Sipex has introduced four advanced RS-232 transceivers that incorporate the company's Auto On-line Plus power-saving function. If idle for longer than 30 seconds, a device equipped with this feature automatically enters a 1-microampere, low-power mode, but will 'wake up' if it detects activity at its driver or receiver inputs. This significantly reduces power consumption in systems where the serial port remains mostly in an idle state. This feature requires no intervention or modifications to device drivers or software.

The four new Sipex devices, their SP3224E, SP3225E, SP3226E and SP3227E, will expand the company's portfolio of energy-efficient, RoHS-compliant, industry-standard products. The transceivers can be supplied in SSOP and TSSOP packages with built-in ESD protection, thereby minimizing board space and lowering overall system cost.

The SP3224E and SP3226E operate at data rates up to 250 kb/s, while keeping driver outputs slew-controlled to less than 30 V/ms. The SP3225E and SP3227E are high-speed devices capable of up to 1 Mb/s. The SP3224E and SP3225E contain two drivers and two receivers for basic RS-232 operation. The SP3226E and SP3227E contain one driver and one receiver, the minimum required for serial communication. All driver outputs and receiver inputs are equipped with built-in ESD protection up to 15 kV. These transceivers generate full RS-232/V.28-compliant, driver outputs from a single 3.3 V or 5 V supply voltage.

The SP3224E and SP3225E are available in SSOP-20 and TSSOP-20 packages. The SP3226E is available in SSOP-16 and TSSOP-16 packaging.

SP3227E is currently sampling SSOP-16 and TSSOP-16 and these devices are available in production quantities. All devices are Pb-free/RoHS-compliant and are offered in temperature grades of 0 degrees Celsius to +70 degrees Celsius, commercial grade and -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius, industrial grade.