Maxim Integrated MAX12900 sensor transmitter

The MAX12900 is an ultralow-power, highly integrated 4–20 mA sensor transmitter from Maxim Integrated Products, enabling users to create small, low-power designs for industrial automation applications.

The product is claimed to increase system accuracy, with 10 ppm/°C voltage reference for up to 3.5x lower drift compared to traditional solutions. The small footprint (5 x 5 mm package size) integrates 10 optimised building blocks that results in significant space savings of 20–50% vs traditional 4–20 mA sensor transmitter implementations, the company claims.

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 µA of current maximum, enabling up to 50% power savings compared to traditional solutions, according to the company.

The product reduces implementation complexity by converting pulse width modulation data from a microcontroller into current over a 4–20 mA loop with 2-, 3- or 4-wire configurations. It is available in a 32-pin TQFN package and operates over a wide industrial temperature range of -40 to +125°C.

Suitable applications include industrial automation and process control, loop-powered 4–20 mA current transmitters, remote instrumentation and smart sensors.