Fairchild Semiconductor unveils the industry's first 3 volt and 5 volt single chip solutions for high-speed peripheral data interface. The new 3V and 5V transceivers provide an IEEE 1284 compliant interface solution.

IEEE 1284 is the first standard for high speed peripheral data interface allowing data bandwidths greater than 2MB/sec in either direction. The standard defines electrical interfaces, as well as physical interconnects, and interconnect cable properties.

Fairchild's IEEE 1284 transceivers are ideal for printers, scanners, copiers, and any other application requiring a PC or workstation plug-in. Fully supporting IEEE 1284 level 1 and 2 signaling standards for bi-directional parallel communications between personal computers and printing peripherals, the transceivers provide solutions for easing host and peripheral controller drive. The devices also help with optimization of PCB layout and signal integrity through localization of port drive circuitry.

Fairchild's transceivers feature eight bi-directional data buffers and eleven control/status buffers to implement a full IEEE 1284 compliant interface. The integration of internal pull-up and series resistors eliminate the need for up to 30 external discrete components required to support the 1284 interface.

The new offering includes the 74VHC161284 which provides 5V operation with CMOS input thresholds. The 74LVX161284 provides 3.3V operation with TTL input thresholds and also includes a separate power supply connection for the cable side outputs that can be powered at either 3.3V or 5V for effective cable driving. Both devices feature guaranteed 800mV minimum input hysteresis to provide added noise margin for the control outputs. The B and Y outputs guarantee high impedance when powered down to avoid bus contention. In addition, ESD performance is guaranteed to exceed 2kV for protection of sensitive I/O circuitry.

These devices are additions to Fairchild's existing IEEE 1284 solutions consisting of the 74ACT1284 and the 74F1071. The 74ACT1284 is a 7-bit bus interface, while the 74F1071 is an 8-bit undershoot/overshoot clamp and ESD protection device. It can be used to increase ESD protection to 6kV per the IEC 801.2 specification.

For a company that has only been on its own for about eight months Fairchild has been really busy. Its recent announcement of the agreement to acquire Raytheon's Semiconductor division (REC) was described by their president and CEO, Kirk Pond, as giving "Fairchild the nucleus upon which to build a strong analog and mixed signal technologies business." Well surprise, Mr. Pond, you are already in the business of analog/mixed-signal with power and signal products! That includes the products here. Someone had to be first with 3- and 5-V solutions for this 1284 application and it's nice that a company that doesn't know it's in the business should have done it!

There is little to say about the products because they fully comply with a 1284 interface. The difference between the parts is simply the voltage operation with either 5 V with CMOS thresholds, or 3.3 V with TTL. They will find great use in peripheral products.

Both the 74LVX161284 (3.3 V) and 74VHC161284 (5 V) are being delivered now, are priced at $1.80 in 100-piece lots, and are being packaged in both 48-lead SSOP and TSSOP.

[By the way, Fairchild, whatever you do with the Mountain View operation of Raytheon will surprise absolutely no-one in the company, but don't let go of the great group of video designers in San Diego!]