AN1348

APPLICATION NOTE
ST485: AN RS-485 BASED INTERFACE WITH
LOWER DATA BIT ERRORS
A. Randazzo

1. INTRODUCTION
ST485 is a RS-485 based interface designed for multipoint differential transmission on a single twisted
pair cable. It allows half duplex bi-directional transmission, long cable length and high data rate. Typical
applications include LANs, industrial (PLC devices), automotive and computer interfaces. The system
evolution in the data communication field leads to the development of faster devices with lower data bit
errors and ST485 meets all these requirements.

2. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows the internal structure of the ST485. The driver and receiver line pins are connected
together; in fact the bi-directional communication can only be half- duplex. The control pins RE and DE
are used to enable respectively the receiver and driver and, in many applications, are connected
together. The driver has a TTL input while the output is differential. The receiver differential input is
internally connected to the driver output.

Figure 1: ST485 Internal Structure

RO 1 R 8 Vcc

__
RE 2 7 B

DE 3 6 A

DI 4 D 5 GND

The Vcc supply voltage is 5V, typical DC consumption is less than 0.5mA without load and Data rate is
greater than 10Mbps.

3. FEATURES
The most important parameters in a RS-485 device are:
- The receiver input threshold. It is ±200mV. This feature ensures an improvement of the noise immunity;
- The receiver input resistance. It should be high enough to allow the connection of many transceivers

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AN1348 - APPLICATION NOTE

together. ST485 has a Rin greater than 40kOhm allowing the connection of more than 32 units as well;
- The common mode voltage VCM for the receiver, defined as the algebraic mean of the two local-
ground-referenced voltage: VCM=(VA+VB)/2. This parameter is from -7V to +12V for RS-485 standard.
VCM enables different ground-referenced devices to work correctly and allowing ground difference up to
±7V. For an example see figure 2;
- The differential driver output voltage. It depends on the driver output current and, obviously, on the used
RLOAD. It must be greater than 1.5V with 27Ohm RLOAD;
- The driver short-circuit protection; it should happen that more drivers transmit at the same time giving a
conflict. ST485 limits the short circuit current up to 70mA providing a protection for the whole line.

Figure 2: Common Mode Voltage Capability

ST485 #1 ST485 #2
Vcc Vcc
RO 1 R 8 8 R 1 RO

__ __
B B
RE 2 7 7 2 RE

A A
DE 3 6 6 3 DE

GND GND D
DI 4 D 5 5 4 DI

GND 1 GND 2
Difference in ground potential
(max ±7V)

4. DIFFERENTIAL LINE ADVANTAGES

Why differential line transmission?

- When a signal is transmitted on a single twisted cable, many factors contribute to increase disturbs on
the line, like spike and inducted currents. With a differential transmission the same inducted disturb is
present on both input A and B, so the difference is null. Figure 3 shows the signal ground-referenced of
the ST485 inputs A and B with a noise signal inducted; CH1= receiver input A, CH2= receiver input B,
CH4= receiver output. The common mode disturb is not present on the receiver output.

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 AN1348 - APPLICATION NOTE

Figure 3: Common mode Noise Signal Inducted on a ST485 Differential Line

- In a single ended transmission the distance between logic symbol ‘1’and ‘0’ is lower respect to the
differential one. Table 1 and figure 4 show that, with Vcc=5V, the voltage distance between ‘1’and ‘0’logic
symbols is 10V without load. Obviously the termination (120Ohm for a twisted cable or 54Ohm for a
shield cable) reduces this voltage distance.

Figure 4: Single Ended and Differential Signals

5V Ground-referenced
A signals

0V
RO 1 R 8 Vcc
5V
__
RE 2 7 B B
5V 0V
DE 3 6 A
0V DI 5V
4 D 5 GND Differential signals

A - B 0V

-5V

Table 1: Single Ended and Differential Signals

Logic Level Single Ended Differential Referenced to ground Differential (VA-VB)

0 Vout=0V Vout: A=0V; B=5V Vdiff = 0V - 5V = -5V
1 Vout=5V Vout: A=5V; B=0V Vdiff = 5V - 0V = +5V

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AN1348 - APPLICATION NOTE

5. APPLICATIONS
A typical ST485 application is the network allowing the connection of up to 32 devices; termination
resistances are tied only on the first and last unit and the value depend on the line impedance (54Ohm or
120Ohm), see figure 5. By connecting a node to the line, a stub is created and its length should be lower
than 15cm (6inches) to avoid transmission problems.

Figure 5: Typical RS-485 Line

D R

Stub length
R R

D D
Stub length

D R

In order to avoid wrong data transmission and signal reflections all the transceiver should be connected
sequentially among them, like figures 6b and 6d (6a and 6c are bad configurations).

Figure 6: Typical Network Connections

6a. 6b.

6c. 6d.

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6. ADVICE
6.1 Stabilization of Output VCM.

In order to get greater cable length and higher data rate, with a better signal quality, the following load
connection is useful. This configuration, shown in figure 7, allows output VCM voltage filtering and to
reduce the common mode disturbs.

Figure 7: Configuration to Improve Transmission Performance

RO 1 R 8 Vcc
__ B
RE 2 7 R C
A
DE 3 6 R
GND
DI 4 D 5

Note: R=RLOAD/2, C=1/10nF ceramic or polyester capacitor.

6.2 AC Termination
The standard RLOAD termination often causes an increase of power consumption, so to minimize the DC
loop current flowing on the load, in static conditions, the configuration shown in figure 8 is useful. The R
value depends on the line impedance, typically it is 120Ohm for twisted pair cables; C depends either on
the cable length or on the line impedance Z0 and must be calculated to result a short-circuit for data
transmission. However, this configuration limits the data rate because of the low pass filter make with R
and C, then it is useful for medium data rate.

Figure 8: Contiguration to Reduce the DC Loop Current

RO 1 R 8 Vcc

__ B
RE 2 7
R
A
DE 3 6 C

GND
DI 4 D 5

Note: The C capacitor breaks the DC loop current when data transmission is off and reduces the power
consumption but limits the data rate.

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6.3 Fail Safe Termination

ST485 has an internal failsafe circuit useful when the differential input is floating, for instance, if all the
drivers on the line are in Hi-impedance state. Failsafe circuit avoids undefined state of the receiver that
stays in a stable logic level, until the input differential voltage exceeds the ±200mV. However the internal
failsafe resistors are influenced from the external termination loader (54 ÷ 120Ohm) so that an external
failsafe circuit is required if the termination resistor is present. A typical failsafe configuration is shown in
figure 9. The two resistors Ra (pull-up) and Rc (pull-down) should be 500Ohm while Rb (load) is
130Ohm.

Figure 9: Failsafe Configuration

This load reduces the maximum numbers of transceiver connected to the network and causes a DC
current consumption. Figure 10 shows a solution of how to reduce the DC current.

Figure 10: Failsafe Configuration with Low DC Current

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 AN1348 - APPLICATION NOTE

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