RS-485 bus transceiver for 3.3V systems
The MAX3488ESA+: Rated at 250 kbps, the data rate suits industrial fieldbus links, building-automation backbones, and PLC-to-sensor networks where cable lengths run tens to hundreds of metres. The 50 mV receiver hysteresis rejects noise picked up on long twisted-pair runs, reducing false edges at the UART input without external filtering.
Supply and temperature envelope
Housed in the 8-SOIC (150-mil body width) package, the footprint matches the industry-standard narrow SOIC land pattern used by most RS-485 transceivers in this class.
Driver and receiver topology
One driver and one receiver on chip support a full-duplex node — the driver transmits on one twisted pair while the receiver listens on a separate pair, enabling simultaneous bi-directional data flow. For half-duplex networks, the driver and receiver outputs can be wired to the same pair with software-controlled enable pins (DE and RE are active-low on the MAX3488 family); the MAX3488ESA+ itself does not include internal fail-safe biasing, so external pull-up/pull-down resistors on the bus lines are recommended for open-circuit or idle-bus conditions.
ROHS3 compliant, with no exemptions that would restrict use in EU-market equipment.