Maxim Integrated Products introduces a smart RS485 Transceiver solution Fault Protected up to ±80V with Foldback Current Limit which simplifies design and reduces board space by eliminating external components such as Overvoltage Protection, TVSs and PTCs.

The MAX13442E/MAX13444E are fault-protected RS-485 and J1708 transceivers that feature ±80V protection from signal faults on communication bus lines. The MAX13442E/MAX13444E feature a reduced slew-rate driver that minimizes EMI and reflections, allowing error-free transmission up to 250kbps. The MAX13443E driver can transmit up to 10Mbps. The high-speed MAX13443E RS-485 tranceiver features ±60V protection from signal faults on communication bus lines. These transceivers feature foldback current limit. Each device contains one differential line driver with three-state output and one differential line receiver with three-state input. The 1/4-unit-load receiver input impedance allows up to 128 transceivers on a single bus. The devices operate from a 5V supply. True fail-safe inputs guarantee a logic-high receiver output when the receiver inputs are open, shorted, or connected to an idle data line.

Hot-swap circuitry eliminates false transitions on the data bus during circuit initialization or connection to a live backplane. Short-circuit current-limiting and thermal-shutdown circuitry protect the driver against excessive power dissipation, and on-chip ±15kV ESD protection eliminates costly external protection devices.

The MAX13442E/MAX13443E/MAX13444E are available in an 8-pin SO package and are specified over the automotive temperature range.