PORTS Forum

Ports and Interfaces => USB => Topic started by: basscomp on June 26, 2017, 12:30:55 pm

Title: HID to COM port
Post by: basscomp on June 26, 2017, 12:30:55 pm
I am familiar with .NET. I am trying to make the HID FT260 chip from
FTDI appear on a virtual COM port when plugged in. I've looked at
Jan's website but I can't figure what my approach should be; embedded
programming for the chip or writing a driver for this device to appear as a COM
port. Could you point me to some of books/literature that will
lead me down the right path? Thanks for your assistance.
Title: Re: HID to COM port
Post by: Jan Axelson on June 26, 2017, 12:48:31 pm
The FT260 is designed to work with the HID drivers. You can't change the internal programming to make the host install it as a virtual COM port. I believe your only option would be to write and install a HID filter driver that detects the device, presents it as a virtual COM port, and manages the conversions between UART and HID data. The driver would need to be digitally signed to install on most Windows PCs. This would not be a trivial task.

So the question is whether it is worth the time and trouble to do this compared to using the UART API provided by FTDI or using a chip that does enumerate as a virtual COM port.
Title: Re: HID to COM port
Post by: basscomp on June 26, 2017, 01:01:27 pm
I have the means to sign the software once created so I believe the challenge will be in writing the HID filter driver.
Title: Re: HID to COM port
Post by: Jan Axelson on June 26, 2017, 02:18:05 pm
Start here

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/samples/human-interface-devices--hid--driver-samples
Title: Re: HID to COM port
Post by: basscomp on June 26, 2017, 03:36:34 pm
Thanks you for the link. It appears very useful. Working on it.
Title: Re: HID to COM port
Post by: basscomp on June 30, 2017, 05:45:28 pm
Hello Forum,

I will welcome any help (for pay) from the more experienced driver developers on here. I am particularly new to driver development. Thanks!

Regards.....