ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Table of Contents
Summary.........................................................................................................................................................................1
Main features...................................................................................................................................................................1
Driver..............................................................................................................................................................................2
Electrical characteristics.................................................................................................................................................2
Absolute maximum ratings.......................................................................................................................................2
Operating conditions.........................................................................2
Pinout......................................................................................................3
Mechanical..............................................................................................3
Principles of operation............................................................................3
USB-UART bridge............................................................................3
TX.....................................................................................................4
RX.....................................................................................................4
Open Source Hardware License.............................................................4
Schematic................................................................................................5
Quick Start Guide...................................................................................6
Connections.......................................................................................6
On the computer................................................................................6
A note about the power connections................................................6
Troubleshooting......................................................................................7
Verify that the adapter is powered.....................................................7
Verify that the adapter is recognized by the computer......................7
Do a loop-back test...........................................................................8

Summary
The ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter allows communications between a device using logic
level (1.8V to 5V) serial communication and a computer with a USB port. The adapter is optically
isolated, there is no electrical connection between the connected device and the USB port. Supports
baud rates from 300 baud to 2 Mbaud. Available with Micro USB connector or “full size“ USB B
connector.

Main features
• Avoids ground loops.
• Circuits ground and computer ground does not need to be at the same potential.
• Maintains isolation from mains supply.
• Protects the computers USB port from damage.
• Separates sensitive analog circuits from potentially noisy computer ground.
• Works with devices which can not drive an opto isolator directly.
• Supports all common baud rates from 300 baud to 2 Mbaud
• Works with IO levels from 1.8V to 5V
• No driver installation required on Windows 10 or on recent Linux versions.
• Open source hardware: All the documentation needed to repair or modify the adapter is
provided including schematic, BOM and design notes. 3D models of the device and 3D
printable enclosures are also available.

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Driver
The adapter uses the CH340G USB interface IC. Drivers for the CH340G IC are built into Windows
10 and recent Linux kernels so the adapter will work with no driver installation. OSX requires a
driver to be installed. If required, the driver can be dowloaded from zeptobit.com.

Electrical characteristics
Absolute maximum ratings
Conditions outside the absolute maximum ratings are expected to cause permanent damage to the
device.

Minimum Maximum
Supply voltage UART side –0.3V 5.5V
I/O voltage UART side (Vio) –0.3V 5.5V
Voltage RX/TX pins -0.3V Vio+0.5V

Operating conditions

Minimum Typical Maximum

Voltage USB side 4.75V 5.0V 5.25V
Current USB side - 12mA 16mA
Supply voltage UART side 3.0V1 3.3V or 5.0V 5.5V
Supply current UART side - 7mA@3.3V 16mA
12m@5V
I/O voltage UART side (Vio) 1.6V 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V, 5V 5.5V
Current required to drive RX pin - - 3μA
High level input voltage - - Vio * 0.7
Low level input voltage Vio * 0.35 - -
Isolation voltage USB to UART side 2500V2 - -

1 The adapter may work with supply voltage as low as ~1.8V, particularly at low baud rates, but performance or
functionality is not guaranteed.
2 Limited to 2500V by opto isolators. Creepage voltage >2500V (IPC9592B).

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Pinout
Pin Function
1 Gnd
2 RX
3 TX
4 Gnd
5 +V I/O
6 +V I/O / Jumper
7 +3.3-5V / Jumper
8 +3.3-5V

Mechanical
Micro USB Full size USB
Length of board 49 mm (1.93”) 49 mm (1.93”)
Length including USB 50 mm (1.97”) 56 mm (2.2”)
connector
Width 22.5 mm (0.89”) 22.5 mm (0.89”)
Height 4.5 mm (0.18”) 14mm (0.55”)
Mounting hole diameter 2.2mm (0.087”) 2.2mm (0.087”)
Mounting hole spacing 41 mm x 18.5 mm 41 mm x 18.5 mm
(1.614”x0.728”) (1.614”x0.728”)

Mechanical 3D CAD models of the adapter and enclosures are available for download from
zeptobit.com.

Principles of operation
USB-UART bridge
The CH340 (U2) is a USB to UART bridge. It is powered from the USB port. U2 requires a 12Mhz
clock, which is provided by Y1.

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet
TX
The TX port on U2 drives an SN74LVC1T45 (U3) which in turn drives an 6N137 (VO2) optical
isolator (U3). U3 is needed because U2 TX can not supply the current required to drive the optical
isolator directly.
VO2 is powered by a +3.3V to +5V supply, but the output voltage on the TX pin of the adapter is
independent of this. +V_IO (+1.8V to +5V) sets the output logic high voltage.

RX
The signal on the RX pin of the adapter drives an SN74LVC1T45 (U1) which drives the 6N137
optical isolator (VO1) . U1 shifts the voltage from the level on the +V_IO pin to the voltage on the
+3.3-5V pin of the adapter. As on the TX side. U1 draws only 3µA from the RX pin of the adapter.

Open Source Hardware License

The ZeptoBit Optically Isolated USB-UART adapter is open source hardware, licensed under
Creative Commons – Attribution 3.0.
The following is released as open source:
• Schematic in Diptrace and .pdf format.
• Bill of Materials
• Design Notes (principles of operation)
• Mechanical CAD files for adapter and enclosures.

The following is not released as open source:

• Board layout files
• Gerber/drill files

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Schematic

Note: This schematic is also available as a higher resolution pdf file. It is also available in
DipTrace .dch format. Both versions include the Bill Of Materials. Please see zeptobit.com for
download links.

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Quick Start Guide

Connections
• Connect pin 1 or 4 (Gnd) to Gnd on your device.
• Connect pin 2 (RX) to TX on your device.
• Connect pin 3 (TX) to RX on your device.
• Connect pin 5 (+V I/O) to the positive supply of your device (1.8V to 5V).
• If the voltage on pin 5 is 3.3V or higher, place a jumper between pin 6 and 7.
• If the voltage on pin 5 is less than 3.3V, connect pin 8 (+3.3-5V) to a positive supply with a
voltage between 3.3 and 5 volts. In this case, DO NOT place the jumper.

On the computer
Plug in the USB cable, in most cases there is no need to install a driver and the adapter will show up
as a serial port after a few seconds (for example COM3 on Windows or /dev/ttyUSB1 on linux). If it
shows up as an unknown device in Windows you will need to download and install the driver from
zeptobit.com.
Open your terminal emulator (for example Tera Term pr Putty) and connect to the serial port. The
terminal emulator and your device need to use the same baud rate.

A note about the power connections

The device side of the adapter is completely isolated from the USB side and because of this it needs
to be powered. A +3.3V to +5V supply required to power adapter should be connected to pin 7
and/or pin 8.
A second voltage, used as a reference for the RX signal and as a pull-up for the TX signal should be
connected to pin 5 and/or pin 6. This is separate from the supply for the adapter to allow the adapter
to be used with signal levels lower than 3.3V.

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Troubleshooting
Verify that the adapter is powered

There are two green LED’s on the board. Both should be on.

If the LED near the USB port is off:

• Verify that the USB cable is plugged into the adapter and computer. Unplug and reconnect
both ends of the cable.
• Try another USB port on the computer.
• Try another USB cable.
If the LED near the header header is off:
• Verify that you have connected power for the adapter. (It is not powered from the USB port.)
There should be a voltage of 3.3 to 5 volts between pin 7/8 and Gnd (pin 1/4). (Pin 7/8 is
used to power the adapter and should be at 3.3 to 5V even if a lower I/O voltage is used.)
Check V+ I/O voltage:
• The voltage on the V+ I/O pin should be at the same level as is used for logic high in the
connected device. The power LEDs will be on even if this is not connected, but the adapter
will not work.

Verify that the adapter is recognized by the computer

• Open Control panel > System > Device manager

• Look for the device called «USB SERIAL CH340
(COM*)» under «Ports COM & LPT)»
• COM* (COM5 in the screen shot) is the port you need to
connect to.

If you don’t find this device, but instead find a device called
«Unknown device» you may need to install a driver:
• Right click on the device and select «Update driver»
• Click on «Search automatically for updated driver
software» and follow the instructions.
• If you have a Windows version older than Windows 10, you may need to download the
driver. Check zeptobit.com.

If you have multiple adapters or other devices using the CH340 chip, you may get a conflict
where one device is not assigned a COM port:
• Right click on the device and select «Properties»
• Chose the «Port settings tab» and click on «Advanced»
• In the «COM Port Number» drop down menu select any available port.
• Click «OK» and «OK» again.
• Unplug the device and connect it again. It should now be assigned the selected COM port.

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ZeptoBit Isolated USB-UART Adapter – Datasheet

Do a loop-back test

• Connect RX and TX together.

• Open a terminal emulator (such as Tera Term or RealTerm).
• Connect to the virtual serial port assigned to the adapter (for example: COM3). Use a baud
rate of 2Mbaud or any standard baud rate below 2Mbaud.
• Make sure local echo is disabled, if not the device may appear to function even if there is a
problem.
• Type something in the terminal, if everything is working, it should be echoed back.

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