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. (NASDAQ: MXIM) allows manufacturers to bring IO-Link factory automation designs to market faster.

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    --  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/MAXREFDE
        S79_PR_Graphic_rgb.tif
    --  MAXREFDES79# schematic:
        http://www.maximintegrated.com/content/dam/images/company/newsroom/graph
        ics/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.



    Contact:                   Ferda Millan

                               408-601-5429

                               Ferda.Millan@maximintegrated.com

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SOURCE Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.