| MR002-003.2 | 1 |
USB to Serial Adapter with FT232RL is an usefull tool that allows to connect Personal Computers with any microcontroller system via the USB port. It is based on the famous integrated circuit FT232RL producted by FTDI. It has a 128 byte receiving buffer and a 256 byte transmitting buffer; this grants robust transmissions up to 3Mbaud/s. Besides TX and RX signals, there are also available CTS, RTS and all others lines used for handshaking procedures.
When you plug the board into the USB port, the PC system will recognize it as a serial VirtualCOM Port (VCP) which will realize the communication with the microcontroller system connected to the USB to Serial Adapter with FT232RL; this allows to use systems designed to work with the RS232 serial port without modifying them.
This tiny and lightweight board is only 27x20 mm, including the mini-B connector, and its weight is only 0,09 oz (2,6 gr). Interfacing is realized by two 0,100” strip connectors that are distant 0,700” (17,78mm); this allows a stable and easy mounting on solderless breadboard and sockets.
A very usefull feature of this board is the possibility to select the data I/O voltage level; in this way you can interface with microcontrollers that run at 5V, 3.3V or any other voltage level less then 5V.
The selection of data I/O voltage level is done by the jumper provided with the board; inserting the jumper between pins A and B, signals will output at 5V (see Fig. 1), whereas, inserting the jumper between pins B and C, signals will output at 3.3V. If you do not insert the jumper the data I/O signals will output at the voltage level applied to the VCCIO pin.
The board is provided with two 9 pins 0,100” male strip connectors, one 3 pins 0,100” male strip connector and a jumper to select the data I/O voltage level.
