ICP DAS USA VXC-112U User manual

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----1
VXC Cards User’s Manual
VXC-112U, VXC-142U/142iU, VXC-182iU, VXC-114U,
VXC-144U/144iU
Warranty
All products manufactured by ICP DAS are warranted against
defective materials for a period of one year from the date of delivery to
the original purchaser.
Warning
ICP DAS assumes no liability for damages consequent to the use of
this product. ICP DAS reserves the right to change this manual at any
time without notice. The information furnished by ICP DAS is believed to
be accurate and reliable. However, ICP DAS assumes no responsibility
for its use, or for any infringements of patents or other rights of third
parties resulting from its use.
Copyright
Copyright 2007 by ICP DAS. All rights are reserved.
Trademark
The names used for identification only may be registered
trademarks of their respective companies.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----2
Tables of Contents
1. ..............................................................................................................................................................3INTRODUCTION
1.1 ...........................................................................................................................................6FEATURES
1.2 ..................................................................................................................................6SPECIFICATIONS
1.3 .........................................................................................................................7PRODUCT CHECK LIST
1.4 .....................................................................................................................7ORDERING INFORMATION
1.5 .............................................................................................................................................8OPTIONS
2. ................................................................................................................................10HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
2.1 .................................................................................................................................10BOARD LAYOUT
2.2 .................................................................................................12COM PORT MAPPING AND BOARD ID
2.3 ...............................................................................................................................14PIN ASSIGNMENT
2.4 .................................................................................................................18HARDWARE INSTALLATION
3. ......................................................................................................................................19SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
3.1 ..............................................................................................................................20WINDOWS NT 4.0
3.2 ................................................................................................................................23WINDOWS 2000
3.3 ...........................................................................................................................27WINDOWS XP/2003
3.4 ................................................................................................................................35WINDOWS VISTA
3.5 ................................................................................................................................................40LINUX
4. ..................................................................................................................................43PROGRAMMING REFERENCE
4.1 ..........................................................................................................................43PCI HARDWARE IDS
4.2 ......................................................................................................................44I/O ADDRESS MAPPING
4.3 ..............................................................................................................................45UART REGISTER
4.4 ............................................................................................................46PROGRAMMABLE BAUD RATE
4.5. ..................................................................................................................47CUSTOMIZED BAUD RATE

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----3
1. Introduction
The VXC multi-port serial card enables user to increase additional communication ports on the PC.
It’s the on-top-of-the-list choice while you are managing to connect lots of outer devices through your PC;
every VXC card ensures you fluent communication in both time-critical applications and industrial fields.
With simply a VXC card, it has never been that easy for integration of a PC with many other devices, like
PLCs, FAB machines, meters, controller devices, laboratory instruments, modems, card readers, serial
printers, RFID readers, bar code readers, sensors, etc.
COM-Selector:
Each VXC card is equipped with a COM-Selector (Dip Switch) for the COM port number selection
(automatically or manually). It’s an important and innovative feature for the VXC family.
The COM-Selector provides the following advantages:
Simplifies the COM port number selection instead of using configuration utility programs.
Users can specify the COM port number of the VXC card as
exactly what they want, no matter which PCI slot it is located
by setting the COM-Selector (dip switch) to 0
on utility and to study its operation
easily confuse users because of adopting the
ent of an existing card by setting the dip-switch to be the same COM port
installation, since setting the dip-switch to be the same COM port
number is very easy.
at.
Automatically select an available COM port number is
supported
(default).
No need to install configurati
for different OS.
Prevents confusion. Other PnP COM port devices
dynamic COM port number setting.
Easy replacem
number.
Great for mass system

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----4
ESD Protection
The VXC cards offer TVS diode ESD protection technology, protecting your system from being
damaged by the high potential voltages.
Under normal operating conditions, the TVS diode presents high impedance (appears as an open
circuit) to the protected component. When the voltage is beyond the limits, the TVS diode avalanches
providing a low impedance path for the transient current. As a result, the transient current is diverted
away from the protected components and shunted through the TVS diode. The device returns to a high
impedance state after the transient threat passes.
Up To 128 Bytes Hardware FIFO:
The VXC cards offer TVS diode ESD protection technology, protecting your system from being
damaged by the high potential voltages.
VXC Cards are equipped with 16 or 128 bytes hardware FIFO for each port. Large hardware FIFO is
useful to prevent data lost when your system works on heavy loading, and even helpful while you are
running on a multi-task operating system, such as Windows, Linux…etc.
Up To 128 KB COM Port Buffer:
The VXC card driver for Windows features a 128 KB maximum software FIFO for each port (default
is 4 KB). It’s practical for large file transmission.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----5
Self-Tuner:
The VXC card is equipped with a “Self-Tuner” chip to control the sending/receiving direction of RS-
485 ports automatically.
Without the help of Self-Tuner, users need to enable RS-485 transmitter before sending, and disable
the transmitter after finishing sending. The timing to enable and disable transmitter (direction control) is
the major issue on many communication problems, and it is very difficult to debug.
The built-in Self-Tuner on VXC cards effectively gets rid of this direction control issue and also
simplifies software programming for communication applications.
Isolation:
Some VXC cards offer photo isolation to protect your computer and equipment against damages in
harsh environment.
Photo coupler is a device that uses a short optical transmission path
to transfer a signal between elements of a circuit, typically a transmitter
and a receiver. This keeping them electrically isolated — since the
signal goes from an electrical signal to an optical signal, the electrical
contact along the path is broken.
It can help cutting down on ground loops, common mode voltages
and block voltage spikes, provide electrical isolation, and offer
significant protection from serious over-voltage conditions in one circuit affecting the other.
Short Card Design:
The “Short Card” design is suitable for compact-sized computer, especially for IPC (Industrial Personal
Computer) and servers.
Universal PCI (3.3 V and 5 V):
The Universal PCI card works with both new 3.3 V PCI bus that has been widely-used in servers, and
traditional 5 V PCI bus. The universal PCI interface will be the standard for every card from ICP DAS in
the near future.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----6
1.1 Features
Universal PCI V2.2, supports 5 V and 3.3 V PCI bus
COM-Selector
Provides surge protection
128 Byte UART FIFO
1.2 Specifications
VXC-
112U VXC- 182iU VXC- 142U VXC- 142iU VXC- 144U VXC- 144iU VXC- 114U
Bus Universal PCI (5 V and 3.3 V)
Connector Male DB-9 Female DB-37
RS-232 2-ports 1-ports ----4-ports
RS-422/485 -1-ports 2-ports 2-ports 4-ports 4-ports -
Self-tuner or
equivalence
design -Yes
(COM1) Yes Yes Yes Yes -
Isolation -3 kV -3 kV -3 kV -
COM-Selector Yes
UART 16C950 Compatible
Baud rate 50 ~ 115200 bps
Data bits 5, 6, 7, 8
Parity Bit None, Even, Odd, Mark, Space
Stop Bits 1, 1.5, 2
FIFO size 128 Bytes
Operating
Temperature 0 ~ 50oC
Storage
Temperature -20 ~ 70 oC
Humidity 0 ~ 90 % non-condensing
Dimensions (mm) 130
X105 130 X105 130 X105 130 X105 129 X83 129 X83 129 X83

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----7
1.3 Product Check List
The package includes the following items:
One VXC series card
One ICP DAS software CD
One Quick Start
It is recommended that you read the Quick Start to see the software driver location
first.
Attention!
If any of these items are missing or damaged, contact the dealer from whom you
purchased the product. Save all shipping materials and the carton in case you need to
ship or store the product in the future.
1.4 Ordering Information
Model Description
VXC-112U Universal PCI, 2-port RS-232 communication board
VXC-114U Universal PCI, 4-port RS-232 communication board
VXC-142U Universal PCI, 2-port RS-422/485 communication board
VXC-142iU Universal PCI, 2-port Isolated RS-422/485 communication board
VXC-144U Universal PCI, 4-port RS-422/485 communication board
VXC-144iU Universal PCI, 4-port Isolated RS-422/485 communication board
VXC-182iU Universal PCI, 1-port Isolated RS-422/485 and 1-port RS-232 communication
board

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----8
1.5 Options
Item Description VXC-
112U VXC- 182iU
VXC-
142U/
142iU
VXC-
114U
VXC-
142U/
142iU
CA-4002
37-pin Male D-sub
connector with plastic
cover ---
CA-PC09F
9-pin Female D-sub
connector with plastic
cover --
DN-37
I/O Connector Block
(Pitch= 5.08 mm) with
DIN-Rail Mounting
Include: One CA-3710 (37-
pin Male-Male D-sub cable
1.0m)
-- - 
DN-09-2/
DN-09-2F
I/O Connector Block with
DIN-Rail Mounting and two
9-Pin male Header --
CA-3710
37-Pin Male-Male D-sub
cable 1M (45º) ---
CA-3710D
37-Pin Male-Male D-sub
cable 1M (180º) ---
CA-3720
DB-37 Male-Male D-sub
cable 2M Cable(45 º) ---
CA-3720D
37-Pin Male-Male D-sub
cable 2M (180º) ---

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----9
CA-9-3715D
DB-37 Male(D-sub) to 4-
Port DB-9 Male(D-sub)
cable 1.5M (180 º) ---
CA-0910F
9-pin Female-Female D-
sub cable, 1M --
CA-0910N
9-pin Female-Female D-
sub cable, 1M Null Modem
Cable --
CA-0915
9-pin Male-Female D-sub
cable, 1.5M --
CA-090910
9-pin Female D-sub & (9-
wire) RS-422 Cable, 1M - - -
CA-0903
9-pin Female D-sub & 5-
wire RS-232 cable, 30cm - - -
CA-0910
9-pin Female D-sub & 3-
wire RS-232 cable, 1M - - -

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----10
2. Hardware configuration
2.1 Board Layout
Board layout of the VXC-114U/144U/144iU
CON
1
SW1

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----11
Board layout of the VXC-112U/142U/142iU/182iU
CON
2
CON
1
SW
1

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----12
2.2 COM Port Mapping and Board ID
The Board ID and COM port mapping are the same, which is set by the SW1 DIP switch.
The SW1 DIP switch has different functions under different OS.
For DOS users, the SW1 DIP switch acts as Board ID. When there are two or more multi-
port serial cards in a single system, it is difficult to identify individual card number. For easier
identification, the VXC series card includes a Board ID function.
For Windows users, the SW1 DIP switch acts as COM port number selector and the COM
port number is depending on the Board ID. If the Board ID is 0, then the driver finds a valid
number for each port. If the Board ID is not 0, then the driver uses the “Board ID” to be the first
COM port number and uses the “Board ID +1” to be the next COM port number and so on.
Note:
It’s recommended to select a unique COM port number (Board ID) by users. This
helps users to clear identify and fix the card-number and port-number in a system.
Warning:
The port will not work if the COM port number is conflicted under Windows or Linux
system. In that case, users should try other COM port numbers.
Usually, the COM1 and COM2 are reserved by systems. And it’s recommended to
reserve the COM3 and COM4 if you will have other Plug&Play serial ports in the future.
This prevents conflict.
For Linux users, it’s the same as Windows users but for TTY device number selector.
The configuration examples are as follows.
SW1

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----13
SW1 DIP Switch 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Board ID=0x00 (Default)
COM = Auto-defined OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
Board ID=0x03
COM = 3/4/5/6 OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON
Board ID=0x05
COM = 5/6/7/8 OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON
Board ID=0x07
COM = 7/8/9/10 OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON
Board ID=0x09
COM = 9/10/11/12 OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON
Board ID=0x14
COM = 20/21/22/23 OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF OFF
Board ID=0x1E
COM = 30/31/32/33 OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF
Board ID=0x28
COM = 40/41/42/43 OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF OFF OFF
Board ID=0x32
COM = 50/51/52/53 OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON OFF
Board ID=0x3C
COM = 60/61/62/63 OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF OFF
Board ID=0x64
COM = 100/101/102/103 OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF
Board ID=0x96
COM = 150/151/152/153 ON OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON OFF
Board ID=0xC8
COM = 200/201/202/203 ON ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF
．
．
．
Board ID=0xFF
COM = 255/256/x/x ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON
Note: If multi-port serial board is 2-port VXC card the COM number is the first two numbers.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----14
2.3 Pin Assignment
2.3.1 VXC-112U Pin Assignment
RS-232 Cable Wirin
g
(
Null Modem
)
2.3.2. VXC-142U/VXC-142iU Pin Assignment
The RS-485 bus is a differential (balanced)
signal, thus you cannot wire the Data+ with Data-
directly for a single port loop-back test. It will not
work at all!
Warning:

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----15
2.3.3. VXC-114U Pin Assignment
DB-37 to 4-
p
ort DB-9
(
CA-9-3715D
)
RS-232 Cable Wirin
g
(
Null Modem
)

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----16
2.3.4. VXC-144U/VXC-144iU Pin Assignment
DB-37 to 4-
p
ort DB-9
(
CA-9-3715D
)
Warning:
The RS-485 bus is a differential (balanced)
signal, thus you cannot wire the Data+ with
Data- directly for a single port loop-back
test. It will not work at all!

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----17
2.3.5. VXC-182iU Pin Assignment
CN1: Isolation RS-422/485 port
Warning:
The RS-485 bus is a differential (balanced)
signal, thus you cannot wire the Data+ with Data-
directly for a single port loop-back test. It will not
work at all!
CN2: RS-232 port
RS-232 Cable Wirin
g
(
Null Modem
)

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----18
2.4 Hardware Installation
Warning:
Static electricity can easily damage computer equipment. Ground yourself by touching
the chassis of the computer before touching any boards.
To install your VXC series cards, complete the following steps:
1. Refer to Chapter 3 for installing driver first
2. Shut down and power off your computer
3. Remove all covers from the computer
4. Select an empty PCI slot
5. Remove the PCI slot cover from the PC
6. Carefully insert your VXC card into the PCI slot
7. Attach the cable to the connector
8. Replace the PC cover
9. Power on the computer
Note:
It’s recommended to install driver first, since some OS (operating system such as
Windows 2000) may ask you to restart the computer again after driver installation. This
reduces the times to restart the computer.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----19
3. Software Installation
ICP DAS provides following device drivers for most operation systems such as Windows
NT 4.0 and Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista32. These Windows drivers provide full interrupt-
driven, buffered I/O for each COM ports. And also supports the Plug & Play mechanism for easy
installation.
VxCard_NT_Vista32_V204.exe:
This is the VXC Card driver for Windows NT 4.0, 2000/XP/2003 and Vista32.
Note:
Please refer to “Quick Start” for getting the location of setup program on CD.
For Windows users to access COM ports, please refer to the “Serial Communications in
Win32” article for programming information. It can be found by searching on the
http://msdn.microsoft.com.
This chapter shows you the detail steps to install these drivers.
Note:
For more information about COM port number selection, please refer to Section 2.2
“COM Port Mapping & Board ID”.

VXC-114U/144U/144iU User’s Manual (Ver. 1.2, Mar.11, 2009) -----20
3.1 Windows NT 4.0
3.1.1 Installation
Refer to “Quick Start” for getting the location of setup program on CD.
Note:
It’s recommended to install the software first, and then the hardware. This reduces the
configuration procedures.
1. Launch the “VxCard_NT_Vista32_v204.exe” setup program.
2. Click the “Next >” button to start installation.
3. Select a folder where setup will install files, and click “Next>” button.