Date: 12/09/2008

Smallest current-sense amplifier with high accuracy from MAXIM

Maxim Integrated Products introduced new MAX9938, industry's smallest current-sense amplifier IC. Packaged in a 4-bump UCSP. This device is 9-times smaller than the SOT23 devices. It integrates precision resistors to minimize total solution size, eliminating the need for external gain-setting resistors.

The use of BiCMOS process technology enables this device to achieve the industry's lowest quiescent-current consumption and highest accuracy. This makes the device suitable for smart-phones, digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, notebook computers, and other battery-operated devices, where small size, low quiescent current, and high accuracy are critical.

Additionally, the MAX9938's low input offset voltage allows the use of a lower full-scale V-SENSE voltage and, therefore, smaller R-SENSE 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.

Some of the other key features are,

1. Ultra-low supply current of 1µA
2. Designed to operate from a wide (1.6V to 28V) input-voltage range
3. Low input-offset voltage of ±0.5mV
4. Less than 0.5% gain error
5. Less than 1% (max) total error
6. Temperature range of -40°C to +85°C
7. Available in three voltage-gain versions (25V/V, 50V/V, and 100V/V).

Package: 1mm x 1mm x 0.6mm, 4-bump UCSP
and 5-pin SOT23 package

Prices: start at $0.64 1K pieces of quantity

For more information go to: www.maxim-ic.com