RS232 Quick Guide TIA/EIA-232-F Standard RS232 conveys data over a simple unterminated, multiconductor cable at rates up to 20kB. The RS232 standard specifies the electrical characteristics and connector for an all encompassing point-to-point modem interface. Although the original specification was intended for modems, subsequent renderings shed unneeded signals to expand its scope and use as a general purpose serial interface at data rates up to 1MB. Specification RS232 Mode of Operation Single-Ended Number of Drivers and Receivers Allowed on One Line 1 Driver, 1 Receiver Maximum Cable Length 50 Feet* Maximum Data Rate 20kB/s Maximum Voltage Applied to Driver Output ±25V Driver Output Signal Minimum Loaded ±5V Maximum Unloaded ±15V Termination 3kΩ to 7kΩ Output Slew Rate 30V/µs (Max) Receiver Input Voltage Range ±25V Max Receiver Input Sensitivity ±3V Receiver Input Resistance 3kΩ to 7kΩ * For 2500pF cable capacitance, as per IEA 232D for data rates less than 20k baud. For data rates greater than 20k baud, CLOAD = 1000pF. Signal Pinout DB25 DB9 1 Cable and Adapters Name Frame Ground DTE ⇔ DCE Straight Through Cable TD ⇒ DTE DCE FG 1 1 TD 2 2 RD 3 3 RTS 4 4 CTS 5 5 DSR 6 6 SG 7 7 DCD 8 8 TC (SYNC. ONLY) 15 15 RC (SYNC. ONLY) 17 17 DTR 20 20 ABBR. FG 2 3 Transmit Data 3 2 Receive Data RD ⇐ 4 7 Request to Send RTS ⇒ 5 8 Clear to Send CTS ⇐ 6 6 Data Set Ready DSR ⇐ 7 5 Signal Ground SG 8 1 Data Carrier Detect DCD ⇐ Sec. Carrier Detect (S) CD ⇐ 13 Sec. Clear to Send (S) CTS ⇐ 14 Sec. Transmit Data (S) TD ⇒ 15 Transmitter Clock TC ⇐ 9 (Reserved) 10 (Reserved) 11 Unassigned 12 16 Sec. Receive Data 17 Receiver Clock 18 Local Loopback 19 20 4 21 22 (S) RD ⇐ RC ⇐ (S) RTS ⇒ Data Terminal Ready DTR ⇒ ⇒ Remote Loopback 9 Signal Quality Detect SQ ⇐ Ring Indicator RI ⇐ Data Rate Select 24 Transmitter Clock 25 Test Mode n TD RD SG DCE 2 3 7 RTS 4 CTS 5 DSR 6 DCD 8 DTR 20 Null Modem Cable DTE 1 7 TD 2 RD 3 RTS 4 CTS 5 DSR 6 DCD 8 DTR 20 (E) TC AT to 25-Pin Adapter 25-PIN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 20 22 DCE 1 7 TD 2 RD 3 RTS 4 CTS 5 DTR 20 FG SG DSR 6 DCD 8 TD RD RTS CTS DSR SG DCD DTR RI 9-PIN 3 2 7 8 6 5 1 4 9 A minimum null modem cable is the same as a minimum straight cable except that RD and TD (Pins 2 and 3) are cross-connected as in the null modem cable. Connectors 13 12 11 10 9 DB25 8 7 6 DB9 5 4 3 2 1 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 Relative Signal Timing Normal timing sequences during establishment of communications are shown below. On half-duplex circuits, RTS is dropped as soon as the data is sent. This is to signal a turnaround of the circuit. DTR The DTE ⇔ DCE column indicates data direction. Pin numbers in bold indicate commonly used signals. n Data rate select (Pin 23) can be from DTE or DCE. n DTE 2 3 7 RTS 4 CTS 5 DSR 6 DCD 8 DTR 20 5 4 9 3 8 2 7 1 6 ⇒ Sec. Request to Send 23 Minimum Straight Cable ⇒ DSR ⇐ RTS CTS TD L, LT, LTC, LTM, Linear Technology and the Linear logo are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Views are from the pin side of the female (DCE) connector or the wire side of the male (DTE) connector. Character Frame CHARACTER FRAME DATA BIT START BIT LSB • • • MSB OTHER DATA BITS OPTIONAL PARITY BIT MSB = MOST SIGNIFICANT DATA BIT LSB = LEAST SIGNIFICANT DATA BIT PAR STOP BIT Linear Technology RS232 Transceivers Number of Drivers Number of Receivers Supply (V) Data Rate (kbps) ESD (kV) 1 1 3.3/5 1000 10 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 0 4 5 4 5 4 1.8 to 5 1.8 to 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1.8 to 5 1.8 to 5 1.8 to 5 1.8 to 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 250 1000 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 120 120 120 120 120 250 250 1000 1000 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 15 15 2 2 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 15 2 10 10 10 10 10 LT1133A LT1137A LT1141A LT1237 LT1330 LT1342 LT1537 LTC1337 LTC1347 LTC1348 LTC1349 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 to 5.5 5 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 120 120 120 120 15 15 10 15 10 10 2 10 10 10 10 Peripheral LT1132A (DCE) LT1135A LT1138A LT1140A LTC1338 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 250 250 250 250 120 10 10 10 10 10 RS562 LTC1385 LTC1386 LT1331 LTC1327 LTC1350 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 5 5 5 3.3 3.3 3 to 5 3.3 3.3 120 120 250 120 250 10 10 10 10 10 Part Number Driver Disable Shutdown Mode Temp. Grade • C, I LGA-32, BGA-32 • • • C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C C C, I C DFN-12 DFN-12 SW-18, N-18 SW-16, N-16 SW-16, N-18 SW-16, N-16 SO-16 SW-18, N-18 SO-16, SW-16, N-16 SW-18, N-18 SO-16, N-16 SW-18, N-18 SO-16, N-16 SSOP-20, DIP-18, SO-18 DFN-16 SSOP-16 DFN-16 SSOP-16 SW-16, N-16 SW-14, N-14 SW-24, N-24 SW-28, N-28 SW-24, N-24 SW-28, N-28 SW-28, N-28 • • • • • • • • C, I C, I C C C, I C C C C C, I C, I SW-24, N-24 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SW-24, N-24 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 • • • • • • C, I C C, I C C, I SW-24, N-24 SW-20, N-20 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SW-24, N-24 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 • • • • • • C, I C, I C C C, I SSOP-20, SO-18, DIP-18 SO-16 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 SSOP-28, SW-28, N-28 Packages 2500VRMS Isolation LTM2882-3/-5 General Purpose LTC2801 LTC2802 LT1180A LT1181A LT1280A LT1281A LT1381 LT1780 LT1781 LTC1080 LTC1081 LTC1382 LTC1383 LTC1384 LTC2803 LTC2803-1 LTC2804 LTC2804-1 LT1039A LT1032 LT1134A LT1136A LT1139A LT1130A LT1131A • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • PC Port (DTE) • www.linear.com/RS232 n 1-800-4-LINEAR 1010B