The FT232RL USB to TTL converter is a semiconductor module designed by a Scottish company like FTDI (Future Technology Devices International). This company designs & also supports various components which are helpful in converting the signal from TTL to USB. The FTDI USB module is mainly used for converting STTL in a simple way by connecting TTL-based modules to USB. There are different kinds of USB to TTL converters available but FT232RL is one of the types of it. This article discusses an overview of FT232RL USB to TTL converter.
What is FT232RL USB to TTL Converter?
FT232RL is a USB-to-TTL serial adapter module that is used for connecting TTL serial devices to a PC with a USB port. This converter module supports both 3.3V and 5V so in 5V mode, This converter module supports both 3.3V and 5V so in 5V mode, it draws a maximum current of approximately 500mA, and in 3.3V mode, it draws a maximum current of approximately 500mA and in 3.3V mode, it draws 50mA approximately. To choose between 3.3V & 5V as labeled on the converter board, the jumper needs to be set as necessary.
This module supports different Arduino boards like Arduino Pro, lilypad, and Pro Mini. These modules have an included EEPROM & also optional CLK generator o/p apart from a USB to serial UART, This module contains a mini-B USB port, used for connecting a USB port of the PC and the other side of this module, it has breakout pins like Tx, Rx, VCC & GND which are very useful in connecting corresponding pins of microcontroller.
This adapter is available with a right-angle connector which allows you to utilize it immediately. If you require accessing any of the other i/ps or o/ps of the FT232R module, then the functional signals are given as through-hole solder pads which are perfect to use in a breadboard through straight headers.
Pin Configuration:
The pin configuration of the FT232RL USB to TTL converter is shown below. This module includes six pins which are discussed below.
FT232RL USB to TTL Converter
- Pin1 (DTR): It is a data terminal-ready pin used to provide output.
- Pin2 (RX): It is a serial data receiving pin, so serial data receiving can be done throughout this pin.
- Pin3 (TX): It is a serial data transmission pin, so serial data transmission can be done throughout this pin.
- Pin4 (VCC): It is a power input pin, used to provide power to the module.
- Pin5 (CTS): It is a clear-to-send pin used to control the flow of current.
- Pin6 (GND): It is a ground pin.
Features & Specifications:
The features and specifications of the FT232RL USB to TTL converter include the following.
- This module includes a clock so an external crystal is not required.
- This module is available with the TX-led signals.
- It is a mini USB connector.
- Its data transmission rate is 300 baud to 3 megabaud.
- This module’s operating voltage is 5V or 3.3V DC.
- Its maximum drawn current is 50mA for 3.3V & 500mA for 5V.
- It includes 256 bytes transmit buffer & 128-byte receive buffer.
- It can transmit & receive LED drive signals.
- Complete USB protocol can be handled on the IC.
- It doesn’t need specific USB firmware programming.
- It is completely integrated with CBUS I/O configuration & 1024-bit EEPROM storing device descriptors.
- The color of this module is red.
- USB power is protected by overcurrent with 500MA self-restore fuse.
- It has TXD/ RXD transceiver communication indicator.
- Its pitch is 2.54mm.
- The length x width of this module is 36mm * 17.5mm.
- It has in-built support mainly for line break conditions & event characters.
- High data output because of FIFO buffers.
- It has synchronous & asynchronous bit-bang modes.
- It includes 1024-bit EEPROM to store PID, serial number & VID.
- It supports the mode of USB bulk transfer.
- Utilization of low USB bandwidth.
- It is RoHS-compliant and available in QFN-32 & SSOP packages.
- It doesn’t need an exterior RC filter because of the incorporated AVCC supply filter.
- This module supports different operating systems like 32-bit Windows 2000, 32 & 64 bit Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Linux 2.6+ & Mac OS X 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6, 10.5 & 10.4.
Alternative Modules
Alternatives FT232RL USB to TTL Converters are; UMFT201XB-01 XBee, FT234XD, VNC1 Module VDIP1, TTL-232R-3V3, FT232RQ-Tube, FT232RQ-Reel & FT232RQ.
FT232RL USB to TTL Converter Interfacing with Arduino Pro Mini
An FTDI Chip module like FT232RL USB to TTL converter is very helpful in programming Arduino Pro by interfacing an Arduino with PC using a USB cable to change the signals from USB. FTDI module works as an interface between the USB of the Computer & an Arduino board to let Serial Bus communication.
The required components for this interfacing mainly include an Arduino pro mini, FT232RL, LED, 100 Ohm resistor, jumpers, and Arduino.IDE tool. A USB to TTL converter module is required for programming an Arduino Pro mini-board. So by using the FT232R module, interfacing an Arduino pro mini board is possible with the USB Port of the PC. The connections of this module interfacing with Arduino follow as;
FT232RL USB to TTL Converter Interfacing with Arduino Pro Mini
- The GND pin of the FT232RL USB is connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s GND pin.
- The CTS pin of the FT232RL USB is connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s GND pin.
- The VCC Pin of the FT232RL USB is directly connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s VCC pin to Power it.
- The Tx pin of the FT232RL USB is connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s Rx pin.
- The Rx pin of the FT232RL USB is connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s Rx pin.
- The DTR pin of FT232RL USB is connected to the Arduino Pro-Mini board’s DTR pin to RESET the board for programming.
- The 13-pin of Arduino Pro-Mini board is connected to an LED through a 100 Ohm resistor.
Code
The following code is used for programming Arduino pro mini board
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(LED, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(LED, HIGH);
Serial.println(“Hello World”);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(LED, LOW);
Serial.println(“Hello World”);
delay(500);
}
In a “void setup()” of the above code, the void declares functions through Arduino. ide and “setup()” is an inbuilt function.
The serial. begin() function in “Serial. begin(9600);” is mainly used for the serial data communication between the Arduino board & PC.
The the “pinMode()” function in pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);” is used for setting the pin as input/output
“LED_BUILTIN” is a pre-defined variable within Arduino. ide and it is used for defining the LED which is connected internally to the D13 pin of Arduino, Thus, with the help of the pinMode function, the D13 pin is defined as an output.
“void loop()” is the function in the above code where the instruction is written that we desire to be executed within a loop.
The digitalWrite() function within “digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);” is utilized mainly for defining the condition of the preferred Digital Pin as LOW or HIGH. Here the condition of the External LED is defined as HIGH.at D13 pin.
In “Serial.println(“Hello World”);” the Serial. prin is an integral Arduino sketch function, so it prints the serial data in human-readable form whereas ‘ln’ means the next line. Thus, “Serial. println” is an Inbuilt ArduinoSketch function that will print the preferred String “Hello world” each time within the next line.
“delay(500);” is an In-built function within Arduino.ide which is utilized to pause or halt the code for a particular time in 500 milli secs.
Once an external LED is tuned at the D13 pin, the condition of the inbuilt LED is High, and printing the “Hello World” String, we will get half second delay, so the code will wait in its earlier condition for the preferred time.
After half second delay, the External LED state & In-Built LED will go LOW, thus after half sec, the LED will be OFF.
In “Serial.println(“Hello World”);” function, after half a second & turning off the LED, again Arduino will print the string “Hello World” as explained above.
In the “delay(500);” function, again the code will pause or halt for 500 milliseconds before beginning again in the “void loop();
Advantages
The advantages of FT232RL USB to TTL converter include the following.
- The FT232R is available with optional CLK generator output & new FTDIChip-ID™ safety dongle feature.
- This is an essential breakout board for the FT232RL USB to serial FTDI IC.
- This is not expensive and portable.
- It is a versatile product, especially for a USB-to-UART interface.
- This board is used with any microcontroller/Arduino which supports simple serial communication.
- This board is controlled without any USB-specific firmware programming because the whole USB protocol is handled through the chip itself.
Applications
The applications of FT232RL USB to TTL converter include the following.
- These modules are mostly used for communication from & to microcontroller development boards like Arduino micros and ESP-01s which do not contain USB interfaces.
- This module is used with different programming microprocessors like AVR, ARM, and many more.
- It is used with computing hardware like switches and routers.
- It is used for serial communication with GPS devices.
- It is used with serial terminals on Raspberry Pi.
- USB to RS422/ RS232/RS485 converters.
- It is used in USB smart card readers.
- This module is used for TTL serial communication.
- These modules are used for transferring data in cordless phones & cellular.
- It is used for Interfacing with the MCU & FPGA-based systems through USB.
- It is used in USB smart cards and flash card readers.
- These modules are used in USB wireless modems & security dongles.
- It is used to interface serial industrial instrumentation systems through USB.
Please refer to this link for the FT232RL module datasheet.
This FTDI serial adapter is a very popular module, used to connect a TTL serial communicating device to a PC through a USB mini port to convert the signals of USB to UART. This converter module includes some different o/p voltage options which are located by the jumper above the board. Here is a question for you, what is USB?