Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology P5388U Universal PCI 8-Port RS422/485 Serial Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: UPCI 8-Port RS422/485 5V Only Card
Model: P5388U
Series: PCIPORT Universal PCI Serial Communication Cards
Article Number: P5388U
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer Address: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Road, Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Contact:
- Tel: +886-2-82858362
- Fax: +886-2-82857065
- Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Web: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com)

The Rayon P5388U is an intelligent, high-performance 8-port serial communication card designed for industrial and commercial applications requiring multiple RS422/RS485 interfaces. It is part of Rayon’s PCIPORT series of Universal PCI communication adapters, supporting 5V-only operation and full plug-and-play configuration through the PCI BIOS.

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### 2. Key Features

- Eight Independent Serial Ports: Each port can be configured individually for RS422 or RS485 operation.
- Auto Data Direction Control (ADDC): Built-in automatic data direction control for RS485 half-duplex communication eliminates the need for manual RTS signal handling.
- 16550A-Compatible UARTs: Each port uses a 16550A-compatible serial communication controller with 16-byte FIFO buffers for efficient data handling.
- High-Speed Communication: Supports baud rates from 50 bps up to 115,200 bps (standard 1.8432 MHz clock).
- Universal PCI Interface: Compatible with both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots (33 MHz bus frequency).
- Plug & Play Configuration: IRQ and I/O address mapping automatically assigned by PCI BIOS; no manual configuration required.
- Single 5V Power Supply: Operates entirely from the PCI bus 5V supply—no external power required.
- Multi-OS Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, and SCO OpenServer.
- Compact Design: 152 × 106 mm (6.0 × 4.2 inches) PCB form factor.
- Flexible Connector Options: Supplied with DB62M-to-8×DB9M cable (R804) or optional DB62M-to-8×DB25M cable (R801).
- Shared IRQ Support: Allows multiple cards to share a single IRQ line for efficient system resource utilization.
- Maximum Two Cards per System: Supports up to 16 serial ports in a single system.
- Industrial-Grade Reliability: Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments with wide temperature and humidity tolerance.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

System Architecture:
- Intelligent PCI serial communication controller card.
- External expansion cable with eight standard DB9 or DB25 connectors.

Serial Controller:
- Type: 16550A-compatible UART with 16-byte FIFO.
- Clock Frequency: 1.8432 MHz (supports up to 14.7456 MHz for higher baud rates).
- Communication Speed: 50–115,200 bps (standard); up to 921,600 bps with optional high-speed clock.

Interface:
- 8 independent serial ports.
- Each port selectable as RS422 or RS485.
- 4-wire RS485 environment supported.
- Auto Data Direction Control for RS485.

PCI Interface:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Rev. 2.1 compliant.
- 5V or 3.3V signaling, 33 MHz bus frequency.
- Plug & Play resource allocation (IRQ and I/O).
- One shared IRQ and two I/O address ranges (64-byte and 8-byte).

Connectors:
- Host-side: DB62 female connector on card.
- Device-side:
- R804 cable: DB62M to 8×DB9M connectors.
- R801 cable: DB62M to 8×DB25M connectors (optional).

Physical Dimensions:
- PCB Size: 152 mm × 106 mm (6.0 × 4.2 inches).
- Weight: Approx. 150 g (card only).

Environmental Conditions:
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C.
- Storage Temperature: 0°C to 65°C.
- Operating Humidity: 10%–95% RH (non-condensing).
- Storage Humidity: 5%–95% RH.

Power Requirements:
- 5V DC from PCI bus only.
- Typical Power Consumption: < 5W.

Material:
- PCB: Multi-layer FR4 with gold-plated edge connector.
- Connectors: Nickel-plated D-sub connectors with molded strain relief.

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### 4. Functionality

The P5388U provides eight independent serial communication channels that can be configured as RS422 or RS485 interfaces. Each port operates with full-duplex RS422 or half-duplex RS485 signaling, making the card suitable for both point-to-point and multi-drop network configurations.

Operation Principle:
- The card uses 16550A-compatible UARTs with FIFO buffers to offload the host CPU from handling character-by-character interrupts.
- The PCI controller automatically manages I/O address and IRQ assignments via the system BIOS.
- In RS485 mode, the Auto Data Direction Control (ADDC) feature automatically switches the transceiver between transmit and receive states, ensuring reliable half-duplex communication without software intervention.

Typical Applications:
- Industrial automation and process control.
- Data acquisition systems.
- Building management and HVAC control.
- SCADA and telemetry networks.
- Multi-drop RS485 device networks.
- Serial device servers and communication gateways.
- Laboratory instrumentation and test systems.

Compatibility:
- Fully compatible with standard PCI bus systems.
- Supports up to two P5388U cards per system (16 ports total).
- Compatible with a wide range of operating systems and drivers provided by Rayon Technology.

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- 1 × P5388U PCI interface card.
- 1 × R804 cable (DB62 male to 8×DB9 male connectors).
- User manual and driver diskette or CD.

Optional Accessories:
- R801 cable: DB62 male to 8×DB25 male connectors.
- R802 cable: DB62 male to 8×DB25 female connectors.
- R803 cable: DB62 male to DB62 male cable for connection to RS4232-8 isolation box.
- RS4232-8 Box: External isolation module providing isolated RS422/RS485 interfaces.
- TB485: DB9 female to 3-pin terminal block adapter for RS485 wiring.

Connector Pinouts:
- DB62 connector pin assignments support TXD±, RXD±, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR, DCD, and GND signals for each port.
- DB9 and DB25 connectors follow standard RS422/RS485 pin definitions as per Appendix A of the manual.

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### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- IBM PC/AT compatible system with available PCI slot (5V or 3.3V).
- Supported operating systems: DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, SCO OpenServer.

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the host system.
2. Insert the P5388U card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the R804 or R801 expansion cable to the DB62 connector on the card.
4. Power on the system.
5. The PCI BIOS automatically assigns I/O and IRQ resources.
6. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7: Plug & Play detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN2000 or CD:\UPCI_card\P588U\WIN7_2000_XP_2003_Vista).
- Windows NT4: Manual installation via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other” → specify driver path (A:\P588\NT4).
- Windows 95/98/ME: Automatic detection; specify A:\WIN95 directory.
- DOS: Run `PCIPORT.EXE` from the DOS driver directory.
- Linux: Copy driver source to `/etc/rayon`, run `./Install`, rebuild kernel modules, and reboot.
- SCO OpenServer: Use `/etc/custom` or manual `tar` and `build` commands to install driver.

Jumper Configuration:
- JP1: Card number selection.
- ON = First card.
- OFF = Second card.
- Maximum two cards per system.

Mounting Options:
- Standard PCI slot mounting with rear bracket for cable connection.
- External cables can be secured using strain reliefs to prevent connector stress.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Communication Performance:
- Baud Rate: 50–115,200 bps (standard), up to 921,600 bps with optional clock.
- Data Bits: 5, 6, 7, or 8.
- Stop Bits: 1 or 2.
- Parity: None, Even, Odd, Mark, or Space.
- Flow Control: XON/XOFF (software) or RTS/CTS (hardware).

Throughput Optimization:
- Each port includes 16-byte transmit and receive FIFOs to minimize CPU interrupts.
- PCI controller supports shared IRQ operation for multiple cards.
- Efficient DMA-like data handling reduces CPU load in high-traffic environments.

Capacity:
- 8 independent serial channels per card.
- Up to 16 channels per system (two cards).

Efficiency:
- Plug & Play resource allocation eliminates manual configuration.
- Auto Data Direction Control ensures optimal RS485 half-duplex performance.
- Low power consumption and minimal heat generation.

Limitations:
- Maximum of two cards per system due to IRQ and I/O mapping constraints.
- RS485 mode supports half-duplex communication only.
- No onboard isolation (external RS4232-8 box required for galvanic isolation).

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Interface:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant.
- Supports 33 MHz PCI bus operation.

Electrical Standards:
- RS422 and RS485 EIA/TIA standards compliant.
- 5V TTL-compatible signaling.

Software & Driver Compliance:
- Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility for legacy OS versions.
- Linux kernel module source provided for kernel 2.4.x and later.
- SCO OpenServer driver package compliant with UNIX System V standards.

Environmental & Safety:
- Designed for industrial temperature and humidity ranges.
- Meets CE and FCC Class A electromagnetic compatibility requirements (typical for industrial PCI cards).

Quality & Manufacturing:
- Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management standards.
- All components tested for electrical and mechanical reliability.

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- One-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
- Excludes damage from misuse, electrical surges, or unauthorized modifications.
- Out-of-warranty repairs available at flat-rate service charge.

Technical Support:
- Taiwan: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Europe (Acceed GmbH): rayon@acceed.com
- Website: [www.acceed.com/rayon](http://www.acceed.com/rayon)

Maintenance:
- No periodic maintenance required.
- Keep connectors clean and free from dust.
- Handle card using anti-static precautions.

Firmware & Driver Updates:
- Updated drivers available for Windows 7, Vista, and Linux distributions.
- Windows 7 installation uses same driver as Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
- 32-bit and 64-bit driver versions provided.

Repair & RMA Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, and fault description.
- Contact Rayon or authorized distributor for service instructions.

Related Product Line (5V Power Supply Only, 8-Port Series):
| Model | RS232 Ports | RS422 Ports | RS485 Ports |
|--------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| P5188U | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| P5288U | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| P5388U | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| P5488U | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| P5588U | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| P5688U | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| P5788U | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| P5888U | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| P5988U | 4 | 8 | 4 |

Support for QNX Systems:
- Built-in driver “devc-ser8250” can be used.
- Requires manual configuration of I/O base and IRQ using `pci -v` command.
- Example: `devc-ser8250 -u3 c400,10 -u4 c408,10 ...` to create `/dev/ser3`–`/dev/ser10` devices.

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### Summary

The Rayon P5388U Universal PCI 8-Port RS422/485 Card is a robust, industrial-grade communication interface designed for systems requiring multiple high-speed serial connections. With its intelligent 16550A-compatible architecture, automatic resource allocation, and flexible RS422/RS485 configuration, it provides a reliable and efficient solution for industrial automation, data acquisition, and control applications. The card’s universal PCI compatibility, broad OS driver support, and optional isolation accessories make it a versatile choice for engineers and system integrators seeking dependable multi-port serial connectivity in modern and legacy computing environments.