FTDI Chip USB-DUO USB-to-RS232 kit

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FTDI Chip, through its X-Chip series, has now added USB-to-RS232 interfacing to its portfolio of semiconductor solutions.

The USB-DUO bundles together one of the company’s USB bridge controller ICs with its RS232 transceiver IC in order to furnish engineers with a platform on which they can create their own USB-to-RS232 converter cabling systems, supporting speeds of up to 250 Kbps. The company’s FT231XS provides the USB-to-UART conversion operation while the FT3243S transceiver provides the digital-to-RS232 conversion, translating the 3.3 V level UART signal from the FT231XS to RS232 voltage levels.

The FT231XS’s internal EEPROM memory handles storage of USB configuration data and allows for customising of the device descriptors to match an OEM’s particular description preference. An internal phased-locked-loop (PLL) provides system timing. The transceiver has a built-in transient voltage suppressor (TVS), complying with the EN6100-4-2 standard of ±15 kV for air gap discharge. This means that additional electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry is not called for.

With a minimal number of external components required, OEMs can reduce both the bill of materials (BoM) and the PCB area required to implement their complete system design. The product exhibits low power consumption, drawing just 9 mA when it is active and a mere 135 µA while its FT231XS X-Chip element is in suspend mode. As it is capable of supporting an operational temperature range covering -40 to 85°C, it is suitable for use in demanding industrial settings.