Cluso's FT232 USB-TTL module - add a cheap PropPlug+ and 5V USB power to your project

Cluso99

Here is one of my new tiny pcbs. It is a PropPlug with a difference...

• Tiny pcb 0.6"x0.75" (15x18.5mm)
• FTDI FT232RL USB smt IC
• USB via miniUSB connector (cable easily obtained)
• Extended 6 pin PropPlug connector
  • Center 4 pins PropPlug standard
  • Top pin 5V linkable (above GND)
  • Bottom pin unused (can link to RTS or CTS)
• Can Optionally provide 5V from the USB connection (PC)
  • On a 3 pin header (use 5V & GND)
  • On extended PropPlug connector by link/shunt on 3 pin header (link 5sw to 5V)
• Pins TXD, DTR, RTS, RXD & CTS brought out on small pad/holes
  • Can be used with other microcontrollers
• A single LED fed by both the TxLed and RxLed pins so it flashes with data in either direction

These pcbs are smt and purple with gold finish. The FTDI chip has fine pitch legs and the miniUSB also has fine legs. However, I found a fine tip soldering iron, fine solder, and a flux pen works fine.

I only had 9 pcbs made to try this out, so I have 8 available. Obviously this is not a profit enterprise, just a service to the forum. More pcbs take 3-4 weeks.

Bare PCBs US$1.50ea
PCB with set of parts (except FT232RL & miniUSB) US$2.80ea
Assembled and tested US$11.00 (please email me as I will need to schedult them to lack of time)
Unregistered Airmail Postage US$3.00 for pcb(s) only, US$4.00 for parts/assembled boards (from Australia)

My new website (still under construction) www.clusos.com/home

Sapieha

Hi Cluso.

Nice work

prof_braino

Very cool!

Cluso99

This tiny module could be soldered onto a users pcb using the 6pin header providing both a PropPlug and USB 5V power.

It fits nicely with both my CpuBlade (1"x1" prop pcb) and BaseBoard1 (1.67"x1.76" prop pcb).

Should anyone require them soldered please let me know so I can schedule them and order the FTDI chips.

Bill Henning

Nice work - as usual

Peter Jakacki

Hi Ray,

Good stuff, and I know you wouldn't mind me showing you my version that I use. It is designed to be compatible to the PropPlug on the bottom 4 pins and the top 4 pins have +5V from the USB and I2C as well as one reserved for application specific use. The I2C allows me direct access to the EEPROM for instance or I can just use the header on the target board as a convenient expansion header.

Same as you mate I used a micro USB connector plus I have a swag of low-profile pin headers so especially if I mount the USB interface upside down on a pcb then it sits very flat to the pcb.

Here's one of them plus how it can be permanently mounted onto a target board.

S

Cluso99

Nice Peter. Yes I can mount the same or at right angles to my other boards. I am using the miniUSB but it does look like yours is the microUSB. Either way the cables are now plentiful and we dont really want this to be directly plugged into the PC/Laptop.

I am interested... do you get I2C by bit-banging on the PC to the CBus pins? I have seen they can program the ATtiny that way (by bit-banging Txd, DTR & RTS and using Rxd as the return) so I was thinking to program my first ATTiny that way and then get the prop to do it.

BTW I am in Bris on Tues but as usual time critical again. If I get a chance I will call you.

Peter Jakacki

Cluso99 wrote: »

Nice Peter. Yes I can mount the same or at right angles to my other boards. I am using the miniUSB but it does look like yours is the microUSB. Either way the cables are now plentiful and we dont really want this to be directly plugged into the PC/Laptop.

I am interested... do you get I2C by bit-banging on the PC to the CBus pins? I have seen they can program the ATtiny that way (by bit-banging Txd, DTR & RTS and using Rxd as the return) so I was thinking to program my first ATTiny that way and then get the prop to do it.

BTW I am in Bris on Tues but as usual time critical again. If I get a chance I will call you.

I noticed later that you were using a mini rather than a micro. I've found that the micro USB connectors are a lot more rugged would you believe and that's just what the specs say too. I'm getting my micro USB cables for a buck apiece.

The I2C pins are connected to the FT232 CBus pins and this "allows" access from the PC although I have never bothered to test it. The I2C is mainly for expansion or simply that direct access that I mentioned earlier as I can reprogram the boards out in the field or in production using a simple little stand-alone dongle to hold the Prop in reset while it loads up the EEPROM.

I know the ATTInys are cheap and small but so are my Silabs parts (DFN10 upwards) and I can program them directly from the Prop anytime

Do you want to catch-up on Tuesday? We can meet up, I've got some modules for you that you might like to play with.

Cluso99

Yes, the miniUSB cables are a buck too. I was in a mobile phone shop when a customer came in with a broken microUSB connector on their Nokia phone. The assistant said to the customer that his new phone was user damaged and a common problem. The smt microUSB sockets are cheaper. I chose to go with miniUSB because I was not certain. Both cables are readily available but I have more mini cables here. They even come with USB hard drives.

I will be in central Bris and hope to be free before midday. ATM I think I may fly this time instead of driving so will not have wheels but can jump a train as long as I know where to go. Will be staying at Milton with a friend.

Tor

Cluso99 wrote: »

Yes, the miniUSB cables are a buck too. I was in a mobile phone shop when a customer came in with a broken microUSB connector on their Nokia phone. The assistant said to the customer that his new phone was user damaged and a common problem.[..]

Slightly off-topic, but yes, it's a common problem.. and it's not a user damage problem, it's a design problem. My Nokia N900, for example, has a microUSB socket which is soldered directly to the motherboard. MicroUSB cables have small hooks which will latch into the socket, and sooner or later the socket on the motherboard will come loose, by shearing forces. There is no hole-through or anything which can prevent the cable from trying to shear off the socket. I know several people which, despite being careful (because it's a known problem) ended up with damaged phones. About 15% of the N900 phones had this problem last I checked on a forum which tries to count this, and the number increases because it's really only a matter of time.

So, what I do with all my microUSB cables is to file off those little hooks. It takes just a few seconds and it limits the problem to hit only those phones which are more or less faulty from the start. In Europe all new phones are supposed to use microUSB for charging, so they're everywhere now.

-Tor