
11
The INVALID output always indicates whether or not a valid
RS-232 signal is present at any of the receiver inputs (see
Table 2), giving the user an easy way to determine when the
interface block should power down. In the case of a
disconnected interface cable where all the receiver inputs
are floating (but pulled to GND by the internal receiver pull
down resistors), the INVALID logic detects the invalid levels
and drives the output low. The power management logic
then uses this indicator to power down the interface block.
Reconnecting the cable restores valid levels at the receiver
inputs, INVALID switches high, and the power management
logic wakes up the interface block. INVALID can also be
used to indicate the DTR or RING INDICATOR signal, as
long as the other receiver inputs are floating, or driven to
GND (as in the case of a powered down driver). Connecting
FORCEOFF and FORCEON together disables the
automatic powerdown feature, enabling them to function as
a manual SHUTDOWN input (see Figure 4).
With any of the above control schemes, the time required to
exit powerdown, and resume transmission is only 100
μ
s. A
mouse, or other application, may need more time to wake up
from shutdown. If automatic powerdown is being utilized, the
RS-232 device will reenter powerdown if valid receiver levels
aren’t reestablished within 30
μ
s of the ICL32XX powering
up. Figure 5 illustrates a circuit that keeps the ICL32XX from
initiating automatic powerdown for 100ms after powering up.
This gives the slow-to-wake peripheral circuit time to
reestablish valid RS-232 output levels.
Automatic Powerdown (ICL3221/23/43 Only)
Even greater power savings is available by using the devices
which feature an
automatic
powerdown function. When no
valid RS-232 voltages (see Figure 6) are sensed on any
receiver input for 30
μ
s, the charge pump and transmitters
powerdown, thereby reducing supply current to 1
μ
A. Invalid
receiver levels occur whenever the driving peripheral’s
outputs are shut off (powered down) or when the RS-232
interface cable is disconnected. The ICL32XX powers back
up whenever it detects a valid RS-232 voltage level on any
receiver input. This automatic powerdown feature provides
additional system power savings without changes to the
existing operating system.
FIGURE 2. POWER DRAIN THROUGH POWERED DOWN
PERIPHERAL
OLD
V
CC
POWERED
DOWN
UART
GND
SHDN = GND
V
CC
Rx
Tx
V
CC
CURRENT
FLOW
V
OUT
=
V
CC
RS-232 CHIP
FIGURE 3. DISABLED RECEIVERS PREVENT POWER DRAIN
ICL324X
TRANSITION
DETECTOR
R
X
T
X
R2
OUTB
R2
OUT
T1
IN
FORCEOFF = GND
OR SHDN = GND, EN = V
CC
V
CC
V
CC
TO
R2
IN
T1
OUT
V
OUT
=
HI-Z
POWERED
DOWN
UART
WAKE-UP
LOGIC
FIGURE 4. CONNECTIONS FOR MANUAL POWERDOWN
WHEN NO VALID RECEIVER SIGNALS ARE
PRESENT
PWR
MGT
LOGIC
FORCEOFF
INVALID
CPU
I/O
FORCEON
ICL3221/23/43
UART
FIGURE 5. CIRCUIT TO PREVENT AUTO POWERDOWN FOR
100ms AFTER FORCED POWERUP
ICL3221/23/43
FORCEOFF
FORCEON
POWER
MANAGEMENT
UNIT
MASTER POWERDOWN LINE
1M
0.1
μ
F
ICL3221, ICL3222, ICL3223, ICL3232, ICL3241, ICL3243