SAN JOSE, Calif.—Jan. 7, 2020—Maxim Integrated MAX20340, the industry’s smallest 2-pin bi-directional DC powerline communication (PLC) device, ultra-low-power portables, and wearable can reduce the size of a power and communications interface in the charging dock by up to 80 percent. With power and communication on the same line, the MAX20340 eliminates the pins and discrete devices needed to communicate between the charging dock and a low-voltage end product, such as true wireless earbuds, rings, and other small wearable’s. This simplifies the design process and saves up to 13 mm2 per earbud compared to the nearest competitive solution.
Customers are demanding smaller consumer products, especially for wearables, for comfort and convenience in their daily lives. This ultra-small PLC chip minimizes the number of mechanical contact points for the charging and communication interface, which reduces cost, limits points of failure and increases reliability. In addition, the MAX20340 incorporates automatic presence detection, enabling flexible design and eliminating unreliable and costly alternative methods such as mechanical pogo pins or hall effect sensors. The device is configured as either a communication master or slave by a single external resistor. Multiple modes of operation offer designers the opportunity to minimize power consumption based on their application needs. Finally, the communication protocol is as simple as reading and writing via I2C with the MAX20340 managing all communication across the interface.
Key Advantages
- Smallest Solution Size: MAX20340 provides an 80 percent size reduction versus the closest competitive solution; each MAX20340 PLC IC is only 1.84mm2 and does not require any large external components such as inductors.
- Reliability: Hosting communication and power over the same line reduces potential points of failure and cost.
- Ease of Design: A simple mailbox communication scheme for read and write functions is handled through an I2C interface.
Commentary
- “Customers demand smaller form factors without sacrificing features and performance. The MAX20340 enables wireless earbud and bio-sensing ring makers to create the comfortable, lightweight products consumers demand,” said Andrew Baker, managing director, Industrial and Healthcare Business Unit at Maxim Integrated.
The MAX20340 is available at Maxim’s website for $0.82 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available from authorized distributors.
For more information, please visit at: maximintegrated.com.
