Arduino V-USB / HID 14 Channel Data Logger

Contents hide 1 Summary of Arduino V-USB / HID 14 channel data logger 2 Step 1: Building the USB hardware interface 3 Step 2: Download the V-USB modified code

Summary of Arduino V-USB / HID 14 channel data logger

The article details building a USB interface to connect an Arduino UNO or clone to a PC for data logging without extensively modifying Arduino software. It discusses constructing a custom USB hardware interface using the V-USB library, cautioning about proper assembly to avoid damaging the PC. The article provides links to schematics and the necessary V-USB library, which must be installed into the Arduino IDE. This setup enables Arduino to send digital or analog data to the PC for later analysis, expanding Arduino's utility as a data logger.

Parts used in the Arduino V-USB / HID 14 channel data logger:

• Arduino UNO (or Arduino clone)
• V-USB compatible interface components (including diodes)
• Solderless breadboard or perfboard (for constructing USB interface)
• Connecting wires and possibly USB connectors

UPDATE:  Please see Addendum 2 at the end of this article for an Excel automatic logging implementation.

There are several good articles on Instructables about building your own Arduino.  Depending on your horde of electrical parts, you may be able to build an Arduino clone for as little as $3.  I recently built two: one on a solderless breadboard and another that is like a USB-stick made on perfboard and my parts cost were approximately $7 (the breadboard parts were sacrificed to build the stick after I got all the hardware and software working.) Once you get your CloneDuino built, or even if you purchase a commercial model such as the UNO (picture #5), then you need to do some programming for the next step down the path of creating something useful or fun.  BUT, what if you could use the Arduino for gathering the state of digital or analog information and then log that data to the PC for later manipulation?  This would mean that the Arduino software would not need to be changed (or perhaps only minor changes) to perform many experiments.

Step 1: Building the USB hardware interface

To connect a genuine Arduino UNO or a clone UNO to your PC USB port, you need to have an interface.

The interface built by rancidbacon for his tests is shown in the first picture. http://code.rancidbacon.com/ProjectLogArduinoUSB

The schematic for the interface is shown in the second picture. http://petrockblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/usb-keyboard-with-arduino-and-v-usb-library-an-example/

To be successful with this project, you will need to construct this circuit in some manner, either as shown here or as I showed in the previous section.  While the construction is not complicated, errors will keep the V-USB software from working (said another way, the project will be a BIG flop and will not work.)  Additionally, if you have a wiring accident, diode reversed, improper parts selection, or cold solder joints, the circuit is likely to not work.  AT WORST, IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION AND WIRING COULD DAMAGE YOUR PC USB PORT, SYSTEMBOARD, OR CREATE OTHER SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE DAMAGE.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BUILD THIS INTERFACE AND USE IT ON YOUR PC UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT YOU CAN CONSTRUCT THE CIRCUIT PROPERLY AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO TEST YOUR INTERFACE BEFORE CONNECTING TO YOUR PC.  IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH CONNECTING TO YOUR PC YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.

Step 2: Download the V-USB modified code

You will need to download the V-USB for Arduino library.  This library is located here: http://code.google.com/p/vusb-for-arduino/downloads/list The code should be integrated into your Arduino environment in the library section.  On my XP machine, the location is: My Documents\Arduino\Libraries\UsbKeyboard

Adjust your location (directories) to match the install requirements for Arduino on Linux or iOS.

Download and expand the ZIP file.  The ZIP file is structured as: vusb-for-arduino-005.zip\vusb-for-arduino-005\libraries\UsbKeyboard

Only the files in the \UsbKeyboard folder and subordinate folders are required to be moved to My Documents\Arduino\Libraries\UsbKeyboard

Major Components in ProjectArduino UNO

For more detail: Arduino V-USB / HID 14 channel data logger