Patent Publication Number: US-2009240852-A1

Title: Uart/usb converting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a converting apparatus, and more particularly to a UART/USB converting apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     RS-232 (Recommended Standard-232) is a non-synchronous transmission standard interface specified by the EIA (Electronic Industries Association), and is also a transmission interface between some electronic apparatuses and a computer. Because the RS-232 can be easily set and has the low error rate, many manufacturers use the RS-232 to detect products, to update the software in the electronic apparatus or to create the remote connection. 
       FIG. 1  (Prior Art) is a schematic illustration showing an RS232 signal transmission cable  10 .  FIG. 2  (Prior Art) is a schematic illustration showing an electronic apparatus and a computer. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the RS232 signal transmission cable  10  includes an RS232 connector  110 , an RS232 cable  120  and an RS232 connector  130 , wherein two ends of the RS232 cable  120  are respectively coupled to the RS232 connector  110  and the RS232 connector  130 . 
     When the RS232 connector  110  is coupled to an RS232 connector  230  of an electronic apparatus  20  and the RS232 connector  130  is coupled to an RS232 connector  310  of a computer  30 , the electronic apparatus  20  is electrically connected to the computer  30 . The electronic apparatus  20  and the computer  30  transmit an RS232 signal S 2  via the RS232 signal transmission cable  10 . 
     The RS232 signal S 2  satisfying the RS232 specification has a voltage level equal to +15 volts or −15 volts, but a CPU  210  in the electronic apparatus  20  outputs a signal S 1  having a voltage level ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts. In order to solve this problem, each electronic apparatus  20  must include an RS232 voltage converting chip  220  electrically connected between the CPU  210  and the RS232 connector  230 . The RS232 voltage converting chip  220  is for converting a voltage between the signal S 1  and the RS232 signal S 2  so that the signal S 1  with 0 to 3.3 volts can be converted into the RS232 signal S 2  with +15 volts or −15 volts, and then outputted to the computer  30  through the RS232 signal transmission cable  10 . 
     However, the RS232 voltage converting chip  220 , such as max232, is disposed in each electronic apparatus  20 . The difficulty of circuit layout on a circuit board is increased, and the manufacturing cost is increased, thereby influencing the product competitiveness. In addition, most notebook computers except the computer  30  do not have an RS232 connection port. Consequently, the RS232 signal S 2  cannot be transmitted between the electronic apparatus  20  and the notebook computer through the RS232 signal transmission cable  10 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a UART/USB converting apparatus for transceiving a UART signal ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts but not an RS232 signal with +15 volts or −15 volts so that an RS232 voltage converting chip does not have to be additionally provided in an electronic apparatus. Consequently, the manufacturing cost can be greatly decreased, and the difficulty of circuit layout is also decreased. Furthermore, when the computer is either a desktop computer or a notebook computer, the electronic apparatus still can communicate with the computer through the UART/USB converting apparatus. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a UART/USB converting apparatus is provided. The UART/USB converting apparatus includes a UART connector, a UART/USB converting chip and a USB connector. The UART connector is for transceiving a UART signal ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts. The UART/USB converting chip electrically connected to the UART connector is for converting between the UART signal and a USB signal. The USB connector electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip transmits the USB signal. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a UART/USB converting apparatus is provided. The UART/USB converting apparatus includes a first adapter and a second adapter. 
     The first adapter includes a UART connector and a first connector. The UART connector is for transceiving a UART signal ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts, and the first connector is electrically connected to the UART connector. 
     The second adapter includes a second connector, a UART/USB converting chip and a USB connector. The second connector is to be electrically connected to the first connector. The UART/USB converting chip electrically connected to the second connector is for converting between the UART signal and a USB signal. The USB connector electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip is for transceiving the USB signal. 
     The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  (Prior Art) is a schematic illustration showing an RS232 signal transmission cable. 
         FIG. 2  (Prior Art) is a schematic illustration showing an electronic apparatus and a computer. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration showing an electronic apparatus communicating with a computer through a UART/USB converting apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a UART/USB converting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration showing a UART/USB converting chip  620  and a USB connector  630 , which are disposed on a circuit board  640 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration showing a UART connector  610 , the UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630 , all of which are disposed on the circuit board  640   a.    
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a UART/USB converting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration showing a UART connector  712  and a connector  714  coupled together through a cable  716 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration showing the UART connector  712  and the connector  714 , which are disposed on a circuit board  718 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration showing a UART/USB converting chip  724  and a USB connector  726  disposed on a circuit board  728 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic illustration showing a connector  722 , a UART/USB converting chip  724  and a USB connector  726  disposed on a circuit board  728   a.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration showing an electronic apparatus communicating with a computer through a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART)/universal serial bus (USB) converting apparatus  80 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the UART/USB converting apparatus  80  is for converting between a UART signal S 3  ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts and a USB signal S 4  so that an electronic apparatus  50  communicates with a computer  40  through the UART/USB converting apparatus  80 . 
     Thus, no RS232 voltage converting chip has to be additionally disposed in the electronic apparatus  50  so that the manufacturing cost is greatly decreased and the difficult of circuit layout is also decreased. In addition, each of the current desktop computer and the current notebook computer has a USB connection port. Thus, the electronic apparatus  50  can communicate with the computer  40 , which is either the desktop computer or the notebook computer, through the UART/USB converting apparatus. 
     In order to specify the contents of the invention in detail, the first and second embodiments will be described in the following. However, the invention is not limited thereto. One of ordinary skill in the art may easily understand that the invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the UART/USB converting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. The UART/USB converting apparatus  80  is represented by a UART/USB converting apparatus  60  in the first embodiment. The UART/USB converting apparatus  60  includes a UART connector  610 , a UART/USB converting chip  620  and a USB connector  630 . The UART connector  510  is electrically connected to a UART connector in the electronic device  50 . The USB connector  630  is electrically connected to a USB connector in the computer  40 . The UART/USB converting chip  620  is electrically connected between the UART connector  610  and the USB connector  630 . The UART/USB converting chip  620  may be PL2303, PV8651, ft232bm, cp2101 and the like converting chip. 
     The UART connector  610  is for transceiving the UART signal S 3  ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts. The UART connector  610  may be, for example, a DB9 connector or a RJ-11 connector, while the UART signal S 3  preferably ranges from 0 to 3.3 volts. 
     The UART/USB converting chip  620  electrically connected to the UART connector  610  is for converting between the UART signal S 3  and the USB signal S 4 . The USB connector  630  electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip  620  is for transceiving the USB signal S 4 . The USB connector  630  must be a TYPE A male USB connector while the computer  40  includes a TYPE A female USB connector, but the invention is not limited thereto. Because the current desktop computer and the current notebook computer are equipped with the USB connectors, the electronic apparatus  50  can communicate with the computer  40 , which is either the desktop computer or the notebook computer, through the UART/USB converting apparatus  60 . The UART/USB converting apparatus  60  may be a UART/USB converting cable. 
     The UART connector  610  is for transceiving the UART signal S 3  ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts but not the RS232 signal S 2  with +15 volts or −15 volts (see  FIG. 2 ). Thus, no RS232 voltage converting chip has to be additionally disposed in the electronic apparatus  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , so that the manufacturing cost can be greatly decreased, and the difficulty of circuit layout may also be decreased. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration showing the UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630 , which are disposed on a circuit board  640 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a UART/USB converting apparatus  60   a  may further include the circuit board  640  and a cable  650  with respective to the UART/USB converting apparatus  60 . The UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630  are disposed on the circuit board  640 . Two ends of the cable  650  are respectively electrically connected to the UART connector  610  and the UART/USB converting chip  620 . The length of the cable  650  satisfies the RS232 specification. The UART/USB converting apparatus  60   a  may be a UART/USB converting cable. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration showing the UART connector  610 , the UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630 , all of which are disposed on a circuit board  640   a.  A UART/USB converting apparatus  60   b  may further include a circuit board  640   a  with respective to the UART/USB converting apparatus  60 . The UART/USB converting chip  620  and USB connector  630  may be disposed on the circuit board  640  and the UART connector  610  may be electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip  620  through the cable  650 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the UART connector  610 , the UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630  are disposed on the circuit board  640   a,  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Because the UART connector  610 , the UART/USB converting chip  620  and the USB connector  630  are disposed on the circuit board  640   a,  it is possible to etch a copper foil directly on the circuit board  640   a  to electrically connect the UART connector  610  to the UART/USB converting chip  620 , and to electrically connect the UART/USB converting chip  620  to the USB connector  630 . Consequently, it is unnecessary to purchase the cable  650  additionally so that the manufacturing cost can be decreased and the product competitiveness can be enhanced. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a UART/USB converting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention. The UART/USB converting apparatus  80  in the second embodiment is represented by an UART/USB converting apparatus  70 . The UART/USB converting apparatus  70  includes an adapter  710  and an adapter  720 . The adapters  710  and  720  may be cables. 
     The adapter  710  includes a UART connector  712  and a connector  714 . The UART connector  712  is for transceiving the UART signal S 3  ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts, and the connector  714  is electrically connected to the UART connector  712 . The UART connector  712  is, for example, a DB9 connector or a RJ-11 connector, and the UART signal S 3  preferably ranges from 0 to 3.3 volts. The UART connector  712  is electrically connected to a UART connector in the electronic device  50 . 
     The adapter  720  includes a connector  722 , a UART/USB converting chip  724  and a USB connector  726 . The connector  722  is electrically connected to the connector  714  of the adapter  710 , and the connector  714  and the connector  722  are, for example, TYPE A USB connectors. The connector  714  is a male connector, and the connector  722  is a female connector, but the invention is not limited thereto. The USB connector  726  is electrically connected to a USB connector in the computer  40 . 
     The UART/USB converting chip  724  is electrically connected between the connector  722  and the USB connector  726 . The UART/USB converting chip  724  electrically connected to the connector  722  is for converting between the UART signal S 3  and the USB signal S 4 . The USB connector  726  electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip  724  is for transceiving the USB signal S 4 . The USB connector  726  must be a TYPE A male connector, while the computer  40  includes a TYPE A female connector, but the invention is not limited thereto. Because the current desktop computer and the current notebook computer are equipped with USB connectors, the electronic apparatus  50  (see  FIG. 3 ) can communicate with the computer  40 , which may be either the desktop computer or the notebook computer, through the UART/USB converting apparatus  70 . 
     The UART connector  712  is for transceiving the UART signal S 3  ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts but not the RS232 signal S 2  with +15 volts or −15 volts, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Therefore, no RS232 voltage converting chip has to be additionally disposed in the electronic apparatus  50  so that the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced and the difficulty of circuit layout may also be decreased. 
     Besides, the adapter  720  may be standardized and mass-produced or mass-purchased, but adapter  710  may be flexibly produced according to the kind of the electronic apparatus  50  or may be constantly purchased. Consequently, the manufacturing cost may further be decreased, and the product competitiveness can be enhanced. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration showing the UART connector  712  and the connector  714  coupled together through a cable  716  in an adapter  710   a.  Referring to  FIG. 8 , the adapter  710   a  may further include the cable  716 . Two ends of the cable  716  are respectively electrically connected to the UART connector  712  and the connector  714 . The length of the cable  716  satisfies the RS232 specification. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration showing the UART connector  712  and the connector  714 , which are disposed on a circuit board  718  in an adapter  710   b.  Referring to  FIG. 9 , the adapter  710   b  may further include the circuit board  718 , on which the UART connector  712  and the connector  714  are disposed. Because the UART connector  712  and the connector  714  are disposed on the circuit board  718 , it is possible to etch a copper foil directly on the circuit board  718  to electrically connect the UART connector  712  to the connector  714 . Consequently, it is unnecessary to purchase the cable additionally so that the manufacturing cost can be decreased greatly and the product competitiveness can be enhanced. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration showing the UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  disposed on a circuit board  728  in an adapter  720   a.  Referring to  FIG. 10 , the adapter  720   a  may further include the circuit board  728  and a cable  729 . The UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  are disposed on the circuit board  728 , and two ends of the cable  729  are respectively electrically connected to the connector  722  and the UART/USB converting chip  724 . The length of the cable  729  satisfies the RS232 specification. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the connector  722 , the UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  are disposed on a circuit board  728   a  in an adapter  720   b.  The UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  may be disposed on the circuit board  728  and the connector  722  may be electrically connected to the UART/USB converting chip  724  (see  FIG. 10 ) through the cable  729 . Alternatively, the connector  722 , the UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  are disposed on the circuit board  728   a,  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Because the connector  722 , the UART/USB converting chip  724  and the USB connector  726  may be disposed on the circuit board  728   a,  it is possible to etch a copper foil directly on the circuit board  728   a  to electrically connect the connector  722  to the UART/USB converting chip  724 , and to electrically connect the UART/USB converting chip  724  to the USB connector  726 . Consequently, it is unnecessary to additionally purchase the cable  729  so that the manufacturing cost can be greatly decreased, and the product competitiveness can be enhanced. 
     The UART/USB converting apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention is for transceiving the UART signal ranging from 0 to 3.3 volts but not the RS232 signal with +15 volts or −15 volts. Therefore, it is unnecessary to dispose on the RS232 voltage converting chip additionally in the electronic apparatus. Consequently, the manufacturing cost may be greatly decreased, and the difficulty of circuit layout may also be decreased. Furthermore, the electronic apparatus can communicate with the computer, which is either the desktop computer or the notebook computer, through the USB connector of the UART/USB converting apparatus. 
     While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.