IC-Mart Your Trusted Source for RS-485 Interface Chips

(from leading manufacturers)

RS-485 IC Manufacturers

1. Texas Instruments (TI)

TI is an industrial interface giant. Their portfolio covers everything from legacy chips to the latest high-voltage, high-speed isolated ICs.

• SN75176: Early industrial standard (5V, standard transceiver).
• AM26LS31: Dedicated driver (transmit only).
• AM26LS32: Dedicated receiver (receive only).
• SN65HVD485E: Non-isolated basic model (half-duplex, general purpose).
• SN65HVD53: Full-duplex communication node.
• SN65HVD3082E: Features true fail-safe functionality.
• THVD1500: Modern mainstream half-duplex (high cost-performance).
• THVD1406: 3.3V–5V wide supply + auto-direction control (eliminates MCU pin switching).
• THVD1550: High-speed model (supports up to 50 Mbps).
• THVD2450: High-voltage bus protection (withstands ±70V DC fault/short circuits).
• ISO1410: Isolated RS-485 transceiver (built-in digital isolation barrier).

2. Analog Devices (ADI)

(Note: Includes Maxim Integrated. Maxim’s MAX series is the absolute industry standard for RS-485.)

• MAX485: The ultimate 5V industry standard. (The blueprint for countless domestic clones).
• MAX3485: The ultimate 3.3V industry standard (half-duplex).
• MAX490: Full-duplex communication node.
• MAX483: Slew-rate limited / low-speed (250 kbps, extreme noise immunity, ideal for long cables).
• MAX485E: The “E” suffix indicates high-level ESD protection.
• MAX3082: Features true fail-safe functionality.
• MAX3430: Extreme bus fault protection (withstands ±80V DC faults).
• MAX13487E: Supports auto-direction control.
• ADM483: Slew-rate limited / low-speed (legacy ADI product).
• ADM3065E: High-speed model (50 Mbps).
• ADM2587E: Isolated RS-485 with integrated isolated power. (A single-chip solution for signal and power isolation. Radically simplifies PCB design).

3. Renesas

(Note: Includes Intersil, known for excellent power and precision interface solutions.)

• ISL81487: Standard 5V transceiver.
• ISL81487E: 5V transceiver with high-level ESD protection.
• ISL32602E: Ultra-low voltage/micro-power model. (Supports 1.8V to 3.3V wide supply. Designed for battery-powered and ultra-low power applications).

4. MaxLinear

(Note: Includes legacy Sipex / Exar interface lines. Their SP series holds a massive share in consumer and general industrial markets.)

• SP3485: Classic, highly cost-effective 3.3V model. (Often used interchangeably with the MAX3485 on general-purpose boards in non-harsh environments).

Mainstream Chinese RS-485 IC Manufacturers & Typical Models

1. Novosense

A leading domestic digital isolation chip manufacturer. Their RS-485 products excel in isolation technology and high integration. Widely used in solar, energy storage, EV chargers, and high-power industrial power supplies.

• NSIP93086: Flagship 3-in-1 model (Isolation + Power + Interface). Integrates a digital isolator, RS-485 transceiver, and isolated power supply (DC-DC transformer). Reduces PCB footprint by roughly 2/3 compared to traditional “IC + external power module” designs.
• NSI83085 / NSI83086: High-performance isolated RS-485 (half/full duplex). Supports 5kVrms isolation. Common-Mode Transient Immunity (CMTI) up to 150kV/us.
• NCA3485: Non-isolated, 3.3V general-purpose basic model.

2. 3PEAK

Highly recognized in precision industrial control and instrumentation. Core models are tailored for severe electromagnetic environments, like the State Grid.

• TPT485E: “State Grid Certified” star product. Customized for smart meters. Features ultra-low standby current (<1μA), extreme Electrical Fast Transient (EFT) immunity (>±2kV), and ±18kV HBM ESD protection. Maintains stable communication amidst severe grid fluctuations and noise.
• TP8485E: Industrial standard 3.3V/5V half-duplex transceiver. Features solid bus fault tolerance and fail-safe capabilities.

3. Shanghai Belling

A veteran state-backed semiconductor company deeply rooted in power and energy metering. High domestic market share in smart meters, elevator controls, and VFDs. Focuses heavily on high reliability.

• BL3085 / BL1587: Half-duplex RS-485 with fail-safe. Features ±15kV robust ESD protection and an ultra-wide common-mode voltage range (±13V). Ideal for long-distance, cross-floor, and complex-ground industrial sites.
• BL3485: Industrial standard 3.3V low-power transceiver. A perfect drop-in replacement for legacy imported 3.3V models.

4. Chipanalog

Focuses on high-end analog chips. Deep technical expertise in isolated communication and high-voltage fault-tolerant interface ICs.

• CA-IS2092A / CA-IS2092W: Miniaturized isolated RS-485 transceiver with an integrated isolated DC-DC converter.
• CA-IS3082W / CA-IS3088W: Standard high-performance capacitive-isolated RS-485. Supports various industrial baud rates.
• CA-IF4905S / CA-IF4988S: Extreme high-voltage non-isolated RS-485. Features an industry-leading ±40V wide common-mode input range and ±65V bus fault protection. It easily survives accidental connections to 24V industrial power lines.

5. Sitcore

Renowned for deep R&D in automotive and industrial interfaces (CAN, LIN, RS-485). Offers a comprehensive product line with extreme cost-performance.

• SIT3485 / SIT485E: General-purpose non-isolated RS-485. Commands massive shipping volume. Broadly used as a drop-in replacement for imported 3.3V/5V basic models on universal boards.
• SIT3485ISO: Capacitive-isolated half-duplex RS-485. Supports up to 5000 Vrms isolation to meet the demands of harsh, noisy industrial environments.

6. SGMICRO

A domestic analog IC giant with a vast product line. Their interface chips focus on high quality and consistency. Mostly used in telecom equipment and consumer/industrial mixed applications.

• SGM3485: 3.3V, half-duplex general-purpose RS-485 transceiver.
• SGM485: 5V, half-duplex general-purpose RS-485 transceiver.

7. Cosmosemi

Focuses on niche, feature-specific interface chips to solve real-world engineering pain points.

• COS13487E: RS-485 with built-in auto-direction control. Hardware automatically determines data flow direction. This eliminates MCU manipulation of DE/RE pins, vastly simplifying underlying software timing logic.

RS-485 Interface IC Classifications

1. By “Function”

This is the basic physical layer component form. Most applications use integrated “transceivers,” but specific scenarios (like star network splitters) use dedicated drivers or receivers.

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
Transceiver	Integrates 1 transmitter (Tx) and 1 receiver (Rx). The most common RS-485 format.	MAX485 (Classic) SN75176 (Early Standard)	ADI (formerly Maxim) Texas Instruments (TI)
Driver	Transmitter only. Used for one-way packet or clock signal broadcasting.	AM26LS31	Texas Instruments (TI)
Receiver	Receiver only. Used for nodes that listen to the bus without transmitting.	AM26LS32	Texas Instruments (TI)

2. By “Duplex Mode”

Determines the number of external wiring cables (2-wire vs. 4-wire) and the underlying timing logic of system communication.

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
Half-Duplex	2 communication wires (A, B). Time-division transceiving. Requires MCU direction pin control (DE/RE).	MAX3485 THVD1500	ADI (formerly Maxim) Texas Instruments (TI)
Full-Duplex	4 communication wires (Y, Z, A, B). Simultaneous transceiving. Common in point-to-point high-speed links.	MAX490 SN65HVD53	ADI (formerly Maxim) Texas Instruments (TI)

3. By “Supply Voltage”

Must match the logic level of the host controller (MCU, FPGA, etc.) to avoid extra level-shifting circuitry.

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
5V Supply	Traditional industrial standard. Strong bus driving capability. Large differential signal swing.	MAX485 ISL81487	ADI (formerly Maxim) Renesas (formerly Intersil)
3.3V Supply	Modern mainstream. Direct connection to 3.3V MCUs. Low power consumption.	SP3485 MAX3485	MaxLinear ADI (formerly Maxim)
Wide / Low Voltage	Supports 1.8V to 5V wide supply, or dedicated to 1.8V/2.5V low-power systems.	ISL32602E (1.8V-3.3V) THVD1406 (3.3V-5V)	Renesas (formerly Intersil) Texas Instruments (TI)

4. By “Isolation”

Determines the system’s survivability against complex grounding environments, ground shifts, and high-voltage transient surges.

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
Non-Isolated	Logic and bus sides share ground. Extremely low cost. For internal or very short-distance use.	SN65HVD485E SP3485	Texas Instruments (TI) MaxLinear
Isolated	Built-in digital isolation barrier (magnetic or capacitive). For long-distance, cross-plant industrial sites.	ADM2587E (Built-in power) ISO1410	ADI Texas Instruments (TI)

5. By “Data Rate / Slew Rate”

This is the trade-off between “speed” and “noise immunity.”

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
Slew-Rate Limited (< 500 kbps)	Deliberately slows signal edges. Drastically reduces EMI. Highly stable for long cables.	MAX483 (250 kbps) ADM483 (250 kbps)	ADI (formerly Maxim) ADI
High Speed (10 Mbps – 50 Mbps+)	Steep edges. For short-distance, massive data transfers (e.g., servo encoders).	ADM3065E (50 Mbps) THVD1550 (50 Mbps)	ADI Texas Instruments (TI)

6. By “Features”

These chips optimize specific pain points in industrial field applications, adding high value beyond basic communication functions.

Category	Logic Description	Typical Models	Manufacturer
High ESD Protection	Pins withstand ±15kV or higher electrostatic discharge (contact/air). No external TVS needed.	MAX485E ISL81487E	ADI (formerly Maxim) Renesas (formerly Intersil)
True Fail-Safe	Outputs guaranteed high logic during bus open, short, or idle states. Prevents MCU false interrupts.	SN65HVD3082E MAX3082	Texas Instruments (TI) ADI (formerly Maxim)
Fault-Protected	Extreme voltage tolerance. Survives accidental shorting of A/B lines to 24V industrial power without burning out.	THVD2450 (±70V limit) MAX3430 (±80V limit)	Texas Instruments (TI) ADI (formerly Maxim)
Auto-Direction	Hardware dictates data direction. Eliminates the need for MCU to toggle TX/RX states via software timing.	MAX13487E THVD1406	ADI (formerly Maxim) Texas Instruments (TI)

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RS-485 Interface IC Core Logic of RS-485 ICs:

• Differential Transmission for Noise Immunity: It uses the voltage difference between two wires (A and B) to represent logic 0 and 1. If large motors start or stop in a factory, electromagnetic interference adds identical voltage (common-mode noise) to both wires. Since the receiver only reads the difference between A and B, this external noise cancels out perfectly.
• Long Distance & Multi-Node: At lower speeds (e.g., 9.6 kbps), transmission distance reaches up to 1,200 meters. It also supports multiple devices on a single bus (typically 32 to 256 nodes), creating a classic daisy-chain network.

Typical RS-485 Applications

RS-485 is the go-to solution for long physical distances, strong electromagnetic interference, or cost-effectively networking many devices for centralized control. Its most common software protocol partner in the industry is Modbus.

Typical applications include:

1. Industrial Automation & Motor Control (Core Scenario)

• Equipment: PLCs, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), servo drives, industrial HMIs, temperature controllers.
• Logic: Factory floors are harsh environments filled with high-voltage cables, relays, and strong magnetic fields. RS-485 ensures control commands navigate this interference accurately.

2. Renewable Energy & Power Systems

• Equipment: Solar inverters, Battery Management Systems (BMS), energy storage cabinets, smart meters.
• Logic: Solar farms and energy storage systems spread hundreds of battery clusters or inverters over vast areas. RS-485 aggregates critical data (voltage, current, temperature) to a central gateway. Isolated RS-485 ICs are heavily utilized here.

3. Building Automation & HVAC

• Equipment: Central HVAC systems, building ventilation, smart lighting panels, access control readers, elevator control boards.
• Logic: Building wiring spans tens of meters or multiple floors. RS-485 connects distributed sensors and actuators into a single network using low-cost twisted pair cables. It often pairs with the BACnet protocol.

4. Telecom Base Stations & Data Center Monitoring

• Equipment: UPS monitors, precision AC monitors, server room temperature/humidity sensors, water leak detectors.
• Logic: Data centers and base stations pack equipment densely. RS-485 leverages its multi-node capability to bundle sensor data on a single bus. This routes to a host controller, saving significant wiring space and cost.

5. Traditional Security & Video Surveillance

• Equipment: Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera directional controls.
• Logic: Modern video feeds use Ethernet or fiber. However, many existing security systems still use RS-485 for long-distance transmission of PTZ motor commands, often using Pelco-D/P protocols.