Need to Send/Receive 10 Digit Code 25 Feet in USB Thumbdrive Size Device

nbowers

I need help designing a portable device simliar to a USB thumb drive that will emit a 10 digit number. It will also receive and store the 10 digit number from other simliar devices up to around twenty-five feet away. Finally, it can be plugged into a USB port and the information be viewed on the computer...maybe a *.txt file or simliar.

I guess it would need:

-flash memory
-rechargeable battery
-USB plug
-emitter
-receiver
-basic software
-on/off switch
-status screen(?)


-Nicholas, NYC

dandreae

This thread is being moved from the BASIC Stamp forum to the Sandbox due to subject content.

Dave


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Dave Andreae

Parallax Tech Support

Post Edited (Dave Andreae (Parallax)) : 11/25/2008 3:12:53 PM GMT

Mike Green

For the communications, you might look at these Parallax products: www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/Communication/tabid/161/CategoryID/36/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/111/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

LINX makes all sorts of RF receiver and transmitter chips that should work in your application and the Parallax products are relatively simple interfaces to these chips

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Communicating with a PC via USB is harder. If you want your device to look like a USB drive to the PC, you won't be able to do it with anything Parallax has. If you could have a specialized program on the PC that actively talks to your device, you could use a USB to serial adapter like any of several from Parallax or FTDI and the PC would send commands to your device while your device would answer with the stored data.

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I suspect cost is a major factor for these devices. Parallax's SX processor is fairly cheap and could handle the communications including a serial port to the PC via an FTDI chip. If you want to make your device look like a thumb drive to the PC, you'll have to look at some of the Microchip PIC devices with built-in USB engines.