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Dontronics :: USB Module/Add-Ons :: Starting Point Systems :: The uChameleon THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE FOR YOUR ELECRONICS LAB

The uChameleon THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE FOR YOUR ELECRONICS LAB #16635

Prices | Support| Download

The µChameleon is a general purpose usb interface with digital and anolog inputs and outputs. It brings the power of the personnal computer to your electronics projects. And because simplicity is the essence of magic, our main focus, when designing the µChameleon, was ease of use:

    * The embedded command interpreter, with it's easy to remember syntax, makes complicated api's a thing of the past. You can even start by typing commands in HyperTerminal !
    * Virtual serial port drivers let you see the µChameleon as a regular serial port, although it's possible to talk directly to the usb stack through a dll. All programming languages that can send text strings to a com port will work.
    * Full-speed usb communications, up to 1 Mbytes/second, will let you control even the fastest devices, like stepper motors, servo loops, audio generators, switching supplies...
    * Screw terminals lets you quickly and easily hook up your external circuits.
    * Power supply circuitry will automatically switch from usb power to external power, providing power to your external circuits in both cases.
    * And it's so compact it fits in a pocket.

And since it's already been used in many projects, we know it will work for you too !

We have now added the option for our customers to have a board-only version. This is the exact same product but without the plastic box. It has four mounting holes, and the I/O and power pins marking that are on the box are found on the silkscreen. Just select "Without Case" in the Options section at the bottom of this page.

Who will benefit from it ?
Whether you're an engineer, student, or serious hobbyist, you'll be amazed by the variety of real-world applications you'll be able to tackle successfully with your µChameleon: monitor sensors and switches, control motors and relays, implement servo loops, log data, control physics and chemistry experiments, and more... Teachers will like the fact that real applications can be built in front of the class even in the limited amount of time that's generally available. OEM's will be able to prototype and prepare convincing demos for their prospects in a very short time. Of course, our support staff is always ready to answer your questions, and will help you find the simplest path to success.

Features

Drivers

The virtual serial port drivers let your µChameleon look like a regular serial port on your PC or Mac, visible in the 'COM & LPT ports' of your computer. It's also possible to talk to the usb stack directly through a provided dll.

Windows drivers:

All major versions are supported: XP/Server 2003/2000/98/Me. Customers who got their install cd before june 2006 might want to upgrade on our downloads page.

Linux drivers:

Kernels 2.4, 2.6 and higher natively recognize our usb chip. You might want to check our Linux page.

MacOS drivers:

Our MacOs drivers are under beta test now, so they're not on our install CD, but if you need to try them, our tech support staff will send you our beta-tester version.

Command interpreter

Because versatility is nothing without ease of use, the embedded command interpreter lets you send simple human-readable commands. No more complex api's to learn, with their incredible list of mandatory parameters. Every programming language that can send strings to a serial port will know how to talk to the µChameleon. You can even start by typing commands in HyperTerminal !

Upgradable firmware

Thanks to it's flash memory and Firmware Upgrader software, all µChameleons can be upgraded to the latest firmware found in newly shipped versions. And our hardware protected boot means you can never end up with a locked device. If your pc fails during a µChameleon firmware upgrade, simply try again !

Flexible powering schemes

powers from USB
powers from external transformer (internaly regulated)
powers from external +5 Volts
automatically switches from USB to external supply (and back)
provides power to external circuits
overcurrent and overtemperature fault protection
external transfomer polarity protection

The µChameleon powers itself from USB by default. It is also possible to power it from an external wall-mount transformer, thanks to it's internal linear regulator. In both cases, the supply voltage is brought out to a screw terminal, and lets you power your external circuits easily. If you already have a regulated voltage available, you can also use it to power the unit. And the power circuirty inside the µChameleon will automatically switch between it's power sources without any mechanical intervention: if an external voltage is present, it is given priority, and when it is removed, the unit falls back to usb power, all this with over-current and over-temperature protection.

Full-speed USB communications

The full-speed (12Mbits per second) usb interface will allow you to address the most demanding applications in terms of throughput. And it also means less demanding applications will have low latencies and respond quickly.

18 General purpose IOs

All 18 I/O's can be used to input or output logic-level signals, the direction is of course independently programmable for each IO pin. Additionally, 8 of these IOs have a programmable pull-up feature, that can be activated on a per-pin basis. While the IOs can be accessed one at a time, it's also possible to access a group of 8 as a byte with a single command. This makes interfacing byte-oriented devices simpler and faster.

8 Analog inputs

The 8 analog inputs have an 8 bit resolution, and will let you measure a voltage in the 0-5Volts range. Use them to measure the position of potentiometers, light levels, temperatures, pressures... Sampling rates up to 50kHz are possible.

4 Analog outputs

The analog outputs will produce variable voltage levels in the 0-5Volts range. Use them to control analog circuits, generate waveforms... These outputs are of the pwm type, and this means you can get very high resolutions (up to 16 bits), or choose an accuracy versus update balance by varying both the frequency and duty cycle independently. You can use them without an external rc filter in order to drive power transistors in switch mode, to vary the power applied to loads such as motors, lamps, heaters, or with an external filter if you intend to use them as control voltages for analog circuitry.

4 Timer channels

The timer channels provide up to four programmable pwm channels or clock outputs, with a 100 nanoseconds resolution. You can alter the frequency in a very wide range (2Hz to 5Mhz), change the duty cycle, and polarity. Use them to drive power loads (with external power transistors) or analog circuits (with external rc filters). You can also use the timers as clock sources for external digital logic.

Screw terminals

All IOs, as well as power and grounds are easily connected to your external circuits thanks to screw terminals. Insert your wire, lock it using any standard screwdriver, and you're ready to interact with your circuit !

Very compact size

It fits in a pocket ! Take it from your job to your home easily (but don't forget to bring it back the next day). Or maybe the other way around... Take it to a friend's place and have fun ! Hide it in a bigger enclosure with complementary electronics to quickly build professional-looking prototypes.

Software Download:

For more details on this product and its programming, take a look at our users's manual
Photos
Downloads
Support

Support:

If you need additional support on the above product, and you can't find the information you need in the documentation, then please contact support at the address below:

support at starting-point-systems.com
This product is from: Starting Point Systems
Christophe Mariac

Details


Shipped From	Starting Point Systems, France
Shipping:	Free
Aust GST	GST Free
Manufacturer	Starting Point Systems
Price:	AUD$318.60 (USD$ 204.64) (€uro 160.00)