High-Density Industrial-Grade Multi-Serial Port Expansion Solution
Addressing pain points such as insufficient serial ports on mini PCs and embedded industrial control computers, traditional PCI/PCIe serial cards being too bulky for installation, difficulties in connecting multiple RS-232 peripherals simultaneously, failure to meet industrial-grade wide temperature and anti-interference standards, and complex driver installation, the Lekuo IO-M2F358C-8S adopts a compact M.2 2280 design based on a high-speed PCIe 2.0 x1 lane. A single card provides 8-port RS-232 serial expansion, offering plug-and-play compatibility with Windows and Linux systems. It operates stably within a wide temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees Celsius, perfectly meeting multi-port communication needs across various scenarios such as industrial automation, smart terminals, data acquisition, and embedded devices.
Core Advantages
1. Ultra-Compact Design and Flexible Installation
Designed with the standard M.2 2280 form factor (B+M Key), making it compatible with space-constrained chassis and motherboard layouts. This allows compact industrial hosts and mini PCs to gain high-density serial expansion capabilities without any external footprint.
2. 8-Port High-Density Serial Expansion
Provides 8 independent sets of RS-232 interfaces via high-density breakout adapter cables, allowing simultaneous connection of 8 industrial serial peripherals to meet multi-device connectivity needs with zero signal latency.
3. Reliable Industrial-Grade Communication Guaranteed
Every serial port features built-in 15 KV ESD protection, shielding your host system from high-voltage static discharges, ground loops, and transient surges in challenging factory environments.
Detailed Hardware and Interface Specifications
1. Interface and Transmission Specifications
- Host Interface: M.2 B+M Key, compatible with PCIe 2.0 x1 lane (Up to 2.5 Gbps bandwidth).
- Device Interface: 8 x RS-232 Ports (Full DB9 male support via included high-density breakout cables).
- Main Chipset: EXAR XR17V358 high-performance UART controller core.
- Hardware Buffer (FIFO): 16550 compatible with a massive 256-byte deep FIFO data queue.
2. Advanced Transmission Control Design
- Data Configuration: Supports adjustable UART settings (Data Bits: 5, 6, 7, 8 | Stop Bits: 1, 1.5, 2 | Parity: Even, Odd, Mark, Space, None).
- Flow Control: Automatic hardware RTS/CTS or DTR/DSR with programmable hysteresis, and software Xon/Xoff flow control.
- Baud Rate Generator: Built-in fractional baud rate generator with programmable TX/RX trigger levels and FIFO level counters.
3. System Compatibility and Ease of Use
- OS Support: Fully compatible with Windows Desktop and Server Series, as well as Linux Mainline Kernel 2.6.27 and newer.
- Standard Compatibility: Strong hardware compatibility; works seamlessly with any industrial motherboard, mini PC, or embedded platform.
Target Industry Applications and Solution Value
1. Industrial Automation Control
Industrial equipment such as PLCs, CNC machinery, inverters, and automated testing devices widely utilize RS-232 communication; however, modern compact host PCs are highly limited in native COM interface counts.
*Solution Value: The Lekuo IO-M2F358C-8S directly utilizes an idle motherboard M.2 slot to expand 8 RS-232 ports. A single computer can now manage up to 8 production devices simultaneously, reducing hardware costs and cabling complexity.
*Performance Advantage: High-performance hardware FIFOs guarantee steady transmission and eliminate timing lag on dense communication loops.
2. Smart Terminals and Self-Service Commercial Equipment
Commercial terminals such as self-service ticketing kiosks, ATMs, bank cash dispensers, and self-checkout systems require stable, simultaneous connections to multiple serial components (receipt printers, barcode scanners, pin pads, card readers, and coin hoppers).
*Solution Value: The M.2 2280 form factor is perfect for the cramped enclosures of ticketing kiosks. Meanwhile, the integrated 15 KV ESD shielding ensures 24/7 terminal uptime by successfully resisting public-use static interference.
*Practical Application: Easy deployment and reliable physical cabling maximize system stability while reducing operational maintenance overhead.
Package Content
*1 x Lekuo M.2 to 8-Port RS-232 Card (IO-M2F358C-8S)
*8 x DB9 Serial Adapter Breakout Cables
*1 x Instruction Manual
Summary
The Lekuo IO-M2F358C-8S M.2 to 8-Port RS-232 Serial Card features a compact M.2 2280 form factor, 8 high-performance COM ports, and industrial-grade 15 KV ESD protection as its core advantages. Driven by the robust EXAR XR17V358 chipset, it completely resolves multi-port serial communication challenges for modern embedded computing, automated networks, and commercial terminal integration.