Maxim announces demos for Electronica 2010

Maxim's portable infusion pump demo using an Alaris® (Medley®) infusion pump integrates critical safety functions into a compact form factor. The demo will feature power-management chips that extend battery runtime, signal-path components for closed-loop control systems, and support circuitry that integrates redundant protection mechanisms. The design features over 20 Maxim parts, all of which are backed by the industry’s best discontinuance policy, making them ideal for medical applications with long lifecycles.



For blood glucose meters, Maxim will demonstrate a development kit based on its MAX1358 precision analog front-end (AFE). It will include a graphical user interface (GUI) for full testing of the MAX1358's programming options. This kit, which is embedded in a USB stick, will also simulate a blood glucose assay to show the extreme accuracy of the MAX1358. Maxim’s solutions enable easy integration of additional functionality into glucometers to meet different market needs.



Maxim will also present solutions for ultrasound transmit and receive path circuitry. The Company will showcase the MAX2079* 8-channel front-end, optimized for high-performance portable ultrasound systems. This device avoids the performance compromises of monolithic designs by combining a CMOS ADC with BiCMOS LNAs, VGAs, AAFs, and CWD mixers.



The receiver lineup provides high performance at very low power levels for ultrasound system portability with minimal compromise to image quality and penetration depth. This demo will also feature Maxim's high-voltage digital pulsers and show many of the output patterns they are capable of producing.



Maxim's HB LED demos will feature offline and MR16 lamp drivers that deliver flicker-free operation with cut-angle dimmers and electronic transformers; this enables retrofit LED lamps for replacing halogen and incandescent lamps with no change to the existing infrastructure. The offline lamp demo will include a retrofit LED lamp connected to multiple dimmers. Based on the popular MAX16834 LED driver, this demo board provides flicker-free dimming over the full control range with a wide range of standard triac dimmers. The MAX16834 supports 120V, 230V, and universal (90V to 265V, 50Hz and 60Hz) inputs, allowing a single lamp design to work worldwide.



The MR16 demo will show a retrofit LED lamp supplied by a standard electronic transformer and trailing-edge wall dimmer, as well as flicker-free operation of this lamp with a variety of commonly used electronic transformers. Maxim’s active-PFC design avoids the performance limitations encountered with competitive solutions that use an AC-to-DC rectifier and a DC-DC converter. Based on the MAX16840* LED driver, Maxim’s solution provides flicker-free operation with most electronic transformers, including the widely used Philips® ET-E60, Primaline, and ET-S150.



A related demo will show the use of Maxim’s MAX2990/MAX2991 powerline data-communications chipset to control RGB LED lights at video rates, showcasing inside or outside decorative lighting without extra control wires. The same powerline communication solution is demonstrated in conjunction with Maxim’s 71M6543 utility metering and 78M6612 energy-measurement products in a smart grid system demonstration. These energy-measurement solutions offer better than 0.2% accuracy over the industrial temperature range and innovative isolated current sensing that eliminates bulky current transformers; they also provide an unprecedented level of integration and reliability.



Maxim's automotive infotainment and safety video system will showcase Maxim’s gigabit multimedia serial link (GMSL) technology, along with its automotive-grade touch-screen, audio, and power solutions. The demo platform supports full 1080p video, high-definition audio, multiple camera inputs, and sophisticated touch-screen technologies, all through a simplified 4-wire interface that reduces wiring harness cost and complexity.



The heart of the system is a GMSL serializer/deserializer (SerDes) chipset for cameras (MAX9259/MAX9269) and one for displays (MAX9259/MAX9260). Maxim’s GMSL technology integrates video, control, and audio into one link over a single shielded twisted pair (STP). Including power and ground, the entire interface to the camera or display is a 4-wire connector, which greatly simplifies the wiring harness while improving picture quality. An integrated full-duplex UART/I2C control channel eases interfacing with image sensors and allows implementation of a touch-screen interface on the display with no additional wiring. Meanwhile, link speeds up to 2.5Gbps support full 1080p video and allow frame-by-frame control.



Maxim's MAX11850* capacitive touch-screen controller implements advanced gesture recognition for multipoint inputs on touch screens up to 7in, making it ideal for center-console applications. This device provides several advantages: high sensitivity to allow operation with thick cover glass for extra ruggedness, support for capacitive buttons next to the screen using a single IC, and a glueless interface to Maxim's haptic actuator controllers for support of tactile feedback using high-voltage haptic actuators.



The infotainment demo platform will include a complete audio solution for rear-seat headphones, as well as Class D amplifiers capable of delivering up to 1.3W. Additionally, to protect the power source from the harsh automotive environment, the platform will include a quiet 5V supply capable of driving a head unit and four or more external cameras. An automotive-grade, 200W Class D audio demo will also be available at electronica to highlight Maxim’s audio quality and efficiency capabilities.



Maxim will demonstrate these and other solutions during electronica in Hall A5, Booth 324. For additional information about these solutions, the Company's Medical Solutions Guide, which includes tutorials, system diagrams, and recommended solutions for 22 medical applications, can be found at