Future Technology Devices International Ltd
USB to RS422 Serial Converter Cable
Datasheet
Document Reference No.: FT_000116
Version 1.2
Issue Date: 18-01-2010
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 preliminary
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 © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
Document Reference No.: FT_000116
USB TO RS422 SERIAL CONVERTER CABLE Datasheet
Version 1.2
Clearance No.: FTDI#
74
1
Description
The
USB-RS422
cable is a USB to RS422 levels serial UART converter cable incorporating FTDI’s
FT232RQ USB to serial UART interface IC device which handles all the USB signalling and protocols. The
cable provides a fast, simple way to connect devices with a RS422 interface to USB.
Each USB-RS422 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 RS422 transceiver plus Tx and Rx
LEDs which give a visual indication of traffic on the cable (if transparent USB connector mould 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 3 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-RS422 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_RS422
USB
Wire Ended
Customised connectors
VCP
Virtual COM Port
Various Connector
Options
Wire Ended
TTY
D2XX
Software application access to USB via D2XX Driver
Figure 1.1 Using the USB-RS422 Cable
DLL
USB
Customised connectors
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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Document Reference No.: FT_000116
USB TO RS422 SERIAL CONVERTER CABLE Datasheet
Version 1.2
Clearance No.: FTDI#
74
2
Cable Part Numbers
The following table gives details of the available USB-RS422 cables.
Table 2.1 Available USB-RS422 cables.
Part Number
Description
End Connector*
Cable details
USB
to UART cable with
RS422
USB-RS422-WE-1800-BT
level UART signals.
Black
cable,
Transparent
USB connector
USB
to UART cable with
RS422
*
USB-RS422-CC-LLLL-CU
level UART signals.
C =
cable colour (B black or
T
transparent),
U
= USB connector colour (T
transparent or
B
black)
Table 2.1 USB-RS422 Cables Descriptions and Part Numbers
*
Wire Ended
(no
connector)
1.8m
cable,9 core,
UL2464 24 AWG,
diam=5mm
CC
= Connector
description.
LLLL
=
Length of
cable.
FTDI supports customised end connector designs. For more information, please contact FTDI Sales Team
(sales1@ftdichip.com)
2.1
Certifications
FTDI USB-RS422 cable is 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_000116
USB TO RS422 SERIAL CONVERTER CABLE Datasheet
Version 1.2
Clearance No.: FTDI#
74
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-RS422 Cable ....................... 6
USB-RS422-WE-LLLL-CU ................................................................. 7
5.1
5.2
5.3
USB-RS422-WE Connections and Mechanical Details ..................................... 7
USB-RS422-WE Cable Signal Descriptions ..................................................... 8
USB-RS422-WE Electrical Parameters ........................................................... 8
6
7
8
Cable PCB Block Diagram.............................................................. 10
USB-RS422 Schematic .................................................................. 11
Contact Information ..................................................................... 12
Appendix A - Cable EEPROM Configuration ......................................... 14
Appendix B - List of Figures and Tables.............................................. 15
Appendix C - Revision History ............................................................ 16
Copyright © 2010 Future Technology Devices International Limited
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Document Reference No.: FT_000116
USB TO RS422 SERIAL CONVERTER CABLE Datasheet
Version 1.2
Clearance No.: FTDI#
74
3
Typical Applications
USB to serial RS422 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 7 64-bit
Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003,
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 7 64-bit
Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003,
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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