RS-232 transceiver with 250 kbps throughput and 3/5 channel count
The MAX3241EEAI+ is a full-duplex RS-232 transceiver from Analog Devices, packing three drivers and five receivers into a 28-SSOP package. The 250 kbps data rate is the practical ceiling for this part — enough for legacy serial ports, industrial terminal interfaces, and debug consoles where the cable run is under 15 meters. Supply voltage spans 3V to 5.5V, so it works on both a 3.3V microcontroller rail and a legacy 5V backplane without a separate level shifter. The 500 mV receiver hysteresis filters out noise picked up on long RS-232 cables — useful when the transceiver sits at the end of a 10-meter shielded run in a factory bay. Industrial temperature range (-40°C to 85°C) means this part handles unheated enclosures and motor-drive cabinets without derating. The asymmetric 3/5 channel count is typical for DTE-side equipment — the host needs more receivers than drivers to monitor handshake lines from the peripheral.
Package and supply integration
Surface-mount only; no through-hole variant exists for this die. Supplier device package is listed as 28-SSOP — the same footprint as the Maxim legacy part. The wide supply range (3V to 5.5V) lets you bypass a dedicated RS-232 rail regulator if the board already carries a 3.3V or 5V bus.