FT232RL in FTDI FT232 / FT2232 Family
The FT232RL is a cornerstone USB-to-UART bridge family developed by Future Technology Devices International (FTDI). It simplifies USB implementation by integrating the entire protocol onto the chip, requiring no USB-specific firmware programming. It provides a standard asynchronous serial data transfer interface and is widely recognized for its robust driver support across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is primarily used to provide legacy serial support to modern hardware or to enable simple debugging via a PC-hosted terminal.
Variants in This Sub-Family
The primary variants in the FT232RL family, such as the FT232RL-REEL and FT232RL-TUBE, differ exclusively in their packaging and delivery format for assembly lines. The silicon die remains identical across these versions, featuring a 28-pin SSOP package. The '-REEL' suffix indicates parts supplied on 2,500-unit tape-and-reel for high-volume automated SMT placement, whereas '-TUBE' indicates parts supplied in rigid plastic tubes for manual or low-volume prototyping work.
