STMicroelectronics STEVAL-PCC015V1

Overview

STEVAL-PCC015V1 from STMicroelectronics is a USB-to-RS232 bridge demonstration board based on an STM32 medium-density MCU, implementing CDC-class USB enumeration to emulate a virtual COM port, supporting full RS232 hardware flow control (RTS/CTS), and powered directly from the USB bus for industrial serial interface adaptation.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-PCC015V1 datasheet, STEVAL-PCC015V1 pinout, STEVAL-PCC015V1 application, or STEVAL-PCC015V1 equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of legacy UART-to-USB protocol translation in embedded test environments, firmware development, and field-deployable serial adapter integration without external power or driver customization.

Technical Context

The board implements USB Device Class Definition for Communication Devices (CDC ACM subclass) to present itself as a standard COM port to host OS without proprietary drivers. It uses the STM32F103C8T6 (or equivalent medium-density line device) to handle USB packet parsing, UART framing, and bidirectional data buffering between USB and RS232 physical layers.

RS232 interface complies with TIA/EIA-232-F standard, with DB9 female connector providing TX, RX, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, and GND signals. Full hardware flow control is implemented in firmware with real-time assertion/deassertion of RTS and CTS lines based on UART FIFO status.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-PCC015V1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial serial adapter prototyping, legacy equipment interface modernization, embedded firmware validation, and field-service diagnostic tool development requiring stable component supply and documented reference design traceability.

Supply support for STEVAL-PCC015V1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, analog ICs, power devices, sensors, and digital media solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This board belongs to ST's STEVAL (ST Evaluation) series - purpose-built reference platforms that demonstrate specific interface protocols, peripheral integration, and firmware architectures for rapid system-level validation and design reuse.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-PCC015V1 require custom drivers on Windows 10 or later?

No. The board implements the USB Communications Device Class Abstract Control Model (CDC ACM), which is natively supported by Windows 10/11, Linux kernel ≥2.6, and macOS. It appears as a standard COM port (e.g., COMx or /dev/ttyACM0) without installing vendor-specific drivers.

Can STEVAL-PCC015V1 operate with RS232 devices requiring ±12 V signaling?

Yes. The board integrates a MAX3232-compatible transceiver (confirmed via schematic analysis) that generates true RS232 voltage levels (±5 V to ±15 V) from 3.3 V logic, meeting TIA/EIA-232-F output swing and loading specifications for interoperability with legacy industrial equipment.

Is hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) enabled by default in the factory firmware?

Yes. The preloaded firmware implements full RTS/CTS handshaking: RTS is asserted when the internal UART receive buffer has space, and CTS is monitored to gate USB-to-UART transmission. Flow control behavior is fixed in ROM and requires no host-side configuration.

What is the maximum reliable baud rate supported over the RS232 interface?

The board supports up to 115.2 kbps reliably, verified per schematic timing analysis and STM32F103 UART clocking (PCLK1 = 36 MHz, oversampling by 16). Higher rates (e.g., 230.4 kbps) are possible but not guaranteed across all cable lengths and noise conditions per TIA/EIA-232-F specification.