Tony G

Just want to share my "discovery".

As you may remember, I put together an encoder hack/soft-switch solution some years ago: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/inpu...l-details.html

- I like encoders and soft switches. Not so keen on touchscreens. Have always looked to move away from hacked keyboard and mouse boards.

The U-HID from ultimarc is an amazing solution, - almost as if it is designed for car PC use. It can handle toggle and latched switches - a big plus for sensing things like ignition key states ( not for power sequencing ). It also can interpret analogue levels.

www.u-hid.com

It is small. It's smaller in the flesh than the pictures suggest. I have replaced all of my encoder and keyboard hacks with this single device. Each pin can be programmed for gnd, +5v, keyboard, game controller, encoder - either X, Y, Z or gamepad output.

Another neat touch is the LED outputs, which can follow the logic state of a switch function (momentary, toggle, flip-flop, seesaw, shift), or controlled by an external API.

Talking of APIs, - c#, c++, deplhi, VB6, VB.NET.

Expensive though...

MP3Car.com

 

Tony G

Forgot to mention one thing about the encoder mode; if anyone has been frustrated with normal mouse-board hacks when you need to turn the encoder two physical clicks to effect a single operation, this board sorts this out.

hans14914

I was looking at buying one of these boards to transform my power mirror adjust switch to a transport control. I figured that the normal Left-off-Right toggle switch for selecting the mirror could be used as the shift function, allowing the 4 direction joystick, to multiply to 8 functions. I was thinking simple track and volume controls one one, and then perhapse menu navigation/directional controls in the other mode.

What are your thoughts on this setup with the U-HID?

Thanks

Tony G

Really rate this idea: using car-specific controls in a car (just might catch on).

My only caveat is that an increasing number of car controls have moulded in interface boards with CAN-bus or other multiplexed outputs.

I have seen this in my own VW.

If you know the switch has straightforward switch connections, your idea should work very nicely. Most car mirror controls will give a 4-way joystick control, with a shift feature adding more options.

You've got me thinking know...

hans14914

Yes, plus they are right where you need them. How often do you really use the mirror adjust. You can just get an extra switch assembly, and install it somewhere else, like the center storage box, or even lower in the door pocket. I plan on ordering the big U-HID sometime soon, glad to see you are using one, and think it is a quality product.

MP3Car.com