News & Events
Intersil Expands Portfolio of RS-232 Transmitters and Receivers

— 15kV ESD protection improves system reliability
— Low supply current and automatic power down extend battery life
— Serial transmitter delivers high data rate

IRVINE, CA, October 3, 2000 – Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading developer of silicon technology for integrated communications applications, announced today a new family of three-volt RS-232 transmitters-receivers that operate as the serial interface port for such portable battery-operated appliances as cellular phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and palmtops. The ICL32xx RS-232 devices are five-driver, three-receiver transceivers that support data rates of 250 kilobits per second (kbps), and are fully compatible with 3.3V-only systems, mixed 3.3V and 5.0V systems, and 5.0V-only systems.

Intersil’s 3V portfolio joins the existing line of 5V low-voltage RS-232 transmitters-receivers. The devices deliver increased data communication speeds and low operational supply current drain that helps extend battery life. The new devices offer 15-kilovolt (kV) electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit protection to protect the exposed RS-232 pins from ESD damage.

"Today’s battery-operated devices are requiring smaller components and are contributing to shrinking technology," said Davin Yuknis, director of Intersil’s Mixed Signal IC products. "ESD-protected products are critical to the development of smaller wireless devices. Factors such as high resistive connections create an environment that is highly susceptible to static damage. Intersil recognizes this and continues to support market demand by developing circuits that ensure the success of the latest portable communications devices."

Intersil’s ICL32XXE 3.0V interface family includes transmitter output and receiver input protection to +/-15kV ESD that is compliant with IEC1000, the standard for equipment entering the European markets.

The 3V family of products requires only 0.3 milliamp of supply current during normal operation. The devices increase battery life through manual, automatic and enhanced automatic power-down features that reduce standby supply current. The devices with these features can shut down the on-chip power supply and simultaneously disable the transmitter outputs that also result in a reduction of standby current

Intersil’s ICL3243E automatic power-down function activates when an RS-232 cable is disconnected or when the peripheral driving the device powers down. The device powers up immediately after detecting a valid RS-232 level on any receiver input, such as when the cable is reconnected.

The ICL3244E and ICL3245E enhanced automatic power-down function activates when the devices detect no signal on any of the receiver or transmitter inputs for a period of 30 seconds. The devices automatically power back up when signals are detected.

Pricing and Availability
The ICL324X family is immediately available in SOIC, SSOP and TSSOP packages. Pricing, based on one hundred piece quantities, follows:

About Intersil
Intersil uses its semiconductor expertise to enable highly integrated voice, data and video communications. Intersil's integrated communications portfolio includes PRISM^® Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) chip sets that enable mobile connectivity products for the home and office; analog, mixed-signal and digital integrated circuits for broadband access to wireless and wired Wide Area Networks (WANs); and power management products that enable 24x7 reliability in network servers, next generation PCs and information appliances. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Corporation.

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