Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. addresses the need for higher throughput, smaller footprint, and lower power in industrial automation with the MAX14900E digital output switch.
This eight-channel integrated circuit (IC) provides up to 70x faster speed, uses over 20% less power, and occupies 40% less space than existing solutions-all factors required in today's faster, more localized, smaller end products. It is controlled by an eight-bit parallel interface, or via a standard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) which is also used for configuration and monitoring. Multiple devices can be daisy-chained to support additional I/O points via the single SPI interface, requiring only three isolators for all channels to provide further savings in cost, board space, and power. The serial mode includes cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) for assured data integrity, as well as global and per-channel diagnostics for remote system monitoring.
Maxim offers both a complete reference design (MAXREFDES63#) as well as an evaluation (EV) kit with special prototyping features. The credit-card-sized reference design integrates the MAX14900E, a microcontroller, isolated I/O port, power supplies, UART, and USB port to simplify incorporating the device into the final OEM product design, as well as provide a means for quick evaluation.
Advantages:
- Low power; high voltage: The eight digital channels require just 3mA (maximum) of supply current; operates from a wide supply range of 10V to 36V and thus compatible with the 24V rail of many factory systems.
- High speed and drive: With an input-to-output propagation delay of 0.3usec (typical)/0.8usec (maximum), it can support fast switching rates of up to 100KHz in push pull configuration. On-resistance, a critical factor in static power dissipation is 85 mW (typical) and 165 mW (maximum). It can drive current loads up to 850mA; outputs can be used in parallel to achieve even higher drive-current rating.
- High integration and space savings: Housed in a tiny, 48-pin 7mm × 7mm QFN package; uses significantly less board space.
- Data integrity: Offers per-channel and global diagnostics/monitoring via its SPI port, while users can access the I/O via an eight-bit parallel port. The serial link includes CRC error detection for enhanced data-link integrity.
The MAX14900E is specified over the -40°C to +125°C range.