PLC development platform provides intelligence for industry IoT

Intelligent data allows factory operators to make informed, real-time decisions to improve uptime, revenue, and gross margins. PLCs require fan-less operation due to harsh industrial environments, so efficient power solutions are required to minimise heat dissipation.

The Pocket IO consists of 30 I/Os, including analogue input, analogue output, digital input, digital output, I/O-link, and motion ith diagnostic capabilities. In addition to real-time intelligence, and adaptive manufacturing, the footprint of less than 10 cubic inches and smart energy consumption brings PLC down to the manufacturing line, re-distributing intelligent control and providing redundancy, says the company. Compared to its Micro PLC platform, the Pocket IO decreases form factor by a factor of 2.5 and reduces power consumption by another 30%. Patent-pending, fast, demagnetisation clamps are integrated within the MAX14913 octal high-side switch and driver, to achieve 15x space savings by eliminating 16 diodes.

The MAX17681 iso-buck DC/DC converter provides greater than 90% power efficiency compared to its predecessor; to reduce power dissipation by over 30%. The MAX31913 octal, digital input translator/serialiser is powered from a 5V supply while accepting input signals up to 36V. This eliminates the need for protection components on the 24V supply pin and reduces the total footprint by 50 per cent, says the company.

The MAXREFDES150# Pocket IO PLC reference design includes the attach board, I/O-link protocol stack, cables, and power supply. The schematics, layout files, and firmware are free and available for immediate use.