Future Technology Devices International Ltd
USB to RS232 Serial Converter Range of
Cables
Datasheet
Document Reference No.: FT_000077
Version 1.3
Issue Date: 2009-12-18
Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI)
Unit1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park, Glasgow G41 1HH United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 (0) 141 429 2777 Fax: + 44 (0) 141 429 2758
E-Mail (Support):
support1@ftdichip.com
Web: http://www.ftdichip.com
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in, or the product described in this manual, may be adapted or reproduced
in any material or electronic form without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. This product and its documentation are
supplied on an as-is basis and no warranty as to their suitability for any particular purpose is either made or implied. Future Technology
Devices International Ltd will not accept any claim for damages howsoever arising as a result of use or failure of this product. Your
statutory rights are not affected. This product or any variant of it is not intended for use in any medical appliance, device or system in
which the failure of the product might reasonably be expected to result in personal injury. This document provides preliminar y
information that may be subject to change without notice. No freedom to use patents or other intellectual property rights is implied by
the publication of this document. . Future Technology Devices International Ltd, Unit1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park,
Glasgow, G41 1HH, United Kingdom. Scotland Registered Number: SC136640
Copyright © 2008 Future Technology Devices International Limited
Document Reference No.: FT_000077
USB TO RS232 SERIAL CONVERTER RANGE OF CABLES Datasheet Version 1.3
Clearance No.: FTDI# 51
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Description
The
USB_RS232
cables are a family of USB to RS232 levels serial UART converter cables incorporating
FTDI’s FT232RQ USB to serial UART interface IC device which handles all the USB signalling and
protocols. The cables provide a fast, simple way to connect devices with a RS232 level serial UART
interface to USB.
Each USB-RS232 cable contains a small internal electronic circuit board, utilising the FT232R, which is
encapsulated into the USB connector end of the cable. The FT232R datasheet,
DS_FT232R,
is available at
http://www.ftdichip.com.
The integrated electronics also include the RS232 level shifter plus Tx and Rx
LEDs which give a visual indication of traffic on the cable (if transparent USB connector specified).
The other end of the cable is bare, tinned wire ended connections by default, but can be customised
using different connectors to support various applications.
Cables are FCC, CE, RoHS compliant.
The USB side of the cable is USB powered and USB 2.0 full speed compatible. Each cable is 1.8m long
and supports a data transfer rate up to 1 Mbaud. Each cable supports the FTDIChip-ID™, with a unique
USB serial number programmed into the FT232R. This feature can be used to create a security or
password protected file transfer access using the cable. Further information and examples on this feature
are available at
http://www.ftdichip.com
under
FTDIChip-ID Projects.
The USB-RS232 cables require USB drivers, available free from
http://www.ftdichip.com,
which are
used to make the FT232R in the cable appear as a virtual COM port (VCP). This then allows the user to
communicate with the USB interface via a standard PC serial emulation port (for example TTY). Another
FTDI USB driver, the D2XX driver, can also be used with application software to directly access the
FT232R on the cable though a DLL. This is illustrated in the Figure 1.1
Various Connector
Options
TTY
USB_RS232
USB
Wire Ended
Customised connectors
VCP
Virtual COM Port
Various Connector
Options
Wire Ended
TTY
D2XX
Software application access to USB via D2XX
Figure 1.1 Using the USB-RS232 Cable
DLL
USB
Customised connectors
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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Document Reference No.: FT_000077
USB TO RS232 SERIAL CONVERTER RANGE OF CABLES Datasheet Version 1.3
Clearance No.: FTDI# 51
2
Cable Part Numbers
The following
Table 2.1 gives details of the available USB-RS232 cables.
Part Number
Description
End Connector*
Cable details
USB
to UART cable with
RS232
level UART signals.
USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-0.0
Black
cable,
Transparent
USB connector
0.0 = RED wire is 0V
USB
to UART cable with
RS232
level UART signals.
C =
cable colour (B black or
*
USB-RS232-CC-LLLL-CU-PWR
T
transparent),
CU
= Connector
U
= USB connector colour (B
black or
T
transparent)
PWR
= power supply output
on red wire. 0.0 = 0V,
3.3=3.3V,5.0=5V)
Table 2.1 USB-RS232 Cables Descriptions and Part Numbers
*
Wire Ended
(no
connector)
1.8m
cable,6 core,
UL2464 24 AWG,
diam=5mm
LLLL = Length of
cable.
description.
FTDI supports customised end connector designs. For more information, please contact FTDI Sales Team
(sales1@ftdichip.com)
2.1
Certifications
FTDI USB-RS232 range of cables are fully RoHs compliant as well as CE and FCC certified.
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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Document Reference No.: FT_000077
USB TO RS232 SERIAL CONVERTER RANGE OF CABLES Datasheet Version 1.3
Clearance No.: FTDI# 51
Table of Contents
1
2
3
Description ..................................................................................... 1
Cable Part Numbers ........................................................................ 2
2.1
Certifications ................................................................................................. 2
Typical Applications ........................................................................ 4
3.1
3.2
Driver Support .............................................................................................. 4
Features ........................................................................................................ 5
4
5
Features of FT232R applicable to USB-RS232 Cables ...................... 6
USB-RS232-WE-LLLL-CU ................................................................. 7
5.1
5.2
5.3
USB-RS232-WE Connections and Mechanical Details ..................................... 7
USB-RS232-WE Cable Signal Descriptions ..................................................... 8
USB-RS232-WE Electrical Parameters ........................................................... 8
6
7
Cable PCB Circuit Schematic ......................................................... 10
Contact Information ..................................................................... 11
Appendix A - Cable EEPROM Configuration ......................................... 12
Appendix B - List of Figures and Tables.............................................. 13
Appendix C - Revision History ............................................................ 14
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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Document Reference No.: FT_000077
USB TO RS232 SERIAL CONVERTER RANGE OF CABLES Datasheet Version 1.3
Clearance No.: FTDI# 51
3
Typical Applications
USB to serial RS232 level converter.
Upgrading legacy peripherals to USB.
Interface Microcontroller UART or I/O to USB.
Interface FPGA or PLD to USB.
USB Instrumentation PC interface.
USB industrial control.
USB password protected file transfers.
3.1
Driver Support
Royalty free VIRTUAL COM PORT
(VCP) DRIVERS for...
Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003, XP
and Server 2008
Windows XP and XP 64-bit
Windows Vista and Vista 64-bit
Windows XP Embedded
Windows CE 4.2, 5.0 and 6.0
Mac OS 8/9, OS-X
Linux 2.4 and greater
Royalty free D2XX
Direct
Drivers
(USB Drivers + DLL S/W Interface)
Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003, XP
and Server 2008
Windows XP and XP 64-bit
Windows Vista and Vista 64-bit
Windows XP Embedded
Windows CE 4.2, 5.0 and 6.0
Linux 2.4 and greater
Mac OS-X
The drivers listed above are all available to download for free from
www.ftdichip.com.
Various 3rd
Party Drivers are also available for other operating systems - see
www.ftdichip.com
for details.
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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