The MAX3243E device consists of three line drivers, five line receivers, and a dual charge-pump circuit with ±15-kV ESD (HBM and IEC61000-4-2, Air-Gap Discharge) and ±8-kV ESD (IEC61000-4-2, Contact Discharge) protection on serial-port connection pins. The device meets the requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and provides the electrical interface between an asynchronous communication controller and the serial-port connector.

The charge pump and four small external capacitors allow operation from a single 3-V to 5.5-V supply. In addition, the device includes an always-active noninverting output (ROUT2B), which allows applications using the ring indicator to transmit data while the device is powered down. The device operates at data signaling rates up to 250 kbit/s and a maximum of 30-V/μs driver output slew rate.