16550 UART
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The 16550 UART (universal asynchronous receiver transmitter) is made by National Semiconductor. Both the hardware and software interface of the 16550 are backward compatible with the earlier 8250 series and 16450 UART. The 16550 offers a 16-byte FIFO buffer. Now revised to the 16550D. It is an integrated circuit designed for implementing the electrical interface for serial communications; it is frequently used to implement the serial port for IBM PC compatible personal computers, where it is often connected to an RS-232 interface for modems, serial mice, printers, and similar peripherals.
Similarly-numbered devices, with varying levels of compatibility with the original National Semiconductor part, are made by other manufacturers.
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This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL.
