With the MAX22505 ±40V high-speed USB fault protector from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., designers can now eliminate USB port damage from all faults, including ground potential differences, up to ±40V without the tradeoffs required by competing solutions. It protects data and power lines from industrial equipment powered at 24V_AC and 40V_DC, while also reducing solution size by more than 50% for industrial voltage applications.

Industrial environments continue striving to reduce solution footprint to increase productivity and throughput while demanding system robustness and increased uptime. As a result, there has been a trend to adopt USB vs. RS-232 on automation equipment due to a much smaller connector size. As industrial environments adopt USB to provide faster communication for applications such as real-time diagnostics, programming/service ports on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or supporting camera vision systems, USB ports require fault protection from overvoltage and ground differences while balancing the need to support high-speed data rates up to 480Mbps. Damage to both the host and device side can occur in these systems, requiring a unique solution that achieves high levels of fault protection. Existing USB fault protection solutions on the market today compromise either USB operating speed or voltage/current limit protection on a device’s data and power lines. Consequently, current solutions on the market are costlier and incapable of providing fault protection at high-speed USB performance.

The MAX22505 answers the market need as a solution that combines high-speed USB fault protection (480Mbps) for industrial voltages, while being flexible enough to support either host or device applications including USB On-The-Go (OTG). It protects equipment from overvoltage or negative voltage on power and data lines, as well as ground potential differences between devices. It reduces solution size by more than 50% compared to competing solutions and ensures robust communications in harsh environments cost-effectively in a simpler design. Housed in a 24-pin 4mm x 4mm TQFN package, it operates over the -40°C to +105°C temperature range. Applications include building automation, industrial PCs, PLCs, and diagnostic USB ports.

Key Advantages

• Robust communications: Protects from overvoltage, negative voltage, and ground potential differences; Integrated ±50V_DC protection for V_BUS/GND power lines; Integrated ±40.7V_DC protection for D+/D- data lines
• Small size: More than 50% smaller solution size compared to competing solutions
• High performance: Supports high (480Mbps), full (12Mbps), and low (1.5Mbps) USB operation speeds

Availability and Pricing

• The MAX22505 is available at Maxim’s website for $2.24 (1000-up, FOB USA); also available with select authorized distributors
• The MAX22505EVKIT# evaluation kits are available for $110