Maxim Integrated brings a breakthrough achievement in industrial automation. MAXREFDES79# is Industry’s First Quad IO-Link® Master Reference Design features four ports and a complete software stack in an easy-to-use development platform to bring IO-Link factory automation designs to market faster.
- Details for MAXREFDES79#: http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/design/reference-design-center/system-board/6095.html
- MAXREFDES79# hi-res image: http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/company/newsroom/graphics/img/MAXREFDES79_PR_Graphic_rgb.tif
- MAXREFDES79# schematic: http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/company/newsroom/graphics/img/MAXREFDES79_PR_Diagram_rgb.tif
As the first ever IO-Link master reference design, MAXREFDES79# reduces the cost and time required to develop and evaluate both IO-Link master and IO-Link sensor systems. While previous IO-Link master development units featured only one port, Maxim’s MAXREFDES79# IO-Link master allows up to four sensors to be tested at one time. As an IO-Link compliant system, MAXREFDES79# works with any IO-Link sensor on the market today. MAXREFDES79# complements four Maxim sensor reference designs (MAXREFDES23# light sensor, MAXREFDES27# proximity sensor, MAXREFDES36# 16-channel digital input, and MAXREFDES42# RTD temp sensor) to make the process quick and easy for customers to simulate factory operation.
MAXREFDES79# is a highly integrated development platform with software stack. The system has four ports, one for each IO-Link master (MAX14824) and integrates power supply products. MAXREFDES79# uses the industry’s fastest (400µs) COM 3 communication, comes with an adapter, and is enabled with a microUSB data connection.
Key Advantages
- Flexible and highly integrated: 4-port master with software stack can test any four IO-Link sensors
- Faster time to market: easy to plug in and quickly evaluate external sensors
- Affordable: significantly reduces both IO-Link master and sensor development time
Commentary
- “Maxim leveraged its expertise in IO-Link technology and analog integration to develop MAXREFDES79#, the industry’s most flexible and economical IO-Link master development platform for industrial automation,” said Timothy Leung, Senior Business Manager at Maxim Integrated. “IO-Link sensor developers now have a readily available reference design for quick evaluation to get ahead of the curve in Industry 4.0.”
- “Historically, the industrial sector was overlooked because of its complexity, but this is changing as the market potential increases,” said Colin Barnden, Principal Analyst at Semicast Research. “Maxim’s MAXREFDES79# reference design is an original approach to advancing an emerging technology like IO-Link to address the industrial market’s surging growth.”
Availability and Pricing
- The MAXREFDES79# board with software stack is available for $500. The initial unit costs $415 at Maxim’s website and select franchised distributors. Hardware and firmware design files, as well as test data, are provided free and available online.
- An unlimited software license is available for $85 from TEConcept: http://www.teconcept.de/index_en.php.
- For information on other reference designs, please visit Maxim’s Reference Design Center: http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/design/reference-design-center.html.
