about usb interfacing

see if you can understand this

martin

a typical USB mouse has more than three buttons

if you really want to build it yourself an AVR ATTiny2313 running the Igor-Plug (or AVRUSB) software (this is software USB) would be one option

otherwise you could use a more expensive microcontroller with a built-in usb interface...

or even a USB-to-serial chip will give you 4 inputs, (5 if you count break) but you'd need software to make them act like buttons.

Bye. Jasen

I'm on the same road as you, I started learning about using USB with microcontrollers. The microcontroller that I have chosen is the Freescale MC68HC908JB8, and using the universal HID (human interface device) USB drivers.

Notable information on the JB8:

-In circuit programability

-FLASH memory (no need for an expensive programmer)

-Onboard USB

-Many versitle I/O pins

-Free samples from freescale

-Free compiler (CodeWarior)

-Well documented

-Available in PDIP and SOIC

Hope this helps

Unfortunately, USB is a steep learning curve. (I can recommend a couple books.) There is some interfacing hardware (chips) out there to make it a little easier, but your product cost go up.

And if you do it mostly with software, it will be cheap, but the learning curve will be even worse.

How hard can it be?? There's the universal... The serial.. And the bus.... :) D from BC

They conveniently left out the part about "enumeration".... :)

-mpm

I totaly agree, I've been at it for over a year, reading books and magazines, and reading the PDFs of the USB standards, and its alot to digest. If you are looking for fast and cheap, get an USB to RS232 converter, and stick to serial. If you are looking for a great and versitile interface, then please continue to learn about USB, but depending on your electronics background, its not going to be overnight.

If you would like, I'll try to find the magazine articles that I read to get me started.