Electronic – the correct term for this type of USB Input devices

gpioinputswitchesusb

a button

Hi, I'm working on something where I need to use a huge amout of these little guys (picture attached), probably around 32 or more for a start.. The problem is, I need to be able to connect all of them to my computer using 1 single USB (or COM port). To do so I need a device or a controller that have alot of inputs bi-pin attached to it, but I just can't figure out the name or the correct term to search for it on ebay. I'm starting to think it doesn't even exist..

All I keep getting when searching for this, is some USB AUDIO/MP3 input stuff that has nothing to do with what I need. Please help with anything you have. Thank you.

Best Answer

Assumption: The question is about a device to transmit 32 or more digital inputs to a PC over USB.

The device you are looking for is a 32-port (or more) USB GPIO module:

  • Ideally with integrated pull-up or pull-down resistors, so the state of those limit switches can be directly sensed
  • Ideally with a USB HID interface so a bespoke USB device driver is not required

There are several such devices commercially available, such as:

While the capabilities of these devices include both input and output, and on some channels analog input as well, the functionality in the question is a subset of these, and thus well served by these modules.

Alternatively, an Arduino Mega (or clone) provides all this functionality, 54 GPIOs, plus flexible programmability. Thus it is a superset of the GPIO modules mentioned above. They are sold on eBay and other sites for under $15.

Arduino Clone Mega

Add on a Mega Sensor Shield, and you will have 54 GPIOs available to you as separate 3-pin connector blocks each with GND, VCC and IO pin, each with the facility of programmable pull-up resistors internal to the microcontroller:

Mega Sensor Shield

Related Topic