Cytron UC00A User Manual

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Cytron USB to UART Converter

UC00A

Information contained in this publication regarding device applications and the like is intended through suggestion only and may be superseded by updates. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application meets with your specifications. No representation or warranty is given and no liability is assumed by Cytron Technologies Incorporated with respect to the accuracy or use of such information or infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights arising from such use or otherwise. Use of Cytron Technologies’s products as critical components in life support systems is not authorized except with express written approval by Cytron Technologies. No licenses are conveyed, implicitly or otherwise, under any intellectual property rights.

User’s Manual

V1.1

August 2009

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Product User’s Manual – UC00A

Index

1. Introduction 1

2. System Overview 3

3. Packing List 4

4. Board Layout 5

5. Product Specification 6

6. Installation 9 a. Software Installation 9 b. Hardware Installation 9

7. Getting Started 10

7.1 Using UC00A with Microcontroller 10

7.2 Using UC00A for Communication between 2 PCs 15

8. Warranty 17

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1. INTRODUCTION

Serial communication is most popular interface between device and this applies to microcontroller and computer. UART is one of those serial interfaces. Classically, most serial interface from microcontroller to computer is done through serial port (DB9). However, since computer serial port used RS232 protocol and microcontroller used TTL UART, a level shifter is needed between these interfaces. Recently, serial port of computer have been phase out, it have been replaced with USB. Of course most developer chooses USB to serial converter to obtain virtual serial port. The level shifter is still necessary for UART interface. Thus, Cytron decided to develop a USB to UART converter which offers USB plug and play, direct interface with microcontroller and it provide low current 5V supply from USB port.

Traditional Method

(a) PC (Serial Port)

(b) PC (USB)

Using UC00A Method

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This development offer low cost, easy to use USB to UART converter to user.

It has been designed with capabilities and features of:

• Develop low cost USB to UART converter

• Easy to use USB to UART converter, aiming development between computer and

microcontroller, 5V logic.

• USB powered, no external source is required to use this converter

• 5V from USB port is available for user.

• Configurable for 5V UART interface.

• Easy to use 4 pin interface: Tx, Rx, Gnd and 5V.

• CTS, RTS, DTR and DSR is pull out to standard 2x5 header pin solder able PCB

pad.

• Plug and Play

• Dimension: 4.6cm x 1.8cm

NOTE: UC00A are compatible for Window XP and Vista and it appear as Virtual COM port on computer.

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2. SYSTEM OVERVIEW

communication

UART

USB Port

Cautions

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UC00A

UART

Application

5V MCU

Application

not to use this power source to power application circuit or device. Wrong connection such as wrong polarity, wrong voltage, shorted might permanently damage computer.

: “+” on UC00A is 5V supply directly from USB port of computer; it is advised

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3. PACKING LIST

Please check the parts and components according to the packing list. If there are any parts missing, please contact us at [email protected] immediately.

1. 1 x UC00A.

2. 1 x 2510 4 ways connector.

3. 4 x 2510 iron pins.

4. USB driver and User’s Manual should be downloaded from Cytron Website.

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Cautions

Product User’s Manual – UC00A

4. BOARD LAYOUT

Label Function

A B

USB A type (male). USB to UART chip.

C D

Two LED indicators for USB’s transmitter and receiver status. 4 ways header pin for interface to microcontroller.

2 x5 extension pad for extra COM Port Feature.

A – USB A type (male). This is for USB connection.

B – USB to UART converter chip.

C – These are a pair of small LED, red and yellow in color. These LEDs are connected to on board USB to UART converter. It indicates the receiver and transmitter activity. It will only work if UC00A is connected to PC or laptop through USB cable and microcontroller. Red LED indicates USB’s transmitter send data, while yellow LED indicate USB’s receiver receive data

D – 4 ways 2510 header pin for interface to microcontroller. Please refer to hardware installation for detail connection.

E – 2 x 5 extension pad for extra COM Port Feature.

: “+” on UC00A is 5V supply directly from USB port of computer; it is advised not to use this power source to power application circuit or device. Wrong connection such as wrong polarity, wrong voltage, shorted might permanently damage computer.

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Cautions

Product User’s Manual – UC00A

5. PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

UC00A is designed to ease communication between microcontroller and PC. The specifications are as listed below:

5.1 4 ways 2510 header pin

Pin Label Definition Function

1 +

– Ground or negative

3 TX

4 RX

5V Power output from UC00A

UC00A UART Transmit pin

UC00A UART Receive pin

5V supply from USB, optional for user to power external device, maximum current 200mA.

Ground of power and signal. This pin should be connected to device’s GND pin.

This is UC00A’s transmitter pin (5V TTL). It should be connected to device’s receiver pin.

This is UC00A’s receiver pin (5V TTL). It should be connected to device’s transmitter pin.

Absolute Maximum Rating

Symbol Parameter Min Max Unit

+ Power output pin 5.0 5.0 V

- Operating voltage 0 0 V

TX Transmitter pin of UC00A 0 5.5 V

RX Receiver pin of UC00A 0 5.5 V

not to use this power source to power application circuit or device. Wrong connection such as wrong polarity, wrong voltage, shorted might permanently damage computer.

: “+” on UC00A is 5V supply directly from USB port of computer; it is advised

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Product User’s Manual – UC00A

UC00A Data Carrier

This pin is unused under normal UART operation.

5.2 2x5 Extension Pad

Label Definition Function

5V Power output from UC00A

– Ground or negative

DSR

DTR

RTS

CTS

UC00A UART Transmit pin

UC00A UART Receive pin UC00A Data Set Ready pin UC00A Data Terminal Ready pin UC00A Request To Send pin UC00A Clear To Send pin UC00A Ring Indicator pin

5V supply from USB, optional for user to power external device, maximum current 200mA. Ground of power and signal. This pin should be connected to device’s GND pin. This is UC00A’s transmitter pin (5V TTL). It should be connected to device’s receiver pin.

This is UC00A’s receiver pin (5V TTL). It should be connected to device’s transmitter pin.

This pin is unused under normal UART operation.

This pin is unused under normal UART operation. This pin is unused under normal UART operation.

(This pin is available only for Rev 1.1 UC00A)

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DCD

Detect pin

(This pin is available only for Rev 1.1 UC00A)

* RI and DCD pin is available only for Rev 1.1 UC00A

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Cautions

Product User’s Manual – UC00A

Absolute Maximum Rating

Symbol Parameter Min Max Unit

+ Power output pin 5.0 5.0 V

- Operating voltage 0 0 V

RS232 Signals Signal Pins 0 5.5 V

not to use this power source to power application circuit or device. Wrong connection such as wrong polarity, wrong voltage, shorted might permanently damage computer.

: “+” on UC00A is 5V supply directly from USB port of computer; it is advised

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1 2 3

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Product User’s Manual – UC00A

6. INSTALLATION

6.1 Software Installation

UC00A used USB to UART chip and it require USB driver to be installed (1 time) on computer. Thus, this section, user may refer to document name “Windows XP Installation Guide” which provides users a simple procedure for installing drivers for this device driver under Windows XP.

6.2 Hardware Installation

For interface with hardware or mictrocontroller, user need a cable to plug between UC00A and hardware. Below are the picture and method of making 4 ways cabel. For step 6, repeat step 1 to 5 for the other end of cable. Please start with the same side done in step (yellow on bottom and the iron pin is facing up). For step 10 (second side of cable), nodes in pin 1 and 2 are switch with first side.

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7. GETTING STARTED

This section will show example on how to use UC00A. Generally, there are 2 methods to use UC00A. It can be used to connect any 5V UART device to computer, or between 2 computers. Bare in mind that UC00A can be connected to any device which offer 5V UART interface, this includes microcontroller, RFID reader, wireless module and more.

7.1 Using UC00A with microcontroller

This section will show an example using UC00A. UC00A will be connected to SKPS. SKPS is a PS2 Controller Converter developed by Cytron Technologies. SKPS can be connected to PC for functionality test. Normally, user will need to develop RS232 level shifter for communication to serial port. This will generate extra work just to check the functionality of SKPS. Furthermore, laptop and computer nowadays have phase-out the serial port, USB have replaced it. Now, no extra work is required to check the functionally of SKPS. Simply plug SKPS to UC00A and USB port of computer (PC or Laptop), install driver (1st time) and there is an extra virtual COM port ready for SKPS. Checking functionality is simple as 1, 2, 3.

a. Simply connect UC00A to SKPS, another end (A type) of UC00A to PC as shown in

following figure. User might need to connect the RX and TX pin to UC00A. Of course, these two pins should be cross connected to UC00A. In other words, RX of SKPS should be connected to UC00A’s Transmitter pin (Tx), while TX of SKPS should be connected to UC00A’s Receiver pin (Rx). No extra component is necessary between these connections.

Wires in pin 1 and 2 are switch for the second connector.

b. Please refer to document named “USB Driver Installation Guide” for driver installation.

This is mention in section 6.1, software installation.

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c. After plug in the UC00A to computer and installation of driver, user is ready to test the

functionality of SKPS. Open the HyperTerminal. Enter a name and choose an icon for connection as picture below then click OK.

d. Connect using USB Serial Port. Please follow step from (e) to (g) if the COM port

number is not confirmed.

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e. Go to Start, right click on My Computer and choose Properties.

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f. At System Properties Table, choose Hardware and click on Device Manager. Device

Manager Table will show out.

g. At Device Manager Table, choose Ports (COM & LPT) and USB Serial Port COM will

be visible. The Serial Port COM is “COM20” in this case.

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h. Set the Port Setting as picture below. Bits per second must be same with SKPS Baud Rate

and Flow control must be set to none. After finish setting, click Apply and then click OK.

i. Go to File and select Properties. SKPS Properties table will be shown. Choose Setting tab

and click ASCII Setup tab. Click on Echo typed characters locally and then click OK.

j. After all settings are complete, now SKPS is ready to communicate with PC and the

communication will be shown on HyperTerminal.

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7.2 Using UC00A for Communication between two PCs

a. Two PCs can communicate to each other by connecting them to UC00A each. Connect

each PC like diagram below. Create a cable in section 6.2 and connect to UC00A, and simply plug it to each PC.

b. Upon completion of connection, open HyperTerminal in each PC. Follow steps

mentioned in Section 7.1 (c) to (i). The baud rate for each PC must be same.

c. User may start typing any character in HyperTerminal, for example: chatting between two

PCs. Example computer 1 (C1) and computer 2 (C2) are connect. Any character typed in HyperTerminal C1 will also shown in HyperTerminal C2. Pictures below show HyperTerminal for each PC. Example C1 is adibah’s PC and C2 is joliza’s PC. C1 type ‘1’ and ‘adibah’ while C2 type ‘2’ and ‘joliza’. If Echo type characters locally is activate, each HyperTerminal will shown like pictures below.

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(a) C1 HyperTerminal

(b) C2 HyperTerminal

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8. WARRANTY

Prepared by

 Product warranty is valid for 6 months.  Warranty only applies to manufacturing defect.  Damage caused by mis-use is not covered under warranty.  Warranty does not cover freight cost for both ways.

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Product User’s Manual – UC00A

Cytron Technologies Sdn. Bhd.

19, Jalan Kebudayaan 1A,

Taman Universiti,

81300 Skudai,

Johor, Malaysia.

Tel: +607-521 3178 Fax: +607-521 1861

URL: www.cytron.com.my

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]