19-4110; Rev 0; 4/08
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
General Description
The  MAX9938  high-side  current-sense  amplifier  offers
precision  accuracy  specifications  of  VOS less  than
500μV  (max)  and  gain  error  less  than  0.5%  (max).
Quiescent  supply  current  is  an  ultra-low  1μA.  The
MAX9938  fits  in  a  tiny,  1mm  x  1mm  UCSP™  package
size or a 5-pin SOT23 package, making the part ideal for
applications in notebook computers, cell phones, PDAs,
and all battery-operated portable devices where accura-
cy, low quiescent current, and small size are critical.
The MAX9938 features an input common-mode voltage
range from 1.6V to 28V. These current-sense amplifiers
have a voltage output and are offered in three gain ver-
sions:  25V/V  (MAX9938T),  50V/V  (MAX9938F),  and
100V/V (MAX9938H).
The three gain selections offer flexibility in the choice of
the external current-sense resistor. The very low 500μV
(max)  input  offset  voltage  allows  small  25mV  to  50mV
full-scale  VSENSE voltage  for  very  low  voltage  drop  at
full-current measurement.
The MAX9938 is offered in tiny 4-bump, UCSP (1mm x
1mm  x  0.6mm  footprint)  and  5-pin  SOT23  packages,
specified for operation over the -40°C to +85°C extend-
ed temperature range.
Applications
Cell Phones
PDAs
Power Management Systems
Portable/Battery-Powered Systems
Notebook Computers
Features
o Ultra-Low Supply Current of 1µA (max)
o Low 500µV (max) Input Offset Voltage
o Low < 0.5% (max) Gain Error
o Input Common Mode: +1.6V to +28V
o Voltage Output
o Three Gain Versions Available
25V/V (MAX9938T)
50V/V (MAX9938F)
100V/V (MAX9938H)
o Tiny 1mm x 1mm x 0.6mm, 4-Bump UCSP 
or 5-Pin SOT23 Package
M
A
X
9
9
3
8
Ordering Information
PART
PIN-
PACKAGE
GAIN (V/V)
TOP MARK
MAX9938TEBS+ 4 UCSP
MAX9938FEBS+ 4 UCSP
MAX9938HEBS+ 4 UCSP
MAX9938TEUK+ 5 SOT23
MAX9938FEUK+ 5 SOT23
MAX9938HEUK+ 5 SOT23
+Denotes a lead-free package.
Note:All devices are specified over the -40°C to +85°C
extended temperature range.
25
50
100
25
50
100
+AGD
+AGE
+AGF
+AFFB
+AFFC
+AFFD
UCSP is a trademark of Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
Pin Configurations
TOP VIEW
(BUMPS ON BOTTOM)
RS+
5
RS-
4
RS+
A1
A2
RS-
MAX9938T/F/H
MAX9938T/F/H
GND
B1
B2
OUT
UCSP
1
GND
2
GND
SOT23
3
OUT
________________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products 1
For pricing, delivery, and ordering information,please contact Maxim Directat 1-888-629-4642,
or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
RS+, RS- to GND....................................................-0.3V to +30V
OUT to GND .............................................................-0.3V to +6V
RS+ to RS- ...........................................................................±30V
Short-Circuit Duration: OUT to GND ..........................Continuous
Continuous Input Current (Any Pin)..................................±20mA
Continuous Power Dissipation (TA = +70°C)
4-Bump UCSP (derate 3.0mW/°C above +70°C).........238mW
5-Pin SOT23 (derate 3.9mW/°C above +70°C)............312mW
Operating Temperature Range ...........................-40°C to +85°C
Junction Temperature......................................................+150°C
Storage Temperature Range  ............................-65°C to +150°C
Bump Temperature (soldering) Reflow............................+235°C
Lead Temperature (soldering, 10s) .................................+300°C
Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to
absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
(VRS+ = VRS- = 3.6V, VSENSE = (VRS+ - VRS-) = 0V, TA = -40°C to +85°C, unless otherwise noted. Typical values are at TA = +25°C.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER
SYMBOL
CONDITIONS
MIN
Supply Current (Note 2)
Common-Mode Input Range
Common-Mode Rejection Ratio
Input Offset Voltage (Note 3)
Gain
Gain Error (Note 4)
Output Resistance
OUT Low Voltage
OUT High Voltage
Small-Signal Bandwidth
(Note 5)
Output Settling Time
Power-Up Time
VRS+ = 5V, TA = +25°C
VRS+ = 5V, -40°C < TA < +85°C
VRS+ = 28V, TA = +25°C
VRS+ = 28V, -40°C < TA < +85°C
Guaranteed by CMRR , -40°C < TA < +85°C
1.6V < VRS+ < 28V, -40°C < TA < +85°C
TA = +25°C
-40°C < TA < +85°C
MAX9938T
MAX9938F
MAX9938H
TA = +25°C
-40°C < TA < +85°C
(Note 5)
Gain = 25
Gain = 50
Gain = 100
VOH = VRS- - VOUT (Note 6)
VSENSE = 50mV, gain = 25
VSENSE = 50mV, gain = 50
VSENSE = 50mV, gain = 100
1% final value, VSENSE = 50mV
1% final value, VSENSE = 50mV
ICC
VCM
CMRR
VOS
G
GE
ROUT
VOL
VOH
BW
tS
tON
1.6
94
7.0
TYP
0.5
1.1
130
±100
25
50
100
±0.1
10
1.5
3
6
0.1
125
60
30
100
200
MAX
0.85
1.1
1.8
2.5
28
±500
±600
±0.5
±0.6
13.2
15
30
60
0.2
UNITS
μA
V
dB
μV
V/V
%
kΩ
mV
V
kHz
μs
μs
Note 1: All devices are 100% production tested at TA = +25°C. All temperature limits are guaranteed by design.
Note 2: VOUT = 0. ICC is the total current into RS+ plus RS- pins.
Note 3: VOS is extrapolated from measurements for the gain-error test.
Note 4: Gain error is calculated by applying two values of VSENSE and calculating the error of the slope vs. the ideal:
Gain = 25, VSENSE is 20mV and 120mV.
Gain = 50, VSENSE is 10mV and 60mV.
Gain = 100, VSENSE is 5mV and 30mV.
Note 5: The device is stable for any external capacitance value.
Note 6: VOH is the voltage from VRS- to VOUT with VSENSE = 3.6V/gain.
2
_______________________________________________________________________________________
M
A
X
9
9
3
8
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
Typical Operating Characteristics
(VRS+ = VRS- = 3.6V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
INPUT OFFSET VOLTAGE HISTOGRAM
GAIN ERROR HISTOGRAM
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-55
0.1
0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
)
%
(
 
N
)
V
μ
(
 
T
E
S
F
F
O
T
U
P
N
 
I
)
%
(
 
R
O
R
R
E
 
N
A
G
I
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
)
%
(
 
N
)
V
μ
(
 
T
E
S
F
F
O
T
U
P
N
 
I
1
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
4
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
INPUT OFFSET VOLTAGE (mV)
INPUT OFFSET
vs. COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE
0
5
15
10
20
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)
25
30
GAIN ERROR
vs. COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE
7
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
)
%
(
 
R
O
R
R
E
 
N
A
G
I
-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1
0
0.1
GAIN ERROR (%)
0.2
0.3
0.4
INPUT OFFSET
vs. TEMPERATURE
2
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
5
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
)
A
μ
(
 
T
N
E
R
R
U
C
Y
L
P
P
U
S
 
)
A
μ
(
 
T
N
E
R
R
U
C
Y
L
P
P
U
S
 
-40
-15
10
35
60
85
TEMPERATURE (°C)
GAIN ERROR
vs. TEMPERATURE
8
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
)
V
(
 
T
U
O
V
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
VOLTAGE (V)
0
-40
-15
10
35
60
85
TEMPERATURE (°C)
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
SUPPLY CURRENT
vs. TEMPERATURE
3
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
28V
3.6V
1.8V
-40
-15
10
35
60
85
TEMPERATURE (°C)
SUPPLY CURRENT
vs. COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE
6
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
0
5
15
10
20
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)
25
30
VOUT vs. VSENSE
(SUPPLY = 3.6V)
9
0
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
G = 100
G = 50
G = 25
0
50
100
150
VSENSE (mV)
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 3
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
(VRS+ = VRS- = 3.6V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
Typical Operating Characteristics (continued)
)
V
(
 
T
U
O
V
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
VOUT vs. VSENSE
(SUPPLY = 1.6V)
G = 100
G = 50
G = 25
0
1
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
)
B
d
(
 
I
N
A
G
0
20
40
60
VSENSE (mV)
80
100
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
SMALL SIGNAL GAIN
vs. FREQUENCY
AV = 25V/V
AV = 100V/V
AV = 50V/V
1
1
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
1Hz
10Hz
100Hz
1kHz
10kHz
100kHz
1MHz
FREQUENCY (kHz)
)
B
d
(
 
I
N
A
G
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-120
-140
-160
CMRR
vs. FREQUENCY
G = 25
G = 50
2
1
c
o
t
 
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
G = 100
1Hz
10Hz
100Hz
1kHz
10kHz
100kHz
1MHz
FREQUENCY (kHz)
SMALL-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 100)
MAX9938 toc13a
15mV
10mV
1.5V
1V
VSENSE
VOUT
VSENSE
VOUT
SMALL-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 50)
MAX9938 toc13b
30mV
20mV
1.5V
1V
20μs/div
25μs/div
SMALL-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 25)
MAX9938 toc13c
60mV
40mV
1.5V
1V
VSENSE
VOUT
25μs/div
4
_______________________________________________________________________________________
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
Typical Operating Characteristics (continued)
(VRS+ = VRS- = 3.6V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
LARGE-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 100)
M
A
X
9
9
3
8
MAX9938 toc14a
30mV
10mV
3V
1V
VSENSE
VOUT
LARGE-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 50)
MAX9938 toc14b
60mV
10mV
3V
0.5V
20μs/div
25μs/div
LARGE-SIGNAL PULSE RESPONSE
(G = 25)
MAX9938 toc14c
120mV
20mV
3V
0.5V
25μs/div
Pin Description
FUNCTION
External Sense Resistor Power-Side Connection
External Sense Resistor Load-Side Connection
Ground
Output Voltage. VOUT is proportional to VSENSE = VRS+ - VRS-.
VSENSE
VOUT
NAME
RS+
RS-
GND
OUT
VSENSE
VOUT
PIN
UCSP
SOT23
A1
A2
B1
B2
5
4
1, 2
3
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 5
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
VBATT = 1.6V TO 28V
ILOAD
RSENSE
RS+
R1
RS-
R1
Typical Operating Circuit
VDD = 3.3V
LOAD
MAX9938
OUT
μC
ADC
P
ROUT
10kΩ
GND
Detailed Description
The  MAX9938  unidirectional  high-side,  current-sense
amplifier  features  a  1.6V  to  28V  input  common-mode
range. This feature allows the monitoring of current out
of  a  battery  with  a  voltage  as  low  as  1.6V.  The
MAX9938  monitors  current  through  a  current-sense
resistor and amplifies the voltage across that resistor.
The MAX9938 is a unidirectional current-sense amplifier
that has a well-established history. An op amp is used
to force the current through an internal gain resistor at
RS+, which has a value of R1, such that its voltage drop
equals the voltage drop across an external sense resis-
tor, RSENSE. There is an internal resistor at RS- with the
Table 1. Internal Gain Setting Resistors
(Typical Values)
GAIN
(V/V)
100
50
25
R1
(Ω)
100
200
400
ROUT
(kΩ)
10
10
10
same  value  as  R1 to  minimize  offset  voltage.  The  cur-
rent through R1 is sourced by a high-voltage p-channel
FET. Its source current is the same as its drain current,
which flows through a second gain resistor, ROUT. This
produces an output voltage, VOUT, whose magnitude is
ILOAD x  RSENSE x  ROUT/R1.  The  gain  accuracy  is
based on the matching of the two gain resistors R1 and
ROUT (see  Table  1).  Total  gain  =  25V/V  for  the
MAX9938T,  50V/V  for  the  MAX9938F,  and  100V/V  for
the  MAX9938H.  The  output  is  protected  from  input
overdrive by use of an output current limiting circuit of
7mA (typical) and a 6V clamp protection circuit.
Applications Information
Choosing the Sense Resistor
Choose RSENSE based on the following criteria:
Voltage Loss
A high RSENSE value causes the power-source voltage
to drop due to IR loss. For minimal voltage loss, use the
lowest RSENSE value.
6
_______________________________________________________________________________________
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
OUT Swing vs. VRS+and VSENSE
The MAX9938 is unique since the supply voltage is the
input  common-mode  voltage  (the  average  voltage  at
RS+ and RS-). There is no separate VCC supply voltage
pin. Therefore, the OUT voltage swing is limited by the
minimum voltage at RS+.
VOUT (max) = VRS+ (min) - VSENSE (max) - VOH
and
R
SENSE
=
(max)
V
OUT
×
G I
LOAD
(max)
VSENSE full scale should be less than VOUT/gain at the
minimum  RS+  voltage.  For  best  performance  with  a
3.6V supply voltage, select RSENSE to provide approxi-
mately 120mV (gain of 25V/V), 60mV (gain of 50V/V), or
30mV  (gain  of  100V/V)  of  sense  voltage  for  the  full-
scale  current  in  each  application.  These  can  be
increased by use of a higher minimum input voltage.
Accuracy
In  the  linear  region  (VOUT <  VOUT(max)),  there  are  two
components to accuracy: input offset voltage (VOS) and
gain  error  (GE).  For  the  MAX9938,  VOS =  500μV  (max)
and gain error is 0.5% (max). Use the linear equation: 
VOUT = (gain ± GE) x VSENSE ± (gain x VOS)
to calculate total error. A high RSENSE value allows lower
currents  to  be  measured  more  accurately  because  off-
sets are less significant when the sense voltage is larger.
M
A
X
9
9
3
8
Efficiency and Power Dissipation
At high current levels, the I2R losses in RSENSE can be
significant. Take this into consideration when choosing
the  resistor  value  and  its  power  dissipation  (wattage)
rating. Also, the sense resistor’s value might drift if it is
allowed  to  heat  up  excessively.  The  precision  VOS of
the MAX9938 allows the use of small sense resistors to
reduce power dissipation and reduce hot spots.
Kelvin Connections
Because of the high currents that flow through RSENSE,
take  care  to  eliminate  parasitic  trace  resistance  from
causing  errors  in  the  sense  voltage.  Either  use  a  four-
terminal current-sense resistor or use Kelvin (force and
sense) PCB layout techniques.
Optional Output Filter Capacitor
When designing a system that uses a sample-and-hold
stage in the ADC, the sampling capacitor momentarily
loads OUT and causes a drop in the output voltage. If
sampling time is very short (less than a microsecond),
consider  using  a  ceramic  capacitor  across  OUT  and
GND to hold VOUT constant during sampling. This also
decreases  the  small-signal  bandwidth  of  the  current-
sense amplifier and reduces noise at OUT.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 7
1µA, 4-Bump UCSP/SOT23,
Precision Current-Sense Amplifier
8
3
9
9
X
A
M
ILOAD
RSENSE
VBATT = 1.6V TO 28V
TO WALL-CUBE/
CHARGER
RS+
R1
RS-
R1
RS+
R1
RS-
R1
LOAD
P
P
MAX9938
OUT
MAX9938
VDD = 3.3V
OUT
ROUT
10kΩ
GND
ROUT
10kΩ
GND
μC
ADC
ADC
Figure 1. Bidirectional Application
Bidirectional Application
Battery-powered  systems  may  require  a  precise  bidi-
rectional  current-sense  amplifier  to  accurately  monitor
the  battery’s  charge  and  discharge  currents.
Measurements of the two separate outputs with respect
to GND yields an accurate measure of the charge and
discharge currents respectively (Figure 1).
UCSP Applications Information
For the latest application details on UCSP construction,
dimensions,  tape  carrier  information,  PCB  techniques,
bump-pad  layout,  and  recommended  reflow  tempera-
ture profile, as well as the latest information on reliability
testing  results,  refer  to  the  Application  Note UCSP—A
Wafer-Level Chip-Scale Package available on Maxim’s
website at www.maxim-ic.com/ucsp.
Chip Information
PROCESS: BiCMOS
8
_______________________________________________________________________________________