MAX152EPP - 8-Bit 400ksps 3V ADC with 1µA Power-Down | Maxim
MPN: MAX152EPP ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.1 | $6.10 |
| 10 | $5.45 | $54.50 |
| 100 | $4.85 | $485.00 |
| 500 | $4.1 | $2,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
MAX152EPP Overview
An ADC (analog-to-digital converter) is a semiconductor device that samples a continuous analog voltage and quantizes it into a discrete digital code. Half-flash ADCs use two flash sub-ADACs and a single sample-and-hold stage to deliver sub-2µs conversions at roughly half the die area and power of a true flash converter. In the power-management and signal-chain hierarchy, an ADC sits between the analog front end and a digital host (µP, DSP, FPGA), forming the data-acquisition core of instrumentation, data loggers, and process-control systems.
Key specifications of the MAX152EPP include 400 ksps throughput, 1.8µs conversion time, 900ns power-up wake-up, an internal track-and-hold, 1.5 mA operating current, and 1µA power-down current that makes it ideal for battery-powered and portable applications. The on-chip PWD pin reduces quiescent draw to 1µA between conversions. Input bandwidth is 300 kHz full-power, and the device supports both unipolar (0 to VREF or 0 to VDD) and bipolar (-VDD to +VDD) input ranges using a single-ended or pseudo-differential input stage.
The half-flash core uses 15 comparators (split between MSB and LSB sub-conversion cycles) and on-chip error correction that removes missing-code risk. The parallel digital interface is µP-friendly with CS, RD, and WR controls plus a high-impedance output state that allows bus sharing with other peripherals. The MAX152EPP is offered in commercial (0°C to +70°C) and extended (-40°C to +85°C) temperature grades.
Typical applications include portable battery-powered instrumentation, pen digitizers, remote data-acquisition modules, process-control loops with 3.3V backplanes, and low-power embedded µP systems where the host samples the ADC only on demand and shuts it down between conversions to extend battery life.
A key design tip is to issue a PWD-low-to-high wake-up at least 900ns before initiating a conversion; otherwise the first sample is degraded by incomplete settling of the internal reference ladder.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives and practical design notes for the MAX152EPP that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX152EPP — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MAX152EPP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Architecture, Data Interface, Input Type, Number of Channels, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX152CPP+
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX152EPP+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX148AEPP+
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX152EPP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 8 bit |
| Architecture | Half-flash (semiflash) |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Conversion Time | 1.8 µs |
| Throughput | 400 ksps |
| Power-Up Time | 900 ns |
| Input Bandwidth (Full Power) | 300 kHz |
| Supply Voltage (Single) | +2.7 V to +3.6 V |
| Supply Voltage (Dual) | ±3 V |
| Operating Supply Current | 1.5 mA (operating mode) |
| Power-Down Current | 1 µA |
| Input Type | Single-ended, unipolar or bipolar |
| Data Interface | Parallel, µP-compatible |
| Internal Track/Hold | Yes |
| Package | PDIP-20 (EPP) |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (extended grade) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (PDIP-20 with Sn/Pb leads; check MAX152EPP+ RoHS variant separately) |
MAX152EPP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | AGND — Analog ground |
| Pin 2 | DGND — Digital ground |
| Pin 3 | VREF — Reference voltage input |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Negative supply (dual-supply mode) or GND (single-supply mode) |
| Pin 5 | VDD — +3V positive supply |
| Pin 6 | AIN — Analog input |
| Pin 7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 8 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 9 | D0 — Data bit 0 (LSB) |
| Pin 10 | D1 — Data bit 1 |
| Pin 11 | D2 — Data bit 2 |
| Pin 12 | D3 — Data bit 3 |
| Pin 13 | D4 — Data bit 4 |
| Pin 14 | D5 — Data bit 5 |
| Pin 15 | D6 — Data bit 6 |
| Pin 16 | D7 — Data bit 7 (MSB) |
| Pin 17 | INT — Interrupt / conversion-complete output |
| Pin 18 | RD — Read strobe (active low) |
| Pin 19 | WR — Write / start-conversion strobe (active low) |
| Pin 20 | PWD — Power-down control, active low |
Typical Applications
MAX152EPP is suitable for 6 applications: Portable Battery-Powered Instrumentation, Pen Digitizer and Touch Tablet Sampling, Remote Data-Acquisition Modules, Process Control and 3.3V Industrial Backplanes, Low-Power Embedded µP Interfacing, Hand-Held Test and Measurement.
Portable Battery-Powered Instrumentation
The MAX152EPP is well suited to portable battery-powered instrumentation thanks to its 1µA power-down quiescent current and 1.5 mA operating current at 3V. The active-low PWD pin lets the host MCU gate the ADC between samples, extending battery life by orders of magnitude. With 400 ksps throughput and 1.8µs conversion, the device easily handles sensor sampling for temperature, pressure, and strain gauges. The single +2.7V to +3.6V supply aligns directly with lithium coin-cell or 2x AA chemistries, and the half-flash architecture avoids the long acquisition cycles of SAR ADCs.
Recommended
Pen Digitizer and Touch Tablet Sampling
The MAX152EPP is a strong fit for pen-digitizer and touch-tablet front-end sampling because of its 300 kHz full-power input bandwidth and 400 ksps throughput. Its internal track-and-hold cleanly captures the brief transients of a stylus coil pickup without an external buffer. The half-flash architecture delivers consistent 1.8µs latency between trigger and result, simplifying the host timing loop. The parallel interface avoids the bus-bandwidth bottlenecks of serial ADCs in this burst-sampling use case.
Recommended
Remote Data-Acquisition Modules
For remote data-acquisition modules running on solar or harvested energy, the MAX152EPP's 1µA power-down current is the dominant low-power advantage. The device wakes in 900ns on a PWD high transition and delivers a valid sample in 1.8µs, making the entire active time well under 5µs per conversion. This duty-cycle-friendly behavior lets a host µC wake the ADC only when a sensor event triggers an interrupt. The 20-pin PDIP package is also easy to hand-prototype in field installations where rework is common.
Recommended
Process Control and 3.3V Industrial Backplanes
The MAX152EPP slots directly into 3.3V industrial backplanes because its supply range maps cleanly to common logic levels. Its parallel interface drops onto an 8051 or PIC-style data bus without glue logic, and the bipolar-input option (±3V) accepts the +/-10V scaled output of typical 4-20mA loop sensors after attenuation. The 8-bit resolution is well matched to valve-position feedback, thermocouple cold-junction compensation, and motor-current shunt monitoring where 1% accuracy suffices.
Recommended
Low-Power Embedded µP Interfacing
The MAX152EPP's µP-compatible parallel interface (CS, RD, WR, INT) maps directly to the memory bus of 8051, 68HC11, PIC, and low-end ARM Cortex-M0 parts without external latches. The half-flash latency of 1.8µs fits comfortably inside a single µP wait-state, simplifying interrupt-driven sampling loops. With 1µA power-down current, the ADC adds negligible drain to standby current budgets of typical battery-powered µC designs.
Recommended
Hand-Held Test and Measurement
Hand-held DMM and bench-tool front ends benefit from the MAX152EPP's combination of low power, fast wake-up, and 300 kHz input bandwidth. The half-flash architecture samples AC waveforms up to ~30 kHz with no external buffer, and the 1.5 mA operating current extends battery life across a full shift of field measurements. The 20-pin PDIP through-hole form factor makes hand-solderable rework easy for low-volume service shops.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX152EPP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX152CPP+ | MAX152EPP+ | MAX148AEPP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated |
| Package | PDIP-20 (EPP) | PDIP-20 (CPP) - same | PDIP-20 (EPP) - same | PDIP-20 (EPP) - same |
| Resolution | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit | 10 bit |
| Throughput | 400 ksps | 400 ksps | 400 ksps | 200 ksps |
| Architecture | Half-flash | Half-flash | Half-flash | SAR |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (PDIP Sn/Pb) | Non-compliant | Compliant (RoHS variant) | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- 1µA power-down vs typical 100µA for older half-flash ADCs (vs AD7820 (5V, 10mA operating, no power-down mode))
- Half-flash architecture delivers 400 ksps at lower die cost than true flash (vs MAX148AEPP+ (10-bit SAR at 200 ksps))
- Same PDIP-20 footprint across commercial and extended grades (vs MAX152CPP+ (commercial 0-70°C only))
Design Notes
The MAX152EPP draws 1.5 mA during active conversion but only 1µA when PWD is held low. For battery-powered designs, hold PWD low between conversions and wake 900ns before triggering a WR pulse; this duty-cycling typically cuts average current to 10-50µA at 1 ksps sampling. Add a 0.1µF ceramic decoupling cap on VDD as close to the pin as possible, plus a 4.7µF bulk cap on the supply rail to handle the 1.5 mA bursts.
Keep the analog input trace to AIN short and guarded by AGND on both sides of the PCB. Separate AGND (pin 1) from DGND (pin 2) and join them at a single point under the IC to avoid digital switching noise coupling into the analog front end. Place the VREF bypass capacitor (0.1µF ceramic) directly between VREF and AGND with no other traces between them.
Failure to wait the full 900ns after exiting power-down will result in a corrupted first conversion due to incomplete reference ladder settling - the symptom is a missing code or out-of-range reading on sample #1 only. Also, do not apply analog inputs greater than VDD+0.3V or below VSS-0.3V, as the input ESD diodes will forward-bias and inject charge into the sample capacitor. When using bipolar inputs, verify the input common-mode range stays within ±VDD of AGND.
Compliance Information
MAX152EPP (PDIP-20) uses Sn/Pb leads and is non-RoHS. The MAX152EPP+ (RoHS variant) exists in SOIC-20 surface-mount, NOT as a PDIP-20 drop-in. Reach compliant per Maxim product declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; not automotive grade.
