• dase
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-27
  • Posts: 11

Topic: Access to analog IO?

Hi,

I am new to Chumby development and was hoping to purchase a production unit. However, I am curious to know if there is an analog to digital converter on the unit and if there is any access provided to analog input ports. I have a number of sharp analog IR sensors and would like to read data from them.

The sensors I am referring to are described here:

http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R48-IR12.html

I would love to know if there are indeed ports on the Chumby that I could use to read from these sensors. A description on where and how to hook these up would give me a great head start. Thanks in advance.

  • Registered: 2008-05-28
  • Posts: 6

Re: Access to analog IO?

In other cases, I've heard of people using audio input ports as cheap A/D converters.  Dunno if that could work for you, but if it can, maybe you can rip out the built-in mic, hook leads up to where it was, and read the audio input?

Or maybe, instead of hacking the Chumby itself, you could hack a USB audio input device and plug the hacked device into one of the Chumby's USB ports -- but in that case you might have to install a device driver.

3 Reply by joltdude (edited by joltdude 2008-05-31 06:52:06)

  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 526

Re: Access to analog IO?

You may want to take note of this, esp regarding USB and the current firmware....
It *may* have an impact on you compiling a driver and having it work at the moment...

http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2502

  • Duane
  • Duane
  • Blue Octy
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2006-08-24
  • Posts: 8,199

Re: Access to analog IO?

USB audio input devices should work in the current firmware (1.5.0).  USB audio output devices will not.

The built-in mic does not use USB.

Duane's Website

  • dase
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-27
  • Posts: 11

Re: Access to analog IO?

Is using a USB audio input device really the best way to connect analog IR sensors? Can anyone suggest a method for connecting these sensors:

http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R48-IR12.html

You will instantaneously become my new best friend.

Thanks.

  • Registered: 2008-08-09
  • Posts: 12

Re: Access to analog IO?

Maybe you could feed the IR sensor output to the battery connector and readvoltage trough /proc (see http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2907)

HTH
   Nixkalo