CP2101-GMR Silicon Laboratories Inc, CP2101-GMR Datasheet - Page 14

• Manufacturer Part Number: CP2101-GMR
• Description: IC CTRLR BRIDGE USB-UART 28MLP
• Manufacturer: Silicon Laboratories Inc

Specifications of CP2101-GMR

• Applications: USB
• Interface: USB
• Voltage - Supply: 3 V ~ 3.6 V
• Package / Case: 28-VQFN Exposed Pad, 28-HVQFN, 28-SQFN, 28-DHVQFN
• Mounting Type: Surface Mount
• Lead Free Status / RoHS Status: Lead free / RoHS Compliant

CP2101
8.
There are two sets of device drivers available for the CP2101 devices: the Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers
and the USBXpress Direct Access drivers. Only one set of drivers is necessary to interface with the
device.
The latest drivers are available at http://www.silabs.com/products/microcontroller/downloads.asp.
8.1.
The CP2101 Virtual COM Port (VCP) device drivers allow a CP2101-based device to appear to the PC's
application software as a COM port. Application software running on the PC accesses the CP2101-based
device as it would access a standard hardware COM port. However, actual data transfer between the PC
and the CP2101 device is performed over the USB interface. Therefore, existing COM port applications
may be used to transfer data via the USB to the CP2101-based device without modifying the application.
See Application Note AN197: Code for Example Code for Interfacing to a CP2102 using the Virtual COM
drivers.
8.2.
The Silicon Laboratories USBXpress drivers provide an alternate solution for interfacing with CP2102
devices. No Serial Port protocol expertise is required. Instead, a simple, high-level application program
interface (API) is used to provide simpler CP201x connectivity and functionality. The USBXpress for
CP210x Development Kit includes Windows device drivers, Windows device driver installer and uninstall-
ers, and a host interface function library (host API) provided in the form of a Windows Dynamic Link
Library (DLL). The USBXpress driver set is recommended for new products that also include new PC soft-
ware. The USBXpress interface is described in Application Note “AN169: USBXpress Programmer's
Guide.”
8.3.
In addition to customizing the device as described in Section 7. "Internal EEPROM" on page 13, the driv-
ers and the drivers installation package can be also be customized. See Application Note “AN220: USB
Driver Customization” for more information on generating customized VCP and USBXpress drivers.
8.4.
The default drivers that are shipped with the CP2101 are Microsoft WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality
Labs) certified. The certification means that the drivers have been tested by Microsoft and their latest
operating systems (XP and Vista) will allow the drivers to be installed without any warnings or errors.
The customized drivers that are generated using the AN220 software are not automatically certified. They
must go first through the Microsoft Driver Reseller Submission process. Contact Silicon Laboratories sup-
port for assistance with this process.
14
CP2101 Device Drivers
Virtual COM Port Drivers
USBXpress Drivers
Driver Customization
Driver Certification
Rev. 1.8