Interface Modules - Communications

Need to connect a USB herzenflatz to your serial-port ArduiChum? Exactly. When you don't know how to make this talk with that, you need an interface module. The most common types are:

• USB to Serial RS232: This is making an older-style computer interface talk with modern USB ports.
• USB to Logic-Level: Microcontrollers only understand 0 volts =off, and 5 volts (and 3.3V) = on. It's how they talk. These modules let you plug a microcontroller directlyl to your USB port and have them talk. Interestingly, there's modules that contain USB<-->RS232<-->Logic converters in all the same package, and will let you tap into the chain whereever you need.
• Serial to Logic-Level: The serial interface (that wonderful, old, amazing standard) usually talks +15 volts and - 15 volts. Microcontrollers tend to have a hairy fit listening to that. Go figure.
• Serial RS232 to Serial RS485: This of RS485 as RS232's bigger brother. Similar - but more powerful and industrial.

 

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