SparkFun
USB-to-Serial Bridge - µUSB-PA5
The µUSB-PA5 is a compact USB-to-Serial TTL UART bridge based on the FTDI FT232RQ. It connects to your PC via a Mini-B USB connector and provides serial comm...
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The µUSB-PA5 is a compact USB-to-Serial TTL UART bridge based on the FTDI FT232RQ. It connects to your PC via a Mini-B USB connector and provides serial communication at baud rates up to 3 Mbps — designed primarily for programming and communicating with 4D Systems displays and controllers.
The 5-pin 2.54 mm female header plugs directly into most 4D Systems modules. RX and TX signals are both 3.3 V and 5 V tolerant. Additional flow control and signal pins are available on through-hole pads along each side of the PCB.
Key Features
- FTDI FT232RQ – Reliable USB-to-Serial bridge IC
- Up to 3 Mbps – Wide baud rate range (300 bps to 3 Mbps)
- USB 2.0 Full Speed – 12 Mbps maximum, suspend supported
- 3.3 V & 5 V Tolerant – Compatible with both logic levels
- Virtual COM Port – Works with existing serial applications
- Hardware & Software Flow Control – Xon/Xoff and hardware handshaking
- Status LED – Indicates traffic and operation
- USB Powered – No external supply needed
Specifications
- Bridge IC: FTDI FT232RQ
- USB Connector: Mini-B
- Interface: 5-pin, 2.54 mm (0.1″) pitch female header
- Baud Rate: 300 bps – 3 Mbps
- UART: 7 or 8 data bits, 1–2 stop bits, odd/even/mark/space/no parity
- OS Support: Windows 98+, macOS (OS X 8+), Linux (2.4 kernel+)
- Dimensions: 33.7 × 17.3 mm
Ideal For
- Programming 4D Systems displays and controllers
- USB-to-serial communication at various baud rates
- Debugging and firmware uploads via UART
Package Contents
- 1× µUSB-PA5 USB-to-Serial Bridge
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- baud
- Baud is the signalling rate of a serial connection, often used as the speed setting for UART communication. Matching the baud rate matters because both connected devices must use the same setting for readable data.
- COM port
- A COM port is how a computer (chiefly under Windows) presents a serial port to software, whether a physical RS-232 port or a virtual port created when a USB-to-serial device is plugged in. Software can then communicate with the connected device over serial using a terminal or configuration program.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.
- RX
- RX means receive, usually showing data being received by the board. An RX indicator LED can help with troubleshooting USB or serial communication.
- through-hole
- A mounting style where the component leads pass through holes in a circuit board and are soldered on the other side. Through-hole parts are often easier to handle and solder by hand, which is useful for classroom and hobby projects.
- TX
- TX means transmit, usually showing data being sent from the board. A TX indicator LED can help you see when the board is communicating or uploading code.
- UART
- UART is a simple asynchronous serial interface that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, usually labelled TX and RX, with both ends set to the same baud rate. It is a common way for microcontrollers and other serial devices to exchange data.
- USB 2.0
- USB 2.0 is a widely used wired standard for carrying both data and power between a device and a computer or other compatible host, with data rates up to 480 Mbps. It indicates the kind of port a device uses and that it should work with most modern and many older computers.
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