Qualified for Automotive Applications

ESD Protection Exceeds 2000 V Per

MIL-STD-883, Method 3015; Exceeds 200 V

Using Machine Model (C = 200 pF, R = 0)

Meets or Exceeds 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)

RS-232 Bus-Pin ESD Protection Exceeds

±15 kV Using Human-Body Model (HBM)

description/ordering information

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.