MCC iPort/AI 2 RS-232 to I2C host adapter with Circuit... User manual

User’s Guide
ASCII Interface
RS-232 to I2C Host Adapter
with Circuit Sense™
www.mcc-us.com

Introduction
The MCC iPort/AI 2™ RS-232 to I2C Bus host adapter with Circuit Sense allows
any Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X host computer to become an I2C Master or
Slave device, transmitting or receiving I2C messages between the host computer and
one or more I2C devices across an I2C Bus.
This user’s guide describes the installation and operation of the iPort/AI 2 host
adapter, and the RS-232 and I2C Bus interconnects. Also described are the iPort
Utility Pack software for quick I2C Bus communication, MS.Net and LabVIEW
libraries for custom software development, and other tools and applications.
A complete set of resources for the iPort/AI 2 is available at:
www.mcc-us.com/iPortAI-2
This product conforms to the I²C Bus specifications defined by NXP/Philips
Semiconductors.
To find out more about I2C, we suggest you review our white paper “I2C Bus
Technical Overview” at:
www.mcc-us.com/I2CBusTechnicalOverview.pdf.
I²C is a trademark of NXP (Philips) Corporation. All trademarks acknowledged as
the property of their owners.
01-NOV-2018

Copyright© 2018 by Micro Computer Control Corporation. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior written
permission of Micro Computer Control Corporation, PO Box 275, Hopewell, New
Jersey 08525 USA.
DISCLAIMER: Micro Computer Control Corporation makes no representations or
warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied
warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Micro
Computer Control Corporation reserves the right to revise the product described in
this publication and to make changes from time to time in the content hereof
without the obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes.
WARNING - Life Support Applications: MCC products are not designed for use
in life support appliances, devices, or systems where the malfunction of the product
can reasonably be expected to result in a personal injury.
WARNING - Radio Frequency Emissions: This equipment can radiate levels of
radio frequency energy that may cause interference to communications equipment.
Operation of this equipment may cause interference with radio, television, or other
communications equipment. The user is responsible for correcting such interference
at the expense of the user.
WARNING - Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Precautions: Any damage caused by
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) through inadequate earth grounding is NOT covered
under the warranty of this product. See the “Electrostatic (ESD) Precautions”
section of this guide for more information.
Electronic Waste Notice - This product must NOT be thrown into general waste,
but should be collected separately and properly recycled under local regulations.
Created in the United States of America

Table of Contents
1 Overview .......................................................1
iPort/AI 2 Product Features .........................................2
iPort/AI2PackageContents ........................................3
SystemRequirements .............................................4
2 Interconnects ....................................................4
RS-232 Serial Port Connector .......................................4
DB-25 Serial Port Pinout ........................................4
DB-9 Serial Port Pinout .........................................4
iPortPower .....................................................5
Viathepowerjack .............................................5
Via the I2C interface connector ....................................5
I2C Mini Interface Connector .......................................5
3 HardwareConfiguration ...........................................6
CircuitSense ....................................................6
PowerSourceMode ............................................6
VoltageSenseMode ............................................6
I2CBusPull-upResistors ..........................................7
ConnectingtoaLow-VoltageTargetSystem ...........................7
ConnectingtoanSMBusTargetSystem...............................7
4 ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) Precautions .............................8
Host Computer Grounding .........................................8
Case1-DesktopandSingle-boardComputers........................8
Case2-LaptopComputers.......................................9
Grounding Solutions ..............................................9
5 HardwareSet-Up.................................................9
SerialPortConnection............................................10
I2CBusConnection ..............................................10
PowerConnection ...............................................10
6. Software Support ................................................10
I2C Bus Communication Utilities ...................................10
iPort Utility Pack for Windows ...................................10
iPortMessageCenter ........................................11
iPortMessageManager ......................................11

iBurner I2CBusEEPROMProgrammer............................11
I2CBusSoftwareDevelopmentTools................................11
MS.NETClassLibrary .........................................11
LabVIEWVILibrary ..........................................12
ASCIICommandInterface ......................................12
iPort/AI2RevisionReport...........................................13
AdditionalInformation..............................................13
Appendix A - I2CConnectorInformation ...............................14
Declaration of Conformity ...........................................15
FCCStatement..................................................15
CE Declaration of Conformity ......................................15

1
1 Overview
The MCC iPort/AI 2 (#MIIC-212), RS-232 to I2C Bus Host Adapter with ASCII
Interface and Circuit Sense, allows any PC, Host Computer, PLC, or Single Board
Computer with a legacy or add-on serial port to become an I2C Master or Slave
device, transmitting or receiving I2C messages between the Host Computer and one
or more I2C devices across an I2C Bus.
Circuit Sense, our I2C Bus voltage sensing technology, allows the iPort/AI 2 to
work with the latest I2C Bus devices at voltages as low as 0.5 volts.

2
iPort/AI 2 Product Features
• OS Support: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and many more.
• Host Support: Any Computer with a legacy or add-on RS-232 Serial Port.
• High Performance Processor Increases Throughput (2x to 200x).
• External Power Jack or I2C Bus Powered (+5VDC).
• Built-in ESD, Over-voltage, and Reverse-voltage Protection.
• Switch Controlled Properties:
•I
2C Bus Power Source (5v@100ma).
•I
2C Bus Voltage Sense (0.5v to 5v, Enable or Disable).
•I
2C Bus Pull-Ups (1.8K ohm, Enable or Disable).
• Software Controlled Properties:
•I
2C Bus Master Clock Rates: 100KHz (Fixed)
•I
2C Bus General Call (Enable or Disable).
•I
2C Bus Time-Out (1000 milliseconds) (Fixed)
• Host Communication Flow Control (XON/XOFF or RTS/CTS)
• User Interface Echo/Prompt (Enable or Disable).
• User Data Format (HEX or ASCII/HEX)
• Supported I2C Bus Activities:
• Master and Slave Functions
• Transmit, Receive, and Tx/Rx Data Functions
• Multi-Master Arbitration Loss Detection
• Clock-stretch Detection
• Bus Time-Out Detection
• 7-bit Slave Address Generation and Detection
• Up to 32K data bytes in a single message
• Software Support:
• Free Application Software (Master, Slave, and EEPROM Programmer).
• Software Development Tools (MS.NET, LabVIEW, and ASCII Commands).
• Compatible with existing iPort/AI applications.
• US-FCC and EUR-CE EMC Compliant.
• RoHS/Lead-Free Compliant.

3
iPort/AI 2 Package Contents
The iPort/AI 2 package includes the following items:
• iPort/AI 2, RS-232 to I2C Bus Host Adapter.
•I
2C Bus Mini Clip-lead Cable (4-wire, 1 ft.).
• DB-9F to DB-25M Serial Port Adapter Cable (1 ft.).
• Global 5VDC Power Supply.
• iPort/AI 2 Quick Start Guide.
• iPort/AI 2 Travel Case.
• Online Items*
• iPort/AI 2 Datasheet
• iPort/AI 2 User’s Guide (this document)
• iPort Utility Pack Software
• Application Software.
• Software Development Tools
(* www.mcc-us.com/iPortAI-2)

4
RS-232 Serial Port Connector
System Requirements
a. A host computer with one free legacy or add-on RS-232 port.
b. Windows XP OS or higher to run iPort Utility Pack applications.
2 Interconnects
The iPort/AI 2 includes three (3) interconnections:
RS-232 Serial Port Connector
The RS-232 connector provides connection from the I2C adapter to the serial port
on the host computer. For computers with DB-9 connectors, use the DB-9 to DB-25
(#C9F25M1) cable provided with the adapter, or equivalent.
The I2C adapter implements the RS-232 interface using the following pins:
DB-25 Serial Port Pinout
DB-25 Pin 2, Transmit Data from the Host Computer to the iPort
DB-25 Pin 3, Receive Data from the iPort to the Host Computer.
DB-25 Pin 4, Request to Send from the Host Computer to iPort.
DB-25 Pin 5, Clear to Send from the iPort to the Host Computer.
DB-25 Pin 7, Ground between Host Computer and iPort
DB-9 Serial Port Pinout
DB-9 Pin 3, Transmit Data from the Host Computer to the iPort
DB-9 Pin 2, Receive Data from the iPort to the Host Computer.
DB-9 Pin 7, Request to Send from the Host Computer to iPort.
DB-9 Pin 8, Clear to Send from the iPort to the Host Computer.

5
DB-9 Pin 5, Ground between Host Computer and iPort
iPort Power
The I2C adapter requires 50ma of REGULATED +5 volt power. This power can be
supplied in one of two ways:
• Via the power jack.
If the I2C adapter is powered via its +5VDC power jack, and the adapter is
operating in power SOURCE mode, excess power is available via the +V wire in
the I2C connector to power external devices.
• Via the I2C interface connector.
If 50ma of regulated +5V power is available in the target system, and the adapter
is operating in power SOURCE mode, the I2C adapter can be powered via the +V
wire in I2C interface connector.
I2C Mini Interface Connector
The iPort/AI 2 I2C Bus host adapter includes a five wire (1x5) 2.54 mm (.100"),
positive locking, shrouded header receptacle connector (see Appendix A) for
interfacing to an external I2C Bus. Interface lines provided include:
•I
2C Clock (SCL)
•I
2C Data (SDA)
• /INT (Not Used)
• Ground
• +V (optional)
Minimum wiring for I2C Bus communications include I2C Bus Clock, Data, and
Ground. Use of the +V wire in the I2C Interface connector are user optional.
NOTE: See the Hardware Configuration section below for additional information
on configuring the I2C Bus interface.