Specifications

Sensors
Overview
www.digikey.com/maxim-industrial 59
Overview
Industrial processes use sensors
to monitor physical properties.
Examples include temperature in
a furnace, pressure in a chamber,
environmental humidity, gas or
liquid flows through pipes, weights
of ingredients, and current flow in
motor windings.
A complete sensor assembly
includes: a transducer (commonly
called a sensor); signal conditioning
and communications circuitry;
a housing; and a connector. The
transducer converts physical
properties such as weight, pressure,
temperature, humidity, or light to
an electrical signal. Some trans-
ducers are resistive elements that
require external excitation to create
a measurable voltage. Other trans-
ducers generate their own voltages
or currents in response to physical
properties such as light, temperature,
or sound.
The signals coming from trans-
ducers are usually very small and
require optimized interface circuits
to provide adequate gains without
introducing noise that reduces
accuracy. Sensor assemblies are
often located far from the digital
processing circuitry, so EMI protec-
tion, isolation, and low power are
often required. Besides the signal
chain, there are sometimes stringent
requirements for power manage-
ment, communication (among
devices/systems), and secure data
transmission.
Maxim provides ICs that address all
aspects of the sensor signal chain,
from conditioning to capture, trans-
mission to timing, and power to
precision. With Maxim, you will most
likely find the right solution for your
sensor application.
Block diagram of a basic sensor system for industrial processes. For a list of Maxim’s recommended sensor solutions, please go to: www.maxim-ic.com/sensor.
www.maxim-ic.com/sensor
CompoNet
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HART
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IO-LINK
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DIGITAL IO
RS-485
Ve
R
R
R+∆R
R-∆R
EXCITATION
FEEDBACK
MISCELLANEOUS
POWER SUPERVISORS TIMING
PRECISION
RESISTORS
TEMP
SENSORS
PGA
IA
FILTERS
REFERENCE
OP AMPS
DIGITAL
POTENTIOMETERS
PRECISION
RESISTORS
ADC
TOUCH
SCREEN
μC
DAC
DAC
OP AMPS
REF
TRANSDUCER /
BRIDGE
AFE FILTER ADC COMMUNICATIONS
= MAXIM SOLUTION
DIGITAL DOMAIN
INTEGRATED SIGNAL CONDITIONER
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–
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–
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