
3Maxim Integrated
Evaluates: MAX6581
MAX6581 Evaluation Kit
Quick Start
Recommended Equipment
• MAX6581EVkit(USBcableincluded)
• User-supplied Windows 2000, Windows XP, or
Windows Vista PC with a spare USB port
Note: In the following sections, software-related items
are identified by bolding. Text in bold refers to items
directly from the EV kit software. Text in bold and under-
lined refers to items from the Windows operating system.
Procedure
The EV kit is fully assembled and tested. Follow the steps
below to verify board operation. Caution: Do not turn
on power supply until all connections are completed.
1) Visit www.maximintegrated.com/evkitsoftware to
download the latest version of the EV kit software,
6581Rxx.ZIP. Save the EV kit software to a tempo-
rary folder and uncompress the ZIP file.
2) Install the EV kit software on your computer by run-
ning the INSTALL.EXE program inside the tempo-
rary folder. The program files are copied and icons
are created in the Windows Start | Programs menu.
3) Verify all jumpers (JU1–JU9) are in their default
positions, as shown in Table 1.
4) Connect the USB cable from the PC to the EV kit
board. A New Hardware Found window pops up
when installing the USB driver for the first time. If a
window that is similar to the one described above
is not seen after 30s, remove the USB cable from
the board and reconnect it. Administrator privileges
are required to install the USB device driver on
Windows.
5) Follow the directions of the Add New Hardware
Wizard to install the USB device driver. Choose
the Search for the best driver for your device
option. Specify the location of the device driver to be
C:\Program Files\MAX6581 (default installation
directory) using the Browse button. During device
driver installation, Windows may show a warning
message indicating that the device driver Maxim
uses does not contain a digital signature. This is
not an error condition and it is safe to proceed
with installation. Refer to the USB_Driver_Help.PDF
document included with the software for additional
information.
6) Start the EV kit software by opening its icon in the
Start | Programs menu. The EV kit software main
window appears, as shown in Figure 1. Observe as
the program automatically detects the address of
the device and starts the main program.
Detailed Description of Software
User Interface
The MAX6581 EV kit user interface is easy to operate.
Each button corresponds to bits in the command and
configuration byte. By pressing them, the correct I2C-
compatible write operation is generated to update the
internal registers of the MAX6581.
Automatic Read
The program polls the device for the new temperature
and status data a maximum of two times per second
(2Hz). To disable the polling of data, uncheck the Auto
Read checkbox located at the top of the program.
Data Logging
Check the Data Logging checkbox located at the top
of the program to activate data logging. Data logging
saves temperature and status data to a text file that
includes a time/date stamp next to each data point. If
the Auto Read checkbox is checked, data is sampled
at 2Hz; however, the data is logged to the file only if the
temperature or status has changed. This slows the
*Default position.
Table 1. Jumper Description (JU1–JU9)
JUMPER SHUNT
POSITION DESCRIPTION
JU1–JU7 Installed* The EV kit uses the 2N3906 transistors as the external diode-connected transistors.
Not installed The EV kit uses user-supplied external diode-connected transistors.
JU8 Installed STBY logic-low places the device in standby mode.
Not installed* STBY logic-high places the device in normal mode.
JU9 1-2* Connects the device to the on-board 3.3V supply.
2-3 Connects the device to the user-supplied (3V to 3.6V) supply.