Why is there a diode on the RX pin of the Adafruit Ultimate GPS board?












3












$begingroup$


I can't seem to understand why there is a diode at the Rx pin on this Adafruit Ultimate GPS board. If we are sending data to the GPS, why put a diode that prevents current flow into this pin?



Adafruit Ultimate GPS Schematic










share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
    $endgroup$
    – brhans
    Jan 13 at 0:43
















3












$begingroup$


I can't seem to understand why there is a diode at the Rx pin on this Adafruit Ultimate GPS board. If we are sending data to the GPS, why put a diode that prevents current flow into this pin?



Adafruit Ultimate GPS Schematic










share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
    $endgroup$
    – brhans
    Jan 13 at 0:43














3












3








3


1



$begingroup$


I can't seem to understand why there is a diode at the Rx pin on this Adafruit Ultimate GPS board. If we are sending data to the GPS, why put a diode that prevents current flow into this pin?



Adafruit Ultimate GPS Schematic










share|improve this question









$endgroup$




I can't seem to understand why there is a diode at the Rx pin on this Adafruit Ultimate GPS board. If we are sending data to the GPS, why put a diode that prevents current flow into this pin?



Adafruit Ultimate GPS Schematic







diodes uart gps






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Jan 13 at 0:35









YNGVVYNGVV

295




295








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
    $endgroup$
    – brhans
    Jan 13 at 0:43














  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
    $endgroup$
    – brhans
    Jan 13 at 0:43








7




7




$begingroup$
Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
$endgroup$
– brhans
Jan 13 at 0:43




$begingroup$
Are you referring to D1? Did you read the note in the schematic telling you what it's for?
$endgroup$
– brhans
Jan 13 at 0:43










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















19












$begingroup$

The pull-up resistor to 3.3V and the diode means that even if you feed the circuit with 5V logic (most Arduino boards use 5V logic) the GPS chipset will see a maximum of 3.3v. The MT3339 device may be damaged or operate incorrectly if any of its pins go above its 3.3V supply rail.



If the signal RX_5V goes to a logic low the diode will conduct and pull the MT3339 RX pin to ~0.7V that it will treat as a logic low.



If RX_5V goes to 5V resistor R3 will pull the MT3339 RX up to 3.3V and the diode will be reverse biased.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    and that sir is the answer!!!
    $endgroup$
    – Edwin Fairchild
    2 days ago



















2












$begingroup$

The purpose of the diode is documented in a line of text near it on the schematic. The diode and resistor protect the RX input.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – YNGVV
    Jan 13 at 1:00













Your Answer





StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");

StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("schematics", function () {
StackExchange.schematics.init();
});
}, "cicuitlab");

StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "135"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});














draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2felectronics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f416670%2fwhy-is-there-a-diode-on-the-rx-pin-of-the-adafruit-ultimate-gps-board%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









19












$begingroup$

The pull-up resistor to 3.3V and the diode means that even if you feed the circuit with 5V logic (most Arduino boards use 5V logic) the GPS chipset will see a maximum of 3.3v. The MT3339 device may be damaged or operate incorrectly if any of its pins go above its 3.3V supply rail.



If the signal RX_5V goes to a logic low the diode will conduct and pull the MT3339 RX pin to ~0.7V that it will treat as a logic low.



If RX_5V goes to 5V resistor R3 will pull the MT3339 RX up to 3.3V and the diode will be reverse biased.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    and that sir is the answer!!!
    $endgroup$
    – Edwin Fairchild
    2 days ago
















19












$begingroup$

The pull-up resistor to 3.3V and the diode means that even if you feed the circuit with 5V logic (most Arduino boards use 5V logic) the GPS chipset will see a maximum of 3.3v. The MT3339 device may be damaged or operate incorrectly if any of its pins go above its 3.3V supply rail.



If the signal RX_5V goes to a logic low the diode will conduct and pull the MT3339 RX pin to ~0.7V that it will treat as a logic low.



If RX_5V goes to 5V resistor R3 will pull the MT3339 RX up to 3.3V and the diode will be reverse biased.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    and that sir is the answer!!!
    $endgroup$
    – Edwin Fairchild
    2 days ago














19












19








19





$begingroup$

The pull-up resistor to 3.3V and the diode means that even if you feed the circuit with 5V logic (most Arduino boards use 5V logic) the GPS chipset will see a maximum of 3.3v. The MT3339 device may be damaged or operate incorrectly if any of its pins go above its 3.3V supply rail.



If the signal RX_5V goes to a logic low the diode will conduct and pull the MT3339 RX pin to ~0.7V that it will treat as a logic low.



If RX_5V goes to 5V resistor R3 will pull the MT3339 RX up to 3.3V and the diode will be reverse biased.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



The pull-up resistor to 3.3V and the diode means that even if you feed the circuit with 5V logic (most Arduino boards use 5V logic) the GPS chipset will see a maximum of 3.3v. The MT3339 device may be damaged or operate incorrectly if any of its pins go above its 3.3V supply rail.



If the signal RX_5V goes to a logic low the diode will conduct and pull the MT3339 RX pin to ~0.7V that it will treat as a logic low.



If RX_5V goes to 5V resistor R3 will pull the MT3339 RX up to 3.3V and the diode will be reverse biased.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered Jan 13 at 1:00









Kevin WhiteKevin White

12.9k11522




12.9k11522








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    and that sir is the answer!!!
    $endgroup$
    – Edwin Fairchild
    2 days ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    and that sir is the answer!!!
    $endgroup$
    – Edwin Fairchild
    2 days ago








1




1




$begingroup$
and that sir is the answer!!!
$endgroup$
– Edwin Fairchild
2 days ago




$begingroup$
and that sir is the answer!!!
$endgroup$
– Edwin Fairchild
2 days ago













2












$begingroup$

The purpose of the diode is documented in a line of text near it on the schematic. The diode and resistor protect the RX input.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – YNGVV
    Jan 13 at 1:00


















2












$begingroup$

The purpose of the diode is documented in a line of text near it on the schematic. The diode and resistor protect the RX input.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – YNGVV
    Jan 13 at 1:00
















2












2








2





$begingroup$

The purpose of the diode is documented in a line of text near it on the schematic. The diode and resistor protect the RX input.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$



The purpose of the diode is documented in a line of text near it on the schematic. The diode and resistor protect the RX input.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Jan 13 at 0:43









Elliot AldersonElliot Alderson

5,43111018




5,43111018












  • $begingroup$
    I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – YNGVV
    Jan 13 at 1:00




















  • $begingroup$
    I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – YNGVV
    Jan 13 at 1:00


















$begingroup$
I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– YNGVV
Jan 13 at 1:00






$begingroup$
I should have elaborated. Yes, I see the note on the schematic and see that if a voltage higher than 3.3V is at RX_5V then current will be blocked by D1. But I do not understand how this allows any data to be transferred to the Rx pin if D1 is blocking all current flow from RX_5V. Could it be that if RX_5V is grounded/low/off, then RX will read 0 and if RX_5V is high (~3.3V or greater), RX will read 1 while being protected from any signal >3.3V? EDIT: Just saw @Kevin White's follow-up. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– YNGVV
Jan 13 at 1:00




















draft saved

draft discarded




















































Thanks for contributing an answer to Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2felectronics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f416670%2fwhy-is-there-a-diode-on-the-rx-pin-of-the-adafruit-ultimate-gps-board%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown







Popular posts from this blog

1300-talet

1300-talet

Display a custom attribute below product name in the front-end Magento 1.9.3.8