SAR ADCs deliver high speed and resolution for harsh environments

By Carolyn Mathas, contributing writer

Microchip Technology Inc. today announced the MCP331x1(D)-xx family of 12 successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and the MCP6D11 companion differential amplifier for the new SAR ADCs. The series of devices targets applications that require high-speed and high-resolution ADCs and that can operate in high temperatures and high electromagnetic environments including automotive and industrial applications such as high-precision data acquisition, electric vehicle battery management, motor control, and motor switch-mode power supplies.

Resolution ranges from 12-, 14- and 16-bit with speed options from 500 kilosamples per second (ksps) to the industry’s only 1-million-samples-per-second (msps) AEC-Q100−qualified SAR, respectively. The family features a fixed low analog supply voltage of 1.8 V and low current operation of 1.6-mA typical active current for 1 msps and 1.4 mA for 500 ksps, enabling ultra-low power consumption.

The new SAR ADC family provides the resolution, speed, and accuracy increasingly demanded in harsh-environment applications.

Additional features include support for a wide digital I/O interface voltage range (1.7 V to 5.5 V) for easy interface with most host devices such as Microchip’s PIC32, AVR and Arm-based MCUs and MPUs, and both single-ended and differential input voltage measurement options. The differential amplifier interfaces a small analog signal to a high-speed, high-resolution ADC without additional noise and distortion.

An MCP331x1D-XX evaluation kit is available to demonstrate the new SAR ADC family. The kit includes an MCP331x1D evaluation board, a PIC32MZ MCU curiosity board for data collection, and an SAR ADC utility PC GUI.

Available now, pricing ranges from $1.45 each for the MCP33111 in 10,000-unit quantities to $4.65 each for the MCP33131 in 10,000-unit quantities. Options include a 10-MSOP with leads in a 3 × 3-mm package or 10-TDFN no-lead 3 × 3-mm package. The 9-mm² size is the smallest footprint available for a 16-bit, 1-msps differential ADC.

Pricing for the MCP6D11 is $1.17 in 10,000-unit quantities and can be purchased in an 8-MSOP or 3 × 3-mm 16-QFN package. In addition, the MCP331x1(D)-xx evaluation kit is available for $175.00. To purchase, visit Microchip Purchasing Portal or Microchip distributors.