RS-232 port count and noise margin — what the ratings mean for your serial bus
The MAX213EEAI+ is a full-duplex RS-232 transceiver from Analog Devices (Maxim) that packs four drivers and five receivers into a 28-pin SSOP package. That 4/5 split means you can drive four serial lines while monitoring five receive channels — useful for multi-peripheral terminal interfaces or industrial controllers where one extra receive channel saves a second transceiver. The 500 mV receiver hysteresis gives you a clean noise margin on cables that pick up coupled interference; at 120 kbps it handles the standard RS-232 baud rates for PLCs, barcode scanners, and serial consoles without timing pressure.
Supply rail and temperature grade — fit for industrial control panels
Operates on a 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply. The -40°C to +85°C range covers industrial enclosures.
Lifecycle and sourcing — active, no LTB watch needed
Listed as Active with ROHS3 compliance.