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Georg Neugschwandtner

ACTIface (A Customizable TP-UART Interface) connects a PC to a KNX TP1 (EIB TP) network. It is built around a popular ASIC (the TP-UART). What you can download here are the design files for the ACTIface circuit board and the firmware for the microcontroller on it.

The ACTIface project website contains a really comprehensive description. Don't miss out on this one! Here is a brief feature summary:

  • ACTIface contains a TI MSP430 microcontroller and the necessary firmware to work around certain issues in the TP-UART-to-host protocol, with absolutely minimal changes to the protocol itself
  • The MSP430 firmware includes a software UART library which can be used in other projects
  • ACTIface can also work as a standalone KNX device (if you write a new program for the MSP430)
  • You can also leave out the microcontroller if you only need an adapter between the TP-UART and an interface with RS-232 voltage levels
  • Connectors and jumpers on the PCB are labelled so you do not have to use an enclosure if you do not want to
  • The software tools for programming the microcontroller and for modifying the PCB design are available free of charge

If you are interested in the Siemens TP-UART chip, you may also be interested in the newer Siemens TP-UART 2, Elmos Semiconductor E981.03 and ON Semiconductor NCN5120 (please use your favourite search engine to obtain the datasheets, the URLs are changing all the time). In addition to the evaluation/demo boards which are available from the IC manufacturers, there are (currently) two designs from academia:

But then again, the lead pitch of the "old" TP-UART is much more tinker-friendly...

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