USB cables transfer data up to 30Mbit/s

Future Technology Devices International (FTDI) Ltd has expanded its USB to digital level Multi-Protocol Synchronous Serial Engine (MPSSE) portfolio with the introduction of two new cables—the C232HM-DDHSL-0 (3.3V output power) and C232HM-EDHSL-0 (five volts output power). The cables support the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480Mbit/s) standard and offer a fast, simple way to connect devices with 3.3V锟絣ogic level interfaces to USB, the company stated.

The products consist of the company's FT232H USB interface chip on a compact circuit board encapsulated into the USB connector end of the cable, facilitating rapid implementation, FTDI noted. The cables can be used to communicate with devices using a variety of synchronous serial interfaces such as JTAG, SPI or I2C and enables design engineers to implement their own proprietary synchronous serial bus protocols.

Ten individual single pole connectors that can be interfaced to a 0.1in pitch male header terminate each cable. The cables measure 0.5m and support data transfer rates of up to 30Mbit/s. The C232HM-DDHSL-0 version has a maximum output of 200mA at 3.3V while the C232HM-EDHSL-0 has a maximum output of 200mA at five volts.

Powered from a USB host port, these cables can be easily configured into various interface options using freely available application software. FTDI also provides the required USB drivers that can be freely downloaded from its website.

According to FTDI, both cables are cost-efficient, FCC/CE compliant and have operational temperature range from -40°C to 85°C. Typical applications include interfacing with MCU or programmable logic devices, USB transfer of audio data, USB-based medical equipment/industrial instrumentation, carrying out of rapid USB integration in existing electronic systems (i.e. upgrading of legacy peripherals), JTAG systems and FPGA interfacing. The C232HM-DDHSL-0 and C232HM-EDHSL-0 cables cost $26 (for 1–9 pieces) each.