Comprehensive Product Summary – P5584U Universal PCI 4-Port RS232 5V Only Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: UPCI 4-Port RS232 5V Only Card
Model Number: P5584U
Series: Universal PCI (UPCI) Intelligent Serial Communication Cards
Article Number: P5584U
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer Address: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Rd., Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
Contact:
- Tel: +886-2-82858362
- Fax: +886-2-82857065
- Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Web: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com) / [www.computex.com.tw/rayon](http://www.computex.com.tw/rayon)

The Rayon P5584U is a Universal PCI (UPCI) intelligent 4-port RS232 serial communication card designed for industrial, commercial, and system integration applications requiring multiple serial interfaces. It supports 5V-only operation while maintaining compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V PCI slots, making it suitable for a wide range of legacy and modern PC architectures. The card provides four independent RS232 ports, each fully 16550A UART compatible, and supports data rates from 50 to 115,200 bps.

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### 2. Key Features

- Universal PCI Compatibility: Operates in both 3.3V and 5V PCI slots (33 MHz), ensuring broad motherboard compatibility.
- Four Independent RS232 Ports: Each port supports full RS232 signaling (TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND).
- 16550A UART Compatibility: Each port includes a 16550A-compatible UART with 16-byte FIFO for efficient data buffering and reduced CPU overhead.
- Plug & Play Configuration: Automatic IRQ and I/O address mapping assigned by the PCI BIOS, simplifying installation and configuration.
- 5V Power Supply Operation: Designed to operate using only the 5V power rail from the PCI slot, ensuring stable and efficient power delivery to all serial ports.
- Surge Protection: Integrated surge protection on TXD and RXD signal lines enhances reliability in electrically noisy environments.
- Flexible Connector Options: Includes a DB37 female to 4×DB9 male breakout cable (DB25 male version available upon request).
- Wide OS Compatibility: Supports multiple operating systems including DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and UNIX variants.
- Compact Design: Small form factor (120 mm × 100 mm) suitable for standard PCI slots in desktop or industrial PCs.
- Industrial-Grade Reliability: Designed for continuous operation in environments with temperature ranges from 0°C to 55°C and humidity up to 95% RH.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics:
- Card Dimensions: 120 mm (L) × 100 mm (W)
- Form Factor: Standard PCI card
- Material: High-quality PCB with gold-plated edge connector
- Weight: Approx. 100–150 g (typical, excluding cable)

Electrical Characteristics:
- Bus Interface: Universal PCI (3.3V/5V, 33 MHz)
- Power Requirement: 5V only (drawn from PCI slot)
- Power Consumption: Low-power design suitable for continuous operation

Serial Communication:
- Number of Ports: 4 independent RS232 ports
- Interface Type: RS232C standard
- UART Type: 16550A compatible with programmable baud rate generator
- Clock Frequency: 1.8432 MHz
- Baud Rate Range: 50 bps to 115,200 bps per port
- Signal Lines: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND
- Connector Type:
- DB37 female on card
- DB9 male (via included breakout cable)
- DB25 male (optional cable available)

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

The P5584U functions as a multi-port serial communication interface for PCs and embedded systems. It allows users to connect up to four RS232-compatible devices—such as modems, barcode scanners, industrial controllers, or serial printers—to a single PCI slot.

Operation Principle:
Each port is managed by a 16550A-compatible UART, which provides hardware buffering and interrupt-driven communication. The card’s intelligent design allows the PCI BIOS to automatically assign I/O addresses and IRQs, eliminating manual configuration. The 5V-only power design ensures stable operation of all serial ports without requiring external power sources.

Typical Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Point-of-sale (POS) terminals and kiosks
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- Serial device networking and communication hubs
- Legacy system integration and modernization projects

Compatibility:
The card supports a wide range of operating systems and is compatible with both legacy and modern PC architectures. It can be used in standard desktop PCs, industrial PCs, and rack-mounted systems equipped with PCI slots.

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- P5584U PCI Card (main board)
- DB37 Female to 4×DB9 Male Cable (standard accessory)
- Driver and Documentation Package (available via manufacturer website or support)

Optional Accessories:
- DB37 Female to 4×DB25 Male Cable (available upon request)
- Additional Serial Cables or Adapters for specific device connections
- Mounting Brackets for specialized chassis configurations

Connectors:
- On-Board Connector: DB37 female
- External Connectors: Four DB9 male or DB25 male connectors (depending on cable type)

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### 6. Installation & Setup

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

Installation Steps:
1. Power off the computer and disconnect it from the power source.
2. Insert the P5584U card into an available PCI slot, ensuring proper alignment and secure seating.
3. Connect the provided DB37-to-DB9 (or DB25) breakout cable to the card’s external connector.
4. Reassemble and power on the system.
5. The PCI BIOS will automatically detect the card and assign I/O addresses and IRQs.
6. Install the appropriate driver software for your operating system.
7. Verify port functionality using terminal software or device management tools.

Configuration:
- No manual jumper or DIP switch settings required.
- IRQ and I/O mapping are automatically handled by the PCI Plug & Play mechanism.
- Baud rate, parity, stop bits, and flow control can be configured via software.

Mounting Options:
- Standard PCI slot installation in desktop or industrial PC chassis.
- Compatible with both full-height and low-profile cases (with appropriate bracket).

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Data Throughput:
Each RS232 port supports baud rates from 50 to 115,200 bps, suitable for most serial communication applications. The 16550A UART architecture ensures efficient data handling with minimal CPU load.

Interrupt Handling:
A single shared IRQ is assigned by the PCI BIOS, optimizing system resources and ensuring stable multi-port operation.

I/O Mapping:
The card uses one 32-byte and one 8-byte I/O address range, automatically allocated by the system BIOS.

Efficiency:
Hardware buffering and intelligent interrupt management reduce latency and improve data integrity, even under high-load conditions.

Limitations:
- Designed for RS232 communication only (no RS422/RS485 support on this model).
- 5V-only power operation; not suitable for systems requiring isolated or external power.
- Maximum baud rate limited to 115,200 bps per port.

Reliability:
The integrated surge protection on TXD/RXD lines enhances durability in industrial environments, protecting connected devices from transient voltage spikes.

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Interface Standards:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.2 compliant
- Universal PCI (3.3V/5V signaling)

Serial Communication Standards:
- EIA/TIA RS232C standard compliant

Electrical & Safety Compliance:
- Designed to meet CE and FCC Class B requirements (typical for industrial communication cards)
- Surge protection integrated on data lines

Operating System Support:
- DOS (with library support)
- Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7
- Linux (kernel-level driver support)
- SCO OpenServer
- UNIX variants

Industry Compatibility:
- Compatible with standard serial communication protocols and devices
- Suitable for integration into industrial automation, POS, and embedded systems

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- Standard manufacturer warranty (typically 1 year; confirm with Rayon Technology).
- Covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use conditions.

Technical Support:
- Support available via email and telephone.
- Driver downloads, manuals, and FAQs accessible through the manufacturer’s website.

Maintenance:
- No periodic maintenance required.
- Recommended to keep connectors clean and free of dust.
- Ensure adequate ventilation in the host system to maintain optimal operating temperature.

Firmware & Driver Updates:
- Updated drivers and software utilities available from Rayon Technology’s support portal.
- Compatible with legacy and modern operating systems for long-term product lifecycle support.

Related Product Line (5V Power Supply Only, Four-Port Cards):

| Model | RS232 Ports | RS422 Ports | RS485 Ports | Description |
|--------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| P5584U | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4-port RS232 card (this model) |
| P104UP | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4-port RS232/RS485 combination card |
| P134U | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4-port RS422/RS485 card |
| P114U | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4-port RS232/RS422/RS485 universal card |

These models share similar architecture and design philosophy, differing primarily in supported communication standards.

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### Summary

The Rayon P5584U Universal PCI 4-Port RS232 5V Only Card is a robust, high-performance serial communication interface designed for users who require multiple RS232 connections in a single PCI slot. Its universal PCI compatibility, 16550A UART architecture, and broad OS support make it ideal for industrial automation, data acquisition, and legacy system integration.

With automatic Plug & Play configuration, surge-protected signal lines, and support for both 3.3V and 5V PCI slots, the P5584U delivers reliable, efficient, and flexible serial communication capabilities for a wide range of professional and industrial applications.

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Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Model: P5584U
Product Type: Universal PCI 4-Port RS232 5V Only Card
Dimensions: 120 × 100 mm
Ports: 4 × RS232 (DB9/DB25 via breakout cable)
Baud Rate: 50–115,200 bps
Power: 5V only (PCI slot)
Operating Systems: DOS, Windows, Linux, UNIX, SCO
Operating Temperature: 0°C–55°C
Compliance: PCI 2.2, RS232C, CE/FCC (typical)

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End of Product Summary – P5584U Universal PCI 4-Port RS232 5V Only Card