INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER INTERFACES

RS232 RS422 RS485

SERIAL PORT
It is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time. Serial ports are still used in these areas as they are simple, cheap and their console functions are highly standardized and widespread. Throughout most of the history of personal computers, data transfer through serial ports connected the computer to devices such as terminals and various peripherals.

RS232
The oldest and best known standard is RS232 is definitely the most popular interface, also being one of the first and is widely used because it is so readily available. RS-232 (Recommended Standard 232) is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and a DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment). It is commonly used in computer serial ports.

RS232-9P-Female-to-9PFemale-13224750865

RS232-9-pinout

RS232
RS-232 was first introduced in 1962. The original DTEs were electromechanical teletypewriters, and the original DCEs were (usually) modems. RS-232compatible port was a standard feature for serial communications, such as modem connections. It is relatively short distances and low speed the RS232 serial interface

usb-to-serial-rs232adapter-1004462727
USB-To-RS232-Cable-YH-USB-RS232B-

RS232
RS232 was specifically defined as an interface between computers, printers and terminals with modems. The modem would translate the communication signals to protocol usable for long distance communication, where long distance could also mean a device on the other side of the control room or building. Furthermore, the RS232 linedriver is only designed to serve one receiver.

USB-RS232-SerialCable-Adapter
RS232-Cable

RS232
RS-232 is still used to connect older designs of peripherals, industrial equipment (such as PLCs), console ports, and special purpose equipment, such as a cash drawer for a cash register. An RS-232 serial port can communicate to some embedded systems such as routers as an alternative to network mode of monitoring. An RS-232 port was once a standard feature of a personal computer for connections to modems, printers, mice, data storage, un-interruptible power supplies, and other peripheral devices.

rs232-DB25-DB9

RS232 DB9 Serial to RJ45 Cat5 Ethernet Adapter Cable

RS232S DISADVANTAGES
1. Limited Distance - Cable lengths are limited to 50 ft or less. Many will claim to go further, but this is not recommended, and is not part of the RS-232 specification. 2. Susceptible to Noise - RS-232 is single-ended, which means that the transmit and receive lines are referenced to a common ground

DISADVANTAGES
3. Not Multi-drop - You can only connect one RS-232 device per port. There are some devices designed to echo a command to a second unit of the same family of products, but this is very rare. This means that if you have 3 meters to connect to a PC, you will need 3 ports, or at least, an RS-232 multiplexor.

RS422
It is a technical standard that specifies electrical characteristics of a digital signaling circuit. Differentialmode signals can be sent at rates as high as 10 million bits per second, or may be sent on cables as long as 1200 meters. It is a telecommunications standard for binary serial communications between devices. It is the protocol or specifications that must be followed to allow two devices that implement this standard to speak to each other.

RS422

RS422
RS 422 is the common short form title of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard ANSI/TIA/EIA-422-B Electrical Characteristics of Balanced Voltage Differential Interface Circuits. RS-422 is an updated version of the original serial protocol known as RS-232.

usb-rs422 OPTO-RS422-pinout

RS422
Serial, balanced and differential are the keywords for the RS422 interface standard. Serial means that the information is sent bit by bit on a single transmission line, just like with RS232. Balanced differential is what makes RS422 different from RS232. On RS232 interfaces, the signals are send on lines which share a common zero. With RS422, each signal line consists of two wires, preferably twisted to reduce noise.

RS232 and RS422 Pin out

RS422
RS422 allows the direct connection of intelligent devices, without the need of modems and a RS422 linedriver can serve up to ten receivers in parallel. It is a balanced four wire system. The signal sent from the DTE device is transmitted to the DCE device through two wires and the signal sent from the DEC device to the DTE device is transmitted through the other two wires.

RS422
RS-422 standard has now been superseded by the RS-485 standard which adds additional features to the RS-422 standard.

RS422S ADVANTAGES
1. Long Distance Runs - Up to 500 feet is generally supported, and with repeaters, even further distances can be achieved. 2. Multi-Drop - Usually, up to 32 devices can be connected per port, and even more using repeaters. Devices are distinguished by unique addresses that are assigned to each device. For example, if you have 5 devices attached to a port, they would be addressed as units 1 to 5. The addresses can be set via switches or software, depending on the design of the device. 3. Noise Resistant - Since it uses a separate FLOATING transmit and receive pair (four wires), it offers better noise immunity than RS-232.

RS485
EIA-485, also known as TIA/EIA-485 or RS-485, is a standard defining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for use in balanced digital multipoint systems. RS485 standard can be used effectively over long distances and in electrically noisy environments.

USB_RS485 Converter

RS485 converter

RS485
RS-485 allows for serial connections among more than two devices on a networked system. A RS-485 compliant network is a multi-point communications network. Multiple receivers may be connected to such a network in a linear, multidrop configuration. y The equipment located along a set of EIA-485 wires are interchangeably called nodes, stations and devices.
y

usb-rs485-cable

RS485
RS-485 drivers are now even able to withstand bus contention problems and bus fault conditions. y EIA-485 signals are used in a wide range of computer and automation systems. It is used for low-speed data communications in commercial aircraft cabins vehicle bus. It requires minimal wiring, and can share the wiring among several seats, reducing weight.
y

Rs485 pinout

RS485
EIA-485 is also used in building automation as the simple bus wiring and long cable length is ideal for joining remote devices. It may be used to control video surveillance systems or to interconnect security control panels and devices such as access control card readers.

rs485-usb USB-to-RS485-Cable-ZT-RS485

MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 2-WIRE 2RSRS-485 AND RS-422 RS1. RS-485 can have multiple Commanding Devices and multiple Listening Devices. RS-422 can have only one Commander and multiple Listeners. 2. RS-485 wiring is easier since you are only dealing with 2 wires instead of 4. 3. Programming RS-485 is more difficult, since you are sending and receiving on the same two wires, you need to enable and disable the transmitter at the correct time so that you may perform proper communications.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RS232, RS422 AND RS485

SPECIFICATIONS Mode of Operation RS232 SINGLE -ENDED 1 DRIVER 1 RECVR 50 FT. 20kb/s +/-25V RS423 SINGLE -ENDED 1 DRIVER 10 RECVR 4000 FT. 100kb/s +/-6V RS422 DIFFERENTIAL RS485 DIFFERENTIAL Total Number of Drivers and Receivers on One Line (One driver active at a time for RS485 networks) Maximum Cable Length Maximum Data Rate (40ft. - 4000ft. for RS422/RS485) Maximum Driver Output Voltage Driver Output Signal Level (Loaded Min.) Driver Output Signal Level (Unloaded Max) 1 DRIVER 10 RECVR 4000 FT. 10Mb/s-100Kb/s -0.25V to +6V 32 DRIVER 32 RECVR 4000 FT. 10Mb/s-100Kb/s -7V to +12V

Loaded

+/-5V to +/-15V

+/-3.6V

+/-2.0V

+/-1.5V

Unloaded

+/-25V

+/-6V

+/-6V

+/-6V

Driver Load Impedance (Ohms) Max. Driver Current in High Z State Max. Driver Current in High Z State

3k to 7k

>=450

100

54

Power On

N/A

N/A

N/A

+/-100uA

Power Off

+/-6mA @ +/-2v

+/-100uA

+/-100uA

+/-100uA

RS232 and RS485 usb_converter_RS485_RS422 _RS232_converter_usb

BSCpE IV 01-17-12