LM393N integrated Circuits (ICs)

A TMOS power FET, Q1, and an LM393N comparator provide a high-efficiency rectifter circuit. When VA exceeds VB, U1's output becomes high and Q1 conducts. Conversely, when VB exceeds VA, the comparator output becomes low and Q1 does not conduct.

The forward drop is determined by Q1's on resistance and current I. The MTH40N05 has an on resistance of 0.028 Ω; for I = 10 A, the forward drop is less than 0.3 V. Typically, the best Schottky diodes do not even begin conducting below a few hundred mV.

An integrated circuit MAX232

The MAX232 is an integrated circuit, first created by Maxim Integrated Products, that converts signals from an RS-232 serial port to signals suitable for use in TTL compatible digital logic circuits. The MAX232 is a dual driver/receiver and typically converts the RX, TX, CTS and RTS signals.

The drivers provide RS-232 voltage level outputs (approx. ± 7.5 V) from a single + 5 V supply via on-chip charge pumps and external capacitors. This makes it useful for implementing RS-232 in devices that otherwise do not need any voltages outside the 0 V to + 5 V range, as power supply design does not need to be made more complicated just for driving the RS-232 in this case.

The receivers reduce RS-232 inputs (which may be as high as ± 25 V), to standard 5 V TTL levels. These receivers have a typical threshold of 1.3 V, and a typical hysteresis of 0.5 V.

The later MAX232A is backwards compatible with the original MAX232 but may operate at higher baud rates and can use smaller external capacitors – 0.1 μF in place of the 1.0 μF capacitors used with the original device.

The newer MAX3232 is also backwards compatible, but operates at a broader voltage range, from 3 to 5.5 V. 

Pin to pin compatible: ICL232, ST232, ADM232, HIN232.