Datasheet
MAX220–MAX249
+5V-Powered, Multichannel RS-232
Drivers/Receivers
4 _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________Typical Operating Characteristics
MAX220/MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233A/MAX242/MAX243
10
8
-10
0 5 15 25
OUTPUT VOLTAGE vs. LOAD CURRENT
-4
-6
-8
-2
6
4
2
MAX220-01
LOAD CURRENT (mA)
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)
10
0
20
0.1μF
EITHER V+ OR V- LOADED
V
CC 
= +5V
NO LOAD ON
TRANSMITTER OUTPUTS
(EXCEPT MAX220, MAX233A)
V- LOADED, NO LOAD ON V+
V+ LOADED, NO LOAD ON V-
1μF
1μF
0.1μF
11
10
4
010 40 60
AVAILABLE OUTPUT CURRENT
vs. DATA RATE
6
5
7
9
8
MAX220-02
DATA RATE (kb/s)
OUTPUT CURRENT (mA)
20 30 50
OUTPUT LOAD CURRENT
FLOWS FROM V+ TO V-
V
CC
 = +5.25V
ALL CAPS
1μF
ALL CAPS
0.1μF
V
CC
 = +4.75V
+10V
-10V
MAX222/MAX242
ON-TIME EXITING SHUTDOWN
+5V
+5V
0V
0V
MAX220-03
500μs/div
V+, V- VOLTAGE (V)
1μF CAPS
V+
V+
V-
V-
SHDN
0.1μF CAPS
1μF CAPS
0.1μF CAPS
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS—MAX220/222/232A/233A/242/243 (continued)
(V
CC
= +5V ±10%, C1–C4 = 0.1µF‚ MAX220, C1 = 0.047µF, C2–C4 = 0.33µF, T
A
= T
MIN
to T
MAX
‚ unless otherwise noted.) (Note 3)
PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS 
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
 0.5 1 
t
PHLR
, Figure 2 
MAX220 0.6 3 
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
 0.6 1 
Receiver Propagation Delay RS-232 to 
TLL (Normal Operation) 
t
PLHR
, Figure 2 
MAX220 0.8 3 
μs 
t
PHLS
, Figure 2  MAX242    0.5  10 
Receiver Propagation Delay RS-232 to 
TLL (Shutdown) 
t
PHLS
, Figure 2  MAX242    2.5  10 
μs 
Receiver-Output Enable Time  t
ER
  MAX242, Figure 3    125  500  ns 
Receiver-Output Disable Time  t
DR
 MAX242, Figure 3 160 500 ns 
Transmitter-Output Enable Time 
(SHDN Goes High) 
t
ET
MAX222/MAX242, 0.1μF 
caps (includes charge-pump 
start-up), Figure 4 
 250    μs 
Transmitter-Output Disable Time 
(SHDN Goes Low)  
t
DT
MAX222/MAX242, 
0.1μF caps, Figure 4 
 600    ns 
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
 300   
Transmitter + to - Propagation Delay 
Difference (Normal Operation) 
t
PHLT
 - t
PLHT
MAX220    2000   
ns 
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
 100   
Receiver + to - Propagation Delay 
Difference (Normal Operation) 
t
PHLR
 - t
PLHR
MAX220    225   
ns 
Note 3: All units are production tested at hot. Specifications over temperature are guaranteed by design.
Note 4: MAX243 R2OUT is guaranteed to be low when R2IN ≥ 0V or is unconnected.










