TL16C550BN

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Overview

The TL16C550BN is a single-channel Asynchronous Communications Element (ACE) manufactured by Texas Instruments. It operates within a supply voltage range of 4.75 V to 5.25 V, with a typical operating voltage of 5 V and a maximum current consumption of 10 mA. The device supports data rates up to 562 Kbit/s and features 16-byte transmit and receive FIFOs in its alternate mode. It is housed in a 40-pin DIP package and functions across an operating temperature range of 0 °C to 70 °C.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Feature Summary

• Provides 16-byte FIFO buffers for both transmitter and receiver to reduce CPU interrupt overhead.
• Includes programmable baud rate generators capable of dividing input clocks by divisors from 1 to 65535.
• Features complete modem control capabilities including CTS, RTS, DSR, DTR, RI, and DCD signals.
• Supports fully prioritized interrupt systems and independent control of transmit, receive, line status, and data set interrupts.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Applications

• Serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial data conversion for peripheral devices.
• Replacement for National Semiconductor NS16550A in existing hardware designs.
• Systems requiring reduced software overhead through DMA signaling via RXRDY and TXRDY terminals.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Procurement Notes

Verify the specific suffix 'N' corresponds to the 40-pin DIP package configuration required for your design. Confirm that the commercial temperature grade (0 °C to 70 °C) meets your environmental specifications, as the industrial variant 'BI' covers -40 °C to 85 °C. Ensure compatibility with standard 5 V logic levels before integration.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Selection Notes

Select this component when a direct upgrade to the TL16C450 is needed without changing register sets on power-up. Choose the TL16C550B over the TL16C450 if FIFO functionality is required to minimize system overhead. Verify that the 40-pin DIP footprint matches your PCB layout constraints compared to PLCC or TQFP alternatives.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Part Context

The TL16C550B serves as a functional upgrade to the TL16C450 ACE. While maintaining identical register sets upon reset for backward compatibility, it introduces an alternate FIFO mode. This mode activates internal 16-byte buffers to enhance performance in high-throughput serial communication applications.

UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Replacement Considerations

The TL16C550BI is the industrial temperature version of this part. Other package options include the 44-pin PLCC (FN) and 48-pin TQFP (PT). Direct pin-compatible replacements should be verified against the specific package type and temperature range requirements.