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A USB HID Component for C#

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22 Mar 2007CPOL1 min read 2M   68.6K   240   339
A component to communicate with a USB HID device

Introduction

This article is about a USB HID component which enables you to communicate with HID devices over USB. There is no default component available for USB at this moment, and this component should provide you with a good starting point when writing your own USB HID enabled applications.

This article provides a sample application as well as the component itself.

Background

The component is based on various sources. A good start for USB in C# is this website. Also the book USB COMPLETE (third edition) by Jan Axelson is a must read for anyone wishing to incorporate USB HID into her/his application.

The component is developed during a project at the Avans Hogeschool in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

Using the Code

In the provided sample application, there is a good demonstration on how to include the component. Moreover, the use of the component is very well demonstrated. The only thing that must be done in your own application is implementing the events.

You'll also have to override the following functions in your form, so that your program is USB aware. In the property box, you'll have to provide a vendor and product id of your USB device in order to detect the correct device.

C#
protected override void OnHandleCreated(EventArgs e)
{
base.OnHandleCreated(e);
usb.RegisterHandle(Handle);
}
protected override void WndProc(ref Messagea m)
{
usb.ParseMessages(ref m);
base.WndProc(ref m); // pass message on to base form
}

Points of Interest

A mouse is always in use by Windows, and cannot be captured by your own application. This also applies to HID devices in use by other applications.

History

  • 22nd March, 2007: First version, currently in development

Updates will be posted if there is a need for them.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralSending Data with Sniffer Pin
doc6013-Nov-07 12:41
doc6013-Nov-07 12:41 
QuestionDoes not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
George Helyar5-Nov-07 14:32
George Helyar5-Nov-07 14:32 
AnswerRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
George Helyar7-Nov-07 3:49
George Helyar7-Nov-07 3:49 
GeneralRe: Problems with 64-bit Windows Pin
RenniePet28-Apr-08 4:36
RenniePet28-Apr-08 4:36 
GeneralRe: Problems with 64-bit Windows Pin
George Helyar28-Apr-08 8:46
George Helyar28-Apr-08 8:46 
GeneralRe: Problems with 64-bit Windows Pin
RenniePet28-Apr-08 9:32
RenniePet28-Apr-08 9:32 
QuestionRe: Problems with 64-bit Windows Pin
mellinge14-Feb-09 3:53
mellinge14-Feb-09 3:53 
AnswerRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
sophtware25-Jul-08 17:10
sophtware25-Jul-08 17:10 
On 32bit platforms, all SetupApi structures are 1-Byte packed. On 64bit platforms the SetupApi structures are 8-byte packed. (i.e., for 32 bit SP_DEVINFO_DATA.cbSize=28, for 64Bit SP_DEVINFO_DATA.cbSize=(36+4)=40)

I believe if you define the structurs like the following, the compiler will automatically handle the byte alignment at runtime. Haven't check it yet though...

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct SP_DEVINFO_DATA
{
public UInt32 cbSize;
public Guid ClassGuid;
public UInt32 DevInst;
public IntPtr Reserved;
}
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? [modified] Pin
George Helyar26-Jul-08 0:32
George Helyar26-Jul-08 0:32 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
sophtware26-Jul-08 8:45
sophtware26-Jul-08 8:45 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
George Helyar26-Jul-08 10:04
George Helyar26-Jul-08 10:04 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
sophtware26-Jul-08 14:26
sophtware26-Jul-08 14:26 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? [modified] Pin
George Helyar26-Jul-08 22:23
George Helyar26-Jul-08 22:23 
RantRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
sophtware27-Jul-08 2:52
sophtware27-Jul-08 2:52 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
NiteShdw11-Aug-08 15:02
NiteShdw11-Aug-08 15:02 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
George Helyar11-Aug-08 16:18
George Helyar11-Aug-08 16:18 
AnswerRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
therearefartoomanybens29-Sep-08 3:19
therearefartoomanybens29-Sep-08 3:19 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
George Helyar29-Sep-08 5:56
George Helyar29-Sep-08 5:56 
GeneralRe: Does not work on 64 bit Vista? Pin
therearefartoomanybens29-Sep-08 10:45
therearefartoomanybens29-Sep-08 10:45 
GeneralCan't find my usb flash drive Pin
eythimis15-Oct-07 5:09
eythimis15-Oct-07 5:09 
GeneralRe: Can't find my usb flash drive Pin
wimar22-Oct-07 7:18
wimar22-Oct-07 7:18 
GeneralRe: Can't find my usb flash drive Pin
Doug Squires24-Oct-07 6:07
Doug Squires24-Oct-07 6:07 
GeneralFindSpecifiedDevice Problem Pin
Iwan Budihalim26-Aug-07 23:55
Iwan Budihalim26-Aug-07 23:55 
GeneralRe: FindSpecifiedDevice Problem Pin
Iwan Budihalim27-Aug-07 1:53
Iwan Budihalim27-Aug-07 1:53 
GeneralRe: FindSpecifiedDevice Problem Pin
taithien22-Jan-08 20:44
taithien22-Jan-08 20:44 

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