Exar announces family of RS-232 transceivers with adjustable low voltage interface

Exar Corporation (NYSE: EXAR), a leading supplier of high-performance integrated circuits and system solutions, announces a family of RS-232 (EIA/TIA-232) transceivers designed to operate from 3V to 5.5V supplies. The XR32220,  http://www.exar.com/xr32220 XR32430  http://www.exar.com/xr32430 and XR32431 http://www.exar.com/xr32431 include an adjustable low voltage logic interface that simplifies their use in low voltage and multi-voltage systems.   

In many applications, RS-232 transceivers interface with UARTs, MCUs and other logic devices operating from supplies less than 3.3V.  The XR32220 and XR32431 feature a low voltage logic pin (VL) that can be used to adjust the transceiver’s logic output levels and input thresholds for compatibility with lower supply voltage logic.  The VL range is 1.65V to 5.5V.  The adjustable low voltage interface eliminates the need for a level shifter/translator between the transceiver and UART or MCU. 

The XR32220, XR32430 and XR32431 are available in RoHS compliant, green/halogen free, space-saving 4mm x 4mm QFN (XR32220) and 5mm x 5mm QFN (XR32430/31) packages. The XR32220, XR32430 and XR32431 are priced from $0.74 to $0.94 in 1,000-piece quantities. Demoboards and samples are available at http://www.exar.com/transceivers.  

Summary of features:  

•    Wide 3.0V to 5.5V supply operation 

•    1.65V to 5.5V logic interface VL pin (XR32220, XR32431) 

•    Auto on-line circuitry automatically wakes up from a 1µA shutdown 

•    Regulated charge pump yields stable RS-232 outputs regardless of VCC variations 

•    XR32220: 250kbps min transmission rate 

•    XR32430, XR32431:  250kbps/460kbps/1Mbps min transmission rate