Click on the advert above to visit the company web site

Product category: Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Texas Instruments (April 2001-March 2006) | Subject: MAX3243E, MAX3232E and MAX3227
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 15 September 2005

RS232 transceivers are
fully ESD protected

A new family of RS232 devices integrate system-level IEC61000-4-2 ESD protection

Texas Instruments has a new family of RS232 devices with system-level IEC61000-4-2 ESD protection. Integrating IEC61000-4-2 protection onto these devices makes the RS232 interface immune to damage caused by ESD strikes while the system is up and running, such as when making a connection to the RS232 cable once the system is powered up.

Another significant advantage these devices provide is the elimination of external IEC ESD protection devices, saving the board manufacturer cost in assembly and board space.

TI's initial device offering with IEC ESD protection include the MAX3243E, MAX3232E and MAX3227.

ESD test standards such as HBM (human body model),mm (machine model) and CDM (charged device model) address immunity from damage experienced through device handling (especially during the board manufacturing process).

The IEC61000-4-2 ESD specification is one of the industry's most stringent ESD testing methodologies to address system-level immunity to malfunction and/or damage during an ESD strike while the end equipment is in use.

In comparison, other previously mentioned ESD tests are performed with the device powered down and also at the device level.

Furthermore, the stress conditions associated with the IEC ESD specification are much higher than the device-level ESD tests.

For example, peak current for IEC61000-4-2 ESD strike is five times greater than the peak current for the HBM ESD strike.

TI's MAX3243E and MAX3232E, which are compliant up to level 4 (+/-8kV contact discharge and +/-15kV airgap discharge), and MAX3227, which performs better than the level 3 specification (+/-6kV contact and +/-8kV airgap) devices, meet the requirements for low-power, high-speed applications, such as portable/consumer equipment, telecomms and computing applications.

By providing ultralow power consumption during power-down mode (ICC 1uA typical), high datarates (up to 1Mbit/s), and 5.5V-tolerant inputs, the devices are suitable for most RS232 communication needs.

The MAX3243E is currently available in the industry-standard 28-pin TSSOP, SSOP and SOIC packages, as well as the space-saving QFN package.

All package offerings are RoHS compliant.

The devices are available to sample now.

Budgetary pricing for the MAX3243E is set at $1.28 for commercial temperature grade and $1.57 for industrial grade in quantities of 1000.

• Texas Instruments (April 2001-March 2006): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
•
• Electronicstalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites

Put your news on Electronicstalk  |   Advertise  |   Get the free Electronicstalk newsletter
Electronicstalk Home  |   About Electronicstalk  |   Copyright © 2000-2007 Pro-Talk Ltd, UK