MAXREFDES46

Introduction

In programmable logic controllers (PLC) and distributed control systems (DCS), analog input current and voltage measurements provide critical sensor data, while analog output currents and voltages provide critical control and actuation functions. The MAXREFDES46# reference design, shown in Figure 1, features four flexible and programmable analog inputs and outputs that meet industrial process and control requirements.

For analog inputs, the MAX1301 is the heart of analog input section. This four channel, 16-bit, high-accuracy analog to digital converter (ADC) provides measurement of voltage inputs from the op-amp signal conditioning circuits, MAX9632. The current and voltage signals from industrial sensors get processed for impedance balance, protection and removal of noise by the signal conditioning circuit. The MAX6126 produces an ultra-high-precision voltage reference for the ADC.

For analog outputs, the MAX5134 lies at the center of the system. This four channel, 16-bit, high-accuracy digital-to-analog converter (DAC) provides voltage outputs that drive the inputs of four MAX15500 signal conditioners. These signal conditioners produce accurate current or voltage outputs, programmable by the user. The MAX15500 also provides extensive error reporting. The MAX6126 also produces an ultra-high-precision voltage reference for the DAC and the output conditioners.

The MAX14850 galvanically isolates data communication between the analog subsystem and the system controller. The system integrates a 42Mbps RS-485 transceiver, MAX14783, with tested throughput of 20Mbps for communicating with remote host. The system also utilizes a PIC32 microcontroller to provide complete autonomy and intelligence.

MAXREFDES46# also integrates an isolated, wide DC input range, flyback converter power supply. The peak current-mode flyback controller, MAX17498B, efficiently drives an isolated transformer and generates ±24V and ±15V outputs. The MAX8719 and MAX664 low dropout (LDO) linear regulators then regulate the ±15V output to low-noise +13V and -13V output rails, respectively. The synchronous step down DC-DC converter, MAX17501, in conjunction with MAX8881 LDO, generate a low noise 5V supply required for ADC and DAC section. The synchronous step down DC-DC converter, MAX15062, generates the 3.3V required for digital MCU section. The push pull transformer driver, MAX13253, along with MAX8881, generate the galvanically isolated 3.3V supply required for RS-485 section.

The entire system requires only a 24V input for power.

The analog subsystem features all typical unipolar current and unipolar/bipolar voltage output ranges, and appropriate subsets, with less than ±0.1% typical total unadjusted error (TUE). The circuit also provides short-circuit and overcurrent protection, open circuit detection, brownout detection, and over temperature protection. All such protections are which are critical for industrial applications. Flexible power-up options make MAXREFDES46# an ideal choice for robust industrial control systems.

Detailed Description of Hardware

The MAX15500 (U24-U27) is a single-channel, low-cost, precision analog current/voltage output conditioner developed to meet the requirements of PLCs and other industrial control and automation applications. The MAX15500 operates from a ±24V power-supply range.

The MAX15500 generates both unipolar and bipolar current and voltage outputs. In current mode, the device produces currents from -1.2mA to +24mA or -24mA to +24mA. In voltage mode, the device produces voltages of -0.3V to +6V, -0.6V to +12V, or ±12V. To allow for over range and under range capability in unipolar mode, the transfer function of the MAX15500 is offset so that when the voltage at AIN is 5% of full scale, IOUT is 0mA and VOUT is 0V. Once VAIN attains full scale, VOUT or IOUT becomes full scale +5% or +20% depending on the state of FSMODE.

The MAX15500 protects against overcurrent and short-circuit condi¬tions when OUT goes to ground or a voltage up to ±32.5V. The device also monitors for over temperature and supply brownout conditions. The supply brownout threshold is programmable between ±10V and ±24V in 2V increments. The MAX15500 provides extensive error reporting of short-circuit, open-circuit, brownout, and over temperature conditions through the SPI interface and an additional open-drain interrupt output (ERROR). The MAX15500 also includes an analog 0 to 3V output (MON) to monitor the load condi¬tion at OUT.

The MAX5134 (U16) is a quad 16-bit, buffered voltage-output, high-linearity DAC. The device features 4-channel, very low dead band (0.02V max) rail-to-rail outputs. For most applications, no negative biasing power supply is required.

The MAX6126 (U17) provides the analog output conditioners and the DAC's reference inputs with an ultra-high-precision 4.096V voltage reference with 0.02% initial accuracy and a 3ppm/°C maximum temperature coefficient. The DAC outputs directly drive the conditioners’ inputs with no external components, making the interface simple.

The MAX1301 (U22) is a 16-bit, successive-approximation register (SAR) ADC with unique multi-range inputs capable of accepting input voltage signals up to +12.288V to -12.288V. The ADC also has integrated analog input buffers with a 17kΩ input resistance.

The MAX9632 amplifiers (U30, U31) are optimized for low-noise, -10V to +10V and 0 to +10V input voltages, and (U28, U29) for low-noise, 4–20mA input currents. MAX9632 provides high input impedance for input signals that have a large source resistance, or in the case of the 4–20mA loop, a 250Ω load resistance.

Although the MAX1301 ADC has an internal 4.096V voltage reference, for highest accuracy, use the external MAX6126 (U21) voltage reference with 0.02% initial accuracy and a 3ppm/°C maximum temperature coefficient (tempco).

The MAX17498B (U6) provides an isolated, functional insulation class power solution that accepts single +21V to +27V DC voltage and converts it to ±24V and ±15V using an isolation transformer in flyback architecture. Post-regulation is accomplished using the MAX17501 DC-DC converter (U18) with MAX8881 LDO (U19) for the 5V output; MAX8719 LDO (U20) and MAX664 LDO (U23) for ±13V from ±15V; MAX15062 DC-DC converter (U2) for 3.3V_MCU from 24V; MAX13253 push pull transformer driver (U9) along with MAX8881 LDO (U8) for isolated 3.3V_RS485 from 3.3V_MCU.

Data isolation between the subsystem and the controller is accomplished using the MAX14850 (U7) digital data isolator. The combined power and data isolation achieved is 600V_RMS.

Detailed Description of Firmware for PIC32 platform

The complete source code is provided to speed up customer development. Code documentation can be found with the corresponding firmware platform files.

Quick Start

Required equipment:

• Windows^® PC with two USB ports
• MAXREFDES46# board
• One 24V, 400mA minimum DC power supply (provided with MAXREFDES46# board)
• USB type A to type B cable
• USB type A to mini USB cable
• USB to RS-485 converter

Download, read, and carefully follow each step in the MAXREFDES46 Quick Start Guide.

Lab Measurements

Equipment Used:

• MAXREFDES46# board
• One 750Ω, 0.25W resistor load
• One 1KΩ, 0.25W resistor load
• Agilent 3458A digital multimeter
• Agilent E3631A DC power supply (any 24V, 400mA minimum DC power supply works)
• National Instruments GPIB card and cable
• Thermonics T-2800 precision temperature forcing system
• Windows PC
• Audio Precision^® SYS-2722 signal source or equivalent

Special care must be taken and the proper equipment must be used when testing the MAXREFDES46# design. The key to testing any high-accuracy design is to use sources and measurement equipment that are of higher accuracy than the design under test. A low distortion signal source is absolutely required in order to duplicate the results presented below. The input signal was generated using the Audio Precision SYS-2722. The analog inputs should be driven with a source and not be left floating. The FFTs were created using the FFT control in SignalLab from Mitov Software. All lab measurements were done at room temperature.

Measurements of AC FFT for channel 0 (AIN0) using on-board isolated power with 1KHz, ±10V input signal from SYS2722 audio generator.

Measurements of AC FFT for channel 0 (AIN0) using on-board isolated power with 250Hz, ±10V input signal from SYS2722 audio generator.

Measurements of DC histogram for channel 0 (AIN0) using on-board isolated power with input grounded.

INL, DNL, and total unadjusted error (TUE) are the most important specifications for PLC and other process control systems. The MAX15500 is highly flexible and configurable to meet the needs of various applications. The data was taken at +25°C. In the following pictures, the DNL, INL, and TUE for the first 320 DAC codes are shown as 0 because codes 0 to 320 are in the deadband (0 to 0.02V) of the MAX5134.

Measurements of DNL, INL, and TUE for the -10V to +10V voltage output mode, with 20% over range are shown in Figure 7, Figure 8, and Figure 9, respectively.

Measurements of DNL, INL, and TUE for the 0 to 10V voltage output mode, with 20% over range are shown in Figure 10, Figure 11, and Figure 12, respectively.

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