10 FN6824.0
December 16, 2008
Application Information
RS-422 is a differential (balanced) data transmission
standard for use in long haul or noisy environments. RS-422
is a point-to-multipoint (multidrop) standard, whic h allows
only one driver and up to 10 (assuming one unit load
devices) receivers on each bus.
Driver Features
These RS-422 drivers are differential output devices that
deliver at least 2V across a 100Ω load. The drivers feature
low propagation delay skew to maximize bit width, and to
minimize EMI.
The 460kbps driver outputs are slew rate limited to minimize
EMI, and to reduce reflections in unterminated or improperly
terminated networks. Outputs of the 10Mbps and 32Mbps
drivers are not limited, so faster output transition times allow
the higher data rates.
Driver Enable Functions
All product types include functionality to allow disabling of
the Tx outputs. The ISL32x72E types feature group (all four
Tx) enable functions that are active high (EN) or active low
(EN). Drivers enable when EN = 1, or when EN = 0, and they
disable only when EN = 0 and EN = 1. ISL32x74E versions
use active high paired enable functions (EN12 and EN34)
that enable (when high) or disable (when low) the
corresponding pairs of Tx. All four of these enable pins have
internal pull-up resistors to VCC, but unused enable pins that
need to be high (e.g., EN when using the EN input for enable
control, or EN12 and EN34 when using always enabled
drivers) should always be connected externally to VCC. If
VCC transients might exceed 7V, then inserting a series
resistor between the input(s) and VCC limits the current that
will flow if the input’s ESD protection starts conducting.
The ISL32179E has the most flexible enable scheme. Its six
enable pins allow for group, paired, or individual channel
enable control. Figure 5 details the ISL32179E’s internal
enable logic. To utilize a group enable function, connect all
the ENx pins high, and handle the EN and EN pins as
described in the previous paragraph. For paired enables,
connect EN and EN high (for the lowest current in SHDN
mode, if SHDN is used) and tie EN1 and EN2 together, and
EN3 and EN4 together. For individual channel enables,
again connect EN and EN high, and drive the appropriate
ENX (active high) for the particular channel. All of the enable
pins incorporate pull-up resistors to VCC, but unused enable
pins of any type should be externally connected high, rather
than being left floating. Connecting to VCC is the best
choice, but VL may be utilized as long as SHDN power isn’t
a primary concern (for each VL connected input, ICC
increases by ((VCC - VL)/600kΩ). If VCC or VL transients
might exceed 7V, then inserting a series resistor between
the input(s) and the supply limits the current that will flow if
the input’s ESD protection starts conducting.
Wide Supply Range
These ICs are designed to operate with a wide range of
supply voltages from 3.0V to 5.5V, and they meet the
RS-422 specifications for that full supply voltage range.
5.5V TOLERANT LOGIC PINS
Logic input pins (driver inputs, enables, SHDNEN) contain
no ESD nor parasitic diodes to VCC (nor to VL), so they
withstand input voltages exceeding 5.5V regardless of the
VCC and VL voltages. Input voltages up to 7V are easily
tolerated.
Logic Supply (VL Pin, ISL32179E Only)
Note: Power-up VCC before powering up the VL supply. If
unused enable pins are connected to VL rather than to VCC,
then a small ICC ((VCC - VL)/600kΩ) will flow due to the
internal pull-up resistor connectin g to VCC.
The ISL32179E includes a VL pin that po wers the logic
inputs (driver inputs, enables, SHDNEN). These pins
interface with “logic” devices such as UARTs, ASICs, and
FIGURE 4A. TEST CIRCUIT FIGURE 4B. MEASUREMENT POINTS
FIGURE 4. DRIVER DATA RATE
Test Circuits and Waveforms (Continued)
D
EN
DI
VCC OR VL
SIGNAL
GENERATOR
Z
Y
CDVOD
+
-
100Ω
LOWER OF VCC OR VL
0V
DIFF OUT (Y - Z) +VOD
-VOD
DI
0V
FIGURE 5. ISL32179E ENABLE LOGIC
1 OF 4 CHANNELS
VCC
VCC VCC
ENX
EN
EN
CHX EN
ISL32172E, ISL32272E, ISL32372E, ISL32174E, ISL32274E, ISL32374E, ISL32179E