A76XX Series_UART

_Application Note
LTE Module

SIMCom Wireless Solutions Limited

SIMCom Headquarters Building, Building 3, No. 289 Linhong
Road, Changning District, Shanghai P.R.China
Tel: 86-21-31575100
[email protected]
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 A7600 Series_UART_ApplicationNote_V1.02

Document Title: A76XX Series_UART_Application Note_V1.00

Version: 1.02
Date: 2021.11.08
Status: Released

GENERAL NOTES

SIMCOM OFFERS THIS INFORMATION AS A SERVICE TO ITS CUSTOMERS, TO SUPPORT

APPLICATION AND ENGINEERING EFFORTS THAT USE THE PRODUCTS DESIGNED BY SIMCOM.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS BASED UPON REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED TO
SIMCOM BY THE CUSTOMERS. SIMCOM HAS NOT UNDERTAKEN ANY INDEPENDENT SEARCH
FOR ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY BE IN THE
CUSTOMER’S POSSESSION. FURTHERMORE, SYSTEM VALIDATION OF THIS PRODUCT
DESIGNED BY SIMCOM WITHIN A LARGER ELECTRONIC SYSTEM REMAINS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE CUSTOMER OR THE CUSTOMER’S SYSTEM INTEGRATOR. ALL SPECIFICATIONS
SUPPLIED HEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

COPYRIGHT

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS PROPRIETARY TECHNICAL INFORMATION WHICH IS THE PROPERTY

OF SIMCOM WIRELESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED COPYING, TO OTHERS AND USING THIS DOCUMENT,
ARE FORBIDDEN WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY BY SIMCOM. OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO THE
PAYMENT OF INDEMNIFICATIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY SIMCOM IN THE PROPRIETARY
TECHNICAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REGISTRATION GRANTING OF A
PATENT , A UTILITY MODEL OR DESIGN. ALL SPECIFICATION SUPPLIED HEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AT ANY TIME.

SIMCom Wireless Solutions Limited

SIMCom Headquarters Building, Building 3, No. 289 Linhong Road, Changning District, Shanghai
P.R.China
Tel: +86 21 31575100
Email: [email protected]

For more information, please visit:

https://www.simcom.com/download/list-863-en.html

For technical support, or to report documentation errors, please visit:

https://www.simcom.com/ask/or email to: [email protected]

Copyright © 2021SIMCom Wireless Solutions Limited All Rights Reserved.

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About Document

Version History

Version Date Chapter What is new

1.00 2020.11.18 New version
1.01 2021.05.14 GENERAL NOTES
COPYRIGHT
V1.02 2021.11.08 Scope Scope description is updated

Scope

Based on module AT command manual, this document will introduce UART application process.
Developers could understand and develop application quickly and efficiently based on this document.
This document applies to A1803S Series, A1603 Series, A1601 Series and A1802 Series.

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Contents

About Document.................................................................................................................................. 3
Version History.........................................................................................................................................................3
Scope........................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Contents................................................................................................................................................. 4
1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Purpose of the document...........................................................................................................................5
1.2 Related documents.....................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Conventions and abbreviations................................................................................................................ 5

2 UART Introduction........................................................................................................................ 6
3 Hardware Interface....................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Description of related PIN..........................................................................................................................7
3.2 Connect to Host...........................................................................................................................................7

4 Control PIN Description............................................................................................................ 10

4.1 CTS............................................................................................................................................................. 10
4.2 RTS............................................................................................................................................................. 10
4.3 DCD.............................................................................................................................................................10
4.4 DTR............................................................................................................................................................. 11
4.5 RI..................................................................................................................................................................11

5 Related Function.........................................................................................................................12
5.1 Flow Control...............................................................................................................................................12
5.2 Multiplex......................................................................................................................................................12
5.3 Synchronize baud rate............................................................................................................................. 12

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1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the document

This document describes how to use UART interface of A76XX series, the UART mainly refers to a full
function serial port. Examples are also given for reference. This document can be used for modules of
A76XX series.

1.2 Related documents

[1] A76XXSeries_AT Command Manual

[2] A76XXSeries_SleepMode_Application Note
[3] A76XXC1_Hardware Design Manual

1.3 Conventions and abbreviations

缩写 描述
DTE Data terminal equipment
DCE Data communications equipment
UART Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter
RXD Receive data
TXD Transmit data
RTS Request to send
CTS Clear to send
DCD Data carrier detect
DTR Data terminal ready
RI Ring indicator

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2 UART Introduction
The UART is a universal serial data bus for asynchronous communication. The bus is bidirectional
communication, which can realize full duplex transmission and receiving.

The UART port has several features:

 Support High-speed UART, the baud rate up to 3.6Mbps. the communication baud rate including: 300,
600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200(default), 230400, 460800, 921600,
1842000, 3686400bps.
 Support both RS232 modem and Simple modem connections.
 Support Hardware flow control.
 Support Auto baud rate synchronize.

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3 Hardware Interface

SIMCom modules designed as a DCE (Data Communication Equipment). It provides a Simple or RS232
modem which is used for data transmission and sending AT commands.

The default baud rate is 115200bps, data size is 8 bits, stop bits is 1 bit, and parity is none. The default
connection is RS232 modem.

3.1 Description of related PIN

Table 1: Pin description

PIN type PIN name I/O Active voltage Default Status

UART_RXD I High/Low Pull- Up
UART_TXD O High/Low Pull-Up
UART_RTS O High/Low Pull-Up
UART UART_CTS I High/Low Pull-Up
UART_DTR I High/Low Pull-Up
UART_DCD O High/Low Pull-Up
UART_RI O High/Low Pull-Up

Table 2: Logic level

Parameter Min Max Unit

Logic low input -0.3 0.3 V
Logic high input 0.8 1.83 V
Logic low output -0.3 0.3 V
Logic high output 0.9 1.83 V

3.2 Connect to Host

1）Simple modem

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When the module is used as a simple modem/null modem for data transmission, only RXD and TXD signal
PIN are used, the following figure shows the connection between A76XX module and DTE(customer’s
CPU).

Figure 1: Simple modem

2）RS232 modem

When the module is used as a RS232 modem for data transmission, all the signal PIN should be connected,
including TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DCD and RI, and the corresponding PIN should be configured as
UART function, the details please refer to the Control Signals section below. The following figure shows the
connection between A76XX module and DTE (customer’s CPU).

Figure 2: RS232 modem

NOTE
1.

 For different devices, the name of RTS PIN maybe confused as CTS PIN, and the name of CTS
PIN maybe confused as RTS PIN, the I/O direction of A76XX module’s CTS PIN is IN, and RTS
PIN is OUT, user can determine this confusion by the I/O direction.

 For the specific design or circuit diagram (you can consider the specific situation), please refer

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to the hardware design document (A76XXC1_Hardware Design Manual_V1.01)

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4 Control PIN Description

4.1 CTS

When this pin is in hardware flow control mode, this signal is asserted (low level) to prepare the module
(DCE) for accepting transmitted data from the DTE device.

DCE stop transmitting data if CTS PIN is high level, transmission begins or continues if CTS is low level, if
CTS goes high in the middle of character transmission, the module (DCE) waits for a
completedtransmission before stop transmitting data.

This PIN is in GPIO mode by default, user can switch to flow control mode by “AT+IFC=2,2” command.

4.2 RTS

When this pin is in hardware flow control mode, this signal is asserted by the module (DCE) to inform the
DTE device that transmission may begin.

The RTS PIN output high level when the RX FIFO level of the module (DCE) is the same or greater than 64,
when the Rx FIFO level falls below 64 the RTS PIN output low level.

This PIN is in GPIO mode by default, user can switch to flow control mode by “AT+IFC=2,2” command.

4.3 DCD

AT command AT&C can be used to set DCD function mode. When set “AT&C0”, DCD line is always ON
(low). When set “AT&C1”, DCD line is ON (low) only in the presence of data carrier. When set “AT&C2”,
setting the DCD line be on just 1 second after the data calls end.

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4.4 DTR

The PIN default in GPIO mode, and support sleep/wakeup mode, AT command AT+CSCLK can be used to
switch GPIO and sleep/wakeup mode. If DTR in Sleep mode, module will be in sleep mode when it not have
any work.

AT+CSCLK=0 set to GPIO mode.

AT+CSCLK=1 set to Sleep/Wakeup mode, then module enter sleep mode when DTR pin pulled up; module
will be waked up when DTR pin pulled down.

NOTE
2.

 If module coming call when in sleep mode, it will be waked up and send URC to host, module will
be auto sleep when URC send complete and DTR is high then sleep time.
 Anytime host want send data to module, it must be pull down DTR then 20ms.

4.5 RI

This PIN is used wakeup host when module have message to the port, message can support Call, SMS or
URC. If want to get more contents, please refer to A76XX Series_Sleep Mode_Application Note.

State RI respond
Standby HIGH
Change to LOW, then:
 Change to HIGH when call is established.
Voice/Data call  Use AT command ATH, the RI PIN is changed to HIGH.
 Sender hangs up, change to HIGH.
 SMS received.
When receiving SMS, the RI PIN will be changed to LOW level for about 120ms,
SMS
and then it is changed to HIGH level.
When receiving URC, the RI PIN will be changed to LOW level for about 60ms,
URC
and then it is changed to HIGH level.

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5 Related Function

5.1 Flow Control

Flow control is very important during the transmission (large data) between the module (DCE) and the
terminal device (DTE). When the receiving buffer reaches its capacity, the receiving device should be
capable of pause the sending device until it overflows. A76XX series modules are designed as no flow
control by default, but use can enable this function by AT command.

Hardware flow control achieves the data flow control by controlling the RTS/CTS line which follows the
RS232 standard. The command “AT+IFC=2, 2” can be used to enable hardware flow control, these setting
are stored automatically.
To achieve hardware flow control, ensure that the RTS/CTS lines are present on user’s application platform.

5.2 Multiplex

Before using the multiplexer of module, one should also implement the same function on one’s own side,
currently the multiplexer resided in the module is conformed to the specification of GSM07.10 so one can
implement his own multiplexer followed by this specification.
In a word one must implement his own multiplexer first at his side before rightly using SIMCOM module’s
multiplexer.
Currently the module only supports Basic mode and one byte length indicator, AT+CMUX=0 can make four
virtual ports, there are ports only support AT service.

5.3 Synchronize baud rate

Although the standard A76XX series module doesn’t support this function by default, user can use AT+IPR
or +IPREX command to set auto baud rate.

Auto baud rate allows A76XX series module to automatically detect the baud rate based on the host device.
Host device must to synchronize the baud rate with A76XX series module first before use. Host must send

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“at” string to synchronize the module, if module matches the baud rate it will response with URC: “OK”, if no
URC reported host must send the synchronize string again until the URC received. If the baud rate is
matched between the module and host device, two devices can communicate with each other normally.
The function is supported in +IPR or +IPREX.

When IPREX or IPR is set to 0, auto baud rate is activated.If TA send “AT+IPREX=0” command to modem,
then module will be save auto baud rate mode.

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