Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology Inc. PCI 4-Port RS232 Board (Model P984)

---

### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: PCI 4-Port RS232 Board
Model: P984
Series: RAYON PCIPORT Series
Article Number: P984
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Inc.
Manufacturer Locations:
- Headquarters: Rayon Technology Co. Ltd., 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Road, Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan R.O.C.
- European Support: Acceed GmbH, Arnoldstraße 19, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany

Product Description:
The Rayon P984 is an intelligent PCI-based 4-port serial communication controller card designed for PC/AT systems with a 5V or 3.3V 33MHz PCI bus. It provides four independent RS232 serial ports, each fully compatible with the 16550A UART standard, supporting data rates from 50 bps up to 115,200 bps. The board is plug-and-play, automatically configured by the PCI BIOS, and supports multiple operating systems including DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Linux, and SCO OpenServer.

---

### 2. Key Features

- Four Independent RS232 Ports: Each port is 16550A-compatible, supporting buffered transmit and receive channels with 16-byte FIFOs.
- High-Speed Communication: Software-programmable baud rates up to 115.2 Kbps (1.8432 MHz crystal) or up to 921.6 Kbps (14.7456 MHz crystal).
- Plug & Play PCI Interface: Fully compliant with PCI Local Bus Specification Rev. 2.1. Automatic resource assignment (I/O address, IRQ) by PCI BIOS.
- Shared Interrupt Support: One sharable IRQ mapping for all ports, reducing system resource usage.
- Flexible I/O Mapping: 6 × 8-byte I/O address blocks assigned by PCI BIOS.
- Universal PCI Compatibility: Operates in both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots (universal card design).
- Comprehensive OS Support: Drivers available for DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Linux, and SCO OpenServer.
- Expansion Connectivity: Includes a DB37 female connector on the card, with an expansion cable (DB37F to 4×DB9M or optional 4×DB25M).
- Multi-Card Support: Up to two P984 cards can be installed per system, providing up to eight serial ports.
- Flow Control Options: Supports both hardware (RTS/CTS) and software (Xon/Xoff) flow control.
- Compact Design: Optimized for industrial and embedded PC applications requiring multiple serial interfaces.

---

### 3. Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics:
- Dimensions: 122 mm (L) × 101 mm (W)
- Weight: Approx. 120 g (board only)
- Form Factor: Standard PCI short card
- Connector Type: DB37 female (on-board)
- Expansion Cable: DB37F to 4×DB9M (standard) or DB37F to 4×DB25M (optional)

Electrical & Interface:
- Bus Interface: PCI Local Bus Specification Rev. 2.1 compliant
- Bus Frequency: 33 MHz
- Bus Voltage: 5V or 3.3V (universal PCI)
- Serial Controller: 16C550A-compatible UART with 16-byte FIFO
- Clock Source: 1.8432 MHz crystal (standard), optional 14.7456 MHz for higher baud rates
- I/O Address Assignment: Automatic by PCI BIOS (Plug & Play)
- Interrupts: Single sharable IRQ assigned by PCI BIOS
- I/O Mapping: 6 × 8-byte I/O blocks assigned dynamically

Serial Communication:
- Interface Standard: RS232C
- Number of Ports: 4
- Baud Rate Range: 50 bps to 115,200 bps (standard), up to 921,600 bps (optional crystal)
- Flow Control: RTS/CTS (hardware) and Xon/Xoff (software)
- Signal Lines per Port: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
- Isolation: Optional via external RS4232-4 isolation box
- Maximum Cable Length: Up to 15 meters (RS232 standard)

Environmental Conditions:
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C
- Storage Temperature: -20°C to 85°C
- Humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing
- Cooling: Passive (no fan required)

---

### 4. Functionality

Operational Overview:
The P984 card provides four independent serial communication channels through a single PCI slot. Each port operates as a standard COM port, fully compatible with legacy serial devices and software. The card’s intelligent design offloads serial communication tasks from the host CPU, reducing interrupt overhead and improving system performance.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- POS (Point of Sale) systems
- Modem and terminal connectivity
- Serial device networking (PLC, barcode scanners, sensors)
- Embedded systems requiring multiple serial interfaces

Compatibility:
- Operating Systems: DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Linux, SCO OpenServer
- Hardware Platforms: PC/AT compatible systems with available PCI slot
- Software Integration: Appears as standard COM ports; compatible with most serial communication software packages

---

### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Items:
- 1 × P984 PCI interface card
- 1 × DB37-to-4×DB9M expansion cable (standard)
- 1 × User manual

Optional Accessories:
- DB37-to-4×DB25M expansion cable (A400 cable)
- A640 DB37-to-DB37 cable for connection to RS4232-4 isolation box
- RS4232-4 isolation box (provides isolated RS232/RS422/RS485 interfaces)
- TB485 converter (DB9 to terminal block for RS485 wiring)

Connector Pinouts:
- DB37 Female (on card): Supports four RS232 ports (A–D)
- DB9 Male (via cable): Standard RS232 pinout (TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND)
- DB25 Male (optional cable): Standard RS232 pinout

---

### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- PC/AT compatible system with one available PCI slot (5V or 3.3V)
- Supported operating system installed
- Administrative privileges for driver installation

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the computer and unplug it.
2. Insert the P984 card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the DB37 expansion cable to the card.
4. Attach serial devices to the DB9 or DB25 connectors.
5. Power on the system.
6. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Jumper Configuration:
- JP1: Card number selection
- ON = First card
- OFF = Second card
This setting ensures proper COM port numbering when multiple cards are installed.

Mounting Options:
- Standard PCI slot mounting with rear bracket
- Expansion cable routed to external serial connectors

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP: Plug & Play detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN2000).
- Windows NT4: Manual installation via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other” → specify A:\P984\NT4.
- Windows 95/98/ME: Plug & Play detection; specify A:\WIN95.
- DOS: Run `P984` from the DOS driver directory (C:\RAYON\P220).
- Linux: Extract driver package (`tar xvf /dev/fd0`), run `./Install`, rebuild kernel module.
- SCO OpenServer: Use `/etc/custom` or manual installation via `/etc/pciport/build`.

---

### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Data Throughput:
- Up to 115.2 Kbps per port (standard configuration)
- Up to 921.6 Kbps with optional high-speed crystal

Buffering:
- 16-byte transmit and receive FIFO per port
- Reduces CPU interrupt load and improves multitasking performance

Interrupt Handling:
- Single shared IRQ for all four ports
- PCI BIOS automatically assigns IRQ and I/O addresses
- Supports IRQ sharing with other PCI devices

Capacity:
- 4 independent serial ports per card
- Up to 2 cards per system (8 total ports)

Efficiency:
- Intelligent buffering minimizes CPU overhead
- Plug & Play configuration eliminates manual resource conflicts

Limitations:
- RS232 interface only (no native RS422/RS485 without external converter)
- Maximum of two cards per system due to IRQ and resource constraints

---

### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Standards:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant

Interface Standards:
- RS232C (EIA/TIA-232) compliant

Electrical Compliance:
- 5V and 3.3V PCI signaling supported (universal PCI)

Software & Driver Compliance:
- Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility (legacy)
- Linux kernel module integration (source-based installation)
- SCO OpenServer driver package

Certifications:
- CE and FCC Class B (typical for Rayon PCI boards)
- RoHS compliance (depending on production batch)

Regulatory Notes:
- Designed for use in controlled industrial and office environments
- Meets standard EMI/EMC requirements for PCI peripheral devices

---

### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- 1-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship
- Excludes damage from misuse, electrical surges, or unauthorized servicing

Repair & RMA Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) number before returning products
- Provide model number, serial number, reason for return, and purchase order reference
- Contact:
- Taiwan: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Europe: rayon@acceed.com

Support & Maintenance:
- Technical support via email (Taiwan and Europe)
- Driver updates and documentation available through Acceed website (www.acceed.com/rayon)
- Maintenance involves periodic inspection of connectors and cables; no internal servicing required

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers available for Windows and Linux platforms
- Source code provided for Linux driver integration with custom kernels

Troubleshooting Highlights:
- Verify PCI BIOS detects the card (Vendor ID 10B5 or 144A, Device ID 9050)
- Ensure correct driver path during installation
- Check JP1 jumper setting for card numbering
- Confirm IRQ sharing compatibility with other PCI devices
- Use “RAYONTTY.EXE” utility for COM port testing under DOS

Environmental & Safety Notes:
- Handle card using anti-static precautions
- Do not insert or remove card while system power is on
- Ensure proper grounding when connecting external devices

---

### Summary

The Rayon P984 PCI 4-Port RS232 Board is a robust, industrial-grade serial communication solution designed for systems requiring multiple high-performance serial interfaces. With its intelligent 16550A-compatible UARTs, plug-and-play PCI configuration, and broad OS support, the P984 provides reliable connectivity for industrial automation, data acquisition, and embedded control applications. Its modular design, optional isolation accessories, and flexible configuration make it a versatile choice for engineers and system integrators seeking dependable multi-port serial communication in PCI-based systems.