Diodes Incorporated PI7C9X752FAEX: A High-Performance PCI-to-UART Bridge

The PI7C9X752FAEX from Diodes Incorporated is a state-of-the-art PCI-to-UART bridge chip designed to provide a seamless interface between legacy serial devices and modern PCI-enabled systems. This highly integrated IC is an excellent solution for expanding the number of UART ports in embedded systems, industrial PCs, and servers, offering reliable performance and ease of integration.

Featuring a PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 1 interface, the PI7C9X752FAEX supports a data transfer rate of 2.5GT/s per lane, ensuring fast and efficient communication with the host system. The device includes eight configurable UART channels, each capable of data rates up to 16 Mbps, which is significantly higher than standard 16550 UARTs, making it ideal for high-speed serial applications.

Each UART channel on the PI7C9X752FAEX is equipped with 128-byte FIFOs for transmit and receive, reducing CPU overhead and improving system efficiency. This is particularly beneficial in multi-port serial applications where data buffering and smooth data flow are critical. The deep FIFOs also help to prevent data loss during high-speed transfers and multitasking operations.

The device boasts a range of features to ensure robust and reliable operation, including automatic hardware and software flow control, programmable baud rate generators, and support for modem control signals. This makes the PI7C9X752FAEX highly versatile and suitable for a variety of serial communication protocols and applications such as point-of-sale systems, industrial automation, and telecommunications equipment.

For ease of integration, the PI7C9X752FAEX is offered in a compact 128-pin PQFP (Plastic Quad Flat Pack) package, making it space-efficient for designs where board real estate is at a premium. Additionally, the device is fully compliant with the PCI Express Base Specification Revision 1.1 and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, ensuring a straightforward integration process and broad application support.

In summary, the PI7C9X752FAEX from Diodes Incorporated is a powerful and versatile PCI-to-UART bridge, perfect for expanding UART capabilities in a variety of high-speed, data-intensive applications.