Welcome to the inaugural issue of the FTDI newsletter. The aim of the newsletter is to share information and new ideas on FTDI USB products and their applications.

In this issue, we focus on FTDI’s 2^nd generation Vinculum-II dual USB2.0 Host / Slave controller and how the device addresses issues of implementing USB capability within embedded applications, using the new Vinculum software development tool suite.  We also have an article on the newly launched DB9-USB-RS232 range of products.  A regular monthly feature will be the “Ask Support” section, which will detail technical answers from our support engineers on commonly asked questions on FTDI products. 

Finally, we have a feature on an interesting customer application, showing a life-size puppet created using the VMusic module.  Fans who are young enough may remember this character from The Muppet Show.  My thanks to Tore Bergvill for this application. 

I hope you find the newsletter interesting and hopefully entertaining too!  We always welcome your comments and feedback.    

Best regards,

Fred Dart
Managing Director

The FTDI Vinculum-II (VNC2), dual channel USB Host / Slave controller is designed to deliver a high-performance processing performance while addressing many of the issues of implementing USB within embedded applications.  The VNC2 offers a user programmable single chip USB Host / Slave controller, which features a powerful CPU core, with a range of flexible connectivity interfaces, low power performance as well as offering a complete suite of free software/firmware development tools and resources to minimise time to market.

Welcome to our new support section designed to address commonly asked, interesting and novel support issues on using FTDI products. 

In this issue the questions are answered by Gordun Lunn (left) and Gavin Moore (right) from our support team.  

1.  Introduction to USB technology.

2.  Migrating from VNC1L to VNC2.

3.  How are COM ports assigned?
     How to change the device COM port?

Here’s something to lighten up the mood. A customer, Tore Bergvill has created a life-size puppet character from “The Muppet Show” using a Vinculum based VMUSIC module. The character is Beaker, the hapless assistant to Dr Bunsen Honeydew.