Communication ICs (Integrated Circuits) act as the “mouths” and “ears” of electronic systems. While the CPU serves as the brain, the communication IC converts information into signals that travel via wires, optical fibers, or air. It ensures data reaches other devices accurately. These chips cover everything from basic serial ports to complex 5G signal processing.
IC-Mart Your Trusted Source for Communication Chips
(from leading manufacturers)
Global Mainstream Manufacturers and Representative Models
1. Texas Instruments (TI)
TI offers the most comprehensive range of interface chips.
Communication Category
Representative Series
Application Scenarios
RS-485/422
SN65HVD30, SN65HVD72, SN75176
Industrial automation, long-distance communication
CAN Bus
TCAN1042, TCAN33x, SN65HVD230
Automotive electronics, industrial control
Ethernet PHY
DP83848, DP83867
Industrial Ethernet, servers
Wireless (SimpleLink)
CC2640 (BLE), CC1310 (Sub-1G)
Low-power IoT
RS-232
MAX232 (TI version), GD75232
Traditional serial connections
2. Analog Devices (ADI) / Maxim Integrated
Strongest in high-performance analog signal chains and high-reliability interfaces.
Communication Category
Representative Series
Application Scenarios
Isolated RS-485
ADM2483, ADM2587, ADM2867
High-voltage industrial, power grids
Low-power Interface
MAX3485, MAX485, MAX3232
Portable devices, battery-powered
Optical TIA/Driver
MAX37xx series (e.g., MAX3735)
Optical modules, high-speed fiber comms
Analog Bus/Mux
ADG7xx series
Signal routing and switching
3. NXP
A leader in CAN bus standards and automotive networking.
Communication Category
Representative Series
Application Scenarios
CAN Transceiver
TJA1042, TJA1050, TJA1051
Automotive diagnostics, body control
NFC/RFID
PN532, PN5180, MFRC522
Contactless payment, access control, readers
LIN Bus
TJA1021, TJA1027
Car windows, mirror control
I2C Buffer/Extender
PCA9548, PCA9685
Consumer electronics bus expansion
4. STMicroelectronics
Focuses on STM32-compatible wireless SoCs and industrial-grade protection.
Communication Category
Representative Series
Application Scenarios
Wireless SoC
STM32WB (BLE), STM32WL (LoRa)
Highly integrated wireless terminals
Industrial Transceiver
ST3485, ST485, ST232
Industrial board interfaces
Power Line Comm (PLC)
ST7011, ST8500
Smart metering, grid communication
5. Microchip / Micrel
Leader in Ethernet controllers and external CAN controllers.
Communication Category
Representative Series
Application Scenarios
Ethernet Controller
ENC28J60, KSZ8081, KSZ9031
Embedded MCU networking
CAN Controller
MCP2515, MCP2551, MCP2562
Adding CAN functionality to MCUs
USB Interface
USB2514, USB2422 (Hub chips)
Computer peripherals, industrial hubs
6. Specialized Wireless Leaders
Manufacturer
Representative Series
Core Domain
Nordic
nRF52832, nRF52840, nRF5340
World’s most popular BLE solutions
Espressif
ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, ESP8266
Cost-effective Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Silicon Labs
EFR32 (Mighty Gecko), Si3217
Zigbee, Thread, specialized telecom
Semtech
SX1278, SX1262, SX1280
LoRa long-range low-power comms
Realtek
RTL8211, RTL8367, RTL8111
Mass-market Ethernet PHY and switches
Chinese Domestic Manufacturers and Models
Chinese suppliers are rapidly replacing international brands, especially in Pin-to-Pin compatible industrial interfaces.
1. Industrial Interface & Isolation
Manufacturer
Typical Models
Benchmarking / Function
3PEAK (思瑞浦)
TPT485, TPT1050
Replaces TI SN65HVD; high ESD protection
Novosense (纳芯微)
NSi83085, NSi1050
High-reliability isolated RS-485/CAN
Chiptop (川土微)
CA-IS3082, CA-IS2092
Isolated interface with integrated power
2Pai (荣湃)
π12x, π14x
Digital isolators (capacitive isolation)
RelChip (润石)
RS485 Series
High-performance general-purpose interfaces
2. Ethernet ICs
Manufacturer
Typical Models
Benchmarking / Function
Motorcomm (裕太微)
YT8511, YT8521
Gigabit PHY (replaces RTL8211/DP83867)
Motorcomm
YT8010, YT8011
Automotive-grade Ethernet PHY
Centec (盛科通信)
CTC5160, CTC7132
Core switch fabric for data centers
KGX (昆高新芯)
KG51xx Series
Industrial TSN Ethernet switches
3. Short-Range Wireless (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth)
Manufacturer
Typical Models
Benchmarking / Function
Espressif (乐鑫)
ESP32, ESP8266
Global standard for Wi-Fi+BT SoCs
Telink (泰凌微)
TLSR8258, TLSR9218
Multi-protocol (BLE/Zigbee) SoCs
Beken (博通集成)
BK3431, BK7231
Mass-market Wi-Fi/BT for appliances
FMSH (复旦微)
FM17550, FM11NT021
High-performance NFC (replaces NXP RC)
4. LPWAN & GNSS (Long Range & Positioning)
Manufacturer
Typical Models
Benchmarking / Function
Panchip (磐启微)
PAN3029, PAN3031
Domestic LoRa (ChirpIoT) chips
Asic (中科微)
AT6558R
Popular BeiDou/GPS multi-mode chips
Quectel / Fibocom
EC20, MC60
Modules using HiSilicon/Unisoc cores
UNISOC (紫光展锐)
V510, IVY8908
5G industrial and NB-IoT chips
Communication ICs Typical Application Scenarios
Industrial Automation (Reliability First): Stability is critical in high-interference environments.
Remote Monitoring: Sensors on pump trucks use RS-485 or CAN to send data.
PLC Control: Ethernet PHY chips sync production line nodes.
Automotive (Real-time First): Vehicles act as high-speed mobile LANs.
Diagnostics (OBD): CAN transceivers transmit engine status.
Smart Cockpit: Ethernet ICs provide zero-latency video for rearview cameras.
Consumer Electronics (Integration First): Focused on small size and low power.
Wearables: BLE SoCs sync heart rate data to phones.
Mobile Payment: NFC chips handle near-field sensing.
Infrastructure & Data Centers (Bandwidth First): Handling massive data throughput.
5G Base Stations: RF transceivers process signals for thousands of users.
