ICL3238EIVZ

ICL3238EIVZ is an Intersil (Renesas) RS-232 transceiver IC. It provides TTL/CMOS logic interfaces to RS-232 communication, enabling microcontrollers to talk to RS-232 devices (PC serial ports, modems, etc.). It typically contains two RS-232 drivers and two receivers and uses an external capacitor-based charge pump to generate the required RS-232 voltage levels from a single supply.
Key points:
- Single-supply operation: +3.0 to +5.5 V
- External capacitors for on-chip charge pumps to generate ± voltages
- Two drivers and two receivers (RS-232 level translation)
- Compatible with standard RS-232 data rates (tens to hundreds of kbps; suitable for typical serial links)
- Interfaces with TTL/CMOS logic on the sides of the devices
- Packaging variant indicated by the EIVZ suffix (check the datasheet for exact package type)
Applications include embedded systems, microcontroller serial interfaces, modems, data loggers, and any board requiring UART-to-RS-232 conversion. For exact specs, pinout, and packaging, refer to the ICL3238EIVZ datasheet.

Concise features of ICL3238EIVZ:
- Dual RS-232 transmitter and receiver (2 drivers, 2 receivers)
- Single-supply operation from 3.0 to 5.5 V
- On-chip charge pump with four external 0.1 µF caps to generate RS-232 levels
- RS-232 output swings typically around ±6 V
- Data rate up to ≈1 Mbps (IEEE-RT rate for RS-232 transceivers)
- TTL/CMOS-compatible inputs; standard RS-232 compatible outputs
- Extended temperature variant: -40°C to +85°C
- Low power and suitable for microcontroller interfaces to RS-232 ports
Note: exact electrical specs (max data rate, voltage swings, cap values) can vary slightly by revision; consult the datasheet for final design values.

The ICL3238EIVZ is a 16-pin device, available in 16-pin packages (SOIC-16 or DIP-16). For the exact option, check the datasheet or the package marking on your part.

Pin count: 16 pins (DIP-16/SO-16).
Function: Dual RS-232 transceiver (two drivers and two receivers) that converts TTL/CMOS logic levels to RS-232 levels and vice versa, typically with an onboard charge-pump to generate the RS-232 voltages from a single supply. Used to interface microcontrollers to RS-232 serial ports.

- Manufacturer: Intersil.
- About the company: A semiconductor company that designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits (now part of Renesas Electronics Corporation).

ICL3238EIVZ is a dual RS-232 transceiver. Typical applications:
- Microcontroller UARTs to RS-232 serial ports in embedded systems
- Modems, routers, switches, and telecom gear
- Point-of-sale terminals, printers, office equipment
- Industrial controllers, PLCs, data loggers, instrumentation
- Serial adapters and test/measurement equipment
- Any device requiring RS-232 level translation from a single low-voltage supply

Equivalent products to ICL3238EIVZ (2-driver/2-receiver RS-232 transceivers) include:
- MAX3232 (Maxim)
- SP3232 / SP3232E (Texas Instruments)
- ADM3232 / ADM3232A (Analog Devices)
- ST3232 (STMicroelectronics)
These offer similar functionality (RS-232 transceiver, 5V/3.3V operation, 16-pin packages). Verify exact pinout and supply voltage before substituting.