Out in Front: July 4, 1996
Multimode serial transceiver requires few external resistors
Supporting eight physical-serial-interface standards for wide-area networks, the Sipex SP504 multimode transceiver requires just one external resistor per V.35 driver for V.35-compliant operation. The transceiver requires no external resistors for other protocols. By using this interface IC, a system can support multiple protocols and peripheral interfaces, such as those in bridges, routers, frame relays, and high-end modems, under software control, requiring no switches, jumpers, and external resistor arrays.
The 80-pin QFP device has seven drivers and seven receivers, each having three-state control, for the RS-232E (V.28), RS-422 (V.11, X.21), RS-449 (V.11, V.10), RS-485, V.35, EIA-530 (V.11, V.10), EIA-530A, and V.36 interfaces. You configure the device for each standard by writing codes to control registers; this code changes the driver/receiver characteristics, including impedance levels, output-voltage levels, receiver-input thresholds, and differential/single-ended output drive. The SP504 operates from a single 5V supply, consuming 30 mA (typical), and costs $21 (1000).
—by Bill Schweber
Sipex Corp, Billerica, MA. (508) 667-8700, fax (508) 670-9001..
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