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Reference design covers IO-Link transceivers

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Modern smart factories need to quickly and remotely adjust a sensor’s electrical characteristics to minimize downtime and maximize throughput. The MAXREFDES177# IO-Link reference design from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. demonstrates the flexibility of the MAX22515 IO-Link transceiver, seamlessly configuring all modes of the MAX22000 software-configurable analog IO. This chipset provides flexibility with faster reconfiguration to reduce factory downtime.

Maxim Integrated’s chipset solution of MAX22000 and MAX22515 builds upon the benefits of IO-Link’s two-way universal interface. The IO-Link interface allows every IO-Link sensor, actuator, or IO expansion module to be interchangeable to a standard hardware interface. It also provides software-defined performance parameters and selectable analog input or output performance modes. These software-selectable capabilities are combined and demonstrated in the MAXREFDES177# IO-Link reference design.

MAX22000: The software-configurable analog IO provides up to more than half the power savings and approximately half the size compared to the closest competitive solutions on the market. Key functions integrated include a 24-bit ADC analog input mode and an 18-bit DAC analog output mode, as well as operations over either a single 2-wire interface or a 4-wire resistance temperature detector (RTD)/thermocouple (TC) temperature measurement.

MAX22515: The MAX22515 is the industry’s smallest ±1.2kV/500Ω surge-protected, single-channel IO-Link transceiver. It features high integration with protection diodes, auxiliary digital input, I2C or pin control, integrated oscillator, and selectable 3.3V or 5V LDO which help to provide high configurability and reduce SKU. It enables half the power dissipation due to low 2.2Ω or 2.65Ω (type) C/Q driver on-resistance compared to the closest competitor, in the smallest 2.5mm x 2.0mm WLP package. It cuts the solution size up to 67 percent compared to the closest competitor and fits into small, space-constrained IO-Link sensors or actuators.

Key Advantages include Software-configurable IOs and the ability to adjust device parameters on-the-fly provide new ways to dynamically optimize machine performance and reduce factory downtime; MAX22000 and MAX22515 are optimized for best-in-class power savings, using up to more than half the power savings for MAX22000 and half the power dissipation for MAX22515; The MAX22515 provides the smallest IO-Link single-channel footprint at 5mm² while the MAX22000 footprint is 86mm²

The MAX22000 is available at Maxim Integrated’s website, as well as authorized distributors; Pricing available upon request

The MAX22515AWP+ and MAX22515AWP+T are available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $1.45 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors

The MAXREFDES177# reference design is available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $65

The MAX22000EVKIT# evaluation kit is available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $135

Health sensor kit cuts development time for wearables

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Save at least six months of development time using the Health Sensor Platform 3.0 (HSP 3.0) from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. Also known as MAXREFDES104#, this ready-to-wear wrist form factor reference design monitors blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate (HR), body temperature, and motion. Included algorithms provide HR, heart-rate variability (HRV), respiration rate (RR), SpO2, body temperature, sleep quality, and stress level information at clinical-grade levels. It allows wearable designers to start collecting data immediately, saving at least six months over building these devices from scratch. Designed for wrist-based form factors, HSP 3.0 can be adapted for other dry electrode form factors such as chest patches and smart rings.

Compared to its industry-leading predecessor, Health Sensor Platform 2.0 (HSP 2.0), the HSP 3.0 adds optical SpO2 measurement and dry-electrode capability to the ECG. As a result, it can enable end solutions to monitor cardiac heart and respiratory issues for the management of ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19), sleep apnea, and atrial fibrillation (AFib). Compared to its predecessor, the narrower form factor and enhanced optical architecture of HSP 3.0 improves signal acquisition quality and uses upgraded microcontroller, power, security, and sensing ICs. The reference design includes complete optical and electrode designs, along with algorithms to meet clinical requirements.

Maxim Integrated is at the forefront of the wearable healthcare and remote patient monitoring revolution, enabling personalized healthcare as well as better predictive and preventive healthcare solutions. Medical professionals and end-users are using the wealth of health insights from these wearables. They can more proactively manage chronic conditions, diagnose acute conditions like COVID-19, and also improve preventive care and overall well-being. As more sensing modalities are included in wearables, device developers can take advantage of multiple measurements to improve the accuracy of the actionable insights that are being provided to users.

HSP 3.0 or MAXREFDES104# includes the following sensor, power management, microcontroller, and algorithm products:

  • MAX86176: Lowest-noise optical photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrical ECG analog front end (AFE), which offers 110dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to add SpO2 saturation capability and over 110dB common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) for dry electrode ECG applications. The device enables synchronous acquisition of PPG and ECG measurements, even with independent sample rates, providing pulse transit time for cardiac health use cases.
  • MAX20360: Highly integrated power and battery management power management IC (PMIC) optimized for advanced body-worn health sensing devices. It includes Maxim Integrated’s high-accuracy ModelGauge m5 EZ fuel gauge, a sophisticated haptic driver, and a unique low-noise buck-boost converter that maximizes SNR and minimizes power used for optical bio-sensing.
  • MAX32666: Bluetooth (BLE)-enabled, ultra-low-power microcontroller with two Arm Cortex-M4F cores and an additional SmartDMA which permits running the BLE stack independently, leaving the two main cores available for major tasks. Moreover, the microcontroller integrates an entire security suite and error-correcting code (ECC) on the memories to significantly increase the system’s robustness.
  • MAX32670: Ultra-low-power microcontroller dedicated to Maxim Integrated’s world-class PPG algorithms of pulse rate, SpO2, HRV, RR, sleep quality monitoring, and stress monitoring. It can be configured either as a sensor hub to support firmware and algorithms or as an algorithm hub to support multiple algorithms. The MAX32670 seamlessly enables customer-desired sensor functionality, including managing the MAX86176 PPG and ECG sensor AFE as well as delivering either raw or calculated data to the outside world.
  • MAX30208: The low-power, high-accuracy digital temperature sensor comes in a small package size of 2mm x 2mm. It has a 33 percent lower operating current compared to the closest competitive solution. It reads the temperature on the top of the package and can be mounted on a flex cable or PCB, making it easier to design into wearables. With an accuracy of 0.1-degrees Celsius, the MAX30208 meets clinical temperature requirements.

Key Advantages include: Saves at least six months in development time; Accuracy meets regulatory requirements for SpO2 and ambulatory ECG (IEC 60601-2-47); Addresses the needs of advanced health wearables with SpO2, ECG, HR, HRV, RR, body temperature and motion; Empowers designers to innovate with complete access to source code and design files

HSP 3.0, also known as MAXREFDES104#, is available with hardware, firmware, and algorithms for $400 at Maxim Integrated’s website

Gesture sensor for automotive apps boasts small size, low cost

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Designers of automotive systems can now add dynamic hand-gesture controls with greater ease at the industry’s lowest cost and smallest size with the MAX25205 data acquisition system from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. Featuring integrated optics and a 6×10 infrared (IR) sensor array, the MAX25205 detects swipe and hand-rotation gestures without the complexity of time-of-flight (ToF) cameras at 10x lower cost and up to 75 percent smaller size.

Automakers predict driver safety will improve when gesture and proximity sensing replace knobs and touch screens for infotainment, phone, side mirror, climate, trunk, sunroof and reading lamp controls. Most gesture-sensing systems in today’s cars are based on ToF cameras that also bring high costs and complexities, which many manufacturers wish to avoid.

Maxim Integrated’s optical-based MAX25205 enables the most hand gestures at a solution cost that is up to 10x lower than ToF camera-based systems. Additionally, the gesture and proximity-sensing sensor features a high level of integration and comes in a small 4mmx4mm chip size, which is up to 75 percent smaller than ToF camera-based solutions. This gesture solution offers a great complement solution to the voice command, as there are scenarios where voice command is not effective. Another benefit of a gesture solution is that the automotive displays do not become smeared with many fingerprints as customers use their touch screens.

Key Advantages

  • Lowest Cost: Enables swipe and rotation gestures sensing at lower cost than a ToF camera; Allows developers to avoid complex software development and maintenance programs
  • Smallest Size: 60 photo diode array, LED driver and internal LDO result in a total solution size that is significantly smaller than ToF camera solutions; Can be paired with a small microcontroller, rather than the larger microprocessors that more complex solutions require
  • Versatility: Delivers 9 gestures, including swipe, rotations, air link and 3×2 proximity zones with low lag time in a single chip compared to a competitive solution that requires 3 chips and a complicated microprocessor; Cost reduction makes gesture-sensing feasible for automotive, consumer and industrial applications such as smart home hubs, thermostats and others, all without touching the device

1-wire protocol bridge simplifies connections of I2C and SPI sensors

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DS28E18 1-Wire-to-I2C/SPI BridgeDesigners expanding connections to remote sensor networks can now reduce complexity and cost to the industry’s lowest levels with the DS28E18 1-Wire-to-I2C/SPI Bridge from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. By leveraging Maxim Integrated’s 1-Wire protocol to interface with I2C and SPI-compatible sensors, the DS28E18 reduces complexity by connecting devices using only two wires compared to competitive solutions that require four wires for I2C or six for SPI.

interfaces to connect remote sensors in industrial and remote monitoring applications. However, the most popular protocols are costly and complex because they require up to five external switch extenders to reach devices at distances as long as 100 meters. In addition, some of the interfaces widely deployed today require six cables for connecting multiple extended sensors to a host microcontroller.

The DS28E18 enables both power and communications on a single wire, using Maxim Integrated’s 1-Wire protocol to link with I2C or SPI peripheral devices over 100 meters with only two wires. The solution eliminates up to five extender and switch ICs, significantly reducing connection costs and software complexity. In addition, only one programmable I/O port from the host microcontroller is necessary to operate a network with 10 to 20 nodes.

Key Advantages

  • High Integration: Extends connections up to 100 meters and eliminates up to five extender and switch ICs; eliminates external power supply requirement
  • Lower Cost: Enables autonomous operation with just two connecting wires, eliminating up to four wires for autonomous operation
  • Reduced Complexity: Converts 1-Wire protocol to I2C and SPI master interfaces to reduce both physical design and software complexity of the host microcontroller versus comparable configurations

The DS28E18 is available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $0.64 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors. The DS28E18EVKIT# evaluation kit is available for $89.25

Single-chip Arm Cortex-M4 MCU with FPU, BLE 5.2 handles multi-MPU tasks

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MAX32666 microcontrollerDesigners of wirelessly connected, coin cell-operated internet of things (IoT) products can now reduce bill-of-materials (BOM) costs by one-third while also saving space and battery life with the MAX32666 microcontroller (MCU) from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. This ultra-low-power dual Arm Cortex-M4 MCU with floating-point unit (FPU) and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2 (BLE 5.2) extends the device’s battery life by combining robust memory, security, communications, power management and processing functions traditionally performed by multiple MCUs into a single device.

As IoT applications become more advanced, more MCUs are typically added to the system. Usually these advanced systems include a dedicated processor to handle the application, another processor acting as a sensor hub, a separate standalone BLE microcontroller to handle the wireless connectivity function, and in many cases, a power management IC (PMIC) to efficiently provide supply voltages to the MCUs. However, this approach is proving to be unsustainable for IoT applications that are growing in complexity while still demanding smaller size and longer battery life.

The MAX32666 MCU is the latest addition to Maxim Integrated’s smart, function-rich DARWIN family of high-performance MCUs. In contrast to traditional architectures, this MCU reduces form factor and design footprint, enabling IoT device designers to lower BOM costs by consolidating up to three sockets found in their current designs. This dual Cortex-M4F MCU provides efficient computation of complex functions, operating at up to 96MHz, which speeds up data processing by 50 percent over the closest competitor.

To replace the need for a separate PMIC, the MAX32666 features an integrated single-inductor, multiple-output (SIMO) regulator, which extends the life for small-sized battery applications. The MCU offers BLE 5.2, supports up to 2Mbps of data throughput and long range (125kbps and 500kbps) and offers transceiver output power of +4.5dBm programmable down to -95dBm. It also protects applications from cybersecurity threats with trust protection unit (TPU) and big math acceleration for fast Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA).

The IC’s hardware accelerators provide AES-128, -192 and -256 encryption, while TRNG seed generator and SHA-2 accelerator enhance security. It also protects IP firmware with secure bootloader. The MAX32666 has an impressive on-board memory capacity with up to 1MB flash memory and 560KB of SRAM with optional Error Correcting Code (ECC) for the most robust applications, as well as multiple high-speed peripherals. It can manage more data and accommodate bigger applications without running out of code space through efficient operation – all within a best-in-class power profile.

 

Dual-photodetector optical sensor module in 0.88mm package enables thinner wearable designs

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Maxim Integrated Products’ MAXM86146 dual-photodetector optical sensor drop-in module includes built-in algorithms for heart-rate and oxygen-saturation (SpO2) monitoring, as well as advanced activity classification. Its small size and ease of design enable innovative biosensing features in less space and support the rapid development of accurate, continuous health-monitoring devices.

The MAXM86146 offers designers of advanced wearable products the ability to achieve a 45 percent thinner optical design versus a discrete approach. Additionally, the module offers ready-to-use biosensing algorithms that measure vital signs to the most rigorous medical standards, allowing even more time to develop market-differentiating features. It saves designers up to six months in bringing new products to market and provides extra time and space to expand functionality.

The revolution in wearable health monitors is gaining momentum as it provides unprecedented access to health insights which help medical professionals and end-users proactively manage preventative care needs and chronic conditions. Developers strive to continue this momentum by creating innovative solutions to provide deeper insight into health conditions and open doors to improve wellness. 

The MAXM86146CFU+ is available at Maxim’s website for $84 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors. The MAXM86146EVSYS# evaluation kit is available for $150

 

Low-power Arm Cortex-M4 MCU carries floating-point unit, ECC

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MAX32670 low-power Arm Cortex-M4 MCUThe new MAX32670 low-power Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller (MCU) with floating-point unit from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. This device protects all embedded memory for both flash and SRAM with error-code correction (ECC) in order to provide the highest reliability MCU.

In many industrial and IoT applications, high energy particles and other environmental challenges present the danger of bombarding memory and creating bit flips during the normal course of operations – especially as process nodes drop to 40nm and lower. This can disrupt MCU operation and produce incorrect or even dangerous results. To prevent catastrophic ramifications like these, the MAX32670 protects its entire memory footprint (384kB flash and 128kB SRAM) with ECC to prevent bit flips and enhance reliability. With ECC, single-bit errors are detected and corrected by hardware, making it difficult for bit flip errors to have a negative impact on the application.

With just 40µW/MHz of active power consumption, the MAX32670 executes commands from flash at 40 percent lower power than the closest competitive industrial solution. It is the lowest power solution for battery-operated sensor applications. MAX32670 is also 50 percent smaller than the closest competitor, giving developers the opportunity to reduce solution size and material costs.

The MAX32670 is available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $1.44 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors. The MAX32670EVKIT# evaluation kit is available for $25

Tiny Lidar ICs make possible faster autonomous driving speeds

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Tiny Lidar ICs Designers of automotive self-driving systems can now enable higher-speed autonomous driving through the industry’s fastest and smallest Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) ICs from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.  Compared to the closest competitive solution, the MAX40026 high-speed comparator and the MAX40660/MAX40661 high-bandwidth transimpedance amplifiers enable 10mph (15km/h) faster autonomous driving at highway speeds by providing more than 2x higher bandwidth and accommodating 32 additional channels (128 vs. 96) to a LiDAR module within the same module size.

With automotive self-driving systems evolving from 35mph to 65mph and beyond, LiDAR sensors are playing an increasing role in the fusion of vehicle sensors for their ability to provide accurate distance measurement of objects. With more than twice the bandwidth and the ability to accommodate 33 percent more channels within the same LiDAR module size compared to the closest competitor, the MAX40660/MAX40661 transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) provide optical receiver designers with higher-resolution images that enable faster autonomous driving systems.

The system size of the MAX40026 high-speed comparator plus the MAX40660/MAX40661 TIAs is 5mm2 smaller than the closest competitive solution, which allows developers to fit far more channels into space-constrained vehicle platforms. These ICs meet the stringent safety requirements of the automotive industry with AEC-Q100 qualification, enhanced electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance and failure modes, effects and diagnostic analysis (FMEDA) to support ISO 26262 certification at the system level.

The MAX40026ATA/VY+T is available for $4.09 at Maxim Integrated’s website; also available from authorized distributors. The MAX40660 is available for $3.95 (1000-up, FOB USA) at Maxim Integrated’s website; also available from authorized distributors. The MAX40661 is available for $3.74 (1000-up, FOB USA) at Maxim Integrated’s website; also available from authorized distributors

 

“New Year, New Gear” Promotion to give away $3k engineering bundle

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New Year New Gear PromotionRS Components, with help from suppliers Maxim Integrated, TE Connectivity and STM Microelectronics, is helping designers, engineers, makers, and students in North America ring in the new year with some new gear.

From now until January 31, 2020, all new and existing DesignSpark members who register here, will be entered into a random drawing to win an engineering gift bundle worth more than $3,000 that includes some great additions to the workbench like a soldering station, a host of tools, a multimeter and development kits, along with a connected coffee machine and a Nintendo Switch Lite for downtime. Click here for more details on the contest and to see a full list of the gift bundle contents.

DesignSpark, RS Components’ free online engineering community, brings together more than 100,000 active members in North America, and more than 850,000 globally to solve some of the world’s toughest engineering design challenges. The fast-growing platform, which added almost 130,000 worldwide users in 2019, provides resources, connections, tools and online purchasing for engineers, designers, and students at all stages of the design lifecycle.

 

Optical blood-pressure trending reference design enables convenient monitoring

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MAXREFDES220# reference designUntil now, accurate blood-pressure monitoring could only be achieved with bulky and mechanical cuff-based medical devices. Now, Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. has introduced a solid-state blood-pressure monitoring solution to more conveniently track this critical health indicator. Design engineers can develop blood-pressure trending solutions with the MAXREFDES220# reference design from Maxim.

Comprised of a complete integrated optical sensor module, a microcontroller sensor hub and a sensing algorithm, the MAXREFDES220# optical blood-pressure trending solution can be embedded into smartphones or wearables. It enables users to place their finger on a device for 30-45 seconds while resting to measure blood pressure anywhere and anytime. The reference design includes the MAX30101 or MAX30102 high-sensitivity optical sensor, as well as the MAX32664D sensor hub IC with built-in algorithms.

The MAX30101 (using two LEDs) and MAX30102 (using three LEDs) pulse-oximeter and heart-rate optical sensor modules combine photodetectors, LEDs and analog front-end (AFE) electronics with an integrated cover glass. This integrated optical design and lenses-on-top approach enables optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a small, lower cost and power-efficient module. It comes in a tiny 5.6mm x 3.3mm 14-pin optical package with an I2C interface to the sensor hub IC.

The MAX32664D sensor hub IC includes firmware which controls the sensor and executes the algorithms which measure cuffless blood pressure, heart rate and blood-oxygen levels. Its ultra-small size (1.6mm x 1.6mm) can easily fit into small devices to seamlessly and effortlessly connect to a device’s host microcontroller.

The MAXREFDES220# provides industry-best accuracy that meets Class-II regulatory limits. For example, under resting-only measurement conditions, the solution provides the following accuracies:

  • Systolic Error: Mean = 1.7mmHg, Std Dev = 7.4mmHg
  • Diastolic Error: Mean = 0.1mmHg, Std Dev = 7.6mmHg
  • For reference, Class-II regulatory limits are |Mean Error| ≤ 5mmHg, and Std Dev ≤ 8mmHg

This solution requires calibration every four weeks to maintain above accuracies. This is based on independent testing and a limited number of subjects at resting condition. 

MAXREFDES220# reference design is available at Maxim’s website for $100; also available from authorized distributors

  • MAX32664D in WLP package is available at Maxim’s website for $63 (1000-up, FOB USA); select variants available from authorized distributors
  • MAX30101 is available at Maxim’s website for $4.23 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors
  • MAX30102 is available at Maxim’s website for $4.13 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors