6
Detailed Description
The ICL3237E operates from a single +3V to +5.5V supply,
guarantees a 1Mbps minimum data rate (MBAUD = V
CC
),
requires only four small external 0.1µF (0.22µF for
V
CC
= 3.0V) capacitors, features low power consumption,
and meets all EIA/TIA-232 and V.28 specifications. The
circuit is divided into three sections: The charge pump, the
transmitters, and the receivers.
Charge-Pump
Intersil’s new ICL32XX family utilizes regulated on-chip dual
charge pumps as voltage doublers, and voltage inverters to
generate ±5.5V transmitter supplies from a V
CC
supply as
low as 3.0V. This allows these devices to maintain RS-232
compliant output levels over the ±10% tolerance range of
3.3V powered systems. The efficient on-chip power supplies
require only four small, external 0.1µF capacitors for the
voltage doubler and inverter functions at V
CC
=3.3V. See
the “Capacitor Selection” section, and Table 3 for capacitor
recommendations for other operating conditions. The charge
pumps operate discontinuously (i.e., they turn off as soon as
the V+ and V- supplies are pumped up to the nominal
values), resulting in significant power savings.
Transmitters
The transmitters are proprietary, low dropout, inverting
drivers that translate TTL/CMOS inputs to EIA/TIA-232
output levels. Coupled with the on-chip ±5.5V supplies, these
transmitters deliver true RS-232 levels over a wide range of
single supply system voltages.
All transmitter outputs disable and assume a high
impedance state when the device enters the powerdown
mode (see Table 2). These outputs may be driven to ±12V
when disabled.
The ICL3237E guarantees a 1Mbps data rate
(MBAUD = V
CC
) for full load conditions (3kΩ and 250pF),
V
CC
≥ 3.0V, with one transmitter operating at full speed.
Under more typical conditions of V
CC
≥ 3.3V, C
1-4
= 0.1µF,
R
L
=3kΩ, and C
L
= 250pF, one transmitter easily operates
at 1.7Mbps.
Transmitter inputs incorporate an active positive feedback
resistor that maintains the last driven input state in the
absence of a forcing signal. Unused transmitter inputs may
be left unconnected.
Receivers
The ICL3237E contains standard inverting receivers that
tristate only when the EN
control line is driven high.
Additionally, it includes a noninverting (monitor) receiver
(denoted by the R
OUTB
label) that is always active,
regardless of the state of any control lines. All the receivers
convert RS-232 signals to CMOS output levels and accept
inputs up to ±25V while presenting the required 3kΩ to 7kΩ
input impedance (see Figure 1) even if the power is off
(V
CC
= 0V). The receivers’ Schmitt trigger input stage uses
hysteresis to increase noise immunity and decrease errors
due to slow input signal transitions.
Monitor receivers remain active even during manual
powerdown and forced receiver disable, making them
extremely useful for Ring Indicator monitoring. Standard
receivers driving powered down peripherals must be
disabled to prevent current flow through the peripheral’s
protection diodes (see Figures 2 and 3). This renders them
useless for wake up functions, but the corresponding monitor
receiver can be dedicated to this task as shown in Figure 3.
Powerdown Functionality
This 3V device requires a nominal supply current of 0.3mA
during normal operation (not in powerdown mode). This is
considerably less than the 5mA to 11mA current required of
5V RS-232 devices. The already low current requirement
drops significantly when the device enters powerdown mode.
In powerdown, supply current drops to 10nA, because the
on-chip charge pump turns off (V+ collapses to V
CC
, V-
collapses to GND), and the transmitter outputs tristate. This
micro-power mode makes the ICL3237E ideal for battery
powered and portable applications.
Software Controlled (Manual) Powerdown
On the ICL3237E, the powerdown control is via a simple
shutdown (SHDN
) pin. Driving this pin high enables normal
operation, while driving it low forces the IC into it’s
powerdown state. Connect SHDN
to V
CC
if the powerdown
function isn’t needed. Note that all the receiver outputs
remain enabled during shutdown (see Table 2). For the
lowest power consumption during powerdown, the receivers
should also be disabled by driving the EN
input high (see
next section, and Figures 2 and 3). The time required to exit
powerdown, and resume transmission is only 100µs.
R
XOUT
GND ≤ V
ROUT
≤ V
CC
5kΩ
R
XIN
-25V ≤ V
RIN
≤ +25V
GND
V
CC
FIGURE 1. INVERTING RECEIVER CONNECTIONS
ICL3237E
