The FT232RL is a USB-to-serial converter chip from FTDI (Future Technology Devices International). It is used to provide a bridge between the USB port on a computer and the serial communication protocol used by many electronic devices.

The FT232RL allows a computer to communicate with and control devices that use serial communication, such as microcontrollers, sensors, and other embedded systems. It provides a way for the computer to send and receive data over a serial connection, which can be used to control and monitor the behavior of the device.

The FT232RL is primarily used as a USB-to-UART converter, which allows for communication between a computer or other USB host device and a microcontroller or other UART-enabled device. 

This functionality is used in a wide range of applications, including programming microcontrollers, debugging electronic devices, and interfacing with sensors and other peripherals. 

The data rate of the FT232RL USB-to-serial converter depends on the baud rate of the serial communication it is interfacing with. The FT232RL supports baud rates up to 3 Mbaud for standard RS-232 communication, and up to 12 Mbaud for UART communication.

In addition to the baud rate, the FT232RL supports a range of other communication parameters, including parity, stop bits, and flow control. These parameters can be configured through the device's software drivers.

It is important to note that the maximum data rate of the FT232RL is ultimately limited by the speed of the USB port it is connected to. USB 2.0 ports, which the FT232RL is typically connected to, have a maximum data transfer rate of 480 Mbps, but the actual data rate achieved will depend on the performance of the host computer and other factors such as cable length and quality.

Feature

Applications