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...
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 the way many computers present a USB-connected serial device to software. It matters because it lets you configure or read the board from a computer using serial terminal tools or navigation software.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
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