M
±15kV ESD-Protected +2.5V to +5.5V
RS-232 Transceivers in UCSP
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7
232 output levels do not change if V
CC
is noisy or has a
sudden current draw causing the supply voltage to drop
slightly. The outputs return to RS-232-compliant levels
(±5.5V) when V
CC
rises above approximately +3.5V.
The MAX3230E/MAX3231E transmitters guarantee a
250kbps data rate with worst-case loads of 3k
in par-
allel with 1000pF.
When
FORCEOFF
is driven to ground, the transmitters
and receivers are disabled and the outputs become
high impedance. When the AutoShutdown circuitry
senses that all receiver and transmitter inputs are inac-
tive for more than 30μs, the transmitters are disabled
and the outputs go to a high-impedance state. When
the power is off, the MAX3230E/MAX3231E permit the
transmitter outputs to be driven up to ±12V.
The transmitter inputs do not have pullup resistors.
Connect unused inputs to GND or V
L
.
RS-232 Receivers
The MAX3230E/MAX3231E receivers convert RS-232
signals to logic-output levels. All receivers have invert-
ing tri-state outputs and can be active or inactive. In
shutdown (
FORCEOFF
= low) or in AutoShutdown, the
MAX3230E/MAX3231E receivers are in a high-imped-
ance state (
Table 2
).
The MAX3230E/MAX3231E feature an
INVALID
output
that is enabled low when no valid RS-232 signal levels
have been detected on any receiver inputs.
INVALID
is
functional in any mode (
Figures 2 and 3
).
AutoShutdown
The MAX3230E/MAX3231E achieve a 1μA supply cur-
rent with Maxim’s AutoShutdown feature, which oper-
ates when FORCEON is low and
FORCEOFF
is high.
When these devices sense no valid signal levels on all
receiver inputs for 30μs, the on-board charge pump
and drivers are shut off, reducing V
CC
supply current to
1μA. This occurs if the RS-232 cable is disconnected or
the connected peripheral transmitters are turned off.
The device turns on again when a valid level is applied
to any RS-232 receiver input. As a result, the system
saves power without changes to the existing BIOS or
operating system.
Table 2
and
Figure 2c
summarize the MAX3230E/
MAX3231E operating modes. FORCEON and
FORCEOFF
override AutoShutdown. When neither con-
trol is asserted, the IC selects between these states
automatically, based on receiver input levels.
Figures
2a, 2b
, and
3a
depict valid and invalid RS-232-receiver
levels.
Figures 3a
and
3b
show the input levels and tim-
ing diagram for AutoShutdown operation.
A system with AutoShutdown can require time to wake
up.
Figure 4
shows a circuit that forces the transmitters
on for 100ms, allowing enough time for the other sys-
tem to realize that the MAX3230E/MAX3231E are
SYSTEM SUPPLY (V)
1 Li+ Cell
3 NiCad/NiMh Cells
Regulated Voltage Only
(V
CC
falling)
Regulated Voltage Only
(V
CC
falling)
V
CC
(V)
+2.4 to +4.2
+2.4 to +3.8
V
L
(V)
RS-232 MODE
Compliant/Compatible
Compliant/Compatible
Regulated system voltage
Regulated system voltage
+3.0 to +5.5
+3.0 to +5.5
Compliant
+2.5 to +3.0
+2.5 to +3.0
Compatible
Table 1. Operating Supply Options
Table 2. Output Control Truth Table
TRANSCEIVER STATUS
Shutdown (AutoShutdown)
Shutdown (Forced Off)
Normal Operation (Forced On)
Normal Operation (AutoShutdown)
FORCEON
Low
X
High
Low
FORCEOFF
High
Low
High
High
RECEIVER STATUS
High impedance
High impedance
Active
Active
INVALID
Low
High
X = Don’t care.
=
INVALID
output state is determined by R_IN input levels.