1

®

FN6012.3

CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.

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ICL3238E

±15kV ESD Protected, +3V to +5.5V, 10nA,

250kbps, RS-232 Transceiver with

Enhanced Automatic Powerdown

The Intersil ICL3238E contains 3.0V to 5.5V powered

RS-232 transmitters/receivers which meet ElA/TIA-232 and

Human Body Model) on transmitter outputs and receiver

inputs (RS-232 pins). Targeted applications are cell phones,

Palmtops, and data cables where the low operational, and

even lower standby, power consumption is critical. Efficient

on-chip charge pumps, coupled with manual and enhanced

automatic powerdown functions, reduce the standby supply

current to a 10nA trickle. Small footprint packaging, and the

use of small, low value capacitors ensure board space

savings as well. Data rates greater than 250kbps are

guaranteed at worst case load conditions providing

compatibility with popular PC communication software.

The ICL3238E is a 5 driver, 3 receiver device optimized for

DCE applications with full hardware handshaking. It also

includes a noninverting always-active receiver for RING

INDICATOR monitoring.

This device, features an enhanced automatic powerdown

function which powers down the on-chip power-supply and

driver circuits. This occurs when all receiver and transmitter

inputs detect no signal transitions for a period of 30s. The

ICL3238E powers back up, automatically, whenever it

senses a transition on any transmitter or receiver input.

The transmitter and logic inputs include active feedback

resistors that retain the input state once driven to a valid

logic level.

Table 1 summarizes the features of the ICL3238E, while

Application Note AN9863 summarizes the features of each

device comprising the ICL32XXE 3V family.

Features

• Pb-Free Available as an Option (see Ordering Info)

• Manual and Enhanced Automatic Powerdown Features

• Pin Compatible Replacement for MAX3238E, MAX3238,

SP3238E

• Meets EIA/TIA-232 and V.28/V.24 Specifications at 3V

• RS-232 Compatible Outputs at 2.7V Supply

• Flow Through Pinout

• Latch-Up Free

• On-Chip Voltage Converters Require Only Four External

Capacitors

• Receiver and Transmitter Hysteresis For Improved Noise

Immunity

• Guaranteed Minimum Data Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250kbps

• Wide Power Supply Range . . . . . . . Single +3V to +5.5V

• Low Supply Current in Powerdown State. . . . . . . . . 10nA

Applications

• Any System Requiring RS-232 Communication Ports

- Battery Powered, Hand-Held, and Portable Equipment

- Data Cradles

- Modems, Printers and other Peripherals

- Cellular/Mobile Phones, Data Cables

TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF FEATURES

PART

NUMBER

NO. OF

Tx.

NO. OF

Rx.

NO. OF

MONITOR Rx.

DATA

RATE

(kbps)

Rx. ENABLE

FUNCTION?

READY

OUTPUT?

MANUAL

POWER-

DOWN?

ENHANCED

AUTOMATIC

POWERDOWN

FUNCTION?

ICL3238E

5

3

1

250

No

No

Yes

Yes

Data Sheet

July 2004