Question How to connect an electrical switch to my application via USB port?

[aeskan]

Hi guys,

I've read articles about; "Sending and receiving data from RS232 or USB ports" or, "Using vb.net to switch on/off electrical devices", but conversely in my case I want to just using a simple electrical switch to do something in my vb.net application (via RS232 or USB port). For example; if user pushed an electrical switch button which is connected to the RS232 or USB port, then simply a text same as "Pushed" appear in my application's text box.

Briefly, could we connect an electrical switch without any circuit or board to USB port to do something simple in our application?

Any suggestion or experience?

Thanks.

 

[Herman]

On a RS232 port, yes. Use the RTS or DTR pins. USB is a much more elaborate communication interface, everything is done in software, so no.

 

[aeskan]

Thank you Herman, good advice. And how about using USB-Serial adapter, does it work properly?

 

[Herman]

It should...

 

[aeskan]

Thanks a lot...