Access USB with C or C++

[xCaldazar]

Due to a computer engineering project I wanted to know if there is a way to send a voltage signal down a USB and then receive data back using a C or C++ program. Preferably how to do it in Windows, but it will later need to be compatible for Linux as well and possibly Mac. Don't have any idea how to do this so any links or info is appreciated.

[cnoeval]

USB is a communication protocol. It doesn't do anything by itself, it connects devices together. There are many USB based data acquisition products out there that you can use to generate and measure voltages though. Check out ni.com. The USB-6009 is only $100.

[LB]

I think that he wants to send data, hence 'voltage signal'.

[cnoeval]

If he's just looking for a way to talk to a USB device with C++ then it is highly dependent on the device itself. USB protocols are standard but the way a particular company chooses to implement the actual communication is up to them. There are standard USB libraries out there though, here's LibUSB 1.0: http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/148707-introduction-to-using-libusb-10/