Maxim MAX2980/86 provides an easy “plug and play” Power Line Modem Analog Front End and Engine
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Maxim Integrated Products introduces a smart solution to implement a Power Line Modem based on MAX2980-AFE and MAX2986-Engine.
Power Line Modem – Analog Front End, MAX2980
The MAX2980 powerline communication analog frontend (AFE) integrated circuit (IC) is a state-of-the-art CMOS device that delivers high performance and low cost. This highly integrated design combines a 10bit, 50MHz sampling analog-to- digital converter (ADC), a 10bit, 50MHz sampling digital-to-analog converter (DAC), signal conditioning (54dB Adaptive Gain Control), and line receiver/driver with Minimum Line Impedance Capability as Low as 10Ω. The MAX2980 substantially reduces previously required system components, while compatible with third-party HomePlug® devices. This device interfaces with many companion Digital PHY ICs to provide a complete powerline communication solution. It’s powered at 3.3V with a consumption of 250mA in Rx Mode and/or 160mA in Tx Mode while the I/O is 3.0V to 3.6V compliant.
The advanced design of the MAX2980 allows operation without external control, enabling simplified connection to a variety of HomePlug Digital PHY ICs. Additional power-reduction techniques can be employed through the use of various control signals.
The MAX2980 is specified over the 0°C to +70°C commercial temperature range and is offered in a 64-pin TQFP package.
Power Line Modem – Engine, MAX2986
The MAX2986 powerline transceiver utilizes state-of-theart CMOS design techniques to deliver the highest level of performance and flexibility. This highly integrated design combines the media access control layer (MAC) and the physical layer (PHY) in a single chip. The MAX2986 digital baseband and its companion device, the MAX2980 analog front-end (AFE), offer a complete high-speed powerline communication solution that is fully compatible with third-party HomePlug® 1.0 devices.
The MAX2986 digital transceiver utilizes Maxim's advanced OFDM powerline engine with adaptive data rates up to 14Mbps. The MAX2986's open architecture allows extensive programmability, feature enhancement capability, and improved testability in the MAC for optimum performance. Hence, this device is aimed at applications such as local area networks (LANs), audio, voice, home automation, industrial automation, and broadband-over-powerline (BPL), as well as spectral shaping and tone notching capability, providing an unparalleled level of flexibility to conform to the disparate local regulatory bodies. Maxim's modified OFDM technique allows shaping of power spectral density of the transmitted signal arbitrarily to accommodate any desired subcarrier set and to place spectral nulls at any unwanted frequency location. The automatic channel adaptation and interference rejection features of the MAX2986 guarantee outstanding performance. Privacy is provided by a 56-bit DES encryption with key management.
The MAX2986 operates with IEEE® 802.03 standard media independent interface (MII), reduced media independent interface (rMII), buffered FIFO data communication, IEEE 802.03 compatible 10/100 Ethernet MAC, or USB 1.1 interfaces. These interfaces allow the MAX2986 to be paired with almost any data communication devices to use in a variety of information appliances.
The MAX2986 is specified over the 0°C to +70°C commercial temperature range and is offered in a 144 CSBGA package.
These two ICs could be implemented in BroadBand and Audio over Power Line applications such as: Home Automation, Industrial Automation, Building Automation, LANs, Security and Safety, Voice and Audio, USB/WiFI/Ethernet Bridges, etc.