Evaluate Industrial Sensors Faster with First Quad IO-Link® Master Reference Design

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Designers now have a single platform to develop their own IO-Link master and multiple industrial sensors. The MAXREFDES79# from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. MXIM allows manufacturers 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/content/dam/images/company/newsroom/graphics/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 (400us) 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.  

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About Maxim Integrated
Maxim is the leader in analog integration. From mobile to industrial solutions, we're making analog smaller, smarter, and more energy efficient. Learn more at http://www.maximintegrated.com.  

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SOURCE Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.