EIA-422 Bus Description

EIA/TIA-422 define a Balanced (differential) interface; specifying a single, unidirectional driver with multiple receivers (up to 32). RS-422 will support Point-to-Point, Multi-Drop circuits, but not Multi-Point [EIA485]. EIA-485 devices may be used in 422 circuits, but EIA-422 may not be used in 485 circuits (because of the lack of an Enable line). EIA422 is the differential "brother" to EIA423. One application note indicated that the combination of cable length (in meters) and data signaling rate (in bps) for RS422 should not exceed 108. The example provided a maximum speed of 200kbps with a maximum cable length of 500 meter [500 x 200,000]. An EIA-422 driver can support up to 10 loads, at 4K W per load.