MC3487NS - 4-Channel RS-422 Driver | Texas Instruments
MPN: MC3487NS ✓ ActiveMC3487NS Overview
A differential line driver is a signal-conditioning interface that converts one logic input into two complementary outputs for a balanced transmission line. This differential signaling method improves noise immunity because the receiver detects the voltage difference between the two conductors rather than relying on one conductor relative to ground. In the hierarchy of electronic components, the MC3487NS is a line-driver IC, a differential interface IC, and a member of the broader interface IC and semiconductor categories.
The principal electrical benefit is the combination of four differential channels in one package, allowing multi-channel data links to share a compact circuit footprint. The single 5 V supply simplifies power design, while TTL-compatible inputs allow direct connection with common digital logic families. Three-state outputs permit a connected driver to present a high-impedance state when it is not actively driving a bus, which is useful in systems requiring controlled driver enable and disable behavior.
The MC3487NS is commonly paired with the MC3486 quadruple differential line receiver. It can also be used in industrial control links, instrumentation interfaces, test equipment, data acquisition systems, and communications equipment where a point-to-point or multidrop balanced line must be driven from TTL logic. The fast output transition times support higher data rates while maintaining the differential signaling characteristics expected by RS-422-class systems.
Designers should verify the complete pinout and logic levels in the manufacturer datasheet before layout because the supplied web excerpts do not expose the individual pin names. The 16-pin surface-mount package should be treated as a differential signaling device: route the driver outputs as a matched pair, minimize stub lengths, provide a continuous ground reference, and confirm cable termination requirements for the selected data rate and topology. The MC3487 is a driver, not a receiver, and it is not an RS-485 multidrop controller with transceiver arbitration.
This product data combines the verified Texas Instruments product description and datasheet links with distributor availability references, practical application guidance, and an explicit separation between confirmed facts and parameters that require datasheet confirmation. Pricing and detailed electrical values must be checked against current authorized distributor inventory and the latest manufacturer documentation before release to production.
Drop-in alternatives for MC3487NS — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MC3487NS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Input Compatibility, Number of Drivers, Transition Time.
MC3487DR
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →MC3487NS Specifications
| Product Type | Quadruple differential line driver |
| Number of Drivers | 4 independent drivers |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V single supply |
| Interface Standard | ANSI TIA/EIA-422-B and ITU Recommendation V.11 |
| Input Compatibility | TTL-compatible buffered inputs |
| Output State Control | Three-state outputs |
| Input Impedance | High impedance |
| Transition Time | Fast; exact value not provided in verified excerpts |
| Power-Up Protection | Supported |
| Power-Down Protection | Supported |
| Package Pin Count | 16 pins |
| Package Type | 16-pin small-outline package |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Recommended Receiver | MC3486 quadruple line receiver |
MC3487NS 16-pin small-outline package Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MC3487NS (16-pin small-outline package 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 MC3487NS.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MC3487NS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial RS-422 Data Links, Data Acquisition Systems, Test and Measurement Equipment, Remote Control Interfaces, Instrumentation Signal Distribution, Telecommunications and Network Equipment.
Industrial RS-422 Data Links
The MC3487NS fits industrial point-to-point links because it provides four independent differential outputs from a single 5 V supply. Each TTL-compatible input reduces loading on the controlling logic, while differential signaling rejects common-mode noise encountered in factory environments. Four channels can carry related control, status, or measurement signals without requiring four separate driver packages. The design should terminate the receiving end according to the cable topology and confirm industrial temperature, surge, and isolation requirements from the complete datasheet.
Recommended
Data Acquisition Systems
The MC3487NS is useful in multichannel data-acquisition equipment that distributes TTL commands or timing signals over balanced cables. Four differential driver channels provide noise-resistant links to remote instrument modules, while three-state outputs allow unused channels to be disabled when the system requires a high-impedance state. The 16-pin surface-mount package supports compact controller boards, but the physical 5 V rail and digital return path must remain low-noise and properly referenced.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
Instrumentation systems can use the MC3487NS to send four TTL-controlled differential outputs to external fixtures, probes, or remote test modules. The balanced outputs are better suited to longer cable runs than single-ended drive because the receiver responds to the difference between the two conductors. Fast transition times support time-sensitive test sequences, and power-up and power-down protection helps control the output behavior during instrument initialization. Exact timing and data-rate limits must be checked before selecting the device.
Recommended
Remote Control Interfaces
The MC3487NS suits remote control assemblies where one controller must transmit several discrete commands across a noisy cable. Four TTL-compatible inputs can be driven by standard digital logic, and each differential pair provides a more robust communication path between the control card and remote electronics. Three-state outputs support controlled disablement when only some channels are active. Engineers must preserve the driver-to-receiver pairing and verify grounding, cable length, and termination at both ends of the link.
Recommended
Instrumentation Signal Distribution
The four channels in the MC3487NS allow a single 5 V interface IC to distribute differential command or trigger signals among multiple circuit cards. This can simplify routing compared with four single-ended drivers while retaining compatibility with TTL control logic. The differential arrangement is particularly helpful when signals leave a control board and traverse harnesses near power systems. Layout should minimize output stubs, maintain a continuous reference plane, and provide local supply decoupling following the manufacturer recommendations.
Recommended
Telecommunications and Network Equipment
MC3487NS can drive balanced point-to-point control or alarm connections in telecommunications equipment. Four channels make it economical to supervise or control multiple remote line-card functions while maintaining the differential signaling characteristics expected by RS-422-class receivers. The buffered TTL-compatible inputs reduce burden on the supervising logic, and high-impedance inputs assist system integration. For deployed telecom equipment, designers should also verify temperature range, surge immunity, isolation, and regulatory requirements not shown in the verified excerpts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC3487NS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC3487DR |
|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-16 | SOIC-16 |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Device Type | Quadruple differential line driver | Quadruple differential line driver |
| Number of Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V single supply | 5 V single supply |
| Input Compatibility | TTL-compatible buffered input | TTL-compatible buffered input |
| Output Control | Three-state outputs | Three-state outputs |
| Interface Standard | ANSI TIA/EIA-422-B and ITU Recommendation V.11 | ANSI TIA/EIA-422-B and ITU Recommendation V.11 |
| Power Protection | Power-up and power-down protection | Power-up and power-down protection |
Key Differentiators
- Four differential channels in one package (vs MC3486DR)
- Single 5 V interface operation (vs MC3486DR)
- Three-state differential outputs (vs MC3486DR)
- TTL-compatible buffered inputs (vs MC3486DR)
Design Notes
Route each MC3487NS differential output as a tightly coupled pair with minimal impedance discontinuities, vias, and stubs. Keep the output path away from switching nodes and high-current return paths. Provide a continuous ground reference beneath the interface section, and check the receiver-end termination against the actual cable length and topology. The verified excerpts establish differential operation and three-state outputs, but exact trace impedance and termination values must follow the complete TI datasheet and system timing budget.
The MC3487NS operates from one 5 V supply, so the rail must remain stable while all four channels switch. Place local high-frequency bypass capacitance close to the device supply and ground pins, and keep return current within the smallest possible loop. When the driver is used in industrial equipment, account for conducted noise, surge events, and ground offsets at the connector. These protection and isolation requirements are not quantified in the supplied excerpts and must be established through system testing.
Do not treat the MC3487 as a full RS-485 transceiver: it is a line driver, and the MC3486 is the complementary receiver. Verify output-enable polarity and the meaning of each numbered pin directly against the official MC3487 datasheet before PCB release. Also avoid substituting MC3486 or MC3487N solely because their functions or suffix names appear similar; package construction, pin assignment, and signal direction must all match the target design.
Because fast transitions and differential signaling are central to the MC3487NS interface, validate edge rate, propagation delay, skew, and receiver thresholds with an oscilloscope in the completed harness. Differential voltage should be measured directly across the output pair with a suitable differential probe, not inferred from a single conductor relative to ground. Leave space for receiver termination and, where required, common-mode or isolation components so that final protection does not distort the intended RS-422-class interface.
Compliance Information
The verified excerpts identify the interface standards but do not provide RoHS, REACH, AEC-Q100, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals declarations. AEC-Q100 is treated as not applicable because this is a general-purpose interface IC rather than an identified automotive-qualified variant.
