MAX138EQH
MAX138EQH - 3.5-Digit LCD ADC with Reference | Analog Devices
The Analog Devices MAX138EQH is a single-channel, 3.5-digit dual-slope analog-to-digital converter with an integrated reference, charge pump, and direct LED drivers, supplied from a single 2.5 V to 7 V rail. The device accepts bipolar inputs and is packaged in a 44-pin PLCC with J-leads. Its integrated reference, charge pump, and display-driver resources support compact digital panel-meter designs without requiring separate reference and LCD-driver ICs.
An analog-to-digital converter, or ADC, converts an analog input voltage into a digital code for measurement, display, control, or data processing. The MAX138EQH belongs to the dual-slope ADC family and resolves approximately 3.5 decimal digits. A 3.5-digit display commonly represents a full-scale value from 0000 through 1999, allowing the converter to resolve one count in a 2000-count measurement range. This resolution is well suited to digital panel meters, laboratory instruments, and process-monitoring equipment where direct numerical display is more useful than a high-resolution waveform representation.
Integrated features reduce the number of surrounding components in a meter design. The on-chip reference establishes the conversion reference, while the charge-pump circuit supports the specified single-supply operating range. Direct LED drivers allow the converter to drive display elements without a separate display-driver IC. According to the Analog Devices product documentation, the MAX138 family also accepts bipolar input signals, allowing a frontend to measure positive or negative quantities relative to a defined common reference.
The dual-slope conversion architecture integrates the input over a fixed measurement interval and compares the result against a reference ramp. This approach is well matched to slowly changing measurements such as temperature, pressure, level, weight, and laboratory process variables. Its practical benefits include effective rejection of periodic interference, straightforward integration into digital meters, and a direct path to LED-segment display outputs. These characteristics are more valuable than maximum conversion speed for this class of instrumentation.
Typical uses include bench-top digital multimeters, temperature controllers, panel meters, laboratory displays, industrial process indicators, and compact weighing or dispensing equipment. The MAX138EQH is particularly appropriate when a readable three-and-a-half-digit result, bipolar input capability, and direct display excitation are desired in one IC. Designers should still verify front-panel drive requirements, reference accuracy, input filtering, and timing behavior against the manufacturer datasheet before laying out the PCB.
A key design consideration is that the converter, reference, display outputs, and power supply share a compact analog and mixed-signal layout. Keep the input and reference paths compact, maintain stable supply decoupling near the device, and route display-drive currents away from sensitive measurement nodes. Validate the complete meter accuracy with the intended transducers, wiring, grounding, and display rather than relying only on nominal converter resolution.
This product page combines the Analog Devices MAX138 family specifications with practical guidance for LCD meter design, drop-in family alternatives, package-aware comparison, and application-oriented selection. It highlights where the integrated reference, charge pump, bipolar-input capability, and LED drivers simplify a design while distinguishing it from unrelated converter families that use different packages, interfaces, or measurement architectures.
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