Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology P5984 UPCI 4-Port RS232 Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: UPCI 4-Port RS232 Card
Model Number: P5984
Series: PCIPORT Series
Article Number: P5984
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Country of Origin: Taiwan, R.O.C.
Manufacturer Contact:
- Address: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Rd., Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
- Tel: +886-2-82858362
- Fax: +886-2-82857065
- Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net / info@rayontech.com.tw
- Website: [www.rayontech.com.tw](http://www.rayontech.com.tw)

Product Description:
The Rayon P5984 is a universal PCI (UPCI) intelligent 4-port RS232 serial communication card designed for industrial, commercial, and embedded PC applications requiring multiple asynchronous serial interfaces. It provides four independent RS232 ports, each fully 16550A UART compatible, supporting data rates from 50 to 115,200 bps. The card includes an A404 cable (DB37 female to 4 × DB9 male) and supports plug-and-play configuration via PCI BIOS. It is compatible with both 3.3V and 5V 33MHz PCI slots and supports a wide range of operating systems including DOS, Windows (95 through 10), Linux, and UNIX variants.

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### 2. Key Features

- Four Independent RS232 Ports: Each port is fully 16550A UART compatible, providing reliable asynchronous serial communication.
- High Compatibility: Supports 3.3V and 5V PCI bus systems, ensuring broad compatibility with modern and legacy PCs.
- Plug & Play Configuration: Automatic IRQ and I/O address mapping assigned by PCI BIOS, eliminating manual configuration.
- Surge Protection: Integrated surge protection on TXD and RXD lines enhances reliability in industrial environments.
- Flexible Power Supply: Operates using only the 5V power rail from the PCI slot—no external power required.
- Multi-OS Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/7/8/10, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and UNIX systems.
- 16550A-Compatible UARTs: Each port includes a 16-byte FIFO buffer for efficient data handling and reduced CPU load.
- High-Speed Data Transmission: Supports baud rates from 50 to 115,200 bps per port.
- Shared IRQ Capability: Allows multiple cards to share a single IRQ, supporting up to two cards per system.
- Compact Design: Small form factor (122 × 101 mm) suitable for standard PCI slots.
- Included Cable Assembly: DB37 female to 4 × DB9 male breakout cable (A404); optional DB25 male cable (A400) available.
- Industrial-Grade Reliability: Designed for continuous operation in environments with wide temperature and humidity ranges.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics:
- Card Dimensions: 122 mm × 101 mm (approx. 12.0 × 10.0 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 120 g (card only)
- Form Factor: Standard PCI short card
- Material: Multi-layer PCB with gold-plated edge connector

Electrical Characteristics:
- Bus Interface: 32-bit PCI, 33 MHz
- Bus Voltage: 3.3V / 5V compatible
- Power Consumption: 5V DC from PCI slot only
- Max Cards per System: 2

Serial Interface:
- Number of Ports: 4
- Interface Type: RS232C
- Connector Type: DB37 female on card; breakout to 4 × DB9 male (A404 cable)
- Optional Connector: DB37 to 4 × DB25 male (A400 cable)
- Signal Lines per Port: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND
- Baud Rate: 50 to 115,200 bps (software configurable)
- UART Type: 16550A compatible with 16-byte FIFO
- Clock Frequency: 1.8432 MHz (standard)
- IRQ Mapping: One shared IRQ assigned by PCI BIOS
- I/O Mapping: Six 8-byte I/O blocks assigned by PCI BIOS

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

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### 4. Functionality

Operating Principle:
The P5984 card functions as a multi-port serial communication controller, interfacing directly with the PCI bus. Each port operates independently, providing full-duplex RS232 communication. The onboard 16550A-compatible UARTs manage data buffering and flow control, reducing CPU interrupts and improving system performance. The card’s plug-and-play architecture allows automatic resource allocation by the PCI BIOS, simplifying installation and configuration.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- Point-of-sale (POS) terminals
- Serial device networking (modems, sensors, barcode scanners)
- Embedded systems requiring multiple serial interfaces
- Communication servers and console management

Compatibility:
- Operating Systems: DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/7/8/10, Linux, SCO OpenServer, UNIX
- Hardware: Compatible with any PC/AT system featuring a 3.3V or 5V PCI slot
- Software Drivers: Provided for all supported operating systems; plug-and-play detection ensures automatic configuration

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Items:
- 1 × P5984 PCI 4-Port RS232 Card
- 1 × A404 Cable (DB37 female to 4 × DB9 male connectors)
- 1 × User Manual and Driver Diskette

Optional Accessories:
- A400 Cable: DB37 female to 4 × DB25 male connectors
- A640 Cable: DB37 male to DB37 female extension cable (for RS4232-4 box connection)
- RS4232-4 Box: External isolation box converting RS232 to isolated RS232/RS422/RS485 interfaces
- TB485 Converter: DB9 to 3-pin terminal block adapter for RS485 wiring

Connectors and Pinouts:
- DB37 female connector on card
- DB9 male connectors on breakout cable (TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND)
- Optional DB25 male connectors for legacy equipment

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### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- Available PCI slot (3.3V or 5V, 33 MHz)
- Supported operating system (Windows, Linux, DOS, SCO, UNIX)
- Administrative privileges for driver installation

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the computer and disconnect it from AC power.
2. Insert the P5984 card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the A404 cable to the DB37 connector on the card.
4. Secure the breakout cable and connect serial devices to the DB9 connectors.
5. Power on the system; the PCI BIOS will automatically detect and assign resources.
6. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Driver Installation:
- Windows 95/98/ME: Plug-and-play detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN95).
- Windows NT4: Manual installation via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other.”
- Windows 2000/XP: Automatic detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN2000).
- Windows 7/8/10: Use Windows 2000/XP/Vista driver; manually install via Device Manager.
- Linux: Install via provided source package; rebuild kernel module using `/etc/rayon/Install`.
- SCO OpenServer: Install using `/etc/custom` or manual build process.
- DOS: Copy driver files and run `PCIPORT` utility to configure ports.

Configuration Options:
- Jumper JP1: Sets card number (ON = first card, OFF = second card).
- IRQ Sharing: Supported; ensure at least one free IRQ is available.
- COM Port Assignment: Configurable via driver setup utility.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Data Throughput:
- Up to 115.2 kbps per port (standard 1.8432 MHz clock)
- Supports full-duplex communication on all four ports simultaneously

Buffering and Flow Control:
- 16-byte transmit and receive FIFOs per port
- Hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) and software flow control (XON/XOFF) supported

Interrupt Handling:
- Single shared IRQ for all ports on the card
- PCI BIOS automatically assigns IRQ and I/O addresses
- Supports IRQ sharing between multiple PCI devices

System Capacity:
- Up to two P5984 cards per system (total of 8 RS232 ports)

Efficiency and Reliability:
- Reduced CPU load through buffered UARTs
- Surge protection on TXD/RXD lines
- Stable operation across wide environmental conditions

Limitations:
- RS232 interface only (no RS422/RS485 support on this model)
- Maximum of two cards per system due to shared IRQ constraints

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Standards:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant
- 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI interface

Interface Standards:
- RS232C (EIA/TIA-232) compliant
- UART 16550A compatible

Electrical and Safety Compliance:
- Designed for 5V PCI signaling environment
- Surge protection integrated on data lines

Operating System Compatibility:
- Fully supported under major OS platforms (Windows, Linux, DOS, SCO, UNIX)

Environmental Compliance:
- RoHS-compliant manufacturing process (lead-free soldering)
- Meets industrial operating temperature and humidity standards

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- Standard 1-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
- Excludes damage caused by misuse, modification, or improper installation.

Support & Service:
- Taiwan Service Center: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- European Support (Acceed GmbH, Germany): rayon@acceed.com
- Repair Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, purchase order, and problem description.
- Products under warranty repaired free of charge; out-of-warranty repairs subject to flat-rate service fee.

Maintenance:
- Periodically inspect connectors and cables for wear or corrosion.
- Avoid electrostatic discharge (ESD) during handling.
- Store in anti-static packaging when not in use.

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers and documentation available from Rayon Technology’s website.
- Linux source drivers provided for kernel integration.

Related Models:
| Model | RS232 Ports | RS422 Ports | RS485 Ports | Notes |
|--------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------|
| P5984 | 4 | 0 | 0 | RS232 only |
| P5984P | 4 | 0 | 0 | Enhanced version |
| P5985 | 0 | 4 | 4 | RS422/RS485 combo |
| P5914 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Multi-interface model |

Product Line Context:
The P5984 belongs to Rayon’s PCIPORT family of intelligent serial communication cards, which includes 2-, 4-, and 8-port models supporting RS232, RS422, and RS485 interfaces. The series is designed for high-performance serial communication in industrial and commercial computing environments.

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### Summary

The Rayon P5984 UPCI 4-Port RS232 Card is a robust, high-performance PCI serial expansion card engineered for reliable multi-port communication in industrial and embedded PC systems. With four independent RS232 ports, automatic PCI resource allocation, and broad OS compatibility, it provides a flexible and efficient solution for connecting multiple serial devices. Its intelligent design, surge protection, and plug-and-play functionality make it ideal for demanding applications requiring stable, high-speed serial communication.