Microchip announces high-accuracy, low-power temperature sensor

CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, announced the MCP9804 temperature sensor.

The sensor provides high temperature accuracy of +0.25° C (typical) and +/- 1° C from -40 to +125°C, as well as static current consumption of just 200 µA (typ.). Available in small 8-pin MSOP and 2 mm x 3 mm DFN packages, the I2C™ device reduces board space and enables longer battery life for industrial, automotive and consumer applications.

Many temperature-sensing designs require the use of several external components, making them large, complex and expensive. Silicon-based temperature sensors are becoming more popular because they do not require external components and can be used with little to no design experience.

In addition to low power and high accuracy, the MCP9804 sensor features programmable shutdown to extend battery life; an alert feature for over- and under-temperature window monitoring; and a critical temperature-alert feature that provides over-temperature protection, helping to further lengthen system life.

“The MCP9804 temperature sensor represents a significant expansion of Microchip’s temperature-sensor family,” said Bryan J. Liddiard, vice president of marketing with Microchip’s Analog and Interface Products Division. “The sensor gives designers a tremendous amount of flexibility to design smaller, higher-performing temperature sensing systems at lower costs.”

Example applications for the MCP9804 temperature sensor include industrial freezers that require high accuracy at lower temperatures such as -20° C to +45° C; consumer electronic devices that require high accuracy at +85° C, such as personal computers; and automotive applications that demand high accuracy at temperatures up to +125° C, such as engine temperature monitoring.