XR16C850

UART with 128-Byte FIFO and Infrared (IrDA) Encoder/Decoder
Data Sheets OBS (Obsolete)

Overview

Information UART with 128-Byte FIFO and Infrared (IrDA) Encoder/Decoder
Data Bus Interface Intel, PC COM Port
# of Channels 1
Max Data Rate 5V (Mbps) 2.2
Max Data Rate 3.3V (Mbps) 1.3
Max Data Rate 2.5V (Mbps) na
Max Data Rate 1.8V (Mbps) na
Tx FIFO (Bytes) 128
Rx FIFO (Bytes) 128
Auto Flow Control ✔
Auto RS-485 Half-Duplex Control ✔
Multidrop (9-bit) Mode
Fractional Baud Rate Generator
Power Down Mode
Supply Voltage Range VCC (V) 2.97 to 5.5
Auto RTS/CTS ✔
Package PLCC-44, TQFP-48
FIFO Level Counters ✔
Selectable/ Programable Trigger Levels P
IrDA Sup ✔
5V Tolerant Inputs ✔
Max UART/GPIO Input Voltage (V) 5.5
Max UART/GPIO Output Voltage (V) VCC
Temperature Range (°C) -40 to 85
Show more

The XR16C850 (850) is a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter (UART) and is pin compatible with the ST16C650A UART. The 850 is an enhanced UART with 128 byte FIFOs, automatic hardware/soft- ware flow control, and data rates up to 1.5Mbps. It include transmit/receive FIFO counters to increase data loading and unloading from controlling CPU. Onboard status registers provide the user with error indications and operational status.

Modem interface control is included and can be optionally configured to operate with the Infrared (IrDA) encoder/decoder. The system interrupts may be tailored to meet user requirements. An internal loop-back capability allows onboard diagnostics.

The 850 is available in 44 pin PLCC and 48 TQFP packages. The XR16C850 provides both the standard (STD) mode or PC ISA bus (PC) mode. The STD mode is compatible with the ST16C450 and ST16C550 while the PC mode allows connection to the PC ISA bus.


  • Pin to pin compatible to ST16C550, ST16C650A and TL16C750
  • Transmit/receive FIFO counters
  • 128 bytes of Transmit/Receive FIFO
  • RS-485 half duplex direction control
  • Automatic software/hardware flow control
  • Programmable, selectable transmit/receive trigger levels
  • Infrared transmitter and receiver encoder/decoder
  • Up to 1.5Mbps data rate
  • Sleep mode (100mA standby)
  • Small 7x7mm TQFP
  • +5 or 3.3 Volts operation
  • Windows 2 drivers available
  • Pb-Free, RoHS Compliant Versions Offered

  • Battery Operated Electronics
  • Internet Appliances
  • Handheld Terminal
  • Personal Digital Assistants
  • Cellular Phones DataPort

Documentation & Design Tools

All Types Data Sheets Application Notes Schematics & Design Files Product Briefs & Brochures Software & Utilities Design Tools & Simulation User Guides & Manuals
Type Title Version Date File Size
Data Sheets XR16C850 2.97V to 5.5V UART with 128-Byte FIFO 2.3.1 August 2005 1.2 MB
Application Notes DAN-190, MaxLinear UARTs in RS-485 Applications R01 July 2023 2.4 MB
Application Notes AN-204, UART Sleep Mode 1.0.0 June 2010 515.8 KB
Application Notes DAN-102, Infrared Application with ST16C580, ST16C650A or XR16C850 UART 1.0.0 October 2007 39.8 KB
Application Notes DAN-136, MaxLinear 16L580 Compared to TI's TL6C550C (48-tqp) 1.0.0 November 2003 53.6 KB
Application Notes DAN-131, ST16C650A vs. TL16C750 1.1.0 June 2002 81.5 KB
Application Notes DAN-132, ST16C550 vs. TL16C550C 1.0.0 June 2002 121.5 KB
Application Notes DAN-140, XR16C850 vs. OX16C950 1.0.0 June 2002 31.3 KB
Application Notes DAN-108, UART Crystal Oscillator Design Guide 1.0.0 March 2000 218.1 KB
Application Notes DAN-107, Interfacing 16Cxxx UARTs to a CPU 1.0.0 August 1999 32.4 KB
User Guides & Manuals Evaluation Board User's Manual 1.3.0 July 2003 29.5 KB
Schematics & Design Files ISA Eval Board Schematic 1.4.0 August 2007 77.6 KB
Software: Drivers Linux 2.4 1.0 December 2009 907.6 KB
Software: Drivers Windows 95 & 98 1.0.0.0 December 2009 105.2 KB
Software: Drivers Windows NT 1.0.0.0 December 2009 663.4 KB
Product Brochures Serial Transceivers & Bridges Brochure R03 May 2025 3.6 MB
Simulation Models
Package Type Vcc Temp Mode Version File
PLCC 3.3V Commercial Intel 1
PLCC 3.3V Commercial PC COM 1
PLCC 5V Commercial Intel 1
PLCC 5V Commercial PC COM 1
TQFP 3.3V Commercial Intel 1
TQFP 3.3V Commercial PC COM 1
TQFP 5V Commercial Intel 1
TQFP 5V Commercial PC COM 1
PLCC 3.3V Industrial Intel 1
PLCC 3.3V Industrial PC COM 1
PLCC 5V Industrial Intel 1
PLCC 5V Industrial PC COM 1
TQFP 3.3V Industrial Intel 1
TQFP 3.3V Industrial PC COM 1
TQFP 5V Industrial Intel 1
TQFP 5V Industrial PC COM 1
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Quality & RoHS

Part Number RoHS | Exempt RoHS Halogen Free REACH TSCA MSL Rating / Peak Reflow Package
XR16C850CM-F N Y Y Y Y L3 / 260ᵒC TQFP48
XR16C850IM-F N Y Y Y Y L3 / 260ᵒC TQFP48
XR16C850CJ-F N Y Y Y Y L1 / 260ᵒC PLCC44

Click on the links above to download the Certificate of Non-Use of Hazardous Substances.

Additional Quality Documentation may be available, please Contact Support.

Parts & Purchasing

Part Number Pkg Code Min Temp Max Temp Status Suggested Replacement PDN
XR16C850CJ-F PLCC44 0 70 OBS
XR16C850CJTR-F PLCC44 0 70 OBS
XR16C850CM-F TQFP48 0 70 OBS
XR16C850CMTR-F TQFP48 0 70 OBS
XR16C850IJ-F PLCC44 -40 85 OBS
XR16C850IJTR-F PLCC44 -40 85 OBS
XR16C850IM-F TQFP48 -40 85 OBS
Show obsolete parts
Part Status Legend
Active - the part is released for sale, standard product.
EOL (End of Life) - the part is no longer being manufactured, there may or may not be inventory still in stock.
CF (Contact Factory) - the part is still active but customers should check with the factory for availability. Longer lead-times may apply.
PRE (Pre-introduction) - the part has not been introduced or the part number is an early version available for sample only.
OBS (Obsolete) - the part is no longer being manufactured and may not be ordered.
NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs) - the part is not recommended for new designs.

Packaging

Pkg Code Details Quantities Dimensions
PLCC44
  • JEDEC Reference: MS-018
  • MSL Pb-Free: L1 @ 260ºC
  • MSL SnPb Eutectic: n/a
  • ThetaJA: 38.0ºC/W
  • Bulk Pack Style: Tube
  • Quantity per Bulk Pack: 27
  • Quantity per Reel: 500
  • Quantity per Tube: 27
  • Quantity per Tray: n/a
  • Reel Size (Dia. x Width x Pitch): 330 x 32 x 24
  • Tape & Reel Unit Orientation: Pin 1 at sprocket hole.
  • Dimensions: mm
  • Length: 16.585
  • Width: 16.585
  • Thickness: 4.57
  • Lead Pitch: 1.27
TQFP48
  • JEDEC Reference: MO-026
  • MSL Pb-Free: L3 @ 260ºC
  • MSL SnPb Eutectic: n/a
  • ThetaJA: 59.0ºC/W
  • Bulk Pack Style: Tray
  • Quantity per Bulk Pack: 250
  • Quantity per Reel: 1500
  • Quantity per Tube: n/a
  • Quantity per Tray: 250
  • Reel Size (Dia. x Width x Pitch): 330 x 16 x 12
  • Tape & Reel Unit Orientation: Quadrant 2
  • Dimensions: mm
  • Length: 7.0
  • Width: 7.0
  • Thickness: 1.2
  • Lead Pitch: 0.5

Notifications

Distribution Date Description File
01/23/2024 Product Discontinuation Notice
07/17/2023 In 2023, MaxLinear will be converting all shipping labels for the parts noted from an EXAR format to MaxLinear’s label. During this transition customers may receive either label. This change affects only shipping and packing labels. This change will not affect the part number, part marking, manufacturing process or manufacturing sites. Only work in progress material will be converted. Existing inventory from MaxLinear’s warehouse, channel sales, distributor, and such, will not be converted. Hence, customers may experience receiving mixed shipments with both Exar and MaxLinear labels for some period until existing inventory of old labels is eventually cleared out. Situation is product to product with no predictable way to determine when all old labels will be exhausted. No change to product form, fit, function and reliability. ADDENDUM A: Fixed MBB label logo for DX204001 to MaxLinear logo. ADDENDUM B: Replaced ‘All other affected products outer box label’ with clearer pictures. Corrected Date Issued (from original PCN) issue date +90 days to August 30, 2023.
06/01/2023 In 2023, MaxLinear will be converting all shipping labels for the parts noted from an EXAR format to MaxLinear’s label. During this transition customers may receive either label. This change affects only shipping and packing labels. This change will not affect the part number, part marking, manufacturing process or manufacturing sites. Only work in progress material will be converted. Existing inventory from MaxLinear’s warehouse, channel sales, distributor, and such, will not be converted. Hence, customers may experience receiving mixed shipments with both Exar and MaxLinear labels for some period until existing inventory of old labels is eventually cleared out. Situation is product to product with no predictable way to determine when all old labels will be exhausted. No change to product form, fit, function and reliability.
06/01/2023 In 2023, MaxLinear will be converting all shipping labels for the parts noted from an EXAR format to MaxLinear’s label. During this transition customers may receive either label. This change affects only shipping and packing labels. This change will not affect the part number, part marking, manufacturing process or manufacturing sites. Only work in progress material will be converted. Existing inventory from MaxLinear’s warehouse, channel sales, distributor, and such, will not be converted. Hence, customers may experience receiving mixed shipments with both Exar and MaxLinear labels for some period until existing inventory of old labels is eventually cleared out. Situation is product to product with no predictable way to determine when all old labels will be exhausted. No change to product form, fit, function and reliability. ADDENDUM: Fixed MBB label logo for DX204001 to MaxLinear logo.
08/21/2020 MaxLinear has qualified Greatek, Taiwan, as an alternate assembly site for the products listed above. There is no change to datasheet form, fit, function.
07/12/2017 Product Discontinuation Notice
08/17/2016 Qualification of ANST as an alternate manufacturing site.
07/26/2016 Product discontinuation notification. Discontinued.
11/05/2015 Updated information subsequent to original published PCN 13-0834-03 on 04/02/2014. ASE Malaysia as alternate assembly site Addition of qualified alternate assembly site of 28, 44, 68L PLCC packaged products.
07/18/2014 Elimination of back mark. Eliminate back mark; consolidate information in top mark.
04/02/2014 Qualification of ASE Malaysia for assembly of 28, 44, 68L PLCC packaged products. Alternate assembly site.
10/03/2013 Addition of an alternate qualified assembly site, ASE Chung-Li (Taiwan). Material change and alternate assembly site.
10/17/2012 Exar has qualified Millennium Microtech/Thailand as an alternate assembly supplier for 28, 44 and 68 lead PLCC packages in addition to the existing supplier, Unisem/Indonesia. Capacity enhancement

FAQs & Support

Search our list of FAQs for answers to common technical questions.
For material content, environmental, quality and reliability questions review the Quality tab or visit our Quality page.
For ordering information and general customer service visit our Contact Us page.

Submit a Technical Support Question As a New Question

LSR bit-6 is a superset of LSR bit-5. The transmitter consists of a TX FIFO (or THR only when FIFOs are not enabled) and a Transmit Shift Register (TSR). When LSR bit-5 is set, it indicates that the TX FIFO (or THR) is empty, however there may be data in the TSR. When LSR bit-6 is set, it indicates that the transmitter (TX FIFO + TSR) is completely empty.

You can tell by reading LSR bit-5 or bit-6. If they are '0', then the transmit interrupt was generated by the trigger level. If they are '1', then the transmit interrupt was generated by the TX FIFO becoming empty. For enhanced UARTs, you can just read the FIFO level counters.

An RX Data Ready interrupt is generated when the number of bytes in the RX FIFO has reached the RX trigger level. An RX Data Timeout interrupt is generated when the RX input has been idle for 4 character + 12 bits time.

For some UARTs, the RX Data Timeout interrupt has a higher priority and in others, the RX Data Ready interrupt has a higher priority. See the interrupt priority section of the datasheet.

The UART requires a clock and a valid baud rate in order to transmit and receive data. Check that there is a clock signal on the XTAL1 input pin. Also, valid divisors need to be written into the DLL and DLM registers. Most UARTs have random (invalid) values upon power-up.

For most UARTs, the interrupt is generated when the data is ready to be read from the RX FIFO. The are some UARTs that generate the interrupt when the character with the error is received. There are some UARTs that have a register bit to select whether the LSR interrupt is generated immediately or delayed until it is ready to be read.

The UART will enter the sleep mode if the following conditions have been satisfied for all channels:
 
-Sleep Mode is enabled
-No interrupts are pending
-TX and RX FIFOs are empty
-RX input pin is idling HIGH (LOW in IR mode)
-Valid values in DLL and DLM registers
-Modem input pins are idle (MSR bits 3-0=0x0)
 
See AN204, UART Sleep Mode for more information on UART Sleep Mode

The UART will wake-up from sleep mode by any of the following conditions on any channel:
 
-Sleep mode is disabled
-Interrupt is generated
-Data is written into THR
-There is activity on the RX input pin
-There is activity on the modem input pins
 
If the sleep mode is still enabled and all wake-up conditions have been cleared, it will return to the sleep mode.
 
See AN204, UART Sleep Mode for more information on UART Sleep Mode 

There will be no activity on the XTAL2 output.
 
See AN204, UART Sleep Mode for more information on UART Sleep Mode 

For any UART that has the wake-up indicator interrupt, an interrupt will be generated when the UART wakes up even if no other interrupts are enabled.
 
See AN204, UART Sleep Mode for more information on UART Sleep Mode 

No, Auto RTS and Auto CTS are independent. Auto RTS is toggled by the UART receiver. Auto CTS is monitored by the UART Transmitter.

No, Auto RTS and Auto CTS will work normally without the interrupts enabled.

No, software flow control characters are not loaded into the RX FIFO.

Since 2-character software flow control requires that 2 consecutive flow control characters match before data transmission is stopped or resumes, there is less of a chance that data transmission is stopped because one data byte matched a control character.

Auto RS485 Half-Duplex Control feature overrides the Auto RTS flow control feature if both features use the RTS# output pin. Both features can only be used simultaneously if the Auto RS485 control output is not the RTS# output. For some UARTs, the Auto RS485 control output is not the RTS# output.

Most UARTs use RTS#, however the XR16C850 and XR16C864 use the OP1# output as the Auto RS485 control output. In addition to using the RTS# output as the Auto RS485 control output, the XR16L784, XR16L788 and XR16V798 can use the DTR# output as the Auto RS485 control output.

The polarity of the RS485 control output varies from one UART to another. For some UARTs, an inverter may be required. Some of the newer UARTs have register bits that can change that polarity of the RS485 control output.

In the normal mode, the TX interrupt is generated when the TX FIFO is empty, and there may still be data in the Transmit Shift Register. In the RS485 mode, the TX interrupt is generated when the TX FIFO and the TSR register are both empty.

It is recommended that the FIFO counters at the Scratchpad Register location be used. When transmitting or receiving data, writing to the LCR register could result in transmit and/or receive data errors.

Due to the dynamic nature of the FIFO counters, it is recommended that the FIFO counter registers be read until consecutive reads return the same value.

All of the UARTs that have the IR mode supports up to 115.2Kbps as specified in IrDA 1.0. The newer I2C/SPI UARTs can support up to 1.152Mbps as specified in IrDA 1.1.

For external clock frequencies above 24MHz at the XTAL1 input, a 2K pull-up may be necessary to improve the rise times if there are data transmission errors.

Yes, you can daisy-chain it like that, but only up to 2 times (3 UARTs total in the daisy-chain). The UARTs should be as close as possible.

No, it just has to meet the minimum high and low pulse widths.

Yes, if you are using a UART with a fractional baud rate generator. This provides a divisor feature with a granularity of 1/16, allowing for any baud rate to be generated by any clock frequency, standard or non-standard. Click on the parametric search button of the product family page and find the Fractional Baud Rate Generator column which tells which products have this feature.

They crystal oscillator circuitry is recommended for fundamental frequency crystals only. The maximum frequency for crystals with fundamental frequencies is typically 24MHz. Above that frequency, crystals operate at higher harmonics, which will not work with the recommended crystal oscillator circuitry.

No. It is only required for transmitting and receiving data.

The -F suffix indicates ROHS / Green compliance:
https://www.exar.com/quality-assurance-and-reliability/lead-free-program

Visit the product page for the part you are interested in.  The part's status is listed in the Parts & Purchasing section.  You can also view Product Lifecycle and Obsolescence Information including PDNs (Product Discontinuation Notifications).

 

To visit a product page, type the part into the search window on the top of the MaxLinear website.

 

In this example, we searched for XR33180.  Visit the product page by clicking the part number or visit the orderable parts list by clicking "Orderable Parts". 

 

XR33180 Search Result

 

  

The Parts & Purchasing section of the product page shows the Status of all orderable part numbers for that product.  Click Show obsolete parts, to see all EOL or OBS products.

 

 Show Obsolete parts to expand the list

It depends on the baud rate. For example, for a start bit, 8 data bits, no stop bit and 1 stop bit, the maximum baud rate deviation is 4.76%. For more information, see https://www.exar.com/appnote/dan108.pdf

Please check that all the following conditions are satisfied first.

 

  • no interrupts pending (ISR bit-0 = 1)
  • modem inputs are not toggling (MSR bits 0-3 = 0)
  • RX input pin is idling HIGH • divisor (the value in DLL register) is non-zero
  • TX and RX FIFOs are empty

 

Be sure sleep mode bit has been set to 1. If there are multiple UART channels, the sleep conditions must be true for all channels.

 

See more on Sleep Mode in AN204 UART Sleep Mode.

Yes. Note: some devices do have powersave mode. If UART goes into powersave mode, then the registers are not accessible.

 

See more on Sleep Mode in AN204 UART Sleep Mode.

Read LSR register to check whether the UART receives the data or not.

 

  • If LSR value is 0x60, it means that either UART receiver FIFO doesn’t receive the data or the data in receiver FIFO has been read out before the read of LSR.
  • If LSR value is 0x00, it means data is still in the THR (clock doesn’t oscillate to transmit data).
  • If LSR value is 0xFF, it means either UART is in powersave mode or UART is powered off. For those devices with powersave mode, be sure that UARTS are not in powersave mode.

 

 

See more on Sleep Mode in AN204 UART Sleep Mode.

 

  • Check whether the register set can be accessed.
  • Check whether the crystal is oscillating fully.
  • Check whether the data can be transmitted in internal loopback mode.

 

 

See more on Sleep Mode in AN204 UART Sleep Mode.

Videos

MxL UARTs Auto RS-485 Direction Control

This video describes how the automatic RS-485 half-duplex direction control feature in MaxLinear UARTs reduces driver development and frees up CPU/MCU loading. This feature eliminates the need to monitor the status of the UART’s transmit shift register and automatically switches MaxLinear RS-485 transceivers from the transmit mode to the receive mode. This video summarizes the content in application note DAN-190. 

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