Rev. 11/07/02 SP3222E/3232E True +3.0 to +5.0V RS-232 Transceivers
Copyright 2002 Sipex Corporation
8
DESCRIPTION
The
SP3222E/3232E
transceivers meet the EIA/
TIA-232 and V.28/V.24 communication proto-
cols and can be implemented in battery-pow-
ered, portable, or hand-held applications such as
notebook or palmtop computers. The
SP3222E/
3232E
devices all feature
Sipex's
proprietary
on-board charge pump circuitry that generates 2
x V
for RS-232 voltage levels from a single
+3.0V to +5.5V power supply. This series is
ideal for +3.3V-only systems, mixed +3.3V to
+5.5V systems, or +5.0V-only systems that re-
quire true RS-232 performance. The
SP3222E/
3232E
series have drivers that operate at a typi-
cal data rate of 235Kbps fully loaded.
The
SP3222E
and
SP3232E
are 2-driver/2-re-
ceiver devices ideal for portable or hand-held
applications. The
SP3222E
features a 1
μ
A
shutdown mode that reduces power consump-
tion and extends battery life in portable systems.
Its receivers remain active in shutdown mode,
allowing external devices such as modems to be
monitored using only 1
μ
A supply current.
THEORY OF OPERATION
The
SP3222E/3232E
series are made up of three
basic circuit blocks: 1. Drivers, 2. Receivers,
and 3. the Sipex proprietary charge pump.
Drivers
The drivers are inverting level transmitters that
convert TTL or CMOS logic levels to
±
5.0V
EIA/TIA-232 levels inverted relative to the in-
put logic levels. Typically, the RS-232 output
voltage swing is
±
5.5V with no load and at least
±
5V minimum fully loaded. The driver outputs
are protected against infinite short-circuits to
ground without degradation in reliability. Driver
outputs will meet EIA/TIA-562 levels of
±
3.7V
with supply voltages as low as 2.7V.
The drivers typically can operate at a data rate
of 235Kbps. The drivers can guarantee a data
rate of 120Kbps fully loaded with 3K
in
parallel with 1000pF, ensuring compatibility
with PC-to-PC communication software.
The slew rate of the driver output is internally
limited to a maximum of 30V/
μ
s in order to meet
the EIA standards (EIA RS-232D 2.1.7, Para-
graph 5). The transition of the loaded output
from HIGH to LOW also meets the monotonic-
ity requirements of the standard.
The
SP3222E/3232E
drivers can maintain high
data rates up to 235Kbps fully loaded.
Figure 8
shows a loopback test circuit used to test the
RS-232 drivers.
Figure 9
shows the test results
of the loopback circuit with all drivers active at
120Kbps with RS-232 loads in parallel with
1000pF capacitors.
Figure 10
shows the test
results where one driver was active at 235Kbps
and all drivers loaded with an RS-232 receiver
in parallel with a 1000pF capacitor. A solid
RS-232 data transmission rate of 120Kbps
provides compatibility with many designs
in personal computer peripherals and LAN
applications.
The
SP3222E
driver's output stages are turned
off (tri-state) when the device is in shutdown
mode. When the power is off, the
SP3222E
device permits the outputs to be driven up to
±
12V. The driver's inputs do not have pull-up
resistors. Designers should connect unused
inputs to V
CC
or GND.
In the shutdown mode, the supply current falls to
less than 1
μ
A, where SHDN = LOW. When the
SP3222E
device is shut down, the device's
driver outputs are disabled (tri-stated) and the
charge pumps are turned off with V+ pulled
down to V
and V- pulled to GND. The time
required to exit shutdown is typically 100
μ
s.
Connect SHDN to V
if the shutdown mode is
not used. SHDN has no effect on RxOUT or
RxOUTB.
As they become active, the two driver
outputs go to opposite RS-232 levels where one
driver input is HIGH and the other LOW. Note
that the drivers are enabled only when the
magnitude of V- exceeds approximately 3V.