FCC Information

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION INTERFERENCE

STATEMENT: This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital service, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Any changes or modifications made to this equipment may void the
user’s authority to operate this equipment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or

television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved
by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority
to operate this equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is

subject to the following two conditions:

(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and

(2) this device must accept any interference received, including

interference that may cause undesired operation.
 KCC Statement

RoHS
This product is RoHS compliant.
IC485AI User Manual
Online Registration
You can register your product at our online support center:

International http://support.aten.com

Online Support

International

Email Support [email protected]

Online Technical Support http://support.aten.com
Support
Troubleshooting http://www.aten.com
Documentation
Software Updates

North America

Email Support [email protected]

Online Troubleshooting http://www.aten-usa.com/support
Technical Documentation
Support Software
Updates
Telephone Support 1-888-999-ATEN ext 4988
1-949-428-1111

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Telephone Support
For telephone support, call this number:

International 886-2-8692-6959
China 86-400-810-0-810
Japan 81-3-5615-5811
Korea 82-2-467-6789
North America 1-888-999-ATEN ext 4988
1-949-428-1111

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Package Contents
The RS232 / RS485 Interface Converter package contains the
following items:

 1 IC485AI Bidirectional Isolated Converter

 1 Power Adapter
 1 User Manual

Check to make sure that all the components are present and that
nothing got damaged in shipping. If you encounter a problem,
contact your dealer.
Read this manual thoroughly and follow the installation and
operation procedures carefully to prevent any damage to the unit,
and/or any of the devices connected to it.

* Features may have been added to the IC485AI since this

manual was printed. Please visit our website to download the
most up-to-date version of the manual.

Copyright © 2020 ATEN® International Co., Ltd.

Manual Part No. PAPE-0194-100
Manual Date: 2020-07-13

ATEN and the ATEN logo are trademarks of ATEN International Co., Ltd. All rights
reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Overview

Although RS-232 serial ports are found on almost every

computer, because of their slow transmission speeds, limited
range, and limited networking capabilities, they are not an
effective solution for industrial strength long distance
communications systems.
Systems based on the RS-422 and RS-485 standards, on the
other hand, are not subject to the RS-232 limitations because
they utilize different voltage lines for the data and control signals.
The IC-485AI Isolated Converter is a bidirectional converter that
transparently converts RS-232 signals to RS-422 / RS-485
signals (and vice versa), thus permitting the creation of reliable
long distance data communications systems using standard
computer hardware.
The IC-485AI provides Point-to-Point; Multidrop; and Simplex
operations over distances of up to 1200 m (4000 ft.). Designed
with built in optocouplers for exceptional signal isolation, plus
transformers for excellent power isolation, this extremely reliable
isolated converter enhances the quality of data communications
at the same time that it protects your equipment from electrical
surges of up to 2000 volts.

Features

 Automatic internal RS-485 bus supervision

 No external flow control signals for RS-485 required
 Transient suppression on RS-485 data lines
 LEDs for easy status monitoring
 Minimum 2000V isolation protection
 Up to 115.2 Kbps data throughput
 DCE / DTE selectable
 Point-to-Point; Multidrop; and Simplex operating modes
 Four wire full duplex; two wire half duplex

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 Cable distance of up to 1200 m (4000 ft.)
 Compact size

Components

Top view:

1 6

2
4 5

1. Status LEDs
 RTS: Lights to indicate that RTS has been pulled high.
 TxD: Flashes when data transmission occurs.
2. RS-422 / RS-485 Terminal Block
3. Grounding Tab
4. DCE /DTE Selection Switch
If the IC-485AI is going to be plugged into a DTE device, the
switch must be set to DCE, and vice versa.
5. Power Jack
The cable from the Power Adapter plugs in here.
6. RS-232 DB-25 Female Connector

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Bottom View:

1. DIP Switch
This eight segment DIP Switch, located on the unit’s bottom
panel, is used to configure the switch’s operating parameters.

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DIP Switch Configuration

The IC-485AI’s settings for Baud Rate, Data Format, and RS-422
/ RS-485 Mode are configured by setting the eight segment DIP
Switch located on its bottom panel
Note: When you change any of the DIP Switch settings, you
must reset the device by powering it off, then powering
it on again.

 SW 1-3: Baud Rate

Baud Rate SW1 SW2 SW3

1200 ON ON ON
2400 OFF ON ON
4800 ON OFF ON
9600 OFF OFF ON
19200 ON ON OFF
38400 OFF ON OFF
57600 ON OFF OFF
115200 OFF OFF OFF

Note: 1. The Baud Rate must be the same for all units on the
installation.
2. The default is 9600 bps.

 SW 4: Reserved

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 SW 5-6: Data Format
These two switch segments configure the bit settings for Start,
Data, Parity, and Stop.

Data Format (bits) SW5 SW6

9 ON ON
10 OFF ON
11 ON OFF
12 OFF OFF

Note: The default is 10 bits (1 Start; 8 Data; 0 Parity; 1 Stop).

Unless you have a special reason to change this, we
recommend that you leave it as is. If you do change it,
however, all the units on the installation must be
changed to match.

 SW 7-8: RS-422 / RS-485 Operating Mode

SW7 determines whether the unit operates as an RS-422 or
RS-485 converter.
 As an RS-422 converter, SW8 determines whether the unit
is configured for Primary or Secondary operation.
 As an RS-485 converter, SW8 determines whether the unit
operates in RTS Control Mode or Auto Send Data Mode.
Operating modes are discussed in detail in the next section
and on p.15
Note: RS-422 is used for 4 wire hookups; RS-485 is used for
2 wire hookups.

Operating Mode SW7 SW8

RS-422 Primary ON ON
RS-422 Secondary OFF ON
RS-485 Auto Send Data Mode ON OFF
RS-485 RTS Control Mode OFF OFF

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Operating Modes

The IC-485AI supports three operating modes: Point-to-Point;

Multidrop; and Simplex. Point-to-Point and Multidrop can be
configured for Full or Half Duplex. Each of the operating modes
is explained below.

Point-to-Point
A Point-to-Point configuration is one in which two devices,
located at two different places are linked for communication by a
pair of IC-485AI units. There are two configurations: Point-to-
Point Full Duplex, and Point-to-Point Half Duplex.

1. Point-to-Point 4 Wire Full Duplex

 Point-to-Point Full Duplex uses reverse four wire cabling,
as shown in the diagram below.

DB-25 DB-25

Connect T+ R+ Connect
to PC#1's T- R- to PC#2's
COM port R- T- COM port
R+ T+

 For both IC-485AI units, set the unit to DCE or DTE

depending on what type of device the IC-485AI will plug
into (if it will plug into a DCE device, configure it for DTE,
and vice versa)
 Set SW7 and SW8 ON for both units. They are now
configured for RS-422 Primary operation.

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2. Point-to-Point 2 Wire Half Duplex

 Point-to-Point Half Duplex uses straight through two wire

cabling, as shown in the diagram below.

DB-25 DB-25

Connect T+ R+ Connect
to PC#1's T- R- to PC#2's
COM port R- T- COM port
R+ T+

 For both IC-485AI units, set the unit to DCE or DTE

depending on what type of device the IC-485AI will plug
into (if it will plug into a DCE device, configure it for DTE,
and vice versa).
 Set SW7 OFF and SW8 ON for both units. They are now
configured for RS-485 Auto Send Data Mode (see p. 15 for
RS-485 operation details).

Multidrop
A Multidrop configuration is one in which more than two devices
are linked for communication using several IC-485AI units. One
of the devices that one of the IC-485AIs connects to is designated
as the Primary device. All the remaining devices that the rest of
the IC-485AIs connect to are designated as Secondary devices.
Up to 31 Secondary devices can be connected. There are two
configurations: Multidrop Full Duplex and Multidrop Half Duplex.

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1. Multidrop Full Duplex

 Multidrop Full Duplex uses reverse four wire cabling, to

link all the connected IC-485AI units:
Primary Secondary 1
T+ R+
PC1 T- R- PC2
COM1/ R- T- COM1/
COM2 R+ T+ COM2
Secondary 2
R+
R- PC3
T- COM1/
T+ COM2
.
.
.
Secondary 31

 For all IC-485AI units, set the unit to DCE or DTE

depending on what type of device the IC-485AI will plug
into (if it will plug into a DCE device, configure it for DTE,
and vice versa).
 For the Primary unit, set SW7 ON; set SW8 ON (RS-422
Primary mode).
 For all of the Secondary units, set SW7 ON; set SW8 OFF
(RS-422 Secondary mode).

Note: 1. No more than 31 Secondary units can be connected.

2. When any of the Secondary units transmits data, none
of the other Secondary units may transmit. RTS for all
other Secondary units must be pulled low.

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2. Multidrop Half Duplex

 Multidrop Half Duplex uses reverse two wire cabling, to link all
the connected IC-485AI units:
Primary Secondary 1
T+ R+
PC1 T- R- PC2
COM1/ R- T- COM1/
COM2 R+ T+ COM2

Secondary 2
R+
PC3
R-
COM1/
T-
COM2
T+
Secondary 3
R+
R- PC4
T- COM1/
T+ COM2
.
.
Secondary 31

 For all IC-485AI units, set the unit to DCE or DTE

depending on what type of device the IC-485AI will plug
into (if it will plug into a DCE device, configure it for DTE,
and vice versa).

 For all of the units set SW7 and SW8 according to the
table on p.9 to configure each unit’s RS-485 operating
mode (see p.10 for RS-485 operation details).

Note: No more than 31 Secondary units can be connected.

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Simplex
A Simplex configuration is one in which more than two devices
are linked for communication using several IC-485AI units in a
manner similar to Multidrop. The difference is that in a Simplex
configuration, the Primary device can only talk, and the
Secondary devices can only listen.
 Simplex uses reverse two wire cabling to link all the
connected IC-485AI units, as shown in the figure below:
Primary Secondary 1
T+ R+
PC1 PC2
T- R-
COM1/ COM1/
R- T-
COM2 COM2
R+ T+

Secondary 2
R+
PC3
R-
COM1/
T-
COM2
T+

Secondary 3
R+
PC4
R-
COM1/
T-
COM2
T+
:
:
Secondary 31

 For all IC-485AI units, set the unit to DCE or DTE depending
on what type of device the IC-485AI will plug into (if it will plug
into a DCE device, configure it for DTE, and vice versa).
 For all of the units (Primary and Secondary), set SW7 ON; set
SW8 ON.

Note: No more than 31 Secondary units can be connected.

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Installation

1. Make sure that all the devices you will be connecting up are
powered off.
2. Set each IC-485AI’s configuration switches according to the
information provided in the Switch Configuration and
Operating Modes sections.
3. Plug the IC-485AI’s DB-25 female connector into the
computer’s RS-232C port.
4. Connect the IC-485AI units to each other.
a) Use two or four wire twisted pair cable in a reverse or
straight through configuration according to the
information provided in the Switch Configuration and
Operating Modes sections.
Note: 1. When tightening the terminal connector screws it is
recommended to use a Phillips PH1 Screwdriver.
2. Over-tightening the terminal connector screws may
result in damage to your IC-485AI and difficulty
loosening the screws.
b) See p.17 for the Terminal Block pin assignments.
5. Power on the computers. The units are now ready for
operation.

Note: When connecting units over long distances, it may be

necessary to install 120Ω resistors. See the diagrams
on the next page for details.

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RS-422 / RS-485 Installation Diagrams
Primary Secondary 31
T+ R+
T- R-
R- T-
R+ T+

Secondary 1 Secondary 30

4,000'
RS-422 Full Duplex

Note: When the distance between both ends of the installation

is large and/or the transmitted signals are unstable,
insert 120Ω terminal resistors between pins 1 and 2 and
between pins 3 and 4 on the terminal blocks of the two
units at each end of the installation.
Primary Secondary 31
T+ R+
T- R-
R- T-
R+ T+

Secondary 1 Secondary 30

4,000'
RS-485 Half Duplex

Note: When the distance between both ends of the installation

is large and/or the transmitted signals aren’t stable,
insert a 120Ω terminal resistor between pins 1 and 2 on
the terminal blocks of the two units at each end of the
installation.

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Appendix

Terminal Block Pin Assignments

Pin DCE/DTE
1 Transmit +V
2 Transmit -V
3 Receive -V
4 Receive +V

Circuit Test
To test the IC-485AI’s internal circuits, connect a dumb terminal
to the unit and do the following:
1. Set the DCE / DTE switch to the opposite of the terminal.
2. Set all DIP Switch segments to ON.
3. Connect one wire from Tx+ (1) to Rx+ (4); connect a second
wire from Tx- (2) to Rx- (3).
4. Set the terminal to Full Duplex.
5. Set the baud rate of the communicaton application to 1200
bps.
6. Enter data.
If the circuit is operational, data appears on the screen

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RS-485 Operation Mode Flow Charts
RTS Control Mode

Start

RTS=0

Send Receive
No No
Yes Yes

Receive
RTS=1
Data

Send
Complete
Data
No
Yes

Complete
Yes No

 The IC-485AI operates in RS-485 RTS Control Mode when

both SW7 and SW8 are set to OFF.
 In this mode, RTS is pulled high when the computer makes
a request to send data.

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Auto Send Data Mode

Start

Receiving Yes Busy

Data CTS=1

No

Idle Receive
CTS=0 Data

Data
Complete
to Send
No No
Yes Yes

Send
Data

Complete
Yes No

 The IC-485AI operaties in RS-485 Auto Send Data Mode

when SW7 is set to OFF, and SW8 is set to ON.
 In this mode, the status of the bus line is auto-detected in
order to prevent more than one signal on the line.
 If the the bus line is busy, CTS is pulled high, and the IC-
485AI will not send data to the bus line.
 If the bus line is determined to be idle, CTS is pulled low
and the IC-485AI sends data to the bus line.

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DCE / DTE Connection Description

Device’s Connector Pin # Cable IC-485AI

DCE DTE DCE DTE 25/25 or DCE DTE

9/25 pin DB-25 DB-25
DB-9 DB-9 DB-25 DB-25
1 1 (PG) 1 1
2 3 3 2 Tx Rx 2 3
3 2 2 3 Rx Tx 3 2
8 7 5 4 RTS CTS 4 5
7 8 4 5 CTS RTS 5 4
6 6 6 6 (DSR) 6 6
5 5 7 7 SG 7 7
1 1 8 8 (CD) 8 8
9 9 9 9
10 10 10 10
11 11 11 11
12 12 (SCD) 12 12
13 13 (SCS) 13 13
14 14 (STD) 14 14
15 15 (TC) 15 15
16 16 (SRD) 16 16
17 17 (RC) 17 17
18 18 18 18
19 19 (SRS) 19 19
4 4 20 20 (DTR) 20 20
21 21 (SQD) 21 21
9 9 22 22 (RI) 22 22
23 23 (DRS) 23 23
24 24 (XTC) 24 24
25 25 25 25

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Specifications
Function Specification
Power Consumption DC 9V; 900mW (max.)
Data Rate Up to 115.2 Kbps under 1200 m
(4000 ft.)
Connectors 1 x DB-25 female (RS-232);
1 x 4 Post Terminal Block (RS-422 /
RS-485);
1 x Grounding Tab
Function Slide Switch DCE / DTE Select
Switches
DIP Switch Segment 1-3: Baud Rate;
Segment 4: Reserved;
Segment 5&6: Data Format (bits);
Segment 7&8: RS-422 / RS-485
Select
Cable Distance Up to 1200 m (4000 ft.)
Operating Temperature 0 ~ 50ºC
Storage Temperature 20 ~ 60º C
Humidity 0 ~ 80% RH
Housing Plastic (ABS)
Weight 60 g
Dimensions (L x W x H) 54 x 74.5 x 18.5 mm

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Troubleshooting
Symptom Action
Data Transmission Check that IC-485AI units are securely
Failure plugged into the computers’ serial ports.
Check that the cables are properly set up
and properly connected.
Check that SW1 and the DIP Switch are set
properly.
Insert terminal resistors according to the
information given on p. 13
Data Loss or Error Check that the Data Rate and Data Format
are the same for all devices.
Insert terminal resistors according to the
information given on p. 13

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Limited Warranty
ATEN warrants its hardware in the country of purchase against
flaws in materials and workmanship for a Warranty Period of two
[2] years (warranty period may vary in certain regions/countries)
commencing on the date of original purchase. This warranty
period includes the LCD panel of ATEN LCD KVM switches.
Select products are warranted for an additional year (see A+
Warranty for further details). Cables and accessories are not
covered by the Standard Warranty.

What is covered by the Limited Hardware Warranty

ATEN will provide a repair service, without charge, during the
Warranty Period. If a product is detective, ATEN will, at its
discretion, have the option to (1) repair said product with new or
repaired components, or (2) replace the entire product with an
identical product or with a similar product which fulfills the same
function as the defective product. Replaced products assume the
warranty of the original product for the remaining period or a
period of 90 days, whichever is longer. When the products or
components are replaced, the replacing articles shall become
customer property and the replaced articles shall become the
property of ATEN.

To learn more about our warranty policies, please visit our

website:
http://www.aten.com/global/en/legal/policies/warranty-policy

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