This reference design details AC-coupling of RS-485 signals. Although these signals are typically DCcoupled, using AC-coupling has several advantages.AC-coupling allows transceivers to operate with large common-mode offsets, enabling long-distance communication without routing an additional ground wire. AC-coupling also protects the transceivers against high-voltage DC faults (for example, if the differential bus is shorted to a power supply). This protection is useful in industrial applications that require data transfers across long distances with a minimum number of wires。