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SMSC Introduces Advanced Temperature Sensors

December 14, 2006

The new line of devices targets designs of </= 90 nm and incorporates auto beta compensation, resistance-error correction, and anti-parallel diodes.


HAUPPAUGE, NY /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- As advanced mobile electronics, PC, and embedded applications increasingly require high-performance processing, there is an urgent need to control the heat generated by these device processors. The research firm DataBeans estimates that the market for temperature sensors needed to monitor these hotter processors will grow more than 20% per year for the next five years, exceeding $783 million in 2006. To address these challenges, SMSC unveiled two new distinct families of temperature sensors: the EMC1402, 1403 and 1404 series and the EMC1422, 1423 and 1424 series that address the CPU and up to three remote temperature measurements, including graphic processors, DIMM, and wireless cards.

"With the launch of these six new temperature sensors, engineers designing for high-end platforms targeting 90 nm and below now have a full-featured solution that delivers flexibility, performance, and accuracy for temperature control," said Mark Beadle, Product Line Director of Analog Products & Technology at SMSC.

"Unmatched Technology in a Single Chip—An Industry First"
SMSC brings to market three key technologies: auto beta compensation, resistance-error correction, and anti-parallel diodes, all of which save system characterization and engineering time, speeding product time to market.

  • Auto beta compensation
    Providing designers with the benefits of SMSC's thermal management technology, auto beta compensation dispenses with the common software configuration for different remote diodes. This technology enables design flexibility and eliminates configuration for many processor types.

     

  • Resistance-error correction
    A common source of temperature measurement errors is the series resistance in processor diodes and board traces. This resistance can cause errors of up to 4°C, unacceptable in today's design environments. Leveraging SMSC's resistance-error correction technology, this error is avoided, eliminating time-consuming system characterization.

     

  • Anti-parallel diodes
    Using SMSC's anti-parallel diodes, designers can minimize the board traces required to connect remote diode transistors for temperature measurement. This eases the task of routing in compact designs, such as laptop computers. The anti-parallel diodes also allow for a population of one or two remote diodes for variations in design on the same board.

Two Differentiated Lines of Temperature Sensors
SMSC offers two differentiated temperature sensor product lines for high-performance thermal protection. While the EMC1402, 1403, and 1404 devices are temperature sensors with interrupt capability, the EMC1422, 1423, and 1424 offer the added benefit of system shutdown. This gives designers the ability to ensure proper shutdown temperature at start-up, at a point between 77°C and 112°C, which is adjustable without software. This shutdown integrates the value of temperature switches often used to respond to critical thermal events. By using the technology of resistance-error correction and auto beta compensation, all of these devices reduce the need for a temperature offset register to fine tune measurement accuracy. This saves days of engineering time normally spent characterizing a system.

Key Features of SMSC's EMC1400:

  • Auto beta compensation
  • Resistance-error correction—automatic up to 100?
  • Anti-parallel diodes
  • Remote temperature accuracy of ±1°C
  • Internal ambient temperature sensory accuracy of ±2°C
  • Critical shutdown and over/under temperature alerts

Availability and Pricing
Samples of the EMC1400 family of temperature sensor devices are available now, with production quantities available in the first quarter of 2007. The price range will be $0.60–$1.00 per unit (U.S. list price) in OEM quantities.

About SMSC
Many of the world's most successful global technology companies rely on SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital, and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise, and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost, and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC's application focus targets key vertical markets, including consumer electronics, automotive infotainment, PC, and industrial applications. The company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application-specific solutions, such as mixed-signal system controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST, and Hi-Speed USB.

SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, NY, with operations in North America, Asia, and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas, and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available on the company's Web site. SMSC is a registered trademark of Standard Microsystems Corp.






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