
     if (rx1='R') {
     }
    }
  }
}//~!

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