The Maxim Integrated MAX14945EWE+ is a galvanically isolated RS-422/RS-485 transceiver that uses capacitive coupling to achieve 2750Vrms of isolation between the bus side and the logic side. It's a 3-channel device with two inputs on side 1 and one on side 2, configured as unidirectional channels. The part handles data rates up to 500kbps, which covers the vast majority of industrial fieldbus and building-automation RS-485 links. The dual-supply arrangement — 1.71V to 5.5V on the logic side and 4.5V to 5.5V on the bus side — lets you interface a 3.3V or 1.8V UART directly to a 5V RS-485 bus without a level shifter.
500kbps data rate and common-mode transient immunity — the bus-performance specs that matter
The maximum data rate is 500kbps. The typical common-mode transient immunity is 35kV/µs.
Package and supply — what the layout engineer needs to know
The MAX14945EWE+ comes in a 16-pin SOIC wide-body package (0.295" body width, 7.50mm), which is a standard footprint that's hand-solderable with a fine-tip iron and easy to inspect. Surface-mount only. The supply pins are split: VCC1 (logic side) accepts 1.71V to 5.5V, and VCC2 (bus side) needs 4.5V to 5.5V. No isolated power supply is integrated — you'll need a separate DC-DC converter or an isolated module to power VCC2 if the bus side doesn't share a local 5V rail.
Active lifecycle — no obsolescence worry for production
It's ROHS3 compliant. For a production BOM line, this means no last-time-buy clock ticking and no forced redesign in the near term.