ISL8487IP - 5V Half-Duplex RS-485/RS-422 Transceiver | Renesas
MPN: ISL8487IP ✗ End of LifeISL8487IP Overview
An RS-485/RS-422 transceiver is a differential interface IC that converts logic-level data into balanced differential signals and converts incoming differential signals back into receiver-compatible logic. Within the broader hierarchy, it is a transceiver interface IC, a wired-communication interface, and part of the broader semiconductor and industrial-control ecosystem. Its half-duplex architecture allows a pair of devices to share the same differential pair, although only one transmitter should drive the bus at a time.
The ISL8487IP provides a 1/8-unit-load receiver, allowing multiple nodes to share a bus more effectively than a one-unit-load receiver. Its 5 V supply, low-power shutdown, separate transmitter and receiver enables, and selectable high-speed or slew-rate-limited operation give the designer several ways to balance throughput, EMI control, and power consumption. The transmitter-enable and receiver-enable inputs also support orderly bus-direction control in half-duplex equipment.
According to the manufacturer datasheet, the device uses fractional-unit-load BiCMOS transceiver technology intended for balanced RS-485 and RS-422 networks. The slew-rate-limit option reduces the rate of change on driver output edges, which can help control high-frequency ringing and electromagnetic emissions. Conversely, the high-speed mode is intended for links where maximum communication rate is more important than edge-rate control. Exact propagation-delay, data-rate, differential-output, and current-limit values were not present in the supplied web data.
Typical uses include industrial equipment links, building-control interfaces, instrumentation buses, data-acquisition systems, and host-controller communication ports. In a half-duplex system, the transceiver can connect a controller to a multidrop field bus while logic-controlled enables determine whether the node transmits or receives. The low-power shutdown function is useful when a connected module must reduce current consumption while preserving a stable local bus connection.
Designers should verify the exact recommended termination, biasing, common-mode range, and decoupling requirements in the manufacturer datasheet before release. Differential pairs should be routed with continuous references and matched spacing, while a slew-rate-limited mode may be preferable in cables or cabinets exposed to significant EMI. The 8-pin PDIP package also requires adequate spacing around the leads for soldering and inspection.
Drop-in alternatives for ISL8487IP — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
ISL8487IPZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ISL8487IP Specifications
| Product Type | RS-485/RS-422 half-duplex transceiver |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V |
| Transmitter Count | 1 transmitter |
| Receiver Count | 1 receiver |
| Duplex Mode | Half-duplex |
| Supported Interfaces | RS-485 and RS-422 |
| Receiver Unit Load | 1/8 unit load |
| Driver Control | Transmitter enable input |
| Receiver Control | Receiver enable input |
| Power Control | Low-power shutdown input |
| Drive Mode | High-speed or slew-rate-limited operation |
| Process Technology | BiCMOS |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP |
| Pin Count | 8 pins |
ISL8487IP 8-pin pdip Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ISL8487IP (8-pin pdip package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for ISL8487IP.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ISL8487IP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial RS-485 Control Bus, Building Automation and HVAC Equipment, Data-Acquisition and Instrumentation, Point-to-Point RS-422 Link, Serial Port and Communication Adapter, Embedded Equipment Network Interface.
Industrial RS-485 Control Bus
The ISL8487IP fits a half-duplex industrial control bus because it combines a 5 V supply with one transmitter, one receiver, and a 1/8-unit-load receiver characteristic. The transmitter-enable and receiver-enable inputs allow a controller to determine bus direction, while the low-power shutdown input can reduce consumption when an attached module is inactive. In a multidrop installation, the fractional unit load can support multiple nodes, although the final node count and termination arrangement must be verified against the manufacturer limits.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC Equipment
The ISL8487IP is suitable for connecting building-automation equipment to a balanced field bus because its 1/8-unit-load receiver can accommodate several communicating nodes more effectively than a one-unit-load receiver. Separate transmitter and receiver enables support shared wiring, and the slew-rate-limited mode offers a way to moderate output-edge ringing in installed environments. The 5 V supply simplifies integration with powered controllers, subject to verification of common-mode range, noise immunity, and shutdown current.
Recommended
Data-Acquisition and Instrumentation
The ISL8487IP can connect instrumentation and data-acquisition equipment to a differential RS-485 network. Its one-transmitter, one-receiver arrangement supports bidirectional communication over a shared pair, while the transmitter enable prevents more than one node from driving the bus simultaneously. The 1/8-unit-load receiver is valuable in multi-instrument installations, but designers should still check the complete datasheet for maximum node count, common-mode limits, and cable-length-dependent data-rate restrictions.
Recommended
Point-to-Point RS-422 Link
The ISL8487IP can operate in a point-to-point RS-422 arrangement where a transmitter at one end communicates with a receiver at the other. Although the device is described as half-duplex, its separate enables let the system controller determine which side transmits and which side listens. Its 5 V operation simplifies interface design, and slew-rate-limited operation can be selected where slower edges are desirable for reducing ringing in longer installed cables.
Recommended
Serial Port and Communication Adapter
The ISL8487IP provides the physical interface layer for a controller that needs an RS-485 or RS-422 connection rather than a single-ended logic port. A 5 V control circuit can use the separate transmitter and receiver enables to manage direction and avoid bus contention. The low-power shutdown function is useful in adapters intended for intermittent operation, while the PDIP package simplifies inspection and rework in low- and moderate-volume industrial equipment.
Recommended
Embedded Equipment Network Interface
The ISL8487IP is appropriate for embedded equipment that connects to an external balanced network. Its half-duplex operation conserves wiring by allowing transmit and receive functions to share one differential pair, and its 1/8-unit-load receiver supports a network containing multiple equipment nodes. The transceiver-enable inputs can be driven by a host controller, while shutdown can reduce current use when the network function is not required. PCB layout must preserve the differential pair's geometry and provide a clean return path.
Recommended
Engineering reference data for ISL8487IP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ISL8487IPZ |
|---|---|---|
| Package | PDIP-8 | PDIP-8 - same package |
| Brand | Renesas Electronics | Renesas Electronics |
| Supported Interfaces | RS-485 and RS-422 | RS-485 and RS-422 |
| Transmitter and Receiver Count | 1 transmitter and 1 receiver | 1 transmitter and 1 receiver |
| Duplex Mode | Half-duplex | Half-duplex |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V | 5 V |
| Electrical Characteristics | Reference manufacturer data | Some electrical characteristics differ from ISL8487IP |
| Pin Compatibility | 8-pin PDIP reference configuration | Same package; complete pin-function verification required |
Key Differentiators
- Documented baseline for this exact orderable variant (vs ISL8487IPZ)
- Low-power shutdown support (vs ISL8487IPZ)
- Separate half-duplex direction controls (vs ISL8487IPZ)
Design Notes
Route the RS-485 and RS-422 differential pair as a tightly coupled pair with consistent impedance and uninterrupted reference planes. Avoid routing the interface across split planes or through noisy switching-regulator areas. Place any termination and fail-safe biasing components close to the transceiver pins where practical, and keep the ground return path continuous beneath the interface region.
Use the slew-rate-limited operating mode when long cables, connectors, or adjacent high-speed digital circuitry make edge-rate control important. This reduces the likelihood of excessive ringing and radiated emissions, but it may restrict usable data rate. The maximum communication rate and timing margin must be checked against the complete manufacturer specifications before fixing the mode in firmware.
Never enable the transmitter on more than one node at the same time because multiple drivers on one differential bus can create contention and excessive current. Define enable polarity in hardware, provide a fail-safe default that disables the driver, and account for startup states in which control logic may not yet be initialized. The shutdown and enable behavior should be verified against the ISL8487IP datasheet.
Compliance Information
No explicit RoHS, REACH, AEC-Q100, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals statements were included in the supplied web data. AEC-Q100 status is therefore unknown rather than assumed.