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UM245R USB - Parallel FIFO Development Module Datasheet
Version 1.05
Document No.: FT_000202 Clearance No.: FTDI# 124
3 FT245RL Features and Enhancement
3.1 Key Features
This section summarises the key features and enhancements of the FT245R IC device which is used in the
UM245R Module. For further details, consult the FT245R datasheet, which is available from the FTDI website.
Integrated Clock Circuit – Previous generations of FTDI’s USB to parallel FIFO interface devices required
an external crystal or ceramic resonator. The clock circuit has now been integrated onto the device meaning
that no crystal or ceramic resonator is required. It is important to note that VCC must be between 4.0 and
5.25V. However, if required, an external 12MHz crystal can be used as the clock source.
Integrated EEPROM – Previous generations of FTDI’s USB to parallel FIFO interface devices required an
external EEPROM if the device were to use USB Vendor ID (VID), Product ID (PID), serial number and
product description strings other than the default values in the device itself. This external EEPROM has now
been integrated onto the FT245R chip meaning that all designs have the option to change the product
description strings. A user area of the internal EEPROM is available for storing additional data. The internal
EEPROM is programmable in circuit, over USB without any additional voltage requirement.
Pre-programmed EEPROM – The FT245R is supplied with its internal EEPROM pre-programmed with a
serial number which is unique to each individual device. This, in most cases, will remove the need to program
the device EEPROM.
Integrated USB Resistors – Previous generations of FTDI’s USB to parallel FIFO interface devices required
two external series termination resistors on the USBDP and USBDM signals, and a 1.5 kΩ pull up resistor on
USBDP. These three resistors have now been integrated onto the device.
Integrated AVCC Filtering – Previous generations of FTDI’s USB to parallel FIFO interface devices had a
separate AVCC pin – the supply to the internal PLL. This pin required an external R-C filter. The separate
AVCC pin is now connected internally to VCC, and the filter has now been integrated onto the chip.
Fewer External Components – Integration of the crystal, EEPROM, USB resistors, and AVCC filter will
substantially reduce the bill of materials cost for USB interface designs using the FT245R compared to its
FT245BM predecessor.
Enhanced Asynchronous Bit Bang Mode with RD# and WR# Strobes – The FT245R supports FTDI’s
BM chip bit bang mode. In bit bang mode, the eight parallel FIFO data bus lines can be switched from the
regular interface mode to an 8-bit general purpose I/O port. Data packets can be sent to the device and they
will be sequentially sent to the interface at a rate controlled by an internal timer (equivalent to the baud rate
prescaler). With the FT245R device this mode has been enhanced so that the internal RD# and WR strobes
are now brought out of the device which can be used to allow external logic to be clocked by accesses to the
bit bang I/O bus. This option is described more fully in the application note AN232R-01 Bit Bang Modes for
the FT232R and FT245R.
Synchronous Bit Bang Mode – Synchronous bit bang mode differs from asynchronous bit bang mode in
that the interface pins are only read when the device is written to. This makes it easier for the controlling
program to measure the response to an output stimulus as the data returned is synchronous to the output
data. The feature was previously seen in FTDI’s FT2232D device. This option is described more fully in the
application note AN232R-01 Bit Bang Modes for the FT232R and FT245R.
Lower Supply Voltage – Previous generations of the chip required 5V supply on the VCC pin. The FT245R
will work with a VCC supply in the range 4.0V - 5V. Bus powered designs would still take their supply from
the 5V on the USB bus. Self-powered designs must provide between 4.0V and 5.25V to VCC.
Integrated Level Converter on FIFO Interface and Control Signals – VCCIO pin supply can be from
1.8V to 5V. Connecting the VCCIO pin to 1.8V, 2.8V, or 3.3V allows the device to directly interface to 1.8V,
2.8V or 3.3V and other logic families without the need for external level converter ICs.
5V / 3.3V / 2.8V / 1.8V Logic Interface – The FT245R provides true CMOS Drive Outputs and TTL level
Inputs.