Excamera Labs TermDriver 2 USB-to-Serial Adapter with RP2040 MCU and Built-in Display

TermDriver 2 USB-to-serial adapter

Excamera Labs has introduced TermDriver 2, a compact USB-to-serial adapter with a built-in display designed to simplify debugging of serial communication issues and port compatibility problems. TermDriver 2 is a self-contained device that supports baud rates from 1200 to 2 Mbit and can also function in standalone mode, displaying serial console output directly on its screen without requiring a host connection. It accepts both 3.3V and 5V inputs and provides DTR and CTS control signals for broader compatibility.

The device is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller and supports standard ANSI escape codes, ensuring accurate reproduction of colors and layout on its display for real-time serial data streaming. Leveraging the RP2040’s dual-core architecture, one ARM Cortex-M0+ core is dedicated to USB-UART communication while the other handles display rendering. This separation ensures high throughput and zero data loss, even at higher speeds. Additionally, with its 32KB input buffer, TermDriver 2 can manage overflow efficiently, preventing loss of critical data during operation.

TermDriver 2 USB-to-serial adapter – board view

TermDriver 2 Specifications:

• RP2040-based design: Dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU @ 133MHz with 264KB SRAM and 2MB onboard flash
• Integrated display: 240 x 240 high-contrast IPS panel (230 PPI) with full ANSI terminal emulation, color support, and live RTS/DTR signal monitoring
• Robust serial support: 6-pin 2.54mm header, baud rates from 1200bps up to 2Mbps, 32KB hardware buffer, and zero data loss architecture
• USB connectivity: Micro USB interface for host connection
• Expansion options: Standard 0.1″ header pins for flexible serial integration
• Power: 5V DC over USB with 350mA @ 3.3V output available
• Durability: Custom bezel and rugged one-piece design for field use

Standalone operation with a GPS module

The TermDriver 2 adapter uses the USB CDC ACM standard device type and uses CircuitPython on-board firmware enabling driver-less device usage on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Once the TermDriver 2 ships, the project source material – both the firmware, and the PCB design files in gerber format, as well as the 3D printed enclosure – will be released to the community under an open-source hardware license (the BSD 3-clause license).

Excamera Labs has launched the TermDriver 2 on Crowd Supply for $24, successfully surpassing its $5,400 funding goal. Deliveries are expected to begin in November 2025, with shipping priced at $8 within the US and $18 worldwide.

Images used courtesy of Crowd Supply