2002/02/07 by Randall D. Peters, Peters, Randall D.
Computer Science · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Classical Physics (physics.class-ph) #Engineering Technology and Methodologies #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #Mechanics and Biomechanics Studies #Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems #physics.class-ph #physics.geo-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0202023
5 figures
arxiv created 2002/02/07 · openalex publication_date 2002/02/07 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
An inexpensive analog-to-digital converter has been built around the game port of the IBM personal computer. Using a single field effect transistor (FET) and three carbon resistors, it allows the game card to measure voltage, instead of its usual measurement of resistance. Since power for the FET is drawn from the game port, the total cost of components, external to the computer, is very low at about one U.S. dollar. The converter is linear enough for many applications, and is presently used to study the complex free decay of a long period physical pendulum. Software support is via QuickBasic, and the hardware/software package design was influenced by a consideration of amateur seismology needs.