ICL3221IAZ

Overview

The ICL3221IAZ is a single-driver, single-receiver RS-232 transceiver manufactured by Renesas Electronics Corporation. It operates within a supply voltage range of 3 V to 5.5 V and supports data rates up to 250 kb/s. The device features ±15 kV electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection on both the driver outputs and receiver inputs, complying with IEC 61000-4-2 standards. It incorporates an automatic power-down mode that reduces operating supply current to approximately 1 µA when no valid signal is detected. The component is housed in a 16-pin TSSOP package and is rated for an industrial operating temperature range from -40 °C to +85 °C.

Feature Summary

• Integrated automatic power-down circuitry that minimizes standby power consumption by detecting cable removal or peripheral shutdown.
• Robust ±15 kV ESD protection on all RS-232 pins ensures reliability against electrostatic discharge events without external components.
• Compliance with EIA/TIA-232 and V.28/V.24 specifications allows direct interface with standard serial ports across 3.3 V and 5.0 V systems.

Applications

• Portable computing devices such as laptops and notebooks requiring low-power serial communication.
• Personal digital assistants (PDAs) and handheld computers where battery life is critical.
• Industrial control systems operating in environments with potential electrostatic interference.

Procurement Notes

Verify the specific suffix 'IAZ' corresponds to the industrial temperature grade (-40°C to +85°C) and tube packaging format. Confirm RoHS compliance status through official Renesas documentation, as manufacturing processes may vary. Ensure the source document explicitly lists this part number to avoid confusion with similar variants like ICL3221EIVZ or ICL3221CVZ which differ in temperature range or package type.

Selection Notes

Select this component for applications requiring full-duplex RS-232 communication with minimal quiescent current. It is suitable for designs needing ±15 kV ESD protection directly at the interface port. Compare against ICL3221EIVZ if commercial temperature range suffices, or ICL3221CVZ if higher data rates are required. Ensure the design accommodates the necessary external charge pump capacitors specified in the datasheet for proper voltage generation.

Part Context

The ICL3221 belongs to the Intersil/Renesas ICL322x series of low-power RS-232 transceivers. This family is designed for portable electronics, offering high performance at reduced power levels compared to legacy drivers. The ICL3221 specifically provides one driver and one receiver, making it ideal for simple point-to-point serial links in space-constrained mobile devices.

Replacement Considerations

ICL3221EIVZ: Commercial temperature grade variant in TSSOP-16. ICL3221CVZ: Commercial grade with 500 kb/s data rate. ISL3221EIBZ: Alternative pin-compatible option from Renesas. Verify exact electrical parameters and temperature ranges before substitution.