Windows does a good job at limiting direct hardware access for any kind of software, and it gets a lot of help from the processor and it's "protected mode". That's why you no longer have direct port access in Delphi - it would be useless. Components like TurboPower Asynch probably make use of available functions in existing serial port drivers. Or they make use of some API. Whatever they do, you can rest assured they're not doing direct hardware access.
Try finding old documentation for accessing serial ports from DOS applications. They'll most likely go much deeper explaining stuff. If you can't find that kind of documentation do some google searches for "serial home automation" or something similar. You'll definitively find some good documentation that goes all the way to the volts on the wires (I sure did find one/two years ago). Also you might consider ditching Delphi and going with plain Borland Pascal and FreeDOS (or DOS) for such a project. The battery operated computer from Radio Shack might not be enough to run Windows + a Delphi application in near-real-time mode. Robert Meek wrote: > I was taking a look at Asynch from TurboPower...now Open > Source...and it seems that it wouldn't be difficult at all to handle simple > asynchronous instructions via a serial port or even USB w/serial adapter. > My question has more to do with hardware than anything else. > What I'm attempting to do is write my own program for handling very > simple bio-feedback data. What this entails are one to x number of > lightweight micro-volt sensors which are affixed by adhesives to various > points on the body, ( usually the forehead, mandible, or temples, and in > some cases fingers and/or wrists ). A battery operated computer board which > I'm building from supplies readily available at Radio Shack, measures the > changes in resistance between two or more of these paired contact sensors > and emits a signal which I then wish in turn to read and show via visual and > auditory feedback. This will be accomplished via a retentive scope-type > display that plots a graph, a single point visual which moves up, down, > left, and right, in its response to the same signals, as well as a user-set, > continuous sound that travels up and down the scale in relation to the > signal. The data will also be saved and stored as a stream in a local > database for re-play and analysis. > Secondary to its uses for personal bio-feedback will be the ability > to provide variant wake level cues via sending micro-shocks back thru the > sensors to the person's skin at pre-programmed and AI-controlled intervals, > ( in response to dynamically measured sensor data ), for lucid dreaming > experimentation, and pain control. > Not being an electronics wizard myself, ( the most complicated > electronic device I ever built was a specialized light-meter for measuring > grey values as used in the Zone system during darkroom work on b/w > photographic negatives ), I have a friend working out the hardware design > for me. Unfortunately, he is has unknowledgeable about computers as I am in > electronic control and measurement systems and so I need to find out the > signal characteristics this hardware can submit via the serial port, as well > as what it can expect in return! > So I was hoping someone who has some experience with these areas > might be able to contact me off-list and give me a few pointers in this area > so that I can then in turn ensure the hardware handles the necessary > signals. If so please contact me at the e-mail address below: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > from Robert Meek dba Tangentals Design CCopyright 2006 > Proud to be a moderator of "The Delphi Lists" at elists.org > > "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion > that the gift of Fantasy has meant more to me then my talent for absorbing > positive knowledge!" > Albert Einstein > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of Mick Arundell > Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 8:35 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Serial Port and USB I/O > > Serial ports are/can be treated as files > WriteLn(PortName, 'here, read this'); > > Mick > > >> Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:48:43 -0400 >> From: "Rainer von Saleski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: Serial Port and USB I/O >> To: "Borland's Delphi Discussion List" <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" >> >> This is going to sound awfully stupid ... but I've searched the >> Delphi help to no avail. >> >> How do I do I/O to/from a serial port? And/or to a USB device? >> >> I understand interrupt handlers, used them in Borland Pascal, so >> they must be present somewhere. But I can't find them! >> >> Where do I look? Someone please get me started! >> >> Thanks, >> Rainer >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> > > _______________________________________________ > Delphi mailing list -> [email protected] > http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi > > _______________________________________________ > Delphi mailing list -> [email protected] > http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi > > _______________________________________________ Delphi mailing list -> [email protected] http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi
