June 27, 2014, Seoul, South Korea – Maxim Integrated Products ( www.maximintegrated.com ), a world-leading specialist in high-density semiconductors, announced the MAX11300, a new mixed-signal PIXI™ technology product.

With this, engineers can now use Maxim Integrated Products' new data converter MAX11300 to combine 20 analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), 20 digital-to-analog converters (DACs), or 20 high-voltage digital I/O pins in any order.

Devices specialized for specific applications commonly used by industry professionals have the disadvantage of lacking flexibility or being difficult to program. The MAX11300 PIXI is the industry's first high-voltage mixed-signal data converter capable of -10V to +10V and 20-channel configuration. This product is ideal for complex applications requiring multiple mixed-signal operations, such as base stations, industrial control, and automation.

In addition, the device can be configured quickly and easily using a 'drag and drop' method through the graphical user interface (GUI) software provided by the MAX11300 PIXI. Therefore, any desired function can be assigned to any pin. You can select an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and connect it to any of the 20 pins, and the same applies if you select a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and connect it to any pin, and you can also assign digital I/O to any pin. Unlike conventional multi-channel data converters, the MAX11300 data converter allows engineers to configure 20 mixed-signal inputs/outputs (I/O) to suit their design, providing the flexibility to realize their creativity.

The MAX11300 PIXI enables miniaturization, cost reduction, and simplification of the Bill of Materials (BOM) through a high level of integration. In addition, flexible design using the MAX11300 PIXI has made it possible to significantly reduce design time and accelerate time-to-market. The MAX11300 PIXI data converter integrates a 12-bit multi-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a 12-bit multi-channel buffered digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a high-voltage analog switch, and digital I/O.

In addition, the MAX11300 PIXI provides a wide high-voltage range from -10V to +10V, enabling high-voltage bipolar signals and offering significantly superior design flexibility compared to competing data converter products. Furthermore, each of the 20 mixed-signal I/Os can be configured individually to suit the application, allowing designers to optimize the PCB layout. In addition, 20 ports can be easily configured using the software via a 'drag and drop' method, files can be exported for coding work, and convenient reconfiguration is possible as requirements change.

The MAX11300 allows for PCB layout optimization through excellent configurability, enabling the configuration of each of the 20 mixed-signal I/Os. By integrating a 12-bit ADC, a 12-bit high-voltage DAC, and 20 digital I/Os, and providing high-voltage analog switching between adjacent ports, it enables bipolar input/output voltages and reduces board size and cost. It is a highly flexible product offering various high-voltage options including 0V to +10V, 0V to 2.5V, +/-5V, and -10V to 0V. It can be configured via a 'drag-and-drop' method using simple graphical user interface (GUI) software, eliminating the need for prior programming or coding knowledge. Additionally, it provides an evaluation (EV) kit (MAX1300EVKIT#) and peripheral module (MAX11300PMB1), and allows the use of a PA bias reference design (MAXREFDES39#), enabling rapid prototype development.

Martin Mason, Managing Director at Maxim Integrated Products, stated, “Maxim Integrated Products is striving to meet the needs of analog design engineers who require highly versatile and integrated solutions to optimize designs, lower BOM costs, and accelerate time-to-market.” “Mixed-signal PIXI technology, the culmination of the MAX11300, is a representative product demonstrating how Maxim Integrated Products achieves flexible solutions through analog integration and easy programming for use in complex industrial, medical, and base station applications,” he said.

Colin Barnden, a senior analyst at Semicast Research, said, “The term ‘configurability’ is often misused in relation to digital and analog designs, particularly in the context of highly integrated devices. Designers want outstanding performance along with the flexibility of configurability. They demand products that can easily adapt to specific applications and be reconfigured according to design needs.”