CYPRESS USB to Serial User Manual

Cypress USB to Serial Quick Start and User Guide

Quick Start Developers Guide

This is a simple description of the steps needed to
use the USB to serial reference design.

1. Setup Development Kit

The first step is to setup the necessary development
kit. The development kit that will be used will
depend on the choice of microcontroller. Simply
follow the installation instructions that come with the
development kit.

2. Customize Firmware

The next step is to customize the USB to serial
firmware to fit your application. This will include
changing the value of the vendor and product ID in
the device descriptor. Other changes may also be
necessary in the firmware if the application requires
any specialized use of handshaking signals. Please
refer to the design notes included in this package for
an explanation of the firmware and where and how to
make changes to it.

3. Connect Serial Device to
Development Kit

Interface the USB to serial reference design with the
existing serial device. A description of pin
assignments and how to interface the devices is
given in the hardware section of the design notes.

4. Enumerate Device

Connect the development kit, with the firmware
running, to the USB port on the computer and make
sure that it enumerated properly. This can be
verified by opening the device manager and looking
for a Human Interface Device that was created.

5. Test Firmware

Use the HidCom test application to test the device.
This application begins by detecting the USB to
serial device and sets the proper communication
settings for it. At that point you can send and receive
data, set and clear handshaking signals and read the
state of the handshaking signals on the device.

6. Create INF file

After the firmware has been verified to function
correctly, it is then necessary to create an INF file so
that the enumeration process calls on the virtual port
emulation driver. The HidCom test application has a
button that is used to automatically generate an INF
file that corresponds to the VID and PID which it is
currently communicating with.

7. Install the Com Port emulation driver

Install the Cypress COM port emulation driver by
simply running the HidComInst executable that
comes with this package. To verify that the driver
was loaded correctly you must look at the device
manager once again. This time check under COM
ports and make sure that the Cypress Virtual Port
has appeared.

8. Run application

Run the software application that is supposed to
work with your device. Connect it to the COM port
associated with the virtual COM port. The virtual
COM port is usually labeled with the number of the
next unused COM port. For example if you have two
ports on your system which are labeled COM1 and
COM2 then the virtual COM port will be COM3.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation • 3901 North First Street • San Jose • CA 95134 • 408-943-2600

July 09, 2001

USB to Serial Quick Start and User Guide

USB to Serial Quick Start Demo Guide

1. Purpose

This section is intended to provide a step by step guide to getting the USB to Serial reference design up and
running with a demo. This will provide the user with instant verification of the USB to Serial system functionality
including driver, firmware, and hardware.

2. Installing the Driver

2.1 At the DOS prompt make sure the current working directory contains HidCOMInst, the INF file, and the
drivers. These are all located in the Apps_and_Drivers folder of the reference design. Simply type
“hidcominst”. Nothing will appear to happen however this will remove any previous USB to Serial
information and then copy the driver and INF file to the proper directories. The system is now ready for
the device to be plugged in.

3. Plugging in the device

Under Win2K the driver should be located automatically so the following sequence doesn’t apply. Therefore
Win2K users should skip to section 3.5.

3.1 Once the device has been plugged in the following window will appear. Select OK.

3.2 Next the system will try and locate the driver. In the New Hardware Found window Click Browse.

3.3 In the window below select the location containing the Ccport.sys driver. Note: The default location in the
reference design is in the Apps_and_Drivers folder, not the location shown below.

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USB to Serial Quick Start and User Guide

3.4 After the correct location has been selected, click OK. Then click OK in the New Hardware Found
window.

3.5 After a few seconds the device should finish enumerating. Verify that the device enumerated properly by
checking the Device Manager.

3.5.1 On the desktop right click My Computer

3.5.2 Click Properties

3.5.3 In Win98 select the Device Manager Tab: In Win2K select the Hardware Tab and then click
Device Manger

3.5.4 Check the Ports section and verify that the Cypress Virtual Port has appeared as below.

4. Demonstration using Serial Test

Serial Test provides the user with a visual indication that the USB to Serial system is functioning properly. Serial
Test is an application that performs a loopback test over two ports, in this case the Cypress Virtual Port and a real
Serial Port. It enables a given test vector to be transmitted and received between the two ports. The following
steps will demonstrate data being looped back between these ports. For further information on Serial Test please
refer to the Application’s User Guide.

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