The MAX4820/MAX4821 8-channel relay drivers offer built-in kickback protection and drive +3.3V/+5V nonlatching or dual-coil-latching relays. These devices are especially useful when driving +3V relays. Each independent open-drain output features a 2Ω on-resistance and is guaranteed to sink 70mA (min) of load current. Both devices consume less than 50µA (max) quiescent current and have 1µA output off-leakage current.The MAX4820 features an SPI™-/QSPI™-/MICROWIRE™-compatible serial interface. Input data is shifted into an 8-bit shift register and latched to the outputs when active-low CS transitions from low to high. Each data bit in the shift register corresponds to a specific output, allowing independent control of all outputs.The MAX4821 features a 4-bit (A0, A1, A2, LVL) parallel-input interface. The first three bits (A0, A1, A2) determine the output address, and the fourth bit (LVL) determines whether the selected output is switched on or off. Data is latched to the outputs when active-low CS transitions from low to high.Both devices feature separate set and reset functions that allow the user to turn on or turn off all outputs simultaneously with a single control line. Built-in hysteresis (Schmidt trigger) on all digital inputs allows these devices to be used with slow rising and falling signals, such as those from optocouplers or RC power-up initialization circuits. The MAX4820/MAX4821 are available in 20-pin TSSOP and space-saving 20-pin thin QFN packages.ApplicationsAutomated Test Equipment (ATE)Central OfficeDSL, ADSL Line CardsE1/T1 RedundancyIndustrial Equipment