Maxim claims it has developed the industry's lowest power, fastest and smallest UART to communicate over an SPI or I²C interface. The MAX3107 interfaces an SPI or I2C synchronous serial microprocessor bus to asynchronous, serial data-communication ports like RS-485, RS-232, IrDA or Profibus. It integrates an oscillator that has 128byte FIFOs to buffer and reduce the microcontroller activity for mobile applications. The device's fast data rates of 24Mbit/s and a deep, 128-word FIFO allow additional buffering to relieve demand on the system's microcontroller. It is packaged in a compact 24-pin TQFN, measuring 3.5x3.5mm, which is 24% smaller than other serial UARTs in the market today, says the company. The UART is also claimed to be the first available in the industry to integrate an oscillator that eliminates the need for external clocking to reduce bill of material cost by an average of 20%. The UART is suitable for industrial field buses that require high-speed communication protocols, and for low-power handheld consumer mobile Internet devices. Higher data rates are now used for communication with Bluetooth (up to 3Mbit/s) and 3G modems (up to 20Mbit/s). For short, local-link applications as in a mobile phone, the UART can serve as the buffer between the system's applications processor (i.e., a microcontroller) and modules like Bluetooth, satellite radio, GPS, or 3G modems.
