Maxim Introduce Industry’s Smallest Bipolar, Beyond-the-Rails ADCs

These highly integrated ADCs feature Beyond-the-Rails technology, which supports ±5V input signal from a single positive 5V rail. This technology eliminates the need for negative power supplies and simplifies designs. At 19.5mW, 500 ksps, and 1µA in shu tdown mode, the ADCs are applicable for precision measurement data acquisition systems, industrial/process control, medical instrumentation, and automatic test equipment.



The MAX11166 and MAX11167 communicate using an SPI-compatible serial interface at 2.5V, 3V, 3.3V, or 5V logic levels and have sample rates of 500 ksps and 250 ksps, respectively. The serial interface can be used to daisy-chain multiple ADCs for multichannel simultaneous-sampling applications; it also provides a “busy” indicator option for simplified system synchronization and timing. Maxim’s proprietary input-charge-pump architecture allows direct sampling of high-impedance sources, eliminating the need for external analog buffers to drive the ADC inputs in some applications.



Key Advantages:

•High integration: industry’s smallest (9mm²) package, 16-bit ADCs with integrated reference with buffer and ±5V true bipolar measurement above and below ground using Beyond-the-Rails technology

•Excellent analog performance: 92.6dB SNR supports wide-dynamic-range applications with best-in-class linearity (typically ±0.5 LSB INL, ±0.2 LSB DNL) allows precise measurements at half the power of nearest competitors

•Ease of design: integrated precision voltage reference with reference buffer and high-impedance input saves power and space







“Maxim is the only company to offer an internal reference in a tiny 16-bit bipolar ADC,” said Martin Mason, Executive Director of ADC Business Management at Maxim Integrated. “By integrating the reference and offering bipolar inputs in a tiny part, engineers save the power, space, and cost of doing this externally.”



“Previously, engineers had to measure a true bipolar signal with a good amount of external circuitry,” said Susie Inouye, Research Director at Databeans. “The MAX11166 and MAX11167 family offers a great combination of small size and wide input range, and the internal reference lets engineers simplify their designs.”



Availability, Temperature, and Pricing:

•Available in a robust 12-pin package (3mm x 3mm TDFN), ±5V input, 250 ksps and 500 ksps options

•Specified over the -40 °C to +85 °C temperature range

•Pricing starts at $16.07 (1000-up, FOB USA)



The 18-bit extended resolution versions of these parts are slated for introduction in the first half of 2013.