The DS481 is a low-power transceiver for RS-485 and RS-422 communication. The device contains one driver and one receiver. The drivers slew rate allows for operation up to 2.0 Mbps (see ).

The transceiver draws 200 μA of supply current when unloaded or 0.2 μA when in the automatic sleep mode. Sleep mode is activated by inactivity on the enables (DE and RE). Holding DE =L and RE =H for greater than 600 ns will enable the sleep mode. The DS481 operates from a single +5V supply.

The driver is short-circuit current limited and is protected against excessive power dissipation by thermal shutdown circuitry that places the driver outputs into TRI-STATE (High Impedance state) under fault conditions. The driver guarantees a minimum of 1.5V differential output voltage with maximum loading across the common mode range (VOD3).

The receiver has a failsafe feature that guarantees a logic-high output if the input is open circuit.

The DS481 is available in a surface mount package and is characterized for Industrial temperature range operation.

• Meets TIA/EIA RS-485 Multipoint Standard
• Sleep Mode Reduces ICC to 0.2 μA
• Guaranteed Full Load Output Voltage (VOD3)
• Low Quiescent Current: 200 μA typ
• −7V to +12V Common-mode Input Voltage Range
• TRI-STATE Outputs on Driver and Receiver
• AC Performance:
  • Driver Transition Time: 25 ns typ
  • Driver Propagation Delay: 40 ns typ
  • Driver Skew: 1 ns typ
  • Receiver Propagation Delay: 200 ns typ
  • Receiver Skew: 20 ns typ
• Half-duplex Flow Through Pinout
• Operates From a Single 5V Supply
• Allows up to 64 Transceivers on the Bus
• Current-limiting and Thermal Shutdown for Driver Overload Protection
• Industrial Temperature Range Operation
• Pin and Functional Compatible with MAX481C and MAX481E