Summary of Clever USB to Serial Cable
This article introduces the UCAB232, a specialized USB-to-serial cable designed for engineers requiring advanced control over serial communications. Unlike standard cables, it utilizes an FTDI chip to support diverse operating systems like Linux and CE.NET, allows custom VID/PID identification, and offers full hardware handshaking with dedicated buffers to prevent data overrun. It features high transfer rates up to 500 Kbaud and is self-powered via the USB bus.
Parts used in the UCAB232:
- FTDI USB chip
- RTS/CTS lines
- DTR/DSR lines
- DCD line
- RI line
- 384 byte Serial to USB buffer
- 128 byte USB to Serial buffer
(PRWEB) February 2, 2006
Most off the shelf USB to serial cables are fine for home users as they appear as a Virtual Com Port without any fuss and bother. But what happens if you are an engineer who wants more control? Finding any technical information about standard cables is almost impossible, so they are really difficult to customize for your application. This is where our new UCAB232 cable provides a solution.
The UCAB232 cable uses a FTDI USB chip, rather than the cheaper and simpler devices found in standard cables, which gives the engineer a series of benefits. To start with, drivers are available for a much wider range of operating systems, including all PC Windows and MAC platforms, but in addition, drivers are also available for Linux and CE.NET running on ARM, x86 and other processors.
As well as this wider range of drivers, another advantage of using the FTDI device is the excellent FAQ section, code examples and technical support available on the FDTI web site (http://www.ftdichip.com). Having struggled to find any information on standard cables, this comes as a welcome relief to any engineer.
Further benefits include the ability to add your own VID and PID numbers, and identification string to the cable. For the less technically minded, this means that when Windows finds the new hardware, it can display your own message and company name, rather than some generic identifier or the dreaded Unknown Device message.
So this cable gives more control over the USB messages. It also gives more control over the Serial Communications for those who need it. As well as giving access to all the control lines (RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR/DCD, RI) for full hardware handshaking, it also has hardware support for XON/XOFF data transfer methods. A 384 byte Serial to USB buffer, and 128 byte USB to Serial buffer help to smooth out communications and avoid buffer overruns and similar problems often encountered when communicating with slower serial devices.
Obviously, the cable has all the features of standard adapters, including high data transfer rates of up to 500 Kbaud, USB 2.0 compatibility and it is self powered from the USB bus. This cable is the ideal solution for engineers everywhere.
For more information, see
http://www.kanda.com/products/Kanda/UCAB232.html
About Kanda:
Kanda manufacture and supply a wide range of embedded system tools. We are specialists in In System Programming, low cost emulators and training systems for a wide range of microcontrollers, PLDs and memory devices, including PIC, AVR, ST7 and COP8. We also supply interfaces for USB, CAN Bus and serial to Ethernet conversion.
Issued By
Adrian Kanda.com 31st January 2006
Tel: +44 (0)8707 446 807
Web: http://www.kanda.com
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- Why should engineers choose the UCAB232 over standard cables?
It uses an FTDI chip instead of cheaper devices, providing better driver support, customization options, and technical resources. - Which operating systems are supported by this cable?
Drivers are available for all PC Windows and MAC platforms, as well as Linux and CE.NET on ARM, x86, and other processors. - Can users customize the device identification string?
Yes, users can add their own VID, PID numbers, and identification strings so Windows displays specific company names. - Does the cable support hardware handshaking?
Yes, it provides access to all control lines including RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR, DCD, and RI for full hardware handshaking. - How does the cable prevent buffer overruns?
It includes a 384 byte Serial to USB buffer and a 128 byte USB to Serial buffer to smooth out communications. - What is the maximum data transfer rate of the UCAB232?
The cable supports high data transfer rates of up to 500 Kbaud. - Is the cable powered externally or from the USB port?
The cable is self-powered directly from the USB bus. - Where can engineers find code examples and technical support?
Excellent FAQ sections, code examples, and support are available on the FDTI web site.
