Quad comparator with rail-to-rail outputs — what it is and where it fits
The Maxim MAX996ESD+ is a general-purpose quad comparator in a 14-SOIC surface-mount package. It integrates four independent comparator channels with rail-to-rail CMOS, open-drain, and TTL-compatible outputs, giving the designer flexibility to interface to logic families from 2.5 V to 5.5 V without extra level shifting. Each channel delivers a 210 ns typical propagation delay, which is fast enough for threshold detection, zero-crossing, and window-comparator circuits in industrial control loops and power-supply monitoring. The 96 µA maximum quiescent current across all four channels makes it a strong candidate for battery-powered instrumentation and field-transmitter designs where every microamp counts.
210 ns propagation delay — timing margin for the bus
The 210 ns propagation delay is the time from the input crossing the threshold to the output switching.
Supply range and output flexibility
The part operates from a single 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply, or split supplies of ±1.25 V to ±2.75 V.
Temperature range and environment
Rated for -40°C to 85°C, the MAX996ESD+ is specified for industrial environments: factory-floor PLC I/O modules, outdoor telecom cabinets, engine-bay sensor interfaces, and motor-drive control boards. The 80 dB typical CMRR and PSRR provide reasonable rejection of common-mode noise and supply ripple in these electrically noisy settings. The 14-SOIC package is a standard footprint that fits existing PCB layouts for quad comparators from other vendors.
Sourcing and lifecycle
The MAX996ESD+ carries an Active lifecycle status and is ROHS3 compliant. There is no LTB notice or obsolescence risk on this line. For dual-sourcing resilience, the MAX996ESD (without the + suffix) is the same die in the same package; the + denotes ROHS3 compliance, so the MAX996ESD+ is the preferred ordering code for new lead-free builds.