MAX44212ETP+

MAX44212ETP+ is one of the most popular products of Maxim Integrated that falls into the Interface – Drivers, Receivers, and Transceivers family. It is a highly versatile, low-power, 4-channel level shifter that operates with a minimum supply voltage of 1.65 V and a maximum voltage of 5.5 V. The full name of this model is MAX44212ETP+ Half-Duplex Level Shifter with undervoltage/overvoltage (UV/OV) Protection. It allows the simultaneous conversion of signals from low voltage to high voltage and vice versa, in order to facilitate data communication between digital systems operating at different voltages.

The main application fields of MAX44212ETP+ are in data transmission interfaces between low-voltage I/Os, low-power microcontrollers and digital systems operating with higher voltages. It is also well-suited for boosting the data transfer rate amongst multiple devices.

Working Principle

MAX44212ETP+ operates on a push-pull mechanism instead of the conventional open-drain configuration. It is compatible with low-voltage CMOS and low-voltage TTL logic inputs from 1.65 V to 3.6 V, and also includes a buried Zener diode that provides undervoltage/overvoltage (UV/OV) protection. It allows for five different input logic levels and two output logic levels, allowing for conversion over a wide range of voltage levels to maximize power efficiency and minimize device size.

The push-pull configuration ensures the coupled devices no longer require a dedicated voltage translator nor an external pull-up resistance to maintain their state when idle. Also, the output of one side will not affect the input of the other side, providing a clean bi-directional signal conversion even in asynchronous environments.

In addition, it provides two modes of operation, quiet mode, and high-speed mode, selecting the one most suitable for the application in hand. Quiet mode is most suitable for long-distance transmission with low power consumption, while high-speed mode is recommended for applications with higher speed requirements.

Finally, it adheres to 3.3 V and 5V CMOS standards and supports a wide range of data transmission protocols.

Conclusion

MAX44212ETP+ provides an excellent solution for interfacing between low- and high-voltage logic systems. It provides a highly flexible solution for applications with a wide range of voltage levels, and operates at low power consumption with selectable transmission rates. It also provides undervoltage/overvoltage (UV/OV) protection to ensure the connected devices are not damaged by over voltage or under voltage conditions.

Equally suitable for both analog and digital applications, this versatile product is the go-to solution for interfacing applications across a range of voltage levels.