The following information is for the EMANT300, EMANT380

DAQ with Visual C# 2010

Learning Objectives

Following our step by step Instruction Guide, the user will create a Light Intensity Logger, a Night Light, and Universal Thermometer. After completion of these exercises, the user would have learnt the following

Sensor / Actuator

  • Photodiode

  • Switch

  • LED

  • Thermistor

Data Acquisition (DAQ)

  • Analog Input

  • Analog Output

  • Digital Input

  • Digital Output

C#

  • Basic Program Structure

  • Variables & Statements

  • Console Input/Output

  • Branching Statement if else

  • for Loop

  • do Loop

  • Array

  • File IO

  • Windows Forms

  • Simple Instrument Controls

The exercises will take about 6 hours to complete. The additional optional exercises are intended for the faster learners.

Course Prerequisites

  • Experience with Microsoft Windows

  • Basic Electronics

Products Used During the Course

  • Microsoft Visual C# 2010 .NET (Express or better)

  • One of the following EMANT Products

    • USB DAQ Training Kit (EMANT300 USB DAQ and Light Application adaptor)

    • Bluetooth Starter Kit (EMANT380 Bluetooth DAQ, Light Application adaptor, Power supply)

Important Notes

  1. The PC must be correctly setup in order for you to complete the exercises in the instructional guide.
  2. Microsoft Visual C# .NET 2010 (Express or better) must already be installed.

  3. You require either the USB DAQ Training Kit or Bluetooth Starter Kit to complete the exercises and you must have already installed either the USB Driver or paired the Bluetooth DAQ respectively (See installation guide)

  4. Copy the entire DAQ_with_CS2010.zip folder to your PC, preferably to your My Documents folder. The instructional guide can be found in the folder.

Our Learning Model - Observe, Recreate, Modify

We make use of the constructionist model which says people learn best through building solutions to practical problems. However transfer (expected in creative solutions), which allows learning in one context be applied to another context that shared similar characteristics, is a difficult chasm to cross for the average learner. Our 3 steps Observe, Recreate, Modify method provides a bridge so that the average learner (and not just the Einsteins in the world) can create innovative solutions using DAQ modules.

  • Observe: with a starter kit or application adaptors, without any programming or hardware circuit connection, the learner can observe on their own how a correctly working DAQ module, sensors and software should behave by executing our ready to run solutions.

  • Recreate: for software, by following instructional videos or guides, the learner can follow the steps required to recreate the solution. For hardware, with the breadboard application adaptor, the student can construct the working hardware he observed before. If mistakes are made (and there will be as part of the learning process), they can compare differences with the reference solution provided with their solution and correct accordingly on their own.

  • Modify: the learner now modifies the software/hardware he had created and work towards his own project solution. The reference solution acts as comparison point.

To troubleshoot, one should go back to the last version (or solution) which worked, regardless of hardware or software, to see what has changed and may have caused the problem.