MAX3238

ACTIVE

3- to 5.5-V multichannel 250kbps RS-232 line driver/receiver with +/-15-kV ESD protection

Product details

Drivers per package 5 Receivers per package 3 Logic voltage (min) (V) 3.3 Data rate (max) (Mbps) 0.25 Main supply voltage (nom) (V) 3.3, 5 Features Auto-Powerdown Plus ESD HBM (kV) 15 Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 85 Vout (typ) (V) 5.4
Drivers per package 5 Receivers per package 3 Logic voltage (min) (V) 3.3 Data rate (max) (Mbps) 0.25 Main supply voltage (nom) (V) 3.3, 5 Features Auto-Powerdown Plus ESD HBM (kV) 15 Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 85 Vout (typ) (V) 5.4
SSOP (DB) 28 79.56 mm² 10.2 x 7.8 TSSOP (PW) 28 62.08 mm² 9.7 x 6.4
  • RS-232 Bus-Pin ESD Protection Exceeds ±15 kV Using Human-Body Model (HBM)
  • Meets or Exceeds the Requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and ITU v.28 Standards
  • Operates With 3-V to 5.5-V VCC Supply
  • Operates up to 250 kbit/s
  • Five Drivers and Three Receivers
  • Low Standby Current ...1 µA Typical
  • External Capacitors ...4 × 0.1 µF
  • Accepts 5-V Logic Input With 3.3-V Supply
  • Always-Active Noninverting Receiver Output (ROUT1B)
  • Designed to Be Interchangeable With Maxim MAX3238
  • Alternative High-Speed Pin-Compatible Device (1 Mbit/s)
    • SNx5C3238
  • Applications
    • Battery-Powered Systems, PDAs, Notebooks, Subnotebooks, Laptops, Palmtop PCs, Hand-Held Equipment, Modems, and Printers

  • RS-232 Bus-Pin ESD Protection Exceeds ±15 kV Using Human-Body Model (HBM)
  • Meets or Exceeds the Requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and ITU v.28 Standards
  • Operates With 3-V to 5.5-V VCC Supply
  • Operates up to 250 kbit/s
  • Five Drivers and Three Receivers
  • Low Standby Current ...1 µA Typical
  • External Capacitors ...4 × 0.1 µF
  • Accepts 5-V Logic Input With 3.3-V Supply
  • Always-Active Noninverting Receiver Output (ROUT1B)
  • Designed to Be Interchangeable With Maxim MAX3238
  • Alternative High-Speed Pin-Compatible Device (1 Mbit/s)
    • SNx5C3238
  • Applications
    • Battery-Powered Systems, PDAs, Notebooks, Subnotebooks, Laptops, Palmtop PCs, Hand-Held Equipment, Modems, and Printers

The MAX3238 consists of five line drivers, three line receivers, and a dual charge-pump circuit with ±15-kV ESD (HBM) protection pin to pin (serial-port connection pins, including GND). The device meets the requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and provides the electrical interface between notebook and subnotebook computer applications. The charge pump and four small external capacitors allow operation from a single 3-V to 5.5-V supply. In addition, the device includes an always-active noninverting output (ROUT1B), which allows applications using the ring indicator to transmit data while the device is powered down. These devices operate at data signaling rates up to 250 kbit/s and a maximum of 30-V/µs driver output slew rate.

Flexible control options for power management are featured when the serial port and driver inputs are inactive. The auto-powerdown plus feature functions when FORCEON is low and FORCEOFF\ is high. During this mode of operation, if the device does not sense valid signal transitions on all receiver and driver inputs for approximately 30 s, the built-in charge pump and drivers are powered down, reducing the supply current to 1 µA. By disconnecting the serial port or placing the peripheral drivers off, auto-powerdown plus occurs if there is no activity in the logic levels for the driver inputs. Auto-powerdown plus can be disabled when FORCEON and FORCEOFF\ are high. With auto-powerdown plus enabled, the device automatically activates once a valid signal is applied to any receiver or driver input. INVALID\ is high (valid data) if any receiver input voltage is greater than 2.7 V or less than –2.7 V, or has been between –0.3 V and 0.3 V for less than 30 µs. INVALID\ is low (invalid data) if all receiver input voltages are between –0.3 V and 0.3 V for more than 30 µs. Refer to Figure 5 for receiver input levels.

The MAX3238 consists of five line drivers, three line receivers, and a dual charge-pump circuit with ±15-kV ESD (HBM) protection pin to pin (serial-port connection pins, including GND). The device meets the requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and provides the electrical interface between notebook and subnotebook computer applications. The charge pump and four small external capacitors allow operation from a single 3-V to 5.5-V supply. In addition, the device includes an always-active noninverting output (ROUT1B), which allows applications using the ring indicator to transmit data while the device is powered down. These devices operate at data signaling rates up to 250 kbit/s and a maximum of 30-V/µs driver output slew rate.

Flexible control options for power management are featured when the serial port and driver inputs are inactive. The auto-powerdown plus feature functions when FORCEON is low and FORCEOFF\ is high. During this mode of operation, if the device does not sense valid signal transitions on all receiver and driver inputs for approximately 30 s, the built-in charge pump and drivers are powered down, reducing the supply current to 1 µA. By disconnecting the serial port or placing the peripheral drivers off, auto-powerdown plus occurs if there is no activity in the logic levels for the driver inputs. Auto-powerdown plus can be disabled when FORCEON and FORCEOFF\ are high. With auto-powerdown plus enabled, the device automatically activates once a valid signal is applied to any receiver or driver input. INVALID\ is high (valid data) if any receiver input voltage is greater than 2.7 V or less than –2.7 V, or has been between –0.3 V and 0.3 V for less than 30 µs. INVALID\ is low (invalid data) if all receiver input voltages are between –0.3 V and 0.3 V for more than 30 µs. Refer to Figure 5 for receiver input levels.

Download View video with transcript Video

Similar products you might be interested in

open-in-new Compare alternates
Drop-in replacement with upgraded functionality to the compared device
MAX3238E ACTIVE 3- to 5.5-V multichannel 400kbps RS-232 line driver/receiver with +/-15-kV IEC-ESD protection TI recommends the MAX3238E in new designs. The MAX3238E is an improved direct drop-in replacement for the MAX3238.
Pin-for-pin with same functionality to the compared device
TRS3238E ACTIVE 3- to 5.5-V multichannel 400kbps RS-232 line driver/receiver with +/-15-kV IEC-ESD protection The device has the SAME FUNCTIONALITY/PINOUT as the compared device but includes enhanced IEC61000-4-2 ESD Protection.

Technical documentation

star =Top documentation for this product selected by TI
No results found. Please clear your search and try again.
View all 1
Type Title Date
* Data sheet MAX3238 datasheet (Rev. J) 18 Mar 2004

Design & development

For additional terms or required resources, click any title below to view the detail page where available.

Simulation tool

PSPICE-FOR-TI — PSpice® for TI design and simulation tool

PSpice® for TI is a design and simulation environment that helps evaluate functionality of analog circuits. This full-featured, design and simulation suite uses an analog analysis engine from Cadence®. Available at no cost, PSpice for TI includes one of the largest model libraries in the (...)
Simulation tool

TINA-TI — SPICE-based analog simulation program

TINA-TI provides all the conventional DC, transient and frequency domain analysis of SPICE and much more. TINA has extensive post-processing capability that allows you to format results the way you want them. Virtual instruments allow you to select input waveforms and probe circuit nodes voltages (...)
User guide: PDF
Package Pins CAD symbols, footprints & 3D models
SSOP (DB) 28 Ultra Librarian
TSSOP (PW) 28 Ultra Librarian

Ordering & quality

Information included:
  • RoHS
  • REACH
  • Device marking
  • Lead finish/Ball material
  • MSL rating/Peak reflow
  • MTBF/FIT estimates
  • Material content
  • Qualification summary
  • Ongoing reliability monitoring
Information included:
  • Fab location
  • Assembly location

Recommended products may have parameters, evaluation modules or reference designs related to this TI product.

Support & training

TI E2E™ forums with technical support from TI engineers

Content is provided "as is" by TI and community contributors and does not constitute TI specifications. See terms of use.

If you have questions about quality, packaging or ordering TI products, see TI support. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Videos