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PmodRS485™ Reference Manual
Revised January 20, 2016
This manual applies to the PmodRS485 rev. B
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
High-speed RS-485 communication module
Isolated RS-485/RS-422 interfaces for use in
noisy environments
16Mbps maximum data rate
Connect up to 256 nodes on one bus
Differential half or full-duplex
communication
Thermal shutdown and ±15kV ESD
protection
6-pin Pmod connector with UART interface
Library and example code available
in resource center
Overview
The Digilent PmodRS485 provides signal and power isolation for high speed communication lines utilizing the RS485 communication protocol.
1 Functional Description
The PmodRS485 utilizes Analog Devices ADM2582E to facilitate RS-485 and RS-422 serial communication protocols
between devices in environments with high electrical noise. The ADM2852E provides both signal and power
isolation allowing for accurate data transfer across long distances. Data transmission rates of 16 Mbit/s can be
achieved.
2 Interfacing with the Pmod
The PmodRS485 communicates with the host board via the UART protocol. In order to transmit data, the Driver
Enable line must be pulled to a logic level high voltage state; similarly, in order to receive data, the Receive Enable
line must be driven to a logic level low voltage state.
Truth tables indicating the status of the various pins of the PmodRS485 are provided below:

PmodRS485™ Reference Manual
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Positive Power Supply (3.3V/5V)
Table 3. Pinout description table: Pmod Header J2.
Table 4. Screw terminals.
RS485
Transceiver
RE
DE
TXD
RXD
GND
VCC
JP1
Y-output
Z-output
B-input
A-input
Table 1. Receiving.
Table 2. Transmitting.
Figure 1. PmodRS485 functional block diagram.

PmodRS485™ Reference Manual
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
Shorted jumper
Not Shorted Jumper
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
RS485
JP1
Z
Y
A
B
RS485
Shorted jumper
Not Shorted Jumper
Multiple PmodRS485 devices can be chained together up to 256 nodes in total. When two PmodRS485s are
connected, JP1 should be loaded on both devices. When more than two PmodRS485s are connected, JP1 should
only be loaded on the two devices at the terminating ends of the wire, and stubs off of the main line should be
kept as short as possible.
Figure 2. Half-duplex communication.
Any external power applied to the PmodRS485 must be within 3.0V and 5.5V; however, it is recommended that
Pmod is operated at 3.3V.
Figure 3. Full-duplex communication.

PmodRS485™ Reference Manual
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
3 Physical Dimensions
The pins on the pin header are spaced 100 mil apart. The PCB is 1.5 inches long on the sides parallel to the pins on
the pin header and 0.8 inches long on the sides perpendicular to the pin header.