[FTDI Chip]

Introduction

Functional Description

The USB-COM-Plus modules are a family of communication devices. This model, USB-COM422-Plus1, provides a simple method of adapting legacy serial devices with RS422 interfaces to modern USB ports.

This is accomplished by incorporating the industry standard FTDI FT232R USB-Serial bridge chip.

The integrated electronics of the USB-COM422-PLUS1 utilise the FTDI FT232R and includes RS422 level shifters plus TXD/RXD LEDs to provide a visual indication of data traffic through the module.

USB-COM422-Plus1

The module uses a standard USB-B device connector for connection to an upstream host or hub port.

RS422-level signals, including modem handshake signals, are available on an industry-standard DE-9P connector. The maximum RS422-level data rate is 3Mbps.

The USB-COM422-Plus1 module requires USB device drivers, available free from www.ftdichip.com, which are used to make the USB-COM422-Plus1 appear as a Virtual COM Port (VCP). This allows existing serial communications software, such as HyperTerminal, to exchange data through the USB-COM422-Plus1 to a legacy RS422 peripheral device.