UART

In the applications of computer peripheral devices, UART is widely used in various scenarios, including connecting keyboards, mice, printers, and more. The use of this communication protocol extends beyond hardware devices and also encompasses software and embedded systems. The flexibility and stability of UART make it an ideal choice for communication between computer peripheral devices.

In terms of signals, UART uses two main communication lines, namely TX (Transmit) and RX (Receive). RX refers to received data or input. TX refers to transmitted data or output. This bidirectional communication design ensures effective communication between devices, and UART typically operates at voltages of 3.3V or 5V. The choice of this voltage specification depends on the specific application requirements and the specifications of the relevant devices.

Logic Analyzer / MSO

TB3016F

TB3000 series Specifications PDF

MSO2116E (w/ analog channels)

MSO2000 series Specifications PDF

MSO3124V (w/ electrical validation)

MSO3000 series Specifications PDF

UART Decode

Save as TXT/CSV

In Logic Analyzer mode, click the icon above the report area to save the decoded data as a TXT/CSV file.

UART Electrical Validation

Use an oscilloscope for UART electrical validation to ensure compliance with defined specifications. After an extended burn-in test, the oscilloscope confirms that the electrical characteristics of the signal meet the required standards.

Supported Models: TS3124V (4-channel DSO), MSO3124V (4-channel DSO + 16-channel LA)

Electrical Validation Solution PDF

UART Decoding Setup Steps

1. Click Quick Settings or Add Protocol Decode to select a protocol for logic analyzer capture.

2. Select UART(RS232) for decoding.

3. If you use Quick Settings, the system will recommend configurations for trigger type, sampling rate, voltage threshold, and channel settings.

4. Click the icon to access the Decode Settings screen.

Decode Settings

Channel:

• Tx: Assign the Tx signal pin to the corresponding channel number of the logic analyzer.
• Rx: Assign the Rx signal pin to the corresponding channel number of the logic analyzer. Enabled when selected.

Format:

• Auto: Automatically detect the settings for the following options. Enabled when selected.
• Baud Rate: The data transmission speed, measured in bits per second (bps). The supported range is 110 to 2M bps.
• Polarity: Includes Idle High and Idle Low formats.
• Parity: Includes N - None Parity (No parity bit), O - Odd Parity, and E - Even Parity.
• Data Bits: Can be set between 4 to 16 bits.
• Stop Bits: Can be set to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, or 4.5 bits.
• MSB First: When selected, the Most Significant Bit (MSB) comes after the Start Bit. When not selected, the Least Significant Bit (LSB) is used.
• Invert Bits: Reverses High and Low levels. Enabled when selected.
• Show S/P: Displays Start and Stop in the waveform area. Enabled when selected.

Waveform Area Settings:

• Decode: Select whether to display the Rx or Tx decoding results in the waveform area. The Rx option is only effective when the Rx channel is enabled.
• Show Scale: Displays the scale in the waveform area. Enabled when selected.

Report Area Settings (enabled when selected):

• Show Idle State: Displays Unknown and Idle states in the report window.
• Line Wrap Data: Allows setting two values as the primary order for decoding, making it easier to view analysis results.
• Report Size: Sets the number of Data fields in the report area. Can be set to 16 or 32.

YouTube Video

UART Decoding Examples