Feature

Highly versatile USB-IO board enables control and monitoring

Review Display Systems (RDS) has announced the introduction of a new, highly versatile USB control and monitoring interface board.

16/03/2022 15:44:07

The intelligent USB-IO board features a comprehensive range of I/O (input/output) ports which can be easily controlled and monitored using a single USB serial interface.

The USB-IO board has been designed and developed by RDS for use in embedded systems, IoT applications and standalone equipment to enable the control and monitoring of external hardware and systems, such as relays, smart sensors, actuators, lighting, and motors.

The USB-IO board features a general-purpose 16-bit Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) which enables full user control and interrogation of all the on-board input/outport ports, interfaces, and sensors. The user interface for the USB IO board is controlled via a single USB serial connection to a host controller or embedded computer.

Liam Layton, Application Engineer, Review Display Systems, said, “Many embedded computers are not designed with support for general-purpose I/O (GPIO). As a result, this lack of easily accessible I/O can create challenges in embedded applications when trying to control and monitor external hardware and systems. The new RDS USB-IO board overcomes these obstacles by providing a simple and easy-to-use interface with many different I/O options available.”

To enable use in a host of automation and control systems the USB-IO board features the following built-in features:

- 9 x digital inputs, normally high
- 3 x digital inputs, normally low
- 4 x 3.3V digital outputs
- 9 x 5V outputs (PWM selectable)
- 7 x 12V outputs (PWM selectable)
- 1 x 250V, 5A mains relay
- temperature and humidity sensors
- NFC (Near Field Communication) for user/admin access control

The USB-IO board is part of the SensConnect product portfolio available from Review Display Systems. SensConnect is a fully user configurable hardware-focussed, data-collection platform that enables monitoring, analysis, and control of systems with digital technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and IoT (Internet of Things).

A typical SensConnect solution consists of three individual elements, where monitoring, analysis and control systems are combined to provide effective, efficient digital intelligence.

The USB-IO interface board is now available from Review Display Systems.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.