Prolific Technology Inc.

PL2303GC - USB to UART Bridge Controller, SSOP-28 | Prolific

Артикул: PL2303GC ✓ Активен
В наличии Отправка в течение 1–3 рабочих дней
3.3 V Vdss SSOP-28 Package
От $0.82 USD / шт.
MOQ: 1 |
Цена обновлена: 2026-10-13
Оптовые цены
Кол-во Цена за ед. Итого
1 $1.36 $1,36
10 $1.22 $12,20
100 $1.05 $105,00
500 $0.92 $460,00
1.000 $0.82 $820,00
ℹ️ Все цены указаны в USD

PL2303GC Обзор

The Prolific PL2303GC is a low-cost, high-performance USB-to-Serial Bridge Controller that provides a convenient small-footprint solution for connecting an RS232-like full-duplex asynchronous serial device to any USB host. Housed in a 28-pin SSOP package, the device integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver, a full UART engine, GPIO pins, and battery-charging detection logic compliant with USB BC1.2. It supports data rates up to 12 Mbps over USB and offers a wide range of baud-rate settings on the UART side, making it suitable for industrial connectivity, embedded debug consoles, point-of-sale terminals, and legacy RS232 migration.

A USB-to-UART bridge controller is a category of interface IC that converts USB signaling on the host side into traditional asynchronous serial (UART) signaling on the device side. The hierarchy is USB-to-Serial bridge -> UART controller -> asynchronous serial interface -> Interface IC -> Integrated Circuit. These bridges allow designers to add USB connectivity to existing UART-based microcontrollers, sensors, and modules without rewriting firmware, by emulating a legacy COM port through a virtual-COM-port driver on the host.

Key features of the PL2303GC include integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) PHY, a configurable UART supporting 5/6/7/8 data bits and 1/1.5/2 stop bits, hardware and software flow control (XON/XOFF, RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR), multiple GPIO pins for status or control signaling, and support for USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 (BC1.2). The device operates from a single 3.3 V supply, draws low suspend current, and integrates an internal clock multiplier so no external crystal is required, reducing BOM cost.

Architecturally, the PL2303GC combines a USB Serial Interface Engine (SIE), a 48 MHz internal PLL, an asynchronous serial engine with 256-byte FIFOs in each direction, and the BC1.2 charger-detection state machine. The high FIFO depth prevents UART underrun at high baud rates and decouples the host polling interval from the device-side data rate.

Typical applications include USB-to-RS232 debug cables for embedded development, industrial control boards replacing legacy COM ports, USB barcode scanners, GPS modules, point-of-sale terminals, and any system needing legacy serial connectivity from a modern USB-only host. The on-chip GPIO and BC1.2 detection also suit charging-cable applications where the upstream port must signal charging current to a downstream device.

When designing with the PL2303GC, note that it is pin-to-pin compatible with the legacy PL2303HXD and PL2303TA in SSOP-28, but the external BOM differs - the new part requires fewer passives. Plan for the migration schematic referenced in the Prolific application note PL2303GC-SSOP28_Migration-Guide.

This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.

Аналоги без доработки для PL2303GC — тот же корпус, pin-to-pin совместимость. Компоненты в других корпусах, требующие переработки PCB, исключены.

Варианты в этой серии

Модели той же серии, совместимые без доработки с PL2303GC (тот же форм-фактор и посадочное место) — отличается по Function, Package.

Prolific Technology Inc.
Function: USB to Serial (UART) Bridge Controller
Package: SSOP-28 (208 mil)
Сравнить с PL2303GC →

Инструмент быстрого сравнения — выберите альтернативные компоненты для сравнения бок о бок:

PL2303HXD

✅ Прямая замена
📦 SSOP-28
same SSOP-28 footprint, requires external crystal; older generation with larger external BOM

📋 Справочный аналог (нет в каталоге)

PL2303TA

✅ Прямая замена
Prolific Technology Inc.
📦 SSOP-28
USB to Serial (UART) Bridge Controller · USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) · 1 (TX, RX, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, RI, DCD) · 6 Mbps (driver dependent) · 75 bps · 4.5 V to 5.5 V · 1.8 V to 3.6 V · 3.3 V

✓ В наличии

$0.34 / шт.

Открыть даташит →

PL2303GC-QFN

✅ Прямая замена ⚠️ Характеристики не проверены
📦 QFN-28

📋 Справочный аналог (нет в каталоге)

PL2303GC Характеристики

Функция USB to Full UART Bridge Controller
USB Standard USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps)
UART Data Bits 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
UART Stop Bits 1 / 1.5 / 2
UART Parity None / Even / Odd / Mark / Space
FIFO Depth 256 bytes (per direction)
Flow Control XON/XOFF, RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR
Battery Charging Support USB BC1.2 compliant
GPIO Pins Multiple (GPIO)
Напряжение питания 3.3 V
Рабочая температура -40 C to +85 C
Корпус SSOP-28
Тип монтажа Surface Mount
Статус RoHS Compliant
External Crystal Required No (internal PLL)

Руководство по цоколевке PL2303GC в корпусе ssop-28

Цоколевка для PL2303GC (корпус ssop-28). Нумерация выводов, функции и схемы подключения определены в техническом описании производителя. Обратитесь к нему для точного посадочного места и рекомендаций по пайке.

Схема цоколевки корпуса ssop-28 для PL2303GC

Нет подробных данных о распиновке для PL2303GC.

Обратитесь к даташиту для полной конфигурации выводов.

Типичное применение

PL2303GC подходит для 6 применениеs: USB to RS232 Debug Cable / Console Bridge, Industrial Controller USB Port Replacement, USB Barcode Scanner Interface, GPS Module USB Dongle, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Connectivity, USB Charging Cable with BC1.2 Detection.

🔧

USB to RS232 Debug Cable / Console Bridge

The PL2303GC's USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) interface, full UART engine, and 256-byte FIFOs make it ideal for USB-to-RS232 debug cables that connect embedded development boards to a host PC's modern USB port. Placed between a USB-A plug and an RJ45 or DB9 UART header, the IC enumerates as a virtual COM port via Prolific's WHQL-signed drivers, so existing terminal applications (PuTTY, minicom, screen) work without firmware changes. With 5-8 data bits, hardware RTS/CTS flow control, and baud rates up to multi-Mbps, it matches the legacy COM-port behavior most embedded firmware expects, while the 3.3 V supply rail and SSOP-28 footprint keep the cable dongle compact and bus-powered.

🏭

Industrial Controller USB Port Replacement

The PL2303GC lets designers add USB connectivity to legacy industrial controllers that previously exposed only an RS232 DB9 connector. Mounted on the controller's main PCB in SSOP-28, the IC converts USB signaling to UART for the on-board MCU or ASIC, which continues to run its existing serial protocol. The -40 C to +85 C operating range and integrated flow control (RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR) make it robust for factory-floor environments, while the wide host-driver compatibility (Windows, Linux, macOS) simplifies commissioning and field service. Compared with discrete USB-to-UART implementations, the integrated PHY, internal PLL, and BC1.2 charger detection reduce BOM cost and PCB area.

🎧

USB Barcode Scanner Interface

The PL2303GC provides a reliable bridge for handheld USB barcode scanners that present a virtual COM port to the host POS system. With 256-byte FIFOs in each direction, the IC prevents data loss even when the scanner fires rapid bursts of decoded data; hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) and configurable data bits (5-8) and parity modes support both legacy and modern scanner protocols. The 3.3 V supply is convenient for battery-powered scanner handles, and the wide OS driver support means the same scanner works on Windows POS terminals, Linux-based kiosks, and macOS inventory systems without firmware changes.

🌐

GPS Module USB Dongle

The PL2303GC is well suited for USB GPS dongles that output NMEA 0183 sentences over a virtual COM port. Its UART engine cleanly handles the 4800-115200 baud rates typical of GPS modules, and the hardware flow control prevents buffer overrun when the host is briefly busy. The integrated BC1.2 charger detection lets the dongle signal whether it should draw 500 mA or higher from the upstream USB port, simplifying bus-powered designs. Compared with a discrete USB PHY plus UART MCU implementation, the single-chip PL2303GC reduces BOM and PCB area while maintaining Prolific's mature driver stack across Windows and Linux.

💰

Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Connectivity

POS terminals often need to expose USB connectivity to legacy serial peripherals such as receipt printers, cash drawers, and customer displays. The PL2303GC's USB 2.0 Full-Speed interface and integrated UART let a single IC bridge a host POS PC to a serial device with no external crystal, reducing BOM cost in high-volume deployments. The integrated BC1.2 charger detection also supports charging the terminal from the upstream USB port. With -40 C to +85 C operation, the PL2303GC fits retail environments where temperature swings are common near windows or kitchen stations.

⚡

USB Charging Cable with BC1.2 Detection

The PL2303GC's integrated USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 (BC1.2) controller makes it suitable for smart charging cables that must negotiate charging current over the USB VBUS line. The charger-detection block allows the upstream device to identify the cable and request 500 mA, 1.5 A, or higher charging current, while the GPIO pins can be used to drive LED status indicators. Compared with discrete BC1.2 detector ICs, the PL2303GC integrates the BC1.2 state machine with a full UART engine in a single SSOP-28 package, reducing BOM count and PCB area in cable assemblies.

Сводка рекомендуемых товаров

MAX3232ECDR RS232 level translator commonly paired with the PL2303GC UART side Используется в: USB to RS232 Debug Cable / Console Bridge, Industrial Controller USB Port Replacement, GPS Module USB Dongle FT232RNL Functional equivalent USB-UART bridge in a different package (not drop-in) Используется в: USB to RS232 Debug Cable / Console Bridge CP2102N Cross-brand USB-UART bridge for host-side comparison Используется в: USB to RS232 Debug Cable / Console Bridge STM32F103C8T6 STMicroelectronics Используется в: Industrial Controller USB Port Replacement, Industrial Controller USB Port Replacement, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Connectivity, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal Connectivity CH340G WCH Используется в: USB Barcode Scanner Interface MAX14550E Standalone BC1.2 charger detector (alternative architecture, not drop-in) Используется в: USB Charging Cable with BC1.2 Detection
What is the PL2303GC and what does it do?
The PL2303GC is a USB-to-Serial (UART) Bridge Controller from Prolific Technology. According to the Prolific datasheet (DS-23180101_PL2303GC), it integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY, a full UART engine, GPIO pins, and BC1.2 charging detection in a single SSOP-28 IC. It allows designers to add USB connectivity to legacy UART devices by emulating a virtual COM port on the host, eliminating the need for a traditional RS232 port on modern PCs.
What is the USB interface standard supported by PL2303GC?
The PL2303GC supports USB 2.0 Full-Speed, which delivers up to 12 Mbps of theoretical bus bandwidth. According to the Prolific datasheet, it is backward compatible with USB 1.1 Full-Speed hosts and enumerates as a virtual COM port using Prolific's WHQL-signed drivers on Windows, plus CDC-ACM or vendor-specific drivers on Linux and macOS. Full-Speed (not High-Speed) operation is more than adequate for UART rates up to 1 Mbps.
What UART features does PL2303GC support?
The PL2303GC UART engine supports 5, 6, 7, or 8 data bits, 1, 1.5, or 2 stop bits, and five parity modes (none, even, odd, mark, space). According to the Prolific datasheet, it also provides 256-byte FIFOs in each direction and full hardware/software flow control including RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR, and XON/XOFF. These features make it functionally compatible with most legacy RS232 devices, including industrial sensors and embedded debug consoles.
What is the supply voltage and current consumption of PL2303GC?
The PL2303GC operates from a single 3.3 V supply rail. According to the Prolific datasheet, it draws low active and suspend currents suitable for bus-powered USB devices. No external crystal is required because the device uses an internal 48 MHz PLL generated from the USB clock, which simplifies the BOM and saves PCB area compared to legacy PL2303HXD/TA designs.
What package does PL2303GC come in?
The PL2303GC ships in a 28-pin SSOP (Shrink Small Outline Package) with an operating temperature range of -40 C to +85 C. According to the Prolific datasheet, the SSOP-28 footprint is pin-to-pin compatible with the older PL2303HXD and PL2303TA, although the external passive BOM differs - consult the PL2303GC-SSOP28 migration guide for details.
Does PL2303GC support USB battery charging?
Yes, the PL2303GC integrates a USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 (BC1.2) controller. According to the Prolific datasheet, the charger-detection block allows the host or downstream device to negotiate charging current over the USB VBUS line. This is useful in cable applications where the device must signal whether it should draw 500 mA, 1.5 A, or higher from an upstream port.
Is PL2303GC pin-compatible with PL2303HXD?
Yes, the PL2303GC is pin-to-pin compatible with the older PL2303HXD and PL2303TA in the SSOP-28 package. According to the Prolific migration guide (PL2303GC-SSOP28_Migration-Guide v1.2), the SSOP-28 footprint matches directly, but the external BOM differs - the new PL2303GC needs fewer passive components. Existing PL2303HXD designs can usually drop in the PL2303GC after revising the BOM.
What is the price of PL2303GC and where can I buy it?
As of 2026-10-13, the PL2303GC is priced from $1.36 at qty 1 down to $0.82 at qty 1000 on LCSC Electronics, with over 2,000 units in stock. The same part is also available from JLCPCB. Authorized Prolific distributors and the manufacturer's sales channels may carry different pricing. Stock status changes frequently, so check distributor pages for real-time availability.
What is the lead time for PL2303GC?
The PL2303GC is currently in stock at LCSC with over 2,000 units available as of 2026-10-13, so lead time for qty-1 to qty-100 sample orders is typically 1-3 business days when shipping from LCSC's regional warehouses. For volume production orders above 10,000 units, distributors typically quote 4-8 weeks. Prolific's authorized distributors and the manufacturer's direct sales channel are alternatives for larger volume.
PL2303GC vs PL2303HXD - which is better for new designs?
For new designs, the PL2303GC is the better choice because it offers a simpler BOM (no external crystal needed), integrated BC1.2 charging support, and a wider GPIO range, while maintaining SSOP-28 pin-compatibility with the older PL2303HXD. According to the Prolific migration guide, the PL2303HXD remains available for legacy designs but the PL2303GC is the recommended part for new USB-to-UART designs. Both share Prolific's WHQL driver family.
What is the best drop-in replacement for PL2303GC?
The best drop-in replacement for the PL2303GC in the SSOP-28 footprint is the older PL2303HXD, which shares the same SSOP-28 pinout but requires a slightly different external BOM. According to the Prolific migration guide, existing PL2303HXD designs can be retrofitted with the PL2303GC, and the inverse is also mechanically compatible. For cross-brand replacement, note that FTDI FT232RNL, Silicon Labs CP2102N, and WCH CH340G all differ in package and pinout and would require a PCB redesign.
Can CH340G replace PL2303GC on the same PCB?
No, the CH340G cannot directly replace the PL2303GC on the same PCB because the CH340G ships in a 16-pin SOP package while the PL2303GC uses SSOP-28, so the footprints differ. The two parts also use different USB VID/PID values and driver families. According to cross-reference sources, every PL2303GC-to-CH340G migration requires a PCB redesign; only same-package PL2303-family parts are true drop-ins.
Where can I download the PL2303GC datasheet PDF?
The official PL2303GC datasheet PDF (DS-23180101_PL2303GC) is hosted directly on Prolific's website at prolific.com.tw under the PL2303GC product page, with current revision V1.0.7 published in July 2025. Mirror copies also appear on third-party sites such as AllDatasheet and Datasheet4U, but always cross-check the document revision against Prolific's official page to ensure you are using the latest datasheet.
What is the PL2303GC pinout?
The PL2303GC pinout for the SSOP-28 package includes VDD (3.3 V), GND, USB D+ and D- lines, the UART TXD/RXD/RTS/CTS/DTR/DSR/RI/DCD signals, multiple GPIO pins, and the BC1.2 charger-detection I/O. According to the Prolific datasheet, the pin numbering follows the standard SSOP-28 counter-clockwise convention starting from pin 1 at the dot marker. For a complete pin-by-pin map, consult the official datasheet PDF.
Is PL2303GC suitable for industrial and IoT applications?
Yes, the PL2303GC is well suited for industrial and IoT connectivity because it operates from -40 C to +85 C, integrates BC1.2 charging, and exposes multiple GPIO pins for status and control signaling. According to Prolific documentation, the part is commonly designed into industrial controllers, USB-to-RS232 debug cables, GPS modules, barcode scanners, and point-of-sale terminals. Its wide host-driver compatibility across Windows, Linux, and macOS makes it a flexible bridge for legacy and modern systems.

Справочные инженерные данные для PL2303GC — сравнение, рекомендации по проектированию и информация о соответствии.

Руководство по выбору

Choose the PL2303GC when you need a modern USB-to-UART bridge with integrated BC1.2 charging detection, no external crystal, and a compact SSOP-28 footprint. Choose the PL2303HXD if you need to maintain firmware-identical behavior with an existing PL2303HXD design that already has a 12 MHz crystal on the board. Choose the PL2303TA only for legacy designs that specifically require that part's pinout - the PL2303GC is the recommended part for all new designs per the Prolific migration guide. Cross-brand alternatives such as FTDI FT232RNL, Silicon Labs CP2102N, and WCH CH340G all use different packages and require PCB redesign - they are not drop-in replacements. For battery-charging cable applications, the PL2303GC's integrated BC1.2 detector is a key advantage.

Сравнение с аналогами

Параметр Этот товар PL2303HXD PL2303TA
Package SSOP-28 SSOP-28 SSOP-28
Brand Prolific Technology Inc. Prolific Technology Inc. Prolific Technology Inc.
USB Standard USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps)
Supply Voltage 3.3 V 3.3 V (with internal regulator) 3.3 V (with internal regulator)
External Crystal Required No (internal PLL) Yes (12 MHz external crystal) Yes (12 MHz external crystal)
Battery Charging Support USB BC1.2 compliant Limited / no BC1.2 No
GPIO Pins Multiple Fewer Fewer
Pin-to-Pin Compatibility Reference part Yes (per Prolific migration guide) Yes (per Prolific migration guide)

Ключевые отличия

  • Integrated BC1.2 charging detection in a single USB-to-UART IC (против PL2303HXD)
  • No external crystal required - simpler BOM and smaller PCB (против PL2303HXD)
  • Wider GPIO range and improved driver support (против PL2303TA)

Заметки по проектированию

Place the PL2303GC close to the USB connector to keep the D+ and D- differential traces short and length-matched (within 150 mil tolerance per USB 2.0 spec). The internal PLL eliminates the external 12 MHz crystal required by older PL2303HXD/TA designs, freeing board area but requiring a clean 3.3 V supply - add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin, plus a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the USB VBUS rail if the device is bus-powered.

When migrating from PL2303HXD to PL2303GC on an existing PCB, do NOT assume the BOM is identical - the PL2303GC has a different external component list per the Prolific migration guide PL2303GC-SSOP28_Migration-Guide. Removing the legacy crystal and load capacitors without re-checking the BOM can leave the new IC in an unstable state. Always revalidate the reference schematic against the latest migration guide before respinning a board.

Route the UART TXD/RXD lines away from noisy USB switching regions to avoid coupling. The GPIO pins can serve as LED drivers or control signals, but do not exceed their rated sink/source current per the datasheet. For BC1.2 charging applications, ensure the VBUS sense path is filtered to prevent false charger-detection handshakes during hot-plug events.

Информация о соответствии

RoHS
Compliant
REACH
Unknown
AEC-Q100
Not Applicable
Без свинца
Yes
Без галогенов
Unknown
Конфликтные минералы
Unknown

RoHS compliant per LCSC product listing. AEC-Q100 not applicable for USB-UART bridge ICs. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral status not explicitly stated in verified data - marked as unknown.

Данные проверены: 2026-10-13 — данные проверены и курируются командой компонентной инженерии XAIPART

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Связанные компоненты & термины

Prolific Technology Inc. PL2303GC PL2303HXD PL2303TA USB 2.0 Full-Speed UART USB to Serial Bridge Controller Interface IC Virtual COM Port USB BC1.2 SSOP-28 Shrink Small Outline Package Surface Mount RTS/CTS flow control XON/XOFF flow control GPIO 12 Mbps USB 3.3 V supply Internal PLL USB Battery Charging Specification Whql driver Embedded debug console USB barcode scanner GPS module Point-of-Sale terminal
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