Maxim’s low-power 4–20-mA sensor transmitter targets industrial automation

By Alix Paultre, contributing editor

The MAX12900 ultra-low-power, highly integrated 4–20-mA sensor transmitter from Maxim Integrated Products has a 10-ppm/°C voltage reference for up to 3.5 times lower drift compared to traditional solutions. The small footprint (5 x 5-mm package size) of the MAX12900 integrates 10 optimized building blocks that result in significant space savings of 20% to 50% versus traditional 4–20-mA sensor transmitter implementations.

The addition of an integrated high-voltage LDO and power sequencing capability simplifies the power up of the 4–20-mA sensor transmitter. Its reduced current consumption for low power requires just 250 uA of current maximum, enabling up to 50% power savings compared to traditional solutions. The new MAX12900 solution reduces implementation complexity, generating system cost savings by converting pulse-width modulation data from a microcontroller into current over a 4–20-mA loop with two, three, or four wire configurations. The MAX12900 is available in a 32-pin TQFN package and operates over a wide industrial temperature range of –40°C to 125°C.