The MAX2991 power-line communication analog front-end (AFE) is a state-of-the-art integrated circuit that delivers high integration and superb performance, while reducing the total system cost. The MAX2991 is the first AFE specifically designed for OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) modulated signal transmission over power lines. Operating in the 10 kHz to 490 kHz band, the programmable filters allow compliance with CENELEC, FCC, and ARIB standards using the same device.

The MAX2991 transceiver provides two main paths: transmit (Tx) path and receive (Rx) path. The transmit path injects an OFDM modulated signal into the AC or DC line. The transmit path is composed of a digital IIR filter, digital-to-analog converter (DAC), followed by a lowpass filter, and a preline driver. The receiver path is for the signal enhancement, filtering, and digitization of the received signal. The receiver is composed of a lowpass and a highpass filter, a two-stage automatic gain control (AGC), and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The integrated AGC maximizes the dynamic range of the signal up to 60 dB, while the lowpass filter removes any out-of-band noise, and selects the desired frequency band. The ADC converts the enhanced and amplified input signal to a digital format. An integrated offset cancellation loop minimizes the DC offset.

The MAX2991, along with the MAX2990 PLC baseband modem, delivers the most cost-effective data communication solution over power-line networks in the market. The MAX2991 is specified over the -40°C to +85 °C temperature range and is available in a 48-pin LQFP package.