The CP2102N has some additional configuration options that are not available on other CP210x devices. These are displayed in the [Advanced Serial Configuration] tab in Xpress Configurator.
The [Allowed Baudrates] options set the SettableBaud element in this structure, while the [Maximum Baudrate] sets the MaxBaud element in the structure.
These settings for this SERIAL_COMMPROP structure have no direct impact on the device's behavior. For example, if the [Maximum Baudrate] is set as 300, an application can still request a higher baudrate, and the CP2102N will happily oblige. It's then up to the application to read the SERIAL_COMMPROP structure and then prevent the user from requesting baudrates that are set to be not supported.
To avoid damage to the CP2102N device, a resistor divider MUST used in all power supply configurations when the VBUS pin is connected to a 5V USB VBUS supply. This is true whether the device is self-powered (i.e. VREGIN and VDD supplied from an external power supply) or the device is bus powered (i.e. VREGIN supplied from 5V USB VBUS and VDD is used as the 3.3 V internal regulator output.
There are two electrical specifications for this device that come into play in these situations. The first is the absolute maximum voltage requirement for all GPIO pins (including VBUS), given as VIO - 2.5 V in Table 3.10 on page 15 of the CP2102N datasheet, Rev. 1.2:
The second is the input high voltage for GPIO pins (including VBUS), which must be met for VBUS to accurately sense the device connection to USB. This spec is given in Table 3.7 on page 13 of the CP2102N datasheet, Rev. 1.2:
On devices with no VIO pin, then VIO = VDD for the purposes of the above specifications. The voltage divider requirement is necessary for self powered configurations to avoid exceeding the absolute maximum VBUS voltage specification in the case where the device is not powered but connected to USB. The voltage divider is necessary for bus-powered configuration in which the internal regulator is used in order to avoid damage to the device when VBUS = VREGIN = 5V but the regulator output (VDD) has not yet come up to 3.3 V.
The following diagrams show the correct use of the voltage divider with the recommended resistor values of 22.1 kOhm and 47.5 kOhm between USB VBUS supply and GND.
Self Powered mode:
Bus powered mode:
This information has been updated in the device datasheet and is reflected in the CP2102N datasheet, revision 1.2.
Interface Knowledge Base
CP2102N: "Advanced Serial Configuration" options
The CP2102N has some additional configuration options that are not available on other CP210x devices. These are displayed in the [Advanced Serial Configuration] tab in Xpress Configurator.
These settings are Windows only and application specific. These settings apply to the SERIAL_COMMPROP structure described here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/ddi/content/ntddser/ns-ntddser-_serial_commprop
The [Allowed Baudrates] options set the SettableBaud element in this structure, while the [Maximum Baudrate] sets the MaxBaud element in the structure.
The SERIAL_COMMPROP structure describes the capabilities and properties of the serial port, and is returned by the IOCTL_SERIAL_GET_PROPERTIES request, described here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/ddi/content/ntddser/ni-ntddser-ioctl_serial_get_properties
These settings for this SERIAL_COMMPROP structure have no direct impact on the device's behavior. For example, if the [Maximum Baudrate] is set as 300, an application can still request a higher baudrate, and the CP2102N will happily oblige. It's then up to the application to read the SERIAL_COMMPROP structure and then prevent the user from requesting baudrates that are set to be not supported.
CP2102N requires a voltage divider on VBUS
To avoid damage to the CP2102N device, a resistor divider MUST used in all power supply configurations when the VBUS pin is connected to a 5V USB VBUS supply. This is true whether the device is self-powered (i.e. VREGIN and VDD supplied from an external power supply) or the device is bus powered (i.e. VREGIN supplied from 5V USB VBUS and VDD is used as the 3.3 V internal regulator output.
There are two electrical specifications for this device that come into play in these situations. The first is the absolute maximum voltage requirement for all GPIO pins (including VBUS), given as VIO - 2.5 V in Table 3.10 on page 15 of the CP2102N datasheet, Rev. 1.2:
The second is the input high voltage for GPIO pins (including VBUS), which must be met for VBUS to accurately sense the device connection to USB. This spec is given in Table 3.7 on page 13 of the CP2102N datasheet, Rev. 1.2:
On devices with no VIO pin, then VIO = VDD for the purposes of the above specifications. The voltage divider requirement is necessary for self powered configurations to avoid exceeding the absolute maximum VBUS voltage specification in the case where the device is not powered but connected to USB. The voltage divider is necessary for bus-powered configuration in which the internal regulator is used in order to avoid damage to the device when VBUS = VREGIN = 5V but the regulator output (VDD) has not yet come up to 3.3 V.
The following diagrams show the correct use of the voltage divider with the recommended resistor values of 22.1 kOhm and 47.5 kOhm between USB VBUS supply and GND.
Self Powered mode:
Bus powered mode:
This information has been updated in the device datasheet and is reflected in the CP2102N datasheet, revision 1.2.