You will need a MAX232 or similar to go to a standard serial port. The only time you don't is when interfacing to chips and modules that have "TTL level" serial RX and TX (such as many GPS modules).
I assume you have an USB port on the computer, as you'd need that to program the mbed. You could use the USB cable connected to the mbed as a serial port, if you install drivers.
A voltage level conversion circuit or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX232 IC is required to connect mbed to a real RS-232 serial port. The serial port on a PC uses RS-232 voltage levels +/-3 to +/-15V (i.e., not TTL 0-5V logic levels). This one from http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=449 comes with the conversion circuit on a breakout board with the typical DB9 serial connector. It also has LEDs that indicate serial data flow. You have to solder header pins on it. See last section of http://mbed.org/cookbook/Serial-Interrupts for more info.
Important Information for this Arm website
This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.
By continuing to use our site, you consent to our cookies.
If you are not happy with the use of these cookies, please review our
Cookie Policy
to learn how they can be disabled.
By disabling cookies, some features of the site will not work.
Access Warning
You do not have the correct permissions to perform this operation.
I ask about serial tx ,rx in mbed controller
it's right to connect my controller directly to my serial port -15 volt and 15 volt or i should use IC max232
to change their level voltages