The μUSB (microUSB) is a USB to Serial converter module which is simple, cost effective, very small and easy to use. It uses a B type USB connector to connect to your PC and is based on the CP2102 Bridge from Silicon Labs. It provides the user with multi baud rate serial data and access to flow control signals in a convenient 8 pin 0.1” pitch tiny package. The μUSB is ideal for prototype or production.
μUSB (microUSB) Data sheet
Driver Installation – Windows:
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Download the zip file from the link on the left, “Drivers for Windows”, into a folder on your system and unzip the file.
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Launch the application and follow the prompts given by the Install Wizard. This will copy all necessary files to a destination folder provided by the install wizard.
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You will be advised to read the terms of the “Licence Agreement”. If you accept then the installation will proceed. Click “Next”.
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Only change the “Destination Location” if there is a need to do so, otherwise accept the default location. Click “Next”.
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Now we are ready to install. Click the “Install” button to start the installation.
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When the “InstallShield Wizard Complete” window pops up you will need to select the tick box for the “Launch the CP210x VCP Driver Installer” option. Select this and click the “Finish” button.
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The next step will Install the Drivers, click the “Install” button. This will complete the final installation.
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You may need to restart your computer for the drivers to take effect. Do so if required.
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Attach the μUSB module to the USB port and you’re ready to use it. You will need a USB-B cable.
How to determine which COM port is allocated to the μUSB:
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Go to Control panel and double click on the “System” Icon and the “System Properties” window will open up.
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Click on the “Hardware” window tab and then the “Device Manager” button.
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Go down the list and expand the “Ports (COM & LPT)” devices.
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There you will see the COM port that has been allocated for the μUSB.
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Take note of the COM port number (e.g. COM4) as you will need this when configuring the COM port for applications that need to communicate with the μUSB.
How to Increase available current from the USB port:
The link in the Software and Utilities section, on the left, “μUSB-Settings” contains a nice little utility program to increase the power (current) available from the μUSB. Default is 100ma which may not be enough for some devices. Up to 500ma is available on a USB port but the device (μUSB) must ask for what it needs from the host i.e. from the PC.
Here is how to do it:
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Connect the μUSB to the USB port.
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Unzip the file into a folder, name it anything you like.
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Run the application “CP210xSetIDs.exe”.
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A window will open up with lots small selectable boxes, we’re only interested in “Max Power (2 mA Units)”.
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There you’ll see a default value of 32 (this is in hex, dec=50). Each increment of this value will provide an extra 2ma of current from the PC to the μUSB. So if we want to draw 200ma we need to enter 64 and for 300ma we need to enter 96 and for 400ma enter C8 and so on.
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We can be greedy and go for the maximum so we need to change the value of 32 to FA. You can do so by highlighting this value with your mouse and typing FA. Maximum allowable current is 500ma for a USB device, so do not enter anything more than FA otherwise the setting will take effect.
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Once the desired hex value is entered for the current we need, tick the small box next to it.
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Now click on the “Program Device” button (large button on the right hand side) and make sure the μUSB is attached to the USB port. This action will program the USB power descriptors within the μUSB with the power value that was entered.
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Now close the application.
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The above procedure only needs to be done once. So the next time the μUSB is attached to the USB port, it will receive the appropriate current from the USB port.
Features:
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USB 2.0 compliant Full Speed 12Mbps maximum speed; Suspend supported
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Hardware or Xon/Xoff handshaking supported; 300bps to 1Mbps
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UART supports 5-8 bit data, 1-2 Stop bits, odd/even and no parity
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Integrated EEPROM for Vendor ID, product ID, serial number, release number
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On-chip 3.3V regulator available; power on reset circuit
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Virtual COM port drivers allow operation with existing COM port PC applications
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Supports Windows, MAC (OSX-9 and above) and Linux (2.4 kernel and above)
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Self powered or USB powered; -40 to +85 deg C temp range
- Small size; 13mm x 13mm (.5” x .5”) approx.
Typical Applications:
The μUSB makes an easy USB-Serial interface, so you can easily create;
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USB to RS-232 converters
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USB to RS-422/RS-485 converters
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Upgrade legacy RS232 devices
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Make PDA and cellphone USB interface cables
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Serial Interface for barcode readers, POS terminals, etc.
In any application, make sure the TX and RX lines from the μUSB are crossed over to the attached peripheral, that is, the TX from the μUSB connects to the RX of the target and the RX from the μUSB connects to the TX of the target device.
Note: The TX and RX signal levels are between 0.0 Volts and 3.3 Volts.
