MAX338ESE+ - 8:1 Low-Leakage CMOS Analog Multiplexer | Maxim Integrated
Référence : MAX338ESE+ ✓ ActifMAX338ESE+ Présentation
An analog multiplexer, or mux, is a semiconductor switch that routes one of several analog input channels to a shared output node under digital address control. It sits in the signal path between sensors, amplifiers and converters on one side and a single measurement or processing chain on the other. In the broader hierarchy, MAX338ESE+ belongs to the analog switch and multiplexer family, which in turn falls under interface ICs within integrated circuits. Reducing eight or sixteen analog wires down to one shared node is the core value proposition: fewer PCB traces, fewer connector pins, and a smaller multiplexing front end for data acquisition.
Key features include a 400 ohm maximum on-resistance, low off-state leakage, and bidirectional analog channels, so the mux can be used as either a multiplexer or a demultiplexer. The device runs from a single +4.5V to +30V rail or from dual rails of +/-4.5V to +/-20V, which makes it suitable for both modern low-voltage instrumentation and legacy +/-15V or +/-12V analog test equipment. Fault-protected channel architecture improves robustness when inputs are over-driven or switched while signals are present.
Internally the MAX338 uses CMOS transmission-gate switches driven by a 3-bit binary address for the 8-channel configuration, with the address decode and drive circuitry integrated on the same die. Because the channels are bidirectional, the same silicon supports demultiplexing applications where the single common node is driven and the eight channel nodes are the destinations. This symmetry is what allows one part number to cover both directions of analog routing.
Typical applications include multi-channel data acquisition systems, automated test equipment, process-control instrumentation, multimeter and measurement front ends, battery and power-supply test systems, and data logger signal conditioning. Designers frequently use the MAX338 alongside RS-232 and RS-485 transceivers, parallel interface controllers, and precision amplifiers to build compact measurement instruments.
The main design consideration is supply headroom and signal range: because the channels are bidirectional and the on-resistance is relatively high at 400 ohm, the device is best suited to high-impedance sources and precision measurement nodes rather than low-impedance power or current-carrying loads. Check the injected charge and off-state leakage against your accuracy budget.
This page consolidates manufacturer documentation, distributor pricing and availability, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical layout guidance so engineers can evaluate a redesign or a second-source sourcing decision without pulling together five separate documents.
Alternatives de remplacement direct pour MAX338ESE+ — même boîtier, compatible broche à broche. Les références à boîtier différent nécessitant une retouche du PCB sont exclues.
MAX328ESE+
✅ Remplacement direct ⚠️ Spécifications non vérifiées📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
MAX329ESE+
✅ Remplacement direct ⚠️ Spécifications non vérifiées📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
MAX306ESE+
✅ Remplacement direct ⚠️ Spécifications non vérifiées📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
ADG508A
✅ Remplacement direct📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
ADG509A
✅ Remplacement direct📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
ADG506A
✅ Remplacement direct📋 Alternative de référence (hors catalogue)
MAX338ESE+ Spécifications
| Fonction | 8-Channel / Dual 4-Channel CMOS Analog Multiplexer (Mux or Demux) |
| Number of Circuits | 1 |
| Configuration | 8:1 |
| On-Resistance (max) | 400 ohm |
| Supply Voltage, Single | +4.5V to +30V |
| Supply Voltage, Dual | +/-4.5V to +/-20V |
| Channel Type | Bidirectional analog channel |
| Fault Protection | Yes, protected channels |
| Leakage | Low-leakage CMOS design |
| Température de fonctionnement | -40C to +85C |
| Boîtier | 16-SOIC narrow (0.154 inch / 3.90 mm width) |
| Type de montage | Surface Mount (SMD/SMT) |
| Pin Compatibility | Pin-compatible upgrade for DG508A and DG509A |
| Production Status | PRODUCTION |
Guide de configuration des broches du MAX338ESE+ 16-soic narrow (0.154 inch / 3.90 mm width)
Configuration des broches du MAX338ESE+ (boîtier 16-soic narrow (0.154 inch / 3.90 mm width)). La numérotation des broches, les fonctions et les schémas de connexion sont définis dans la fiche technique du fabricant. Consultez-la pour l'empreinte exacte et les directives de soudage.
Aucune donnée de brochage détaillée disponible pour MAX338ESE+.
Consultez la fiche technique pour la configuration complète des broches.
Applications typiques
MAX338ESE+ convient pour 6 applications: Multi-Channel Data Acquisition, Automated Test Equipment Signal Routing, Process Control and Sensor Signal Conditioning, Multimeter and Portable Measurement Front Ends, Power Supply and Battery Test Systems, Data Logger and Environmental Monitoring.
Multi-Channel Data Acquisition
The MAX338ESE+ is built for multi-channel data acquisition because it routes one of eight analog inputs onto a single common output using a 3-bit binary address, cutting the analog trace count on a measurement board from eight lines to one plus three address lines. With a maximum on-resistance of 400 ohm and low off-state leakage, the mux sits directly in front of a high-impedance instrumentation amplifier or ADC front end, where the source impedance is high enough that switch resistance contributes only a small error term. Operation from a single +4.5V to +30V rail lets the same part serve 5V laboratory gear and 24V industrial acquisition chassis, and the bidirectional channels mean one common node can also drive eight inputs for channel-stimulation duties. The key trade-off is that the 400 ohm on-resistance adds insertion loss, so it belongs on high-impedance sensor nodes rather than on low-impedance power or current-carrying lines.
Recommandé
Automated Test Equipment Signal Routing
In automated test equipment, the MAX338ESE+ provides a compact way to bring eight test points to a single instrument amplifier and back again. Its bidirectional 8-channel architecture is ideal for round-trip fixture routing because the same silicon handles both the mux and demux direction, so one part can present a stimulus to a DUT and then route the response to the measurement chain without a second switch. The extended -40C to +85C rating covers industrial and automotive test bays, and the dual +/-4.5V to +/-20V supply option preserves compatibility with legacy +/-15V analog fixtures. On-resistance of 400 ohm is acceptable because tester sources are typically high-impedance, but if the DUT output drives a low impedance directly, add a buffer stage or select a lower-resistance mux such as the DG408DJ.
Recommandé
Process Control and Sensor Signal Conditioning
The MAX338ESE+ fits process-control and industrial sensor signal conditioning where multiple analog sensors must share one transmitter or controller input. A 4 to 20 mA loop, thermocouple, or RTD node is high impedance, so routing eight such nodes through a 400 ohm maximum on-resistance switch introduces negligible error, while the low-leakage CMOS architecture prevents off-state channels from loading neighbouring sensors. The single +4.5V to +30V supply capability directly matches 24V industrial control loops without level translation, and the -40C to +85C rating covers unheated cabinets and enclosure temperature swings. Because the channels are bidirectional, the same device can also multiplex setpoint commands back out to field actuators. Care should be taken with charge injection during switching if the source impedance is very high, because injected charge appears as a transient step that some slow sensor inputs interpret as a real process change.
Recommandé
Multimeter and Portable Measurement Front Ends
In handheld and bench multimeters, the MAX338ESE+ consolidates multiple internal measurement paths onto a shared analog bus so the instrument can be built with fewer front-end boards and fewer connector pins. The wide single-supply range of +4.5V to +30V supports both battery-powered and line-powered portable instruments, and the low-leakage CMOS design limits the offset errors that would otherwise show up when measuring high-impedance sources such as pH electrodes, thermistors, and capacitive sensors. The bidirectional nature of the channels is valuable because many meters share the same multiplexer for both the source and the sense path. The main design caution is leakage and charge injection at the highest impedance ranges, where the analog input buffer should be placed immediately after the mux and guarded with a driven shield ring to suppress parasitic pickup.
Recommandé
Power Supply and Battery Test Systems
The MAX338ESE+ is used in power supply and battery test systems to sequence a single set of measurement instruments across multiple DUT terminals, saving one analog measurement chain per channel. Because the multiplexer is bidirectional, the same part can connect a load bank or charger to whichever cell under test is selected, which shortens wiring in multi-cell test boxes and reduces the number of relay contacts needed. The +4.5V to +30V single-supply operation lets the mux itself run from the same 24V test-bus rail that it monitors, and the wide input range is well matched to high-voltage cell stacks. Because on-resistance reaches 400 ohm, the device should sit in the voltage-sense path rather than in the load-current path, where its resistance would create unaccounted IR drop and thermal loss during high-current charge and discharge testing.
Recommandé
Data Logger and Environmental Monitoring
In distributed data loggers and environmental monitoring stations, the MAX338ESE+ lets a microcontroller sample eight analogue sensor inputs with three address lines instead of eight dedicated ADC channels, cutting both BOM cost and PCB area in a battery-powered enclosure. The low-leakage CMOS channels are important when the sensors are high impedance and the sampling interval is long, because off-state leakage would otherwise appear as a slowly drifting offset between readings. The -40C to +85C rating covers outdoor cabinets and unheated remote stations, and the +4.5V to +30V single-supply range accommodates both 3.3V/5V regulated nodes and 12V/24V industrial battery packs. In these designs, place a small sampling capacitor at the ADC input and add a protection network at the connector, since field wiring is the dominant source of surge and ESD events on the sensor lines.
Recommandé
Récapitulatif des produits recommandés
Données de référence d'ingénierie pour MAX338ESE+ — comparaison, recommandations de conception et informations de conformité.
Guide de sélection
Comparaison avec les alternatives
| Paramètre | Ce produit | MAX328ESE+ | MAX329ESE+ | MAX306ESE+ | ADG508A | ADG509A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-SOIC narrow (0.154 inch / 3.90 mm) | 16-SOIC narrow - same footprint | 16-SOIC narrow - same footprint | 16-SOIC narrow - same footprint | 16-SOIC narrow - same footprint | 16-SOIC narrow - same footprint |
| Brand | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Analog Devices | Analog Devices |
| Configuration | 8:1 single multiplexer (also usable as demux) | 8:1 multiplexer | Dual 4:1 multiplexer | Dual 4:1 multiplexer | 8:1 multiplexer | Dual 4:1 multiplexer |
| Address Lines | 3-bit binary address for 8 channels | 3-bit binary address | 2-bit binary address | 2-bit binary address | 3-bit binary address | 2-bit binary address |
| Pin Compatibility Reference | Pin-compatible upgrade for DG508A and DG509A | Maxim family companion in same SOIC outline | Maxim family companion in same SOIC outline | Maxim family companion in same SOIC outline | ADG508A / DG508A legacy footprint | ADG509A / DG509A legacy footprint |
Principaux différenciateurs
- Low-leakage CMOS channel architecture in a pin-compatible upgrade footprint (vs ADG508A)
- Single 8:1 channel count with bidirectional operation (vs MAX329ESE+)
- Lower charge injection and leakage than the MAX338 (vs MAX328ESE+)
- Wide single-supply headroom up to +30V (vs MAX306ESE+)
- Fault-protected bidirectional channels (vs ADG509A)
Notes de conception
The MAX338ESE+ has a 400 ohm maximum on-resistance, so it is designed for high-impedance sources. Estimated insertion error: with a 1 MOhm source impedance, the switch contributes roughly 400/(1,000,000 + 400) = 0.04% gain error, whereas a 10 kOhm source would see about 3.8% error. Keep the analog source impedance above 100 kOhm, or place a low-impedance buffer immediately after the mux. Also keep the analog input trace short and place the acquisition amplifier close to the common pin to minimise capacitive pickup during switching.
Because the MAX338 channels are bidirectional and shared, the common pin is the most sensitive node on the board. Route the common line as a short, guarded trace directly to the buffer or converter input, and keep the address and enable traces away from it. When the mux handles high-impedance sources, add a driven guard ring around the analog input and common pads; a driven guard eliminates leakage currents and injected charge that would otherwise appear as an offset on very high impedance nodes. Decouple the supply pins locally with a 0.1 uF ceramic plus a bulk capacitor close to the device.
The MAX338ESE+ accepts a single +4.5V to +30V rail or dual supplies of +/-4.5V to +/-20V, but the internal charge pump and switching circuitry must always see a valid supply for all channels to remain in a defined state. Never allow the supply to collapse below the minimum while an analog input is still driven, because partially powered CMOS transmission gates can leak into the signal path and produce an undefined output. For +/-15V legacy systems, keep the total rail span within the +/-20V limit and verify absolute maximum ratings, which are tighter than the operating range.
Two mistakes dominate MAX338 designs. First, engineers treat the 8-channel part as if it were the dual 4-channel MAX329 and wire three address lines where two are needed, or vice versa; confirm the address table and the enable polarity from the data sheet pin configuration before layout. Second, designers route the mux in the load-current path of a power or battery test system, where the 400 ohm on-resistance produces unmeasured IR drop and heating. Keep the mux in voltage-sense paths only and use a low-resistance switch such as the DG408DJ for current paths.
Informations de conformité
No explicit RoHS, REACH, or AEC-Q100 statement was present in the retrieved distributor and manufacturer pages for MAX338ESE+. The part is listed as PRODUCTION on the Analog Devices product page and is marked as RoHS-compliant on some distributor product portals, but this could not be verified in the retrieved data, so all compliance fields are recorded as unknown. This is an analog interface IC and is not marketed as an automotive-qualified AEC-Q100 device.
