Difference Between Serial and Smart Serial
There are a variety of different serial interfaces. The majority were designed specifically for specific purposes, but certain interfaces are now commonplace like I2S, LIN, CAN, SPI, Flex, MOST and I2C. There are other interfaces with higher speeds that you are familiar with, such as Ethernet, USB, FireWire, HDMI, and Thunderbolt. Two of the most ancient protocols are RS-232 as well as RS-485. It’s surprising that these interfaces aren’t outdated. They’re still being utilized in a range of applications.
This article will give an outline of RS-232 and the RS-485 serial interfaces, and will identify the major distinctions. It will also provide some information on USB-C and USB 4.0 in addition to Thunderbolt 3.
What is the RS-232 Protocol?
The standard that is functionally identical to ITU V.24/V.28 describes the operation of the circuitry, interface and connector pins. Async and sync data transmissions in binary fall under RS-232. PCs make use of the RS232 interface to send data to modems and some printers make use of it for printing.
In RS-232 connections distance between connected devices determines the speed at which data transfer occurs. The smaller the distance between the devices the more efficient the speed of data transfer.
What is the RS-485 Protocol?
RS-485 is by far the most popular smart serial interface in use today since it has more features than RS-232. It has an increased data rate and the range of RS-232. RS-485 can also support multipoint configurations. Its support for multipoint configurations allows you to connect many receivers and transmitters together to form tiny networks of devices.
RS-232 and. 485: Differences as well as specific use cases
It is important to note that the RS-232 as well as RS-485 smart serial interfaces have a few important distinctions. The primary difference is in the method they send data. RS-232 has full-duplex and allows you to transfer the data and also receive it in two different directions. RS-485 is half-duplex. This means that it is able to transmit data in one direction at one time. RS-485 can be used to do duplex communication however, in order to achieve this it requires cabling.
The other difference among the two protocols is the suggested voltage. RS-232 utilizes voltage ranging from 12V and 12V. RS-485 utilizes voltage between +5V and -5V.
The third distinction is the amount of wire inside each cable. A majority of RS-232 cables consist of 9 wires. However, there are cables with up to 25 wires.
The fourth main distinction is their data transfer speeds. RS-232 allows data speeds as high as 3 Mbps. RS-485 is quicker and can reach speeds of as high as 40 Mbps.
The main distinction between these interfaces is the distance they are able to extend data. The RS-485 cables are able to extend data by 4,000 feet while the RS-232 cables are able to transmit data at a distance of 50 feet.
USB-C USB 4.0 as well as Thunderbolt 3
There are a variety of different standard interfaces on the market that can transmit information. Most prominent are USB-C USB 4.0 as well as Thunderbolt 3.
USB-C is an industry standard interface that transmits power and data over one cable. USB-C supports speeds of as high as 40 Gbps four lanes, with 10 Gbps per lane. It also provides the power of up to 100 watts power for devices. It is possible to use USB-C to power and connect many devices that use USB-C, such as HDMI, MHL, and DisplayPort peripherals.
USB 4.0 is a brand new interface, which is expected to be launched by the end of 2020 or in the beginning of 2021. Like USB-C, it has a maximum 40-Gbps rate of data transmission. It also delivers up to 100 Watts in power for devices. USB 4.0 can be used on the vast majority of Thunderbolt 3 devices. The new interface is capable of simultaneously sending data and video better than the previous USB versions. For those who are transmitting data and video simultaneously, it’s possible to use the USB 4.0 port to handle the bandwidth to give you the best outcomes. USB 4.0 is backward-compatible with all the older USB standards.
Thunderbolt is an interface for hardware which connects devices and PCs. Thunderbolt 3 also supports data transfer speeds of up as high as 40 Gbps. It also supports USB speeds that can reach 10 Gbps. This interface is able to connect two 4K monitors and supports 10 GbE high-speed connectivity, HDMI 2.0 as well as DisplayPort 1.2.
Which interface is best for my Application?
If you are looking to establish connections that are short distance between devices and don’t worry about data transfer speeds being slower you can use the RS232 serial interface. This interface is simple and affordable to set up. You can also run RS-232 interfaces using a 3.3or 5-volt power source.
If you require long-distance connections between devices that require higher data transfer speeds opt for the RS-485 interface. RS-485 is capable of achieving data rates of up to 40 Mbps, and extend data up to 4,000 feet. RS-485 is also ideal when you are looking to set up duplex networking.
If you are looking to connect your phone or computer to devices that are common then you’re most likely going to utilize USB as well as Thunderbolt. Each USB-C, as well as Thunderbolt 3 feature a max transfer speed that is 40 Gbps. This makes them ideal to connect multiple displays high-speed networking equipment storage devices, docking stations, and much more.
