Power monitoring IC delivers accurate results

4th March 2016

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

A low-side current, voltage and power monitoring IC from Maxim Integrated is being shipped by Mouser Electronics. The MAX44298 offers power, current, and voltage monitoring plus reference with precise measurement and programmable current-sensing of full-scale voltages of 5mV, 10mV and 20mV. With its wide single supply voltage range from 3V to 5.5V, the device allows simple sharing of supplies with either an ADC or a microcontroller.

It is an ideal solution to improve measurement quality while saving cost and space in a variety of power monitoring applications.

The IC offers instantaneous power with accurate power measurement of less than 1.1 percent of reading total error. It features three outputs, all of which are scaled to a full-scale current of either 100μA or 50μA, with the full-scale current option set through a simple pin-strap.

The device’s reference output allows an additional output current of either 100μA or 50μA, and this current can be used to create a reference voltage for the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) being used to measure power, voltage, and current signals.

Having the MAX44298 use currents rather than voltage to convey the measured signals to the ADC also avoids any errors caused by voltage drops across the parasitic resistance of the PCB — a significant factor for high-current systems.

The 16-bump, 2.4 mm × 2.4 mm IC is specified at a temperature range from 0 to +85 degrees Celsius, and is suited for many power monitoring applications, including power monitoring and management data centre and telecom systems, renewable energy systems and smart battery packs and chargers. The MAX4429 is also supported by the MAX44298EVKIT evaluation kit.