MAX3232CPW-P

Overview

The MAX3232CPW-P is a dual driver/receiver RS-232 transceiver manufactured by Texas Instruments, designed for battery-powered systems. It operates within a supply voltage range of 3 V to 5.5 V and supports data rates up to 250 kbit/s. The device features two drivers and two receivers with full-duplex communication capability. It incorporates ±15 kV ESD protection on bus pins and accepts 5-V logic inputs while powered by a 3.3-V supply. The component is housed in a 16-pin TSSOP package and functions within an operating temperature range of 0°C to +70°C.

Feature Summary

• Integrated charge pump eliminates the need for external voltage generation circuits.
• Provides robust electrostatic discharge protection exceeding ±15 kV on all RS-232 bus lines.
• Compatible with standard 0.1 µF external capacitors for simplified design.
• Maintains low power consumption suitable for portable and handheld equipment.

Applications

• Battery-powered personal digital assistants (PDAs) and palmtop computers
• Laptop and notebook computer serial port interfaces
• Hand-held mobile terminals and industrial measurement instruments
• Modems and portable barcode scanners

Procurement Notes

Verify the specific suffix 'P' indicates the TSSOP-16 package variant when sourcing. Confirm RoHS compliance status as per current manufacturer documentation. Ensure the ordering part number matches the required temperature grade and packaging format for production integration.

Selection Notes

Select this component for applications requiring full RS-232 compatibility with minimal external passive components. The TSSOP package is suitable for space-constrained surface-mount designs. Verify that the 250 kbit/s speed meets system requirements compared to higher-speed alternatives like the SNx5C3232 if faster data transfer is needed.

Part Context

This part belongs to the MAX3232 family of multichannel RS-232 line drivers and receivers. The family includes variants with different packages such as SOIC, SSOP, and PDIP, as well as extended temperature ranges. The CPW designation specifically identifies the commercial temperature grade and TSSOP form factor within the broader product line.

Replacement Considerations

The MAX3232CDWR serves as a pin-compatible alternative in the SOIC-DW package. For higher speed requirements, the SNx5C3232 offers 1 Mbit/s performance with similar pinouts. Verify electrical parameters against the original design specifications before substitution.