Maxim Integrated DS28E18 1-Wire to I²C/SPI Bridge

Designers expanding connections to remote sensor networks can now reduce complexity with the DS28E18 1-Wire to I²C/SPI Bridge from Maxim Integrated Products, which can connect devices using only two wires compared to competitor solutions that require four wires for I²C or six for SPI.

Nowadays, most designers use serial interfaces to connect remote sensors in industrial and remote monitoring applications. However, the most popular protocols require up to five external switch extenders to reach devices at distances as long as 100 m. In addition, some widely deployed interfaces require six cables for connecting multiple extended sensors to a host microcontroller.

The DS28E18 enables both power and communications on a single wire, using Maxim Integrated’s 1-Wire protocol to link with I²C or SPI peripheral devices over 100 m with only two wires. The solution eliminates up to five extender and switch ICs, which should reduce connection costs and software complexity. In addition, only one programmable I/O port from the host microcontroller is necessary to operate a network with 10 to 20 nodes.