CP2108

4

Rev. 1.1

1. System Overview

The CP2108 is a highly integrated USB-to-Quad-UART Bridge Controller providing a simple solution for updating

RS-232/RS-485 designs to USB using a minimum of components and PCB space. The CP2108 includes a USB

2.0 full-speed function controller, USB transceiver, oscillator, EEPROM, and four asynchronous serial data buses

(UART) with full modem control signals in a compact 9 x 9 mm QFN-64 package (sometimes called “MLF” or

“MLP”).

The on-chip EEPROM may be used to customize the USB Vendor ID (VID), Product ID (PID), Product Description

String, Power Descriptor, Device Release Number, Interface Strings, Device Serial Number, Modem, and GPIO

configuration as desired for OEM applications. The EEPROM is programmed on-board via the USB, allowing the

programming step to be easily integrated into the product manufacturing and testing process.

Royalty-free Virtual COM Port (VCP) device drivers provided by Silicon Labs allow a CP2108-based product to

appear as four COM ports in PC applications. The CP2108 UART interfaces implement all RS-232/RS-485 signals

including control and handshaking, so existing system firmware does not need to be modified. The device also

features a total of sixteen GPIO signals that can be user-defined for status and control information. See

An evaluation kit for the CP2108 is available. It includes a CP2108-based USB-to-UART/RS-232 evaluation board,

a complete set of VCP device drivers, USB and RS-232 cables, and full documentation. Contact a Silicon Labs

Evaluation Kit.

2. Ordering Part Number Information

See "12. Device Specific Behavior" on page 28 for more information about the differences between the orderable

part numbers. The revision of the CP2108 can be determined by looking at the package marking or by querying the

device using the application described in application note “AN721: CP21xx Device Customization Guide.”

The second row of the package marking will read as “B01-GM” or “B02-GM”. The link to application note AN721 is

available in “11. Relevant Application Notes” .

Table 1. Ordering Part Numbers

Ordering Part Number

Notes

CP2108-B02-GM

Recommended for new designs

CP2108-B01-GM

Not recommended for new designs