An A/D converter wherein data obtained by A/D converting an analog signal in an A/D converting unit is stored in a first register, the data in the first register and the data in a second register are compared to each other by a comparator, and when the data in the first register is larger (or smaller) than that in the second register, a first switching means is closed so that the data in the first register is stored in the second register. In the second register, a maximum value (or a minimum value) of the A/D-converted data hitherto obtained is stored.