RS232 transceiver for low-voltage serial links
The Texas Instruments TRS3318EIPWR is an RS232 transceiver in a 20-TSSOP package, configured with two drivers and two receivers for full-duplex serial communication at data rates up to 460Kbps. It operates from a 2.25V to 3V supply rail, making it a natural fit for low-voltage 3.3V or 2.5V logic systems that need to talk to legacy RS232 equipment. The industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C suits factory-floor automation, outdoor telecom cabinets, and instrumentation panels where the ambient temperature swings. Receiver hysteresis of 300 mV provides noise immunity on longer cable runs, reducing the risk of false edges in electrically noisy environments.
Supply voltage and logic compatibility
The supply range of 2.25V to 3V means this part is designed for low-voltage cores — it is not a 5V part. Feeding it 5V on VCC exceeds the absolute maximum and will damage the transceiver. It is compatible with 3.3V logic on the digital side (driver inputs and receiver outputs), but the RS232 bus side still swings the standard RS232 levels (±5V to ±15V typical) thanks to an internal charge-pump voltage doubler. If your system runs on a 5V-only supply, you will need a separate 3.3V or 2.5V regulator for this transceiver.
Data rate and signal integrity
For applications needing 1Mbps or higher, this part is not the right choice — the 460Kbps ceiling is a hard limit set by the driver slew rate and the charge-pump capacitor sizing.
Package and footprint
The 20-TSSOP package (4.40 mm width) is a compact surface-mount footprint suitable for dense PCBs. The supplier device package is also 20-TSSOP — no second footprint variant to track.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
The TRS3318EIPWR is listed as Active on TI's product status, with ROHS3 compliance.