Texas Instruments SN65C1168ERGYR

Overview

SN65C1168ERGYR from Texas Instruments is a dual RS-422 differential line driver and receiver IC operating from a single 5V supply, featuring ±15kV HBM ESD protection on bus pins, 9mA max supply current, and ±200mV receiver input sensitivity. It supports factory automation and motor drive systems requiring robust noise immunity over long twisted-pair cables.

For engineers reviewing the SN65C1168ERGYR datasheet, SN65C1168ERGYR pinout, SN65C1168ERGYR application, or SN65C1168ERGYR equivalent, key selection criteria include individual driver enable control (1DE/2DE), VQFN-16 package thermal performance (RθJA = 48.4°C/W), ±7V common-mode input range, and TIA/EIA-422-B compliance for industrial serial communication links.

Technical Context

The SN65C1168ERGYR implements two independent RS-422 drivers with separate active-high enables (1DE, 2DE) and two receivers without shared enable-unlike the SN65C1167E's single RE pin. Each driver delivers ≥2V differential output into 100Ω load with ≤4ns pulse skew and 20MHz max switching frequency.

Receiver operation supports –7V to +7V common-mode voltage and detects differential inputs as low as ±200mV with 60mV hysteresis. Input impedance is 17kΩ typical, enabling multi-drop bus configurations without signal degradation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

VQFN-16 package (4mm × 3.5mm, 0.5mm pitch) with exposed thermal pad for enhanced heat dissipation in compact industrial modules.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar RS-422 transceiver applications.

Compared with SN65C1167ERGYR and MAX3080ESA+, the SN65C1168ERGYR uniquely delivers per-channel driver enable control in a thermally optimized VQFN package, enabling deterministic multi-node arbitration and lower system-level power consumption in distributed motion control architectures.

Availability

SN65C1168ERGYR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for factory automation, AC motor drives, and wireless infrastructure requiring stable component supply with guaranteed long-term manufacturability.

Supply support for SN65C1168ERGYR includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company specializing in analog and embedded processing technologies, with decades of leadership in industrial interface solutions.

The SN65C1168E product line was designed specifically for robust RS-422 communication in electrically noisy industrial environments, emphasizing ESD resilience, wide common-mode tolerance, and low-skew timing performance.

FAQ

What is the package type and thermal performance of SN65C1168ERGYR?

The SN65C1168ERGYR uses a VQFN-16 package (4mm × 3.5mm) with an exposed thermal pad. Its junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is 48.4°C/W, significantly lower than SOIC or TSSOP variants, enabling reliable operation at full load in compact industrial enclosures without forced airflow. This thermal advantage is confirmed in TI's SLLS740C datasheet Section 5.4.

Does SN65C1168ERGYR support independent enable control for each driver?

Yes, SN65C1168ERGYR features two dedicated active-high enable inputs: 1DE controls driver 1 (1Y/1Z), and 2DE controls driver 2 (2Y/2Z). This differs from the SN65C1167E family, which uses a single DE pin. Independent enables allow precise timing control in multi-channel systems such as synchronized axis drives, as documented in Table 4-2 and Section 7.3.1 of the datasheet.

What is the receiver input sensitivity and common-mode range of SN65C1168ERGYR?

The SN65C1168ERGYR receiver has a differential input sensitivity of ±200mV and a common-mode input voltage range of –7V to +7V. These specifications ensure reliable signal detection in electrically noisy environments with ground potential differences, meeting TIA/EIA-422-B requirements. Values are specified in Sections 5.6 and 7.1 of the official TI datasheet SLLS740C.

How does the ESD protection of SN65C1168ERGYR compare to industry standards?

SN65C1168ERGYR provides ±15kV Human-Body Model (HBM) and ±8kV IEC 61000-4-2 (contact and air-gap) ESD protection on all RS-422 bus pins (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 1Y, 1Z, 2Y, 2Z). This exceeds standard industrial requirements and eliminates the need for external protection components, as verified in Section 5.2 of the TI SLLS740C datasheet.

Is SN65C1168ERGYR pin-compatible with other members of the SN65C116xE family?

SN65C1168ERGYR shares the same VQFN-16 pinout and footprint as SN65C1167ERGYR, but functional pin assignments differ: SN65C1168ERGYR uses pins 4 and 12 for 1DE and 2DE, whereas SN65C1167ERGYR uses pin 4 for RE and pin 12 for DE. Therefore, it is not a drop-in replacement-PCB layout must match the specific variant's enable pin mapping per Table 4-1 and Table 4-2.