USB/Serial Light Adapter - Revision history

Admin at 06:59, 4 January 2012

2012-01-04T06:59:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:59, 4 January 2012
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	See the [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoMini guide to the Arduino Mini] for information on connecting the adapter to the Mini.		See the [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoMini guide to the Arduino Mini] for information on connecting the adapter to the Mini.

			==How to buy==
			Click here:

Admin: /* Overview */

2012-01-04T06:03:38Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:03, 4 January 2012
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
			[[Image:USBSerial_Front450px.jpg]][[Image:USBSerial_Rear450px.jpg]]

	This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers, allowing them to talk to the computer. It features an Atmega8U2 programmed as a USB-to-serial converter, the same chip found on the Arduino Uno. The '8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.		This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers, allowing them to talk to the computer. It features an Atmega8U2 programmed as a USB-to-serial converter, the same chip found on the Arduino Uno. The '8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.

Admin: /* Connecting to the Arduino Mini */

2012-01-04T06:01:43Z

Connecting to the Arduino Mini

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:01, 4 January 2012
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	==Connecting to the Arduino Mini==		==Connecting to the Arduino Mini==

	See the guide to the Arduino Mini for information on connecting the adapter to the Mini.		See the [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoMini guide to the Arduino Mini] for information on connecting the adapter to the Mini.

Admin: /* Automatic (Software) Reset */

2012-01-04T06:00:38Z

Automatic (Software) Reset

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:00, 4 January 2012
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	The USB Serial connector is designed in a way that allows it to reset an attached board by software running on a connected computer.The external reset line mirrors the DTR line of the virtual serial device on the computer. It's typically connected to the reset line of the connected board (e.g. an Arduino Ethernet board) through a 100 nF capacitor, allowing the board to reset on upload.		The USB Serial connector is designed in a way that allows it to reset an attached board by software running on a connected computer.The external reset line mirrors the DTR line of the virtual serial device on the computer. It's typically connected to the reset line of the connected board (e.g. an Arduino Ethernet board) through a 100 nF capacitor, allowing the board to reset on upload.

	This setup has other implications. When the board is connected to either a computer running Mac OS X or Linux, it resets each time a connection is made to it from software (via USB). While it is programmed to ignore malformed data (i.e. anything besides an upload of new code), it will intercept the first few bytes of data sent to the board after a connection is opened. If a sketch running on the board receives one-time configuration or other data when it first starts, make sure that the software with which it communicates waits a second after opening the connection and before sending this data.		This setup has other implications. When the board is connected to either a computer running Mac OS X or Linux, it resets each time a connection is made to it from software (via USB). While it is programmed to ignore malformed data (i.e. anything besides an upload of new code), it will intercept the first few bytes of data sent to the board after a connection is opened. If a sketch running on the board receives one-time configuration or other data when it first starts, make sure that the software with which it communicates waits a second after opening the connection and before sending this data.

	The pinouts on the connector are compatible with a standard FTDI header ( as well as the Adafruit and Sparkfun USB-Serial adapters).		The pinouts on the connector are compatible with a standard FTDI header ( as well as the Adafruit and Sparkfun USB-Serial adapters).

Admin: /* Overview */

2012-01-04T05:59:46Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:59, 4 January 2012
Line 2:		Line 2:

	This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers, allowing them to talk to the computer. It features an Atmega8U2 programmed as a USB-to-serial converter, the same chip found on the Arduino Uno. The '8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.		This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers, allowing them to talk to the computer. It features an Atmega8U2 programmed as a USB-to-serial converter, the same chip found on the Arduino Uno. The '8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.

	The USB Serial Adapter has an onboard mini-USB connector and 5 pins including RX (for receiving data from the computer) and TX (for transmitting data). 5V, Ground and a Reset pin are also exposed.		The USB Serial Adapter has an onboard mini-USB connector and 5 pins including RX (for receiving data from the computer) and TX (for transmitting data). 5V, Ground and a Reset pin are also exposed.

	Status lights include power, RX and TX activity.		Status lights include power, RX and TX activity.

	The adapter can easily connect to the Arduino Ethernet, Mini, Mini Pro, LilyPad, LilyPad Simple, and Fio.		The adapter can easily connect to the Arduino Ethernet, Mini, Mini Pro, LilyPad, LilyPad Simple, and Fio.

	An onboard polyfuse limits the current to 500mA and protects the host computer from short circuits.		An onboard polyfuse limits the current to 500mA and protects the host computer from short circuits.

	The ATmega8U2 firmware source code is available . The ATmega8U2 is loaded with a DFU bootloader, which can be activated by connecting the solder jumper on the back of the board and then resetting the 8U2. You can then use Atmel's FLIP software (Windows) or the DFU programmer (Mac OS X and Linux) to load a new firmware. Or you can use the ISP header with an external programmer (overwriting the DFU bootloader). See this user-contributed tutorial for more information.		The ATmega8U2 firmware source code is available . The ATmega8U2 is loaded with a DFU bootloader, which can be activated by connecting the solder jumper on the back of the board and then resetting the 8U2. You can then use Atmel's FLIP software (Windows) or the DFU programmer (Mac OS X and Linux) to load a new firmware. Or you can use the ISP header with an external programmer (overwriting the DFU bootloader). See this user-contributed tutorial for more information.

Admin: /* Drivers & Setup */

2012-01-04T05:59:17Z

Drivers & Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:59, 4 January 2012
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	Windows users need a .inf file for this specific product: [http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/Arduino_USBSerial.zip Arduino_USBSerial.zip]		Windows users need a .inf file for this specific product: [http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/Arduino_USBSerial.zip Arduino_USBSerial.zip]

	For installation follow the same procedure on [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Windows#toc4 how install an UNO board on your computer].		For installation follow the same procedure on [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Windows#toc4 how install an UNO board on your computer].

Admin: Created page with "==Overview== This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers..."

2012-01-04T05:59:01Z

Created page with "==Overview== This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers..."

New page

==Overview==

This board converts a USB connection into a 5 volt Serial TX and RX that you can connect straight to the Arduino Mini, Arduino Ethernet or other microcontrollers, allowing them to talk to the computer. It features an Atmega8U2 programmed as a USB-to-serial converter, the same chip found on the Arduino Uno. The '8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.
The USB Serial Adapter has an onboard mini-USB connector and 5 pins including RX (for receiving data from the computer) and TX (for transmitting data). 5V, Ground and a Reset pin are also exposed.
Status lights include power, RX and TX activity.
The adapter can easily connect to the Arduino Ethernet, Mini, Mini Pro, LilyPad, LilyPad Simple, and Fio.
An onboard polyfuse limits the current to 500mA and protects the host computer from short circuits.
The ATmega8U2 firmware source code is available . The ATmega8U2 is loaded with a DFU bootloader, which can be activated by connecting the solder jumper on the back of the board and then resetting the 8U2. You can then use Atmel's FLIP software (Windows) or the DFU programmer (Mac OS X and Linux) to load a new firmware. Or you can use the ISP header with an external programmer (overwriting the DFU bootloader). See this user-contributed tutorial for more information.

==Automatic (Software) Reset==

The USB Serial connector is designed in a way that allows it to reset an attached board by software running on a connected computer.The external reset line mirrors the DTR line of the virtual serial device on the computer. It's typically connected to the reset line of the connected board (e.g. an Arduino Ethernet board) through a 100 nF capacitor, allowing the board to reset on upload.
This setup has other implications. When the board is connected to either a computer running Mac OS X or Linux, it resets each time a connection is made to it from software (via USB). While it is programmed to ignore malformed data (i.e. anything besides an upload of new code), it will intercept the first few bytes of data sent to the board after a connection is opened. If a sketch running on the board receives one-time configuration or other data when it first starts, make sure that the software with which it communicates waits a second after opening the connection and before sending this data.
The pinouts on the connector are compatible with a standard FTDI header ( as well as the Adafruit and Sparkfun USB-Serial adapters).

==Schematic & Reference Design==

EAGLE files: [http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/USB_serial04-LIGHT.zip USBSerial04_Light.zip]

Schematic: [http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/USB_serial04-LIGTH-sch.pdf USBSerial04_Light-sch.pdf]

==Drivers & Setup==

Windows users need a .inf file for this specific product: [http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/Arduino_USBSerial.zip Arduino_USBSerial.zip]
For installation follow the same procedure on [http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Windows#toc4 how install an UNO board on your computer].

==Connecting to the Arduino Mini==

See the guide to the Arduino Mini for information on connecting the adapter to the Mini.