Datasheet
5 V, Slew-Rate Limited, Half-Duplex and 
Full-Duplex RS-485/RS-422 Transceivers
ADM4850/ADM4851/ADM4852/ADM4853/ADM4854/ADM4855/ADM4856/ADM4857 
Rev. D 
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FEATURES 
EIA RS-485-/RS-422-compliant 
Data rate options 
ADM4850/ADM4854: 115 kbps 
ADM4851/ADM4855: 500 kbps 
ADM4852/ADM4856: 2.5 Mbps 
ADM4853/ADM4857: 10 Mbps 
Half- and full-duplex options 
Reduced slew rates for low EMI 
True fail-safe receiver inputs 
5 μA (maximum) supply current in shutdown mode 
Up to 256 transceivers on one bus 
Outputs high-Z when disabled or powered off 
−7 V to +12 V bus common-mode range 
Thermal shutdown and short-circuit protection 
Pin-compatible with the MAX308x 
Specified over the −40°C to +85°C temperature range 
Available in 8-lead SOIC, LFCSP, and MSOP packages 
Qualified for automotive applications 
APPLICATIONS 
Low power RS-485 applications 
EMI-sensitive systems 
DTE-DCE interfaces 
Industrial control 
Packet switching 
Local area networks 
Level translators 
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAMS 
04931-001
RO
RE
R
DE
DI
D
A
B
GND
V
CC
ADM4850/ADM4851/
ADM4852/ADM4853
Figure 1. 
04931-028
RO
R
A
B
DI
D
Z
Y
GND
V
CC
ADM4854/ADM4855/
ADM4856/ADM4857
Figure 2. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
The ADM4850/ADM4851/ADM4852/ADM4853/ADM4854/ 
ADM4855/ADM4856/ADM4857 are differential line transceivers 
suitable for high speed half- and full-duplex data communication on 
multipoint bus transmission lines. They are designed for balanced 
data transmission and comply with EIA Standards RS-485 and 
RS-422. The ADM4850/ADM4851/ADM4852/ADM4853 are half- 
duplex transceivers that share differential lines and have separate 
enable inputs for the driver and receiver. The full-duplex 
ADM4854/ADM4855/ADM4856/ADM4857 transceivers have 
dedicated differential line driver outputs and receiver inputs. 
The parts have a 1/8-unit-load receiver input impedance, which 
allows up to 256 transceivers on one bus. Because only one driver 
should be enabled at any time, the output of a disabled or pow-
ered-down driver is three-stated to avoid overloading the bus. 
The receiver inputs have a true fail-safe feature, which ensures 
a logic high output level when the inputs are open or shorted. 
This guarantees that the receiver outputs are in a known state 
before communication begins and when communication ends. 
The driver outputs are slew-rate limited to reduce EMI and data 
errors caused by reflections from improperly terminated buses. 
Excessive power dissipation caused by bus contention or by output 
shorting is prevented with a thermal shutdown circuit. 
The parts are fully specified over the commercial and industrial 
temperature ranges and are available in 8-lead SOIC, LFCSP 
(ADM4850/ADM4851/ADM4852/ADM4853), and MSOP 
(ADM4850 only) packages. 
Table 1. Selection Table 
Part No.  Half-/Full-Duplex  Data Rate 
ADM4850 Half  115 kbps 
ADM4851 Half  500 kbps 
ADM4852 Half  2.5 Mbps 
ADM4853 Half  10 Mbps 
ADM4854 Full  115 kbps 
ADM4855 Full  500 kbps 
ADM4856 Full  2.5 Mbps 
ADM4857 Full  10 Mbps 










