SP490EEN-L - 10Mbps RS-485/RS-422 Transceiver | MaxLinear
MPN: SP490EEN-L ✓ ActiveSP490EEN-L Overview
An RS-485/RS-422 transceiver is an interface IC that converts logic-level signals into balanced differential line signals and receives differential signals back as digital logic. It belongs to the physical-layer hierarchy of communication components: transceiver, line driver and receiver, differential interface, interface IC, and integrated circuit. Balanced signaling improves noise immunity by coupling the intended signal differentially and rejecting common-mode voltage.
The SP490EEN-L's principal features include a maximum data rate of 10 Mbps, operation from a 4.75 V to 5.25 V supply, and ±200 mV receiver sensitivity. Its low-power differential architecture is intended for industrial-control links, data-acquisition equipment, factory automation, and other systems that exchange reliable data over longer cable runs than a single-ended interface can support.
The device combines a differential driver and differential receiver in one package. Differential transmission reduces sensitivity to ground-potential differences between connected equipment, while the receiver's ±200 mV threshold allows the communications system to tolerate noise and attenuation. The wide common-mode range is especially useful in industrial environments where ground offsets can occur between separately powered nodes.
Typical uses include full-duplex industrial networks, programmable-logic-controller communication, motor-control interfaces, building-automation equipment, and instrumentation links. A full-duplex arrangement uses separate differential paths for transmission and reception, allowing the controller and peripheral to exchange information simultaneously without sharing a bus conductor.
Designers should use a controlled-impedance PCB layout, terminate the transmission line appropriately at the far end, and provide local supply bypassing close to the IC. The 8-pin SOIC footprint simplifies assembly, but the layout must preserve the relationship between each differential pair and its return path. Cabling, grounding, and termination should be validated together because a compliant transceiver does not compensate for an incorrectly terminated cable.
This page consolidates verified manufacturer specifications, distributor pricing, same-package replacement research, application guidance, and practical PCB considerations. It is designed to help engineers identify whether the SP490EEN-L fits a 5 V full-duplex RS-485 or RS-422 design without relying on incomplete distributor summaries alone.
Drop-in alternatives for SP490EEN-L — 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 SP490EEN-L (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Receiver Common-Mode Range.
SP490ECN-L
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →SP490CN-L
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →SP490EEN-L/TR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
SP490EEN-L Specifications
| Product Type | RS-485/RS-422 differential line transceiver |
| Data Rate | Up to 10 Mbps |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.75 V to 5.25 V |
| Receiver Input Sensitivity | ±200 mV |
| Receiver Common-Mode Range | Wide common-mode range; exact limits not provided |
| Duplex Mode | Full duplex |
| Supported Standards | RS-485 and RS-422 |
| Transmitter and Receiver Count | 1 differential driver and 1 differential receiver |
| Package | 8-pin narrow SOIC |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| RoHS Compliance | Unknown |
| REACH Compliance | Unknown |
SP490EEN-L Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RO — Receiver output |
| Pin 2 | NC — Not connected for the SP490 configuration |
| Pin 3 | NC — Not connected for the SP490 configuration |
| Pin 4 | DI — Driver input |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | A — Non-inverting differential bus terminal |
| Pin 7 | B — Inverting differential bus terminal |
| Pin 8 | VCC — Positive supply |
Typical Applications
SP490EEN-L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial PLC Communication, Factory Automation Sensor Backplane, Motor Control and Automation, Building Automation Network, Data Acquisition and Instrumentation, Embedded Equipment-to-Equipment Link.
Industrial PLC Communication
The SP490EEN-L fits full-duplex industrial PLC communication because it supports RS-485 and RS-422 data rates up to 10 Mbps from a 4.75 V to 5.25 V supply. Its differential line interface and ±200 mV receiver sensitivity help reject common-mode noise encountered between separately powered controllers and remote I/O. The 8-pin SOIC package also supports conventional surface-mount assembly. Designers should place supply bypassing close to the device, route the A and B differential pair together, and select termination according to cable length and topology.
Recommended
Factory Automation Sensor Backplane
SP490EEN-L is suitable for linking automation equipment over a balanced sensor backplane where noise immunity and deterministic differential signaling are important. The verified 10 Mbps capability provides ample bandwidth for compact sensor and actuator networks, while the wide receiver common-mode range accommodates ground-potential differences between equipment cabinets. Keep each differential pair over a continuous ground reference, avoid stubs, and verify connector and cable return paths. The transceiver alone does not replace industrial surge protection or isolation requirements.
Recommended
Motor Control and Automation
The SP490EEN-L can connect a motor controller to industrial automation equipment through an RS-485 or RS-422 differential link. Its 4.75 V to 5.25 V operating range suits 5 V control electronics, and the verified 10 Mbps data rate supports high-speed command and status traffic. Differential signaling is preferable to single-ended wiring in environments containing variable-speed drives and switching equipment. The design must still account for motor-generated EMI, isolated grounds, cable shielding, and appropriate termination at the physical ends of the bus.
Recommended
Building Automation Network
SP490EEN-L is appropriate for full-duplex building-automation links where controllers, sensors, and actuators exchange commands over balanced wiring. The device's ±200 mV receiver sensitivity and wide common-mode range are useful where different building subsystems have unequal ground potentials. A 10 Mbps capability allows the physical layer to handle demanding data exchange, although practical network length and topology remain important. Designers should use a controlled bus topology, maintain one reference path per differential pair, and confirm compatibility with the selected building-automation protocol.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Instrumentation
The SP490EEN-L can connect laboratory or process-instrumentation equipment to a controller through a full-duplex RS-485 or RS-422 differential port. Its receiver sensitivity of ±200 mV supports recovery of small differential signals after cable attenuation, while the 10 Mbps rating can accommodate high-rate acquisition traffic. The narrow SOIC package is convenient for compact instrument electronics, but measurement accuracy still depends on a clean reference plane and controlled cable. Place bypassing at the IC, keep A and B routing symmetrical, and use appropriate termination rather than adding it at every node.
Recommended
Embedded Equipment-to-Equipment Link
SP490EEN-L works as the physical-layer interface between embedded controllers when a robust differential connection is preferred. The verified 10 Mbps maximum rate provides ample margin for command traffic, while its 4.75 V to 5.25 V supply operation matches common 5 V logic systems. The full-duplex configuration allows transmitting and receiving paths to operate independently. To achieve predictable results, preserve the A-to-B pair geometry on the PCB, provide local supply decoupling, inspect the datasheet pin assignments, and validate the complete cable and termination arrangement under worst-case noise conditions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for SP490EEN-L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | SP490ECN-L | SP490CN-L | SP490EEN-L/TR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | MaxLinear, Inc. | MaxLinear, Inc. | MaxLinear, Inc. | MaxLinear, Inc. |
| Package | 8-pin narrow SOIC | 8-pin narrow SOIC | 8-pin narrow SOIC | 8-pin narrow SOIC |
| Interface Function | Full-duplex RS-485/RS-422 transceiver | SP490E-family RS-485/RS-422 transceiver | SP490-family RS-485/RS-422 transceiver | Full-duplex RS-485/RS-422 transceiver |
| Maximum Data Rate | 10 Mbps | Not provided in verified data | Not provided in verified data | 10 Mbps |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | Not provided in verified data | Not provided in verified data | 4.75 V to 5.25 V |
| Receiver Input Sensitivity | ±200 mV | ±200 mV for the SP490E family | Not provided in verified data | ±200 mV |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +85 °C | Not provided in verified data | Not provided in verified data | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Verified Unit Price | $0.3004 as of 2026-10-28 | Not provided in verified data | Not provided in verified data | $0.3004 starting price as of 2026-10-28 |
| Ordering Form | SP490EEN-L | SP490ECN-L | SP490CN-L | Tape-and-reel ordering form |
Key Differentiators
- Verified high-speed differential interface (vs SP490CN-L)
- Documented wide common-mode operation (vs SP490ECN-L)
- Direct ordering-form availability (vs SP490ECN-L)
Design Notes
Route each A-to-B differential pair over a continuous reference plane and keep the pair geometry consistent along the entire interface. Avoid placing switching nodes, unrelated high-current paths, or connectors with incompatible return paths beneath the bus traces. The balanced receiver benefits from matched impedance and a stable common-mode environment, so PCB review should include both the SP490EEN-L pins and the complete cable-and-connector path.
Place the device's supply-decoupling capacitor immediately adjacent to the VCC and GND pins, and provide a short, low-impedance connection between the capacitor and the IC. The SP490EEN-L operates from 4.75 V to 5.25 V, so verify the supply at the transceiver rather than only at the regulator output. Keep sensitive receiver routing away from the driver return path where possible, especially in systems containing relays, motors, or switching power converters.
Do not treat the 10 Mbps device rating as a guarantee that every cable can operate at 10 Mbps. Cable loss, stubs, topology, connector transitions, reflections, and common-mode noise all affect the usable link. Confirm the manufacturer pin assignments before connecting a board, especially when comparing SP490 and SP491-family variants because enable-related pins differ. Validate the complete network with representative cabling and termination rather than testing only at the IC pins.
Use a defined grounding strategy for each balanced interface and consider adding protection appropriate to the installation environment. Transceiver receiver sensitivity of ±200 mV does not imply unlimited tolerance for externally induced surge energy. Long industrial or building cables may require coordinated surge, ESD, and lightning protection, with its return connection arranged to avoid injecting additional current into the signal path. Compliance must be tested at the system level.
Compliance Information
The verified product and distributor excerpts do not provide definitive RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals declarations. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because this is an industrial communication interface IC rather than an automotive-qualified device.
