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UC864-E Hardware User Guide
1vv0300766a Rev.1 - 31/01/08
Reproduction forbidden without Telit Communications S.p.A. written authorization - All Rights Reserved page 32 of 51
8.2 RS232 level translation
In order to interface the Telit UC864-E with a PC com port or a RS232 (EIA/TIA-232) application a
level translator is required. This level translator must
Invert the electrical signal in both directions
Translate the level from 0/2.6V to +15/-15V
Actually, the RS232 UART 16450, 16550, 16650 & 16750 chipsets accept signals with lower levels on
the RS232 side (EIA/TIA-562), allowing for a lower voltage-multiplying ratio on the level translator.
Note that the negative signal voltage must be less than 0V and hence some sort of level translation is
always required.
The simplest way to translate the levels and invert the signal is by using a single chip level translator.
There are a multitude of them, differing in the number of driver and receiver and in the levels (be sure
to get a true RS232 level translator not a RS485 or other standards).
By convention the driver is the level translator from the 0-2.6V UART level to the RS232 level, while
the receiver is the translator from RS232 level to 0-2.6V UART.
In order to translate the whole set of control lines of the UART you will need:
• 5 drivers
• 3 receivers
NOTE: The digital input lines working at 2.6V CMOS have an absolute maximum input voltage
of 3.0V; therefore the level translator IC shall not be powered by the +3.8V supply of the
module. Instead it shall be powered from a +2.6V / +2.9 (dedicated) power supply.
This is because in this way the level translator IC outputs on the module side (i.e. UC864-E
inputs) will work at +3.8V interface levels, stressing the module inputs at its maximum input
voltage.
NOTE: In order to be able to do in circuit reprogramming of the UC864-E firmware, the serial
port on the Telit UC864-E shall be available for translation into RS232 and either it's
controlling device shall be placed into tristate, disconnected or as a gateway for the serial data
when module reprogramming occurs.
Only RXD, TXD, GND and the On/off module turn on pad are required to the reprogramming of
the module, the other lines are unused.
All applicator shall include in their design such a way of reprogramming UC864-E.