Instrument Control Toolbox

Serial Port Overview

This section provides an overview of the serial port. Topics include

• What is Serial Communication?
• The Serial Port Interface Standard
• Connecting Two Devices with a Serial Cable
• Serial Port Signals and Pin Assignments
• Serial Data Format
• Finding Serial Port Information for Your Platform

For many serial port applications, you can communicate with your instrument without detailed knowledge of how the serial port works. Communication is established through a serial port object, which you create in the MATLAB workspace.

If your application is straightforward, or if you are already familiar with the topics mentioned above, you might want to begin with Creating a Serial Port Object. If you want a high-level description of all the steps you are likely to take when communicating with your instrument, refer to The Instrument Control Session.

Controlling Serial Port Instruments

What Is Serial Communication?