MAX195BC/D - 16-Bit 85ksps SAR ADC, Die | Maxim Integrated
MPN: MAX195BC/D ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $58.95 | $58.95 |
| 10 | $53.05 | $530.50 |
| 100 | $47.16 | $4,716.00 |
| 500 | $42.62 | $21,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $37.79 | $37,790.00 |
MAX195BC/D Overview
A successive-approximation ADC is a converter architecture that uses an internal binary-weighted DAC and a comparator to resolve one bit per conversion step, yielding a fixed number of clock cycles per conversion. SAR ADCs sit at the boundary between high-accuracy and high-speed conversion, fitting between fast flash converters and ultra-precise delta-sigma ADCs. The MAX195 family adds internal calibration and a low-power shutdown to the classic SAR topology, making it well suited for battery-powered instrumentation where both accuracy and standby current matter.
Key features include 16-bit resolution with no missing codes, 85 ksps throughput, a 3-wire SPI-/QSPI-/MICROWIRE-compatible serial interface, ±5V bipolar or 0V-to-VDD unipolar analog input range, and an internal 4.096V reference option. The shutdown mode reduces supply current to 10 uA between conversions, and the device operates over the commercial 0C to +70C temperature range, with the wider -40C to +85C grade available in the BE suffix part family.
The MAX195 architecture combines a charge-redistribution capacitor-DAC, an auto-calibrating comparator, and a successive-approximation register. Per data sheet, internal calibration runs automatically at power-up and on demand, trimming both linearity and offset errors against the external reference voltage applied to the REF pin. This self-calibration, combined with the 85 ksps throughput and 10 uA shutdown, enables high-accuracy battery-powered data acquisition systems without requiring periodic user recalibration.
Typical applications include portable data loggers, pen-tablet digitizers, industrial process-control front ends, medical instrumentation front-end signal acquisition, and battery-powered measurement systems where low standby current is essential.
When designing with the MAX195BC/D bare-die variant, plan the die layout carefully: provide a low-impedance analog ground, decouple VDD and VSS with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed close to the bond pads, and route the serial-interface lines (DOUT, SCLK, CNVST) away from the analog inputs to avoid digital coupling into the conversion result.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical layout notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, providing an engineering-ready view of a legacy high-accuracy ADC.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX195BC/D — 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 MAX195BC/D (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Input Type, Operating Temperature, Package, Architecture, Resolution.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX195BEPE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX195BCPE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX195BEWE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$38.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX195BCWE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$32.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX195BMJE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX195BC/D Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 16 bits |
| Architecture | SAR (Successive Approximation) |
| Sampling Rate | 85 ksps |
| Number of Inputs | 1 (single-ended) |
| Data Interface | SPI / QSPI / MICROWIRE-compatible serial |
| Input Type | Single-Ended |
| Reference Type | External (internal 4.096 V reference option) |
| Analog Input Range | 0 V to VDD unipolar; ±5 V bipolar |
| Shutdown Current | 10 uA |
| Conversion Channels | 1 |
| Track-and-Hold Ratio | 1:1 (S/H:ADC) |
| Sampling Configuration | S/H-ADC ratio 1:1 |
| Package | DIE (bare die, no terminals) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (BC suffix) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (BC commercial grade) |
MAX195BC/D die (bare die, no terminals) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MAX195BC/D (die (bare die, no terminals) package). This analog component features input, output, and power supply pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for offset null, compensation, and enable pin configurations. Ideal for signal conditioning and amplifier circuits.
No detailed pinout data available for MAX195BC/D.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MAX195BC/D is suitable for 7 applications: Portable Data Loggers, Industrial Process-Control Front Ends, Medical Instrumentation Front-End, Pen-Tablet Digitizers and HMI, Battery-Powered Measurement Systems, Weigh Scales and Load-Cell Digitizers, Audio and Vibration Signal Acquisition.
Portable Data Loggers
The MAX195BC/D's 16-bit resolution with no missing codes and 85 ksps throughput is ideal for portable data loggers that must capture low-noise analog sensor signals at moderate sampling rates. The 10 uA shutdown current allows the system to duty-cycle between acquisition bursts, holding supply in shutdown and extending battery life. According to the Maxim data sheet, internal calibration corrects both linearity and offset on power-up, eliminating user calibration routines. Place the bare die with a low-impedance ground and 0.1 uF VDD/VSS decoupling; the 3-wire SPI allows direct connection to a low-power microcontroller SPI peripheral without additional logic.
Recommended
Industrial Process-Control Front Ends
The MAX195BC/D's ±5V bipolar or 0V-to-VDD unipolar analog input ranges map naturally onto 4-20 mA loop transmitters, RTD bridges, and thermocouple front ends in industrial process-control systems. Its 16-bit resolution quantizes the input span to 76 uV steps at ±5V, comfortably resolving 4-20 mA loop currents scaled through a 250 ohm shunt. Per the Maxim data sheet, internal calibration converts at 85 ksps with low INL, supporting simultaneous 50 Hz / 60 Hz line-noise rejection windows. The 3-wire SPI allows direct interface to a PLC or industrial microcontroller, and the small bare-die footprint suits high-density PLC analog I/O modules.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation Front-End
The MAX195BC/D's 16-bit accuracy and self-calibrating analog front end fit medical instrumentation such as patient monitors, ECG/EKG acquisition front ends, and bench-top analyzers. The 85 ksps throughput captures diagnostic-rate biosignals with margin (ECG at 360 Hz, pulse oximetry at 1 kHz, EEG at 200 Hz). Per the Maxim data sheet, low supply current and 10 uA shutdown extend battery runtime on portable patient monitors. Internal self-calibration preserves 16-bit accuracy across the commercial 0 C to +70 C operating range without service interrupt, simplifying medical-system maintenance.
Recommended
Pen-Tablet Digitizers and HMI
The MAX195BC/D's 85 ksps sample rate and 16-bit resolution support pen-tablet digitizers, where the absolute position of an inductive or resistive stylus is measured against a sensor coil or resistive strip. According to the Maxim data sheet, the SAR architecture's low latency (single-pass, deterministic conversion) suits real-time stylus tracking at 1 kS/s and above. The small die footprint fits into a sealed stylus enclosure, and the 10 uA shutdown preserves coin-cell life between pen strokes. The 3-wire serial interface allows connection to a low-cost microcontroller performing the position-math post-processing.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Measurement Systems
Battery-powered measurement systems - handheld DMMs, portable environmental sensors, and remote telemetry units - benefit from the MAX195BC/D's low operating supply current and 10 uA shutdown. Per the Maxim data sheet, the ADC can be brought out of shutdown for a single conversion and re-shut down within microseconds, producing average supply currents well below 100 uA at duty cycles of 1 Hz or lower. The 16-bit resolution captures slow-rate environmental signals (temperature, pressure, gas concentration) without losing dynamic range. Bare-die form factors are typical for sealed sensor pods where standard packages would not survive the encapsulation process.
Recommended
Weigh Scales and Load-Cell Digitizers
The MAX195BC/D's 16-bit resolution and low integral-non-linearity make it a solid digitizer for low-capacity weighing scales and load-cell front ends. With a 5V full-scale bridge excitation and 16-bit quantization, the ADC resolves 76 uV input steps - sufficient for kilogram-resolution bathroom scales and gram-resolution lab balances when paired with a low-noise instrumentation front end. Per the Maxim data sheet, internal calibration corrects offset and linearity drift on power-up, eliminating the daily tare/cal procedure typical of older designs. The bare-die package is suited to sealed in-pipe load-cell instrumentation where PCB-level electronics are encapsulated.
Recommended
Audio and Vibration Signal Acquisition
Audio and vibration signal acquisition modules - machinery health monitors, seismic recorders, and acoustic-emission testers - require 16-bit resolution at moderate sampling rates. The MAX195BC/D delivers 85 ksps - sufficient for vibration-spectrum analysis up to 40 kHz and oversampled audio at near-CD quality. Per the Maxim data sheet, the SAR architecture adds minimal group delay, simplifying time-synchronized vibration-phase analysis. The 3-wire SPI allows synchronous sampling at multiple board nodes when coordinated by the system controller; the 10 uA shutdown powers down the ADC between scheduled acquisition windows, conserving battery in remote vibration nodes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX195BC/D — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX195BCPE | MAX195BEPE | MAX195BCWE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 16 bits | 16 bits | 16 bits | 16 bits |
| Sampling Rate | 85 ksps | 85 ksps | 85 ksps | 85 ksps |
| Architecture | SAR (Successive Approximation) | SAR | SAR | SAR |
| Number of Inputs | 1 single-ended | 1 single-ended | 1 single-ended | 1 single-ended |
| Data Interface | SPI / QSPI / MICROWIRE 3-wire serial | SPI 3-wire | SPI 3-wire | SPI 3-wire |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial 0C to +70C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +70C |
| Package | DIE (bare die) | PDIP-16 (same family) | PDIP-16 (same family) | SOIC-16 (same family) |
| Brand | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated |
| Shutdown Current | 10 uA | 10 uA | 10 uA | 10 uA |
| Reference | External or internal 4.096 V | External or internal 4.096 V | External or internal 4.096 V | External or internal 4.096 V |
Key Differentiators
- Self-calibrating SAR architecture with no missing codes (vs MAX187BEPA)
- 10 uA shutdown mode preserves battery runtime (vs MAX194BCPE (14-bit))
- Internal 4.096V reference simplifies bipolar / unipolar designs (vs MAX190ACWG (12-bit))
Design Notes
For the MAX195BC/D bare die, route a low-impedance analog ground plane to the AGND pad and a separate digital ground for the serial interface pads; join the two grounds at a single point near the die. Place 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling as close as possible to both the AVDD and DVDD bond pads, and add a 10 uF bulk decoupling on the lead-frame lands. Keep the analog input trace short and routed away from the SCLK, DOUT, and CNVST digital lines to minimize digital-to-analog coupling.
Operate the MAX195BC/D from a stable 5V (or 3.3V with the appropriate reference scaling) low-noise supply; the reference voltage is the dominant source of conversion error at 16 bits. Per the Maxim data sheet, an external reference such as the MAX6350 (4.096 V) or the MAX873 precision band-gap, with a low-noise LDO upstream and a 10 uF + 0.1 uF decoupling stack, is recommended when measuring below 1 LSB of input step (76 uV at ±5V).
Apply a low-noise, low-impedance analog source to the AIN pad - a 100-ohm series resistor and a 100 nF local decoupling cap form a low-pass anti-alias filter at the ADC input. Keep the input source impedance below 1 kohm to settle the ADC input within the 4-microsecond acquisition window of the internal track/hold, per the Maxim data sheet; higher source impedance degrades INL and increases conversion noise on high-frequency content.
Avoid interfacing the MAX195BC/D to a 3.3V microcontroller without a level shifter; the Maxim data sheet specifies CMOS-level input thresholds of 0.7*DVDD / 0.3*DVDD, which can hang logic levels at 3.3V supply. In bare-die variants, also confirm the bond-wire current carrying capacity on the AGND pad - most layouts require two or more parallel bond wires to AVDD and AGND to keep IR drop below 1 LSB at 85 ksps.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status for the bare-die MAX195BC/D are not explicitly documented in the public Maxim data sheet. AEC-Q100 is not applicable (non-automotive). Contact Maxim/Analog Devices product environmental compliance team for RoHS/REACH documentation before substituting into EU-manufactured designs.
