The SP485EEN-L/TR from MaxLinear is an enhanced, low-power half-duplex RS-485/RS-422 transceiver rated for 10 Mbps, in the industry-standard 8-SOIC package. Running from a 5V supply (4.75V to 5.25V), it provides a 1/1 driver/receiver and is specified for -40°C to +85°C. The E in SP485E marks the enhanced generation of the well-known SP485 line, which improves on the classic part mainly in speed and power: the 10 Mbps rating sits well above the few-Mbps of traditional 5V RS-485 parts, while the low quiescent current keeps always-on nodes efficient. The modest 20 mV receiver hysteresis reflects that this is a high-speed design, so treat it as a robust differential-link driver for faster segments rather than a slow, ultra-forgiving long-line part.
Its natural applications are 5V Modbus and proprietary RS-485 buses that need higher throughput — data concentrators, PLC-to-PLC links, vending and kiosk networks, security panels, and instrumentation backbones — where the 8-SOIC pinout makes it a convenient upgrade for MAX485-style sockets that want more speed. When selecting, verify supply-rail compatibility (it is a 5V part, not 3.3V), and remember that at 10 Mbps you must keep cable runs short and terminate the line properly. The EEN suffix denotes the enhanced, industrial-temperature 8-SOIC variant, and -L/TR indicates tape-and-reel delivery. For a low-power 5V half-duplex RS-485 interface that brings true 10 Mbps capability to MAX485-class footprints, the SP485EEN-L/TR is a practical, well-priced choice.