Micro PLC platform targets factory efficiency

2nd October 2014

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

Integration is carved in stone outside Maxim Integrated’s new headquarters in San Jose. The company has been pursuing a strategy of packaging more of its products to work together to provide customers with a more cost effective and efficient path to market. The strategy’s latest produce is the Micro PLC (programmable logic controller) platform which consists of five reference designs which can operate as stand-alone subsystems and be configured and tested with a laptop’s USB port.

Introducing the platform at a briefing in London, Chris Neil, Senior Vice President, Medical and Industrial Solutions Group explained the thought processes behind the product.

“Factories have to become more efficient, come on stream quicker and at lower cost. Each year, $800 billion is spent on factory maintenance and lost productivity,” he observed.

“The global Industry 4.0 movement is working to make manufacturing smarter and more efficient.” Maxim’s aim with the Micro PLC platform is to put the controller closer to the tools it is controlling. The platform delivers a 10x reduction in form factor, provides over 50% power savings, and processes digital I/O outputs up to 70 times faster than ever before. Supporting the Industry 4.0 distributed model,

Maxim has developed multiple products that are interoperable with the Micro PLC platform.

The MAX11270 is a 24-bit, 10mW, delta-sigma ADC with integrated PGA offering high signal-to-noise (SNR) and low power.

The MAX17515 is a 5A, 2.4V to 5.5V input, complete switch-mode power supply with built-in inductor that reduces energy loss and heat with 92% efficiency.

The MAX17552 is: a 4V to 60V, 100mA, ultra-small, synchronous step-down DC-DC converter, compliant to IEC61131-2 PLC standard, that reduces heat dissipation and enables up to 50% cooler operation