"Maxim Integrated Products introduce the MAX125 and MAX126 simultaneous-sampling ADCs for three-phase motor control and power monitoring applications. They are the only devices available that allow four channels to be monitored simultaneously at the 14-bit level, preserving the relative phase information of the sampled inputs."

The MAX125/MAX126 are high-speed, multichannel, 14-bit data-acquisition systems (DAS) with siumltaneous track/holds (T/Hs). These devices cointain a 14-bit, 3-us, successive-approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC), 1 +2.5V reference, a buffered reference input, and a bank of four simultaneous-sampling T/H amplifiers that preserve the relative phase information of the sampled inputs. The MAX125/MAX126 have two multiplexed inputs for each T/H, allowing a total of eight inputs. In addition, the converter is overvoltage tolerant to ý17V; a fault condition on any channel will not harm the IC. Available input ranges are ý 5V (MAX125) and ý2.5V (MAX126).

Features

• Four Simultaneous-Sampling T/H Amplifiers with Two Multiplexed Inputs (eight single-ended inputs total)
• 3us Conversion Time per Channel
• Throughput: 250ksps (1 channel), 142ksps (2 channels), 100ksps (3 channels), 76ksps (4 channels)
• Input Range: ý 5V (MAX125), ý2.5V (MAX126)
• Fault-Protected Input Multiplexer ( ý17V)
• ý 5V Supplies
• Internal 2.5V or External Reference Operation
• Programmable On-Board Sequencer
• High-Speed Parallel DSP Interface

Maybe the language-of the press release headline is misleading, or maybe it is just a simple way of describing the part, but this is not really just a simple ADC. You need to go get a copy of the data sheet to understand fully what is happening, but basically the part uses a successive-approximation conversion technique together with four simultaneous-sampling T/H amplifiers; each T/H has two multiplexed inputs (i.e. a total of 8 inputs.) The micro-sequencer can be programmed for simultaneous sampling from either of the two banks of four inputs for one, two, three or four.

One of the great things about this product is that the T/H input tracking has an 8-MHz small-signal bandwidth; so high-frequency events and bandwidths exceeding the sampling rate can be digitized and measured with undersampling techniques. In addition to the 2.5-V reference there is also internal 14x4 RAM to store the conversion results, and tri-state output drivers.

Then parallel interface's data access is comnpatible with most DSPs and 16/32-bit microprocessors. I would expect to see the part used more than in the motor control and power monitoring functions suggested by the company. My bet would be that the majority of sales will be in the analyzer markets, principally motion and vibration.