ATEN IC-485AI User Manual

User Manual

IC-485AI

2002-09-27

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at his own expense.

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Packing List

This package consists of:

M 1 IC-485AI Bidirectional Isolated Converter
M 1 Power Adapter
M 1 User Manual

Check to make sure that the unit was not damaged in shipping. If you encounter
a problem, contact your dealer.

Read this manual thoroughly and follow the installation and operation
procedures carefully to prevent any damage to the unit, and/or any of the
devices connected to it.

© Copyright 2001 ATEN® International Co., Ltd.

Manual Part No. PAPE-0194-100

Printed in Taiwan 02/2002

All brand names and trademarks are the registered property of their respective owners.

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Contents

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Top View: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Bottom View: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

DIP Switch Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Point-to-Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Multidrop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Simplex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

RS-422 / RS-485 Installation Diagrams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Terminal Block Pin Assignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Circuit Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

RS-485 Operation Mode Flow Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

DCE / DTE Connection Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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Overview

Although RS-232 serial ports are found on almost every computer, because of
their slow transmission speeds, limited range, and limited networking
capabilities, they are not an effective solution for industrial strength long
distance communications systems.

Systems based on the RS-422 and RS-485 standards, on the other hand, are
not subject to the RS-232 limitations because they utilize different voltage lines
for the data and control signals.

The IC-485AI Isolated Converter is a bidirectional converter that transparently
converts RS-232 signals to RS-422 / RS-485 signals (and vice versa), thus
permitting the creation of reliable long distance data communications systems
using standard computer hardware.

The IC-485AI provides Point-to-Point; Multidrop; and Simplex operations over
distances of up to 1200 m (4000 ft.). Designed with built in optocouplers for
exceptional signal isolation, plus transformers for excellent power isolation, this
extremely reliable isolated converter enhances the quality of data
communications at the same time that it protects your equipment from electrical
surges of up to 2000 volts.

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Features

M Automatic internal RS-485 bus supervision
M No external flow control signals for RS-485 required
M Transient suppression on RS-485 data lines
M LEDs for easy status monitoring
M Minimum 2000V isolation protection
M Up to 115.2 Kbps data throughput
M DCE / DTE selectable
M Point-to-Point; Multidrop; and Simplex operating modes
M Four wire full duplex; two wire half duplex
M Cable distance of up to 1200 m (4000 ft.)
M Compact size

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Components

Top View:

1

2

3

6

4

5

1. Status LEDs

M RTS: Lights to indicate that RTS has been pulled high.
M TxD: Flashes when data transmission occurs.

2. RS-422 / RS-485 Terminal Block

3. Grounding Tab

4. DCE /DTE Selection Switch

If the IC-485AI is going to be plugged into a DTE device, the switch must be
set to DCE, and vice versa.

5. Power Jack

The cable from the Power Adapter plugs in here.

6. RS-232 DB-25 Female Connector

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