ACCES I/O Releases RS-232 for Android Devices
February 3, 2014. ACCES I/O Products Inc. has announced the release of a new USB serial interface board—the ANDROID-232. Users can now control legacy RS-232 devices directly from modern Android devices. The ANDROID-232 uses the Android Open Accessory protocol to convince an Android device that its onboard USB port (normally limited to USB “slave” or “OTG” modes) is actually an RS-232 port. This two way data port allows external hardware to control the Android unit or for the Android unit to control external hardware. Serial data up to 921.6 kb/s is supported (a max of 115.2 kb/s without flow control). Onboard circuitry will provide power to charge your Android device while connected. Multiple status and fault LEDs complete the package, and allow simple and convenient confirmation of operational state.
This small industrial/military grade product features industrial temperature operation (-40°C to 85°C) suitable for outdoor applications, harsh industrial surroundings, or military use. Also, a hard line wired connection eliminates security concerns associated with Wi-Fi and other RF solutions. A Type A industrial strength USB connector provides high-retention that complies with class 1, Div II minimum withdrawal requirements. The ANDROID-232 is feature-rich and allows for the connection of RS-232 serial devices—suitable for a variety of applications such as POS, gaming systems, retail, hospitality, automation, kiosks, defense industries, lighting, or any other application requiring the connection of RS-232 serial devices to an Android compatible system.
Available accessories include a broad range of cable assemblies and screw terminal boards for quick and easy connectivity. The ADAP9 accessory provides a screw terminal connection to break out the RS-232 signals on the DB9M connector for connections to non-standard RS-232 pinouts. Special order items such as conformal coating, and custom software are also available.
Software
The ANDROID-232 product includes an Android sample program, with source, which operates within the Android Open Accessory protocol, available on all devices running Android 3.1 or higher (some 2.3.4 ROMs are supported). This program will allow you to verify proper operation of the ANDROID-232 device, including sending and receiving RS-232 data. A Python test program that can cooperate with the Android sample program to verify proper receipt of data as transmitted is also provided. In any operating system you can communicate through the ANDROID-232 using the standard communication terminal program of your choice; in Windows the company provides and recommends a terminal program called WinRISC. Windows samples in a variety of programming languages can be used to jumpstart your Serial COM programming (with full source code).