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NAME
2.1 Introduction
The IC984C provides sixteen RS-232 asynchronous serial ports capable of data rates to 460.8K bps. Each RS-232 port
implements all modem control signals for maximum compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. The board is PCI
Express X1 compliant and can be used in any x1, x2, x4, x8, or x16 PCI Express slot. The board utilizes 16C854 UARTs to
provide 128-byte Tx/Rx FIFOs for maximum reliability in data intensive applications. Standard operating temperature
range is 0°C to 70°C and extended temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) versions are available. Additional ordering
options allow the choice of UARTs for custom baud rates and 9-bit protocols.
The IC984C is designed to be used with a variety of operating systems including Microsoft Windows and Linux.
SeaCOM software uses the standard Windows WIN32 API and eliminates proprietary DLL files. This allows SeaCOM
software to maintain 100% compatibility with Microsoft Windows applications. SeaCOM software also includes
sample code and utilities to simplify application development.
2.2 Features
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PCI Express 1.0a compliant via x1 connector
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Integrates 16C854 buffered UARTs with 128-byte FIFOs
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Supports data rates to 460.8K bps
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All modem control signals implemented
2.3 RS-232 Specifications
Quite possibly the most widely used communication standard is RS-232. This implementation has been defined and
revised several times and is often referred to as RS-232 or EIA/TIA 232. It is defined by the EIA as the Interface between
Data Terminal Equipment and Data Circuit- Terminating Equipment Employing Serial Binary Data Interchange. The
mechanical implementation of RS-232 is on a 25-pin D-sub connector. RS 232 is capable of operating at data rates up
to 20 Kbps at distances less than 50 feet. The absolute maximum data rate may vary due to line conditions and cable
lengths. RS-232 often operates at 38.4K bps over very short distances. The voltage levels defined by RS-232 range
from 12 to +12 volts. RS-232 is a single ended or unbalanced interface, meaning that a single electrical signal is
compared to a common signal (ground) to determine binary logic states. A voltage of +12 volts (usually +3 to +10
volts) represents a binary 0 (space) and 12 volts ( 3 to 10 volts) denotes a binary 1 (mark). The RS-232 and the EIA/TIA-
574 specification define two types of interface circuits, Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit-Terminating
Equipment (DCE). The Black Box adapter is a DTE interface.
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2. Overview
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