Industry's Smallest Current-Sense Amplifier Sets Benchmarks for Accuracy and Power Consumption
Note to Editor:
- The MAX9938 is the industry's smallest, precision current-sense amplifier.
- Fitting in a 1mm², 4-bump chip-scale package (UCSP™), this device enables the industry's smallest solution size, which is 9x smaller than competitive SOT23 devices.
- To save additional space, the MAX9938 integrates precision resistors for better than ±0.5% gain accuracy, thus eliminating the need for external gain-setting resistors.
- This precision current-sense amplifier features a lower supply current (< 1µA) and better accuracy (< 1% total error) than any low-cost competitor.
- The MAX9938 is ideal for battery-operated portable devices such as smartphones, digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, and notebook computers.
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SUNNYVALE, CA—September 4, 2008—Maxim Integrated Products (PINK OTC MARKETS: MXIM) introduces the MAX9938, the industry's smallest high-side, current-sense amplifier. Packaged in a 4-bump UCSP, this device is 9x smaller than competitive SOT23 devices. Additionally, it integrates precision resistors to minimize total solution size, eliminating the need for external gain-setting resistors. The Company's proprietary BiCMOS process technology enables this device to achieve the industry's lowest quiescent-current consumption and highest accuracy. Designed to operate from a wide (1.6V to 28V) input-voltage range, the MAX9938 is ideal for smartphones, digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, notebook computers, and other battery-operated devices in which small size, low quiescent current, and high accuracy are critical.
Portable devices require smaller, more precise current-sense amplifiers
Current-sense amplifiers are critical components in portable devices. These small integrated circuits (ICs) are typically used to measure battery charge and discharge currents. They also monitor supply rails that may need to be powered down to control heat and power dissipation. Consequently, high accuracy is paramount to ensuring reliability and extending battery life.
Providing very low input-offset and high gain accuracy has proven difficult, especially in the ever-smaller form factors required by today's portable applications. It is precisely in these performance areas that the MAX9938 excels.
Space-saving solution offers superior performance
The MAX9938 enables the industry's smallest solution. Packaged in a tiny, 1mm x 1mm x 0.6mm, 4-bump UCSP, this IC is 9x smaller than competitive SOT23 devices. Moreover, it integrates precision resistors, thereby eliminating the two to three external gain-setting resistors required by competitive devices. In fact, the MAX9938 is so tiny that it is 12% smaller than a single resistor!
In addition to dramatic space savings, the MAX9938 achieves the industry's highest accuracy. Competitive devices typically offer an input-offset voltage (VOS) of ±2mV to ±5mV and gain error of 2% to 5%, for a total error of 3% to 5%. In contrast, the MAX9938 features an ultra-low, ±0.5mV (max) VOS and 0.5% (max) gain error, for a total error of less than 1% (max). This high accuracy simplifies designs, eliminating the need to worry about worst-case error tolerances.
Additionally, the MAX9938's low VOS allows the use of a lower full-scale VSENSE voltage and, therefore, smaller RSENSE resistor. The device thus minimizes voltage-drop loss in the line and power dissipation in the sense resistor, which otherwise could create a hot spot behind the LCD display of a notebook computer.
Lowest IQ device is the smartest choice for portable devices
The MAX9938 is specifically designed for power-sensitive applications. Whereas competitive devices typically consume 100µAs to 500µAs of quiescent current (IQ), this precision IC consumes an industry-low 1µA IQ.
Combining significant space savings with unmatched accuracy and current consumption, the MAX9938 is the ideal choice for space-constrained, battery-operated applications.
Summary of MAX9938 key features
- Ultra-low 1µA (max) supply current
- Low ±0.5mV (max) input-offset voltage
- Less than 0.5% (max) gain error
- Less than 1% (max) total error
- Tiny, 1mm x 1mm x 0.6mm, 4-bump UCSP or 5-pin SOT23 package
The MAX9938 is offered in three voltage-gain versions (25V/V, 50V/V, and 100V/V). It is available in 4-bump UCSP (1mm x 1mm x 0.6mm) and 5-pin SOT23 packages. All versions are fully specified for operation over the -40°C to +85°C extended temperature range. Prices start at $0.64 (1000-up, FOB USA). For more information please visit: www.maxim-ic.com/Tiny-Amp
Maxim Integrated Products is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells over $2 billion of high-performance semiconductor products annually. It was founded over 25 years ago with the mission to deliver innovative analog and mixed-signal engineering solutions that add value to its customers' products. To date, Maxim has developed over 5700 products serving the industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets. For more information, go to www.maxim-ic.com.
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