MaxLinear Launches Broad Portfolio of Half-Duplex RS-485 Transceivers Designed for Demanding Applications

Rhea-AI Summary

MaxLinear (Nasdaq: MXL) has launched two new RS-485 serial transceiver families, MxL8312x and MxL8321x, featuring nine product SKUs. These transceivers offer data rates up to 50Mbps, small 3mm x 3mm packages, and enhanced protection for harsh industrial environments. The products include IEC61000-4-2-ESD and IEC61000-4-4 electrical fast transient protection, supporting both 3.3V and 5V systems. The new families expand MaxLinear's portfolio, targeting applications in factory automation, industrial motor drives, robotics, and building automation sectors.

Positive

• Expansion of product portfolio with nine new SKUs targeting the industrial communication market
• Products address growing market projected to reach $29 billion by 2028 according to MarketsandMarkets
• Enhanced features including higher speeds (up to 50Mbps) and improved protection systems

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Industry Analyst

The launch of MaxLinear's new RS-485 transceiver families represents an incremental product expansion in the industrial communication sector. While the technical specifications are impressive, with up to 50Mbps data rates and enhanced protection features, this product launch is unlikely to significantly move the needle on MaxLinear's financials in the near term.

The addressable market opportunity is substantial, with the industrial communication market projected to reach $29 billion by 2028. However, RS-485 transceivers are relatively commoditized components and while these new products offer competitive features, they face strong competition from established players. The primary value proposition lies in the smaller form factor packages and enhanced protection features, which could help maintain MaxLinear's market position but may not drive substantial revenue growth.

• New products offer small form factor packages, up to 50Mbps data rates, low EMI, IEC61000-4-2-ESD protection, and IEC61000-4-4 electrical fast transient (EFT) protection

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MaxLinear, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXL), a technology leader transforming global connectivity, announced today the launch of two new RS-485 serial transceiver families (MxL8312x and MxL8321x) specifically designed to ensure reliable, high-performance communication in harsh industrial environments. The new transceiver families include nine product SKUs with three speed options (250kbps, 500kbps, 50Mbps) and three package variants including a small 3mm x 3mm package.

MaxLinear's new half-duplex serial transceivers offer small form factor packages, up to 50Mbps data rates, low EMI, IEC61000-4-2-ESD protection, and IEC61000-4-4 electrical fast transient (EFT) protection for harsh industrial environments. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The new families add to MaxLinear’s half-duplex RS-485 transceiver portfolio, building on more than 40 years of experience designing reliable, high-performance industrial communication solutions. The new MxL8312x and MxL8321x families add both mid- and high-tier products to MaxLinear’s previously announced MxL8310x and MxL8311x families, offering the performance and protection many modern industrial systems demand.

“Industrial communication devices demand faster, smaller, and lower power ICs with integrated system level ESD functionality that meet the uncompromising need for ever-increasing reliability,” said Amit Bavisi, Vice President and General Manager, Analog Mixed-Signal at MaxLinear. “We’re seeing growing demand for high-performance and reliable serial transceivers across industrial and computing markets as automation drives the need for increased connectivity between sensors, controllers and machines.”

Available in new packages, higher speeds, and heightened levels of system-level electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electrical fast transients (EFT) protection, the new transceivers are well suited for delivering high performance in harsh conditions. The new families serve a broad range of applications including factory automation, industrial motor drives, robotics, building automation, HVAC, solar, and many more. These new RS-485 transceivers add to MaxLinear’s rapidly growing portfolio of solutions for the industrial communications market. According to MarketsandMarkets, the industrial communication market is projected to reach $29 billion by 2028.

“Functional safety and system uptime are critical design factors for any industrial system,” said Jon Alexander, Sr Director of Marketing for Analog Mixed-Signal at MaxLinear. “We’re thrilled to deliver new products that exceed the rigorous standards our customer base demands.”

Key Features and Benefits

• Packages: In addition to the traditional 4.9mm x 3.9mm body size NSOIC-8 package, new devices are available in 3mm x 3mm body size MSOP-8 and VSON-8 packages.
• System-level protection: Bus pins are designed to tolerate up to ±4kV of IEC 61000-4-4 electrical fast transients (EFT) and up to ±12kV of IEC 61000-4-2 electrostatic discharge (ESD).
• High Performance: The MxL83214 devices are cable of supporting 50Mbps data rates with excellent pulse symmetry and low propagation delays.
• Wide supply (3.3V to 5V): Ensures reliable operation under a wide range of applications and in systems where the power supply may drop. It also allows for single product qualification for use in both 3.3V and 5V systems.
• Extended common mode: Up to ±15V of common mode ensures reliable communication over long distances or in applications where there may be significant ground plane shift between devices.

Availability & Additional Information

The MxL83121, MxL83122, MxL83211, MxL83212, and MxL83214 are available now in RoHS compliant, green/halogen free, industry standard NSOIC-8, MSOP-8, and VSON-8 packages. Evaluation boards and samples are available at MxL83121, MxL83122, MxL83211, MxL83212, and MxL83214.

For more information on MaxLinear’s complete portfolio of:

• RS-485 Serial Transceivers, visit www.maxlinear.com/rs485
• RS-232 Serial Transceivers, visit www.maxlinear.com/rs232
• Multi-protocol Transceivers, visit www.maxlinear.com/MP

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXL) is a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated circuits for access and connectivity, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit https://www.maxlinear.com/.

MaxLinear, the MaxLinear logo, any other MaxLinear trademarks are all property of MaxLinear, Inc. or one of MaxLinear's subsidiaries in the U.S.A. and other countries. All rights reserved.

All third-party marks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders/owners.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements by our Vice President and General Manager, Analog Mixed-Signal, statements concerning or implying future financial performance, anticipated product performance, benefits and functionality of MaxLinear’s transceivers, and industry trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, including statements relating to the anticipated growth in the potential market opportunities for MaxLinear’s transceivers and the projected size of the industrial communication market. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and our future financial performance and operating results forecasts generally. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. In particular, our future operating results are substantially dependent on our assumptions about market trends and conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties affecting our business, future operating results and financial condition include, without limitation; risks relating to our terminated merger with Silicon Motion and related arbitration and class action complaint and the risks related to potential payment of damages; the effect of intense and increasing competition; impacts of global economic conditions; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; a significant variance in our operating results and impact on volatility in our stock price, and our ability to sustain our current level of revenue, which has declined, and/or manage future growth effectively, and the impact of excess inventory in the channel on our customers’ expected demand for certain of our products and on our revenue; the geopolitical and economic tensions among the countries in which we conduct business; increased tariffs, export controls or imposition of other trade barriers; our ability to obtain or retain government authorization to export certain of our products or technology; risks related to the loss of, or a significant reduction in orders from major customers; costs of legal proceedings or potential violations of regulations; information technology failures; a decrease in the average selling prices of our products; failure to penetrate new applications and markets; development delays and consolidation trends in our industry; inability to make substantial research and development investments; delays or expenses caused by undetected defects or bugs in our products; substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; failure to timely develop and introduce new or enhanced products; order and shipment uncertainties; failure to accurately predict our future revenue and appropriately budget expenses; lengthy and expensive customer qualification processes; customer product plan cancellations; failure to maintain compliance with government regulations; failure to attract and retain qualified personnel; any adverse impact of rising interest rates on us, our customers, and our distributors and related demand; risks related to compliance with privacy, data protection and cybersecurity laws and regulations; risks related to conforming our products to industry standards; risks related to business acquisitions and investments; claims of intellectual property infringement; our ability to protect our intellectual property; risks related to security vulnerabilities of our products; use of open source software in our products; and failure to manage our relationships with, or negative impacts from, third parties. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including risks and uncertainties arising from other factors affecting the business, operating results, and financial condition of MaxLinear, including those set forth in MaxLinear’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as applicable. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Market Information

This press release contains statistical data, estimates and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information. This information involves many assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such information. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in the industry publications and other publicly available information. Accordingly, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of that information nor do we undertake to update such information after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241029157829/en/

MaxLinear, Inc. Press Contact:

Debbie Brandenburg

Sr. Marketing Communications Manager

Tel: +1 669.265.6083

dbrandenburg@maxlinear.com

MaxLinear, Inc. Corporate Contact:

Amit Bavisi

Vice President & General Manager of the Industrial Multi-Market Group

Tel: +1 669-265-6100

abavisi@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear, Inc.

FAQ

What are the key features of MaxLinear's (MXL) new RS-485 transceiver families?

The new MxL8312x and MxL8321x families feature data rates up to 50Mbps, small 3mm x 3mm packages, IEC61000-4-2-ESD protection, IEC61000-4-4 EFT protection, and support for both 3.3V and 5V systems.

What industrial applications are targeted by MaxLinear's (MXL) new RS-485 transceivers?

The transceivers target factory automation, industrial motor drives, robotics, building automation, HVAC, solar, and other industrial applications requiring reliable communication in harsh environments.

What protection features are included in MaxLinear's (MXL) new RS-485 transceivers?

The transceivers include protection against ±4kV electrical fast transients (EFT) and ±12kV electrostatic discharge (ESD), along with ±15V common mode operation for reliable long-distance communication.