MAXREFDES63#: MicroPLC, 8-Ch Output Module

Industry 4.0 marks the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by distributed, intelligent control systems. Breaking from a past with large, centralized programmable-logic controllers, Industry 4.0 allows for highly configurable, highly modular factories, which accept an ever increasing number of sensor inputs, while operating at a higher output than ever before. The ultra-small PLC, or MicroPLC, lies at the heart of the Industry 4.0 factory, providing high performance with ultra-low power consumption, in an ultra-small package.

MAXREFDES63# is Maxim Integrated’s Micro PLC octal-channel, digital output card.

The MAXREFDES63# reference design (Figure 1) features eight-channel digital outputs with isolated power and data.

The design integrates:

• a 600 VRMS data isolation (MAX14850);

• a STM32F1 microcontroller;

• a FTDI USB-UART bridge;

• a high-efficiency DC -DC converter (MAX17515);

• and isolated/regulated +22V, and +5V power rails (MAX17498C).

The entire system typically operates at less than 400mW and fits into a space roughly the size of a credit card.