User`s guide

LPC3250 Developer’s Kit - User’s Guide

Page 31

5 Getting Started

This chapter contains information about how to get acquainted with the LPC3250 Developer’s Kit.

Please read this section first before you start using the board - it will be worthwhile!

5.1 Initial Setup and Powering

The board can be powered from a PC via the included USB cable (mini-B to A cable). A separate

power supply is however needed in stand-alone situations or when running USB Host application

(when powering heavy load external USB devices). The power supply should be 9-15V DC, 2 Amp. A

2.1mm standard power plug is used to interface the board. Any polarity is accepted.

It is possible to have both the USB cable and external powering connected to the board at the same

time.

Figure 8 – Powering of QVGA Base Board

The QVGA Base Board contains a USB-to-Serial bridge chip (FT232R from FTDI) that connects the

UART channel #5 on the LPC3250 to a virtual COM port on the PC (via USB). It is this serial channel

that is the console interface to the system.

Special USB drivers must be installed on the PC in order for the virtual COM port to be created. See

Section 5.2 for a description of how to install the FTDI USB driver.

5.2 FTDI USB Driver

A USB driver must be installed on your PC computer in order to get the USB-to-UART chip (FT232R)

to work. Make sure to download the latest version of the driver, which can be found at the following

URL: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm (search for a FT232R driver for your operating system).

When the QVGA Base Board is connected to the PC (via a USB cable) the PC will ask for a driver.

Unpack/unzip the downloaded driver file and browse to the position of the driver files. After successful

driver installation, a COM port will be created. Before any communication with the Board can take

place the UART settings must be set correctly. The following description is valid for Windows™ XP, but

other operating systems have similar dialog windows. See the USB driver documentation for details, if

needed.

Power

Supply

Your PC

USB cable

Optional Powering